Soap Opera Digest – September 02, 2019

Mr. Vanderway at every

turn, trying to get back into

Kyle’s good graces one

minute, then threatening

to out the ugly underbelly

of their New York glory

days the next. At this point,

Theo’s determination to

them together since. Their
struggle to get their mar-
riage back on track could
have been rich storyline
fodder — but even if GH
didn’t want to go that
route, there would still
be great value in letting
viewers go on the ride of
what their love story looks
like now, in the emotional
detritus of Ryan’s manip-
ulations. The show would
be wise to inject some
romance back into this
marriage rather than con-
sign Laura to the role of
consoler-in-chief to newly
single daughter Lulu,
while Kevin occasionally
plays shrink at G.H.

thumbs down!
YOUNG AND RESTLESS
Man Of Mystery
Influencer Theo has
been in Genoa City for
months, but we still
can’t get a bead on the
character, who is one-
half partying man-child
(“This calls for a round
of shots!”), one-half savvy
business whiz (“I’ve also
integrated a number of
corporate tie-ins to help
with name recognition”).
Adding to the murk is his
odd obsession with Kyle.
For reasons that have yet
to be properly explained,
Theo refuses to accept
that Kyle is no longer
his reckless sidekick, but
has grown, matured and
committed to Lola. Kyle
has tried exorcising Theo
from his life, yet there’s

QScott Clifton delivered a soul-stirring

daughter was alive.

Beth was alive, Clifton balanced the obvious

with the boy. But Douglas wouldn’t give up, and Liam, who

already suspected something was up with Flo’s claims that

she was Phoebe’s mom, couldn’t discount that the boy might

be on to something. When Douglas declared not only, “Phoebe

is Beth,” but identified his father as the source of the intel,

Clifton’s body tensed. The sense that something wasn’t adding

up gnawed at him as the day unfolded, intensifying when he

spoke to the doctor who supposedly delivered Phoebe.

Debriefing with Steffy after his call with Dr. Cortez, the final

pieces of the puzzle slid together. Liam froze, then gasped.

“Douglas was right,” Clifton uttered in a dazed, hopeful whis-

per. As if compelled by a force greater than himself, Liam

marched past Steffy, who he seemed to forget was even there.

He pushed open the door to the nursery and ran to the crib,

gently lifting the baby into his arms as a radiant smile spread

across his face and dissolving into cathartic, heaving sobs

as he caressed her head. Pulling back to gaze at the child

he now knew without a doubt was his own, touching her face

tenderly, Clifton’s expression was a perfect, poignant commin-

gling of awe, relief and gratitude. “Beth,” he sniffled. “You’re

my Beth!” As he rocked her back and forth, the baby gurgled,

“Dada!” This broke Liam wide open, and through his tears, his

tone ecstatic, he choked out, “Yeah, I’m your Dada,” laughing

and crying as he clutched Beth to his chest and savored the

miracle he was experiencing.

Clifton made this moment well worth the seven-month wait,

and the authenticity of his joy was a soaring, satisfying payoff

for fans.

Scott Clifton

(LIAM, B&B)

IG

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Performer Of The Week
destroy Kyle’s happiness
makes him look mentally
disturbed, not like a harm-
less bad boy who just
wants to have fun. Theo
has potential; it’s just time
to let viewers in on what
makes him tick. 
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