Bold & Beautiful’s Steffy and Hope Are Both Out of Control — Plus, Did [Spoiler] and [Spoiler] Really Break Up Off Screen?

Bold & Beautiful’s Steffy and Hope Are Both Out of Control — Plus, Did [Spoiler] and [Spoiler] Really Break Up Off Screen?

Credit: Howard Wise/JPI (5)

At least three times this week, I said to myself while watching Bold & Beautiful, “What the heck is going on?” If I didn’t know better, I’d think someone unfamiliar with the characters had come in and taken a stab at guessing how they’d react in certain circumstances. What left me dazed and confused… aside from a couple apparently breaking up entirely off camera?a Read on, gentle reader, and we’ll discuss.

Here We Go Again

As I predicted last week, that Hope/Finn makeout session was nothing but a fantasty. It seemed pretty obvious, given how it sort of came out of nowhere and heated up so quickly. Anyone who’s watched this show for a while knows how much they love pulling that trick. Need a Friday cliffhanger? Have Sheila arrested on the runway during a fashion show! Have Quinn kill Katie! Then on Monday, shout “April Fools!” and reveal it was all a fantasy.

It’s a good trick, but like weddings in the Forrester living room, one this show uses too often. Pretty sure most viewers knew it was all in Hope’s imagination. Heck, even newer viewers probably figured it out, given that the show went this exact same route when Hope began having inappropriate daydreams about Thomas!

All of which begs the question: What are we supposed to make of this? Are Hope’s headaches an indication that there’s more to the story, or is it really just a rerun of what we saw go down between her and Thomas? And why, when Hope confided to her mom, did Brooke not immediately bring up that her daughter denied having feelings for Thomas when these same scenes played out last year? Oh, right, because Bold & Beautiful characters only rarely remember, let alone mention, past storylines.

Those Healing Hands

I had to laugh when Hope told her mom, “Let’s just say that Finn has healing hands.” Brooke was shocked by her daughter’s statement, and Hope looked at her as if to say, “What? That’s a perfectly innocent thing to say!”

I was also amused that Finn is suddenly laying hands on Hope to heal her and rushing over to cure her daughter’s flu symptoms. Why? Because Finn is one of those soap opera doctors whose only patients are people he knows or who can advance storylines. I think the last patient he had was Xander, who showed up to reveal that Thomas had been involved in the death of Emma. (And look how much came out of that encounter!)

Wife of Physician, Heal Thyself!

A friend texted me mid-week to say, “Has Steffy become a psycho since last I watched?” They were reacting to her… well, over-reacting to her husband and Hope holding hands briefly. Now, if Steffy knew what we know — that Hope had been fantasizing about Finn — then her reaction would have made sense. But as it was, she took things way over the top. After all, let’s not forget that Steffy still hasn’t told her husband about those smooches Liam planted on her.

I was, however, right there with Steffy as we had an eye-rolling contest regarding Ridge’s suggestion that Brooke’s Bedroom be relaunched. I like that Brooke flat-out said “I’m too old!” before being convinced that she should strut her stuff on the runway once again.

But wouldn’t it make more sense for them to focus on the Intimates Line, putting Steffy front-and-center? I mean, honestly, that’s why the lord invented models, so that CEO’s didn’t have to sell their wares. And this would be an awesome opportunity to introduce a new up-and-coming model, perhaps a young woman determined to have it all… including a Forrester husband. Perhaps R.J.? Or Zende?

Also, I got a little confused… is Ridge now pushing his favorite ex into lingerie instead of the co-CEO seat with Steffy? Or will Brooke be modeling and helping to run the company?

The Rise of Lady Poppy

Speaking of things I didn’t understand, what was up with that Poppy/Katie scene. Five seconds after moving in with Bill, Poppy was acting as if she was the new matriarch of the Spencer family. It felt entirely disingenuous to the Poppy we’ve known since the character’s introduction.

I know, I know, Li has insisted that her sister is a gold digger. But if that’s the case, Poppy is the very worst gold digger ever. It’s been made clear time and again that she and Luna lived a modest life, but they were happy because they had each other. If Poppy really has been trying to land a rich man all this time then… yeah, I got nothing except a storyline that makes no sense at all.

I will, however, take Katie and Poppy butting heads over all the “Oh my God, we’re a family and we love each other and isn’t this awesome” stuff. Without any underlying threat to this newly-formed family, there’s no real investment. And no, Katie rolling her eyes isn’t a threat. Let’s at least play the beat that maybe, just maybe, there’s something suspicious about those paternity tests. (Because I remain 100 percent convinced Bill is not the father!)

But I’m not sure who was more obnoxious… Katie repeatedly barging into a home she hasn’t lived in for years, or Poppy acting as if she was a Bridgerton meeting with an unworthy suitor!

Meanwhile, anybody else catch what Katie said while talking to Carter? I hit rewind several times to make sure she really said “You were my last relationship.” I’m sorry, what? Are these two over? Did they break-up off screen? I kinda assumed they would crumble once he saw how jealous she was of Bill’s new family, but it seems we just skipped right over that logical beat and went for a parting which, like most of their relationship, played off camera!