B&B Maya Avant’s Transgender Storyline

It’s been weeks since Maya’s little sister Nicole has shown up on Maya’s doorstep. Ever since she has arrived she has been threatening Maya with telling Rick a secret so big that it will change everything. Rick has praised Maya countless times by saying she is the only woman who has ever truly been honest with Rick. Nicole knows this is a lie and that Rick truly does not know everything about Maya. After weeks of anticipation and buildup, Nicole finally confronts Maya about why she left home all those years ago, why her parents acted as if Maya was never there, and why Maya neglected Nicole and never reached out to her. It’s because…wait for it…. Maya was actually Nicole’s brother, Myron!

What the heck?!

I did not see this transgender twist coming. I actually laughed out loud when Nicole called Maya by her birth name Myron. I know it was supposed to be a serious moment but it just reminded me of all those times Caroline would call Maya Merna and every other name except her actual one. I could just not take the ending of the show seriously and was actually left quite confused. At first I thought this may have been a nightmare Maya was having but it has been confirmed by both Brad Bell Jr. and Karla Mosley (the actress who plays Maya), that this storyline is real and is going full steam ahead. In fact Bell gave an interview to Us Weekly saying that Maya's transgender story is a love story.

In the same interview Karla Mosley also added:

                                                                               

"I didn't expect daytime to be taking on a story like this. As someone who is an artist and an activist I know how important trans issues are — how it's life and death for people at this point. The more that we in Hollywood can help people to understand what it is to be transgender, what that experience might be like for someone, and just to normalize it, I think we have the possibility of really changing some hearts and lives. I think that that's probably part of why they came to me with this — in addition to the fact that it really fits Maya's story in this kind of amazing way that no one could've ever predicted, I think that they also knew that I would be totally ready and willing to talk about these things in an open way."

I can see why Bell is trying to push the envelope and create storylines that are different but also have important social issues. Kudos to Bell to try and develop a story that is relevant to today’s society, however I have some concerns. Maya Avant’s transgender storyline is already creating a lot of buzz and controversy. I have no issues with a transgender storyline itself and I believe Karla Mosley has the talents to deliver a great story, however I’m not sure if the writing is there. I’m not sure if the writing team has what it takes to give this type of story justice. Bell can either deliver a great storyline or totally drop the ball. The story needs to be very carefully written. I already see inconsistencies with the character of Maya that I’m curious to see how they will explain. When we were first introduced to Maya, she was a woman fresh out of jail looking for her daughter. She has always mentioned she did not come from a privileged family. Then how was she able to afford the surgeries and procedures to become and look like a woman? How did she carry a baby to term or was the baby adopted? The baby being adopted doesn't make sense since we've already seen scenes with Maya and the baby’s father shortly after she was released from prison. How could she have been with both Carter and Rick multiple times, and not either one of them suspects something different or unusual? At the very least Maya should at least have a few scars and blemishes from her procedures?

A lot of viewers are voicing their opinions about the story and saying it is not daytime material. Some say Bell is out of his mind and is delusional by thinking he can try and use his soap to educate viewers about transgender issues. People tune in to watch soaps as a guilty pleasure to see romance, drama, and catfights with their favorite characters. If they wanted to be educated regarding certain matters, they would not tune in to a daytime soap opera for that purpose. It seems there are more people against the story then for it, but it is still too early to tell what direction the storyline will go in and the reaction from the fans. 

We want to hear your opinion on Maya’s story. Do you like the direction the character is headed in? Why or why not? Do you think Bell and his writing team has what it takes to deliver a good love story or do you think it will fall completely flat? Share your opinions and thoughts below.

Rick and his Revenge against Eric, Ridge, and Caroline

Is Rick purposely trying to destroy Forrester Creations as a way to stick it to Eric, Ridge, and Caroline?

Friday’s episode of B&B was one of the more entertaining episodes we’ve seen in a while. Rick finally was able to convince Eric to sign the papers which enables Rick full and irrevocable control of FC for an entire year (thank you soap gods for not dragging out the usual please-sign-these-papers-or-else storyline for weeks, aka Steffy/Liam’s annulment papers). This means Eric and Ridge have no say and no power to overthrow any of Rick’s decisions. Obviously this is a bad decision and anyone with the slightest business savvy will know better than to sign, but since when has Eric been known to make good decisions anyways?!

Rick is so hurt that Caroline and Ridge kissed that Rick is hell bent on revenge on hurting those who hurt him. First his father appointed Ridge as CEO at Forrester instead of him, but Eric later withdrew that decision since Rick cried and sulked like a baby about it. To make matters worse, Maya exposed Ridge and Caroline. To Rick this is the ultimate betrayal; the betrayal he received from his father, and from his wife. If it had been anyone but Ridge it wouldn’t nearly had been as bad. Rick dislikes Ridge mainly for the way he’s used and treated his mother so poorly over the years (as if Brooke is some sort of damsel in distress, come on now).

Rick is hurt but you can tell he still loves Caroline and is clearly just lashing out. There are moments when you can see hesitation in his eyes when he is with Caroline. Caroline may be fighting to win Rick’s heart now, but after Rick revealed that it is Maya and not Caroline he wants to lead Forrester Creations into the future with, it will be Rick who will be begging Caroline for forgiveness in the end. Poor Maya is just a pawn and rebound in Rick’s plan. His intentions towards her may be good, but he is clearly using her to get over and stick it to Caroline. Maya is also completely delusional in thinking she will be the next Forrester matriarch. Yes she does love Rick, but it also doesn’t hurt that his last name is Forrester and he has a huge bank account. Wonder if she would still love him if he were to lose it all? After all, Rick was ready to leave all the perks of being a Forrester behind, but it was Maya who kept reminding him that it is his right to be at the helm of Forrester Creations and that he should take charge in doing so.

What I’m curious to see happen is whether Rick’s intentions towards Forrester Creations are actually pure in that he wants to lead the company in his direction without any interferences? Or will his first order of business be firing Eric, Ridge, and Caroline, and then burning down Forrester Creations? 

  

Ivy – what a letdown. She had enough courage to confront Rick and Maya about their kiss, yet she let Rick bully her into staying quiet about it. He told her he would have her fired and essentially sent back to Australia if she exposed him. Did Rick forget Ivy is a Forrester? She can’t be fired from the family business. The worst that could happen is being sent down to the basement or to International. However if Ivy did open her mouth about Rick and Maya, then Eric would be peeved that Rick had been fooling him about his intentions towards leading the company into the future with Caroline, and thus revoking his decision in appointing him CEO. Then no way would Eric sign those papers and be in this mess to begin with. We pretty much wouldn’t have a show to watch either.

What Ricky boy doesn’t realize is that none of this will end up well. Eric, Ridge, and Caroline will all have the last laugh, not Rick and Maya. This may be the reason why Steffy comes back to town. Steffy is a majority stareholder of FC. Maybe the combined shareholders will come together to oust Rick? Anything is possible in soap load after all. I can see Bill having a role in this as well. Not only is he also a shareholder, he is also Caroline’s uncle and will no doubt be none too pleased about Rick hurting his niece.

What do you think Rick’s ultimate goal is? Do you think his sole intention is to hurt Eric, Ridge, and Caroline?