Chapter 9: Nina Nina Nina

Spoiler Alert! Do not read any further if you don’t want any insight into Chapter 9

In Chapter 9, both Nina and Amanda are in precarious places. While Amanda has a chance to find real love again and is enjoying spending time with Tony, Nina is trying to figure out who she is. Though she will not admit it, she still loves Amanda but she’s angry. She’s been hurt by her in a way she never could never comprehend, and it leads her to becoming isolated and callous in her lifestyle. She still feels like an ass for having reckless woohoo for fun. Plus being a celebrity, she’s always pursued by the press, so she keeps her home as quiet and remote as possible in Henford-on-Bagley so that Carrie can live without the stress.

SPOILER ALERT – YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

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Nina isn’t in a good place at all. She’s become bitter and jealous since the divorce, and now it’s only gotten worse. She’s not dating anyone, and concentrates on three things: raising Carrie, writing books, and watching her favorite soap Trauma Central. She begins to wonder if Amanda ever truly loved her, and it festers into every corner of her life. As a result, Nina has decided being by herself is the best way to go. Even though sometimes she misses Amanda and other times she wishes she could get over her too.

In Chapter 9 we see more of Nina as a mother, and how she is with Carrie. Carrie is going through a Mean Streak phase and decides to call her mother “Nina” because as she informs Amanda, “she doesn’t deserve to be called Mommy,” it’s a turning point for both. Carrie is relentless in her bullying of her mother and takes pleasure in making Nina cry.

We also get to see Amanda handle the situation informing her daughter why it’s not right to call her mother “Nina.” In a way, she can’t blame Carrie for feeling this way. Amanda knows Nina’s style. When she’s home, she’s a complete workaholic concentrating on the next book and the book after that. If she’s not writing, she’s running on the treadmill plotting the next storyline, or watching that “ridiculous soap opera.” In the way it had destroyed her marriage with Nina, it’s wreaking havoc on the relationship with Carrie. Carrie is at an age where she’s starting to figure things out, and when her mother spends more time writing then she does with her – it angers her. Amanda knows she has to get Carrie to apologize and hopefully fix the damage before it’s too late. The one thing both Nina and Amanda can both agree on these days is they both love Carrie and they want what’s best for her. And deep within Amanda’s heart, is still the fact that she cares about Nina, and it does bother her that her daughter feels this way. She doesn’t like hearing from Nina about Carrie’s attitude and, although she doesn’t admit it, she can hear in her voice how hurt Nina is over it.

For Carrie it feels like Nina wraps herself so much into her work that it leads her daughter to feel like all her Mommy does is work or watch soap operas while on the treadmill. When Carrie is home from school, she decides to spend her time with her animals or watch Trauma Central when her mother isn’t looking. As a result, Carrie becomes addicted to the adventures of Jake & Judy and secret agent Darien Scorpion on Trauma Central.

From Nina’s standpoint, I can understand how she feels when it comes to her writing. And I confess, it’s something I do myself. Being a workaholic can be deadly to a marriage, but luckily, I do remind myself to balance it, even when I feel the pull to work. This is how I formulated Nina’s work style based on my own. Writing is a passion as well as a job, and sometimes it can take you away from life itself. Sometimes I view it as a curse and a blessing.

When Nina realizes that her workaholic ways have affected her daughter, after Carrie apologizes, she comes up with a special book that she writes just for her. It’s meant to be a gesture of love – and Carrie is overjoyed. It changes their relationship forever, and we also see neither parent is pitting one against the other but working together for the sake of their child. What’s the name of the book? Well, the working title is Daisy the Magic Cow – but later it will change after Nina’s phone call with her agent. We get to meet Nina’s agent Rachel in Chapter 11. And what will Nina’s agent think when she learns that Nina’s written a kid’s book?! Find out in Chapter 11 (Two weeks from now.)

And yes, if you haven’t guessed Trauma Central is a nod to a soap that I have loved and watched since the age of eight – General Hospital. In fact, the characters of Jake & Judy that Carrie talks about are a direct nod to Luke & Laura played by Anthony Geary and Genie Francis. If you’ve never seen the Ice Princess Saga from the early eighties on GH, I invite you to do so. It will get you hooked. Not to mention, Darien Scorpion who is a nod to secret agent turned police commissioner now DA Robert Scorpio played by the still very handsome Tristan Rodgers. Check out when GH turned 60! I can’t believe it’s been on TV that long. GH also connects me to both my mother and grandfather who were huge fans. We used to watch together even up until they both passed away. Both my mother and grandfather’s favorite character was Anna Devane played by the brilliant Finola Hughes. Even now when I watch it, I find myself connected to my mother and grandparents. I even got my husband to love it too! We watch it together every night after work on Hulu.

In Episode 10, we’re going to see the meeting between Carrie & Tony. How do you think it will go? I did offer a sneak peek in my latest GXSimmer Rant on “Sims Team, WTH Are You Doing Part III.” Look carefully to see the scene.

I can’t wait for Episode 10. Not only is it a cute episode (in my own opinion) but also, we will be doing this on a premiere so all of us can hang out and watch together. Plus, I’m going to be giving away a free kit to a lucky subscriber during the premiere It’s my way of saying thank you in helping this little channel grow so be sure to turn in next week May 1, 2024 at 8PM Eastern Time!

Thanks for watching. See you next time.