These are what we call the 'YMMV items.' Things that some people find in this work. We call them 'your mileage might vary' because not everyone sees these things in the same way. This starts discussions in the trope lists, a thing we don't want. Please use the discussion page if you'd like to discuss any of these items.
YMMV: As The World Turns
Ass Pull: Reid dies and is just able to give his heart to a dying Chris so he can survive.
Ending Fatigue: Many people felt this about Barbara's kidnapping. She was stuck in the warehouse for many episodes without anything actually happening.
Ensemble Darkhorse: Eric Sheffer Stevens is a Real Life example of this trope. A large number of people, including those who despised the character Reid and/or were annoyed at all the screen-time newbie actors were given, praised him and his acting abilities. Reid also counts, partly because he was so different from the other characters: a lampshade hanging, snarky, Only Sane Man who was funny and enjoyable to watch. Also because Luke finally got a love interest who was someone other than Noah.
"Funny Aneurysm" Moment: If Reid hadn't made so many heart jokes, and if people hadn't been so bold as to call him 'heartless', rewatching his storyline would be significantly easier. There's also one scene that has Reid, after giving Luke a very passionate kiss, say "Life is short, it's very short sometimes." He dies pretty soon after this.
Ho Yay / Foe Yay: Reid both invokes and recognises these tropes.
Chris: Meet me in the men's room, okay?
Reid: Wow, Doogie. That's an invitation I never expected from you.
Reid to Chris: Alright, I'm not coming onto you, but drop your pants.
Chris: Yeah, I'm thinking the lower lumbar area.
Reid: Oh, rats.
Before the kiss in Dallas, Reid and Luke's interactions were a good, subtle example of the above tropes. The latter turned into the former once their involvement in the neurology wing came into play.
Moral Event Horizon: As far as Henry is concerned Vienna crossed this when she told him that she had miscarried a baby that never existed so that she wouldn't get caught in her lie. Katie decides enough is enough and tells Henry the truth.
One True Pairing: Luke/Noah, Carly/Jack, Holden/Lily, and other Super-Couples.
Portmanteau Couple Name: Quite a few: Nuke (Luke and Noah), Carjack (Jack and Carly), LuRe (Luke and Reid), Peg or Maul (Paul and Meg), Lilden (Lily and Holden), Cake (Luke and Casey's fake relationship) etc., etc...
The aftermath, in which Reid gives Luke power of attorney and dies looks set to return to Tear Jerker status.
The Scrappy: For longtime fans any new character who gets more screen time than their favorite character.
Special mention goes to Janet for getting loads of screentime for Character Shilling. Also the writers deciding to keep introducing more members of her annoying/uninteresting family and trying very hard to make the audience feel sorry for her, even when she was being a complete jerkass and selfish. CarJAck shippers hated her the most. Her daughter Liberty too, for similar reasons. She was also a huge jerkass to Parker.
Katie to some, although she usually means well, she tends to get involved in the affairs of others and rarely gets called out.
Unfortunate Implications: All but one gay character ended up either dead or never to be heard from again, usually after they'd played the role of a semi-villain. The one gay character who was around in the finale (Luke) was heartbroken over losing the man he was in love with. Said gay character was a legacy (conceived, born, and grew up on-screen) character, yet, straight newcomer characters got more screentime and an explicit happy ending. The few who didn't get an explicit one did get a much more hopeful one than the guy who has to deal with the heartbreak of losing his boyfriend but also the regret that he and said boyfriend weren't even allowed to do more than hold hands, kiss, and once unbutton one another's shirts.
Wangst: Janet who whines whenever Jack pays attention to someone other than her.
The Woobie: Luke. He's also the only character (beside Noah) who ends up alone in the Grand Finale. Despite being a very Nice Guy, he gets into horrible situations that are not his fault and became an alcoholic at 16.
