4×05 “Crashing Out”
Written by: Chris Coleman, Kristi Clark. and Kelly Zollo
Warning: Episode may contain graphic violence, language and sexual content
Theme Song: Sailor- Cut Up

Ronan had left  his mansion early that morning. He had a few things for the business he needed to take care of at the club and honestly he was going to try and track down the elusive red head that was Dru Price. He would be discrete of course but he had needs and it wasn’t like he was going to get into a bed with Gia so soon after having his son. He spent most of his mornings at the house helping her and taking on most of the duties he wanted to be an active father to their son. They were bonded together for that reason alone but there was no love between them he knew that now. Gia was at home with Michael where she belonged but one of his lieutenants had called him to the house. Someone was making a move onto his territory and that wasn’t going to happen on his watch. He’d worked too hard and too long expanding his fathers empire for someone to move in on what was his. With a newborn son at home and watching his back since the explosion he’d gotten too lax with those around him clearly, he poured himself a bourbon in the back of his car as his driver made their way to the traphouse.

Weaving their way through traffic to Scottswood where the wealthy dared not go unless they were scoring of course it hadn’t changed. Run down houses, boards on windows and doors, trash littered the lawns as they drove. Of course the corners of the streets had their fair share of things to turn the eyes, women who worked the streets like Trisha Kohl had pimps at the ready if someone stepped out of line. Various gangs whose leaders simply stared at his car mutual agreements of course he’d keep their supply and war going if they let him and his organization run free. The house itself was run down and he got out of the car nodding to his guards and driver. He spotted the man who went by Killa in front of him, he certainly looked the part. “So what has become so urgent that you needed to see me? Isn’t it something that you or your crew could handle?” Ronan asked 

Killa was standing in the Martin Luthor King projects. An expansive set of rowhomes that had two apartments in each building. It had dirty debris everywhere. Looking down he saw needles on the ground but it wasn’t from crack, it was from that new drug. LVLZ was all the rage in every college party. Now it was hitting the streets and the crackheads were asking him where to find it. They honestly had no idea but LVLZ was becoming a major problem. They had almost all of their supply of coke, heroine, and meth. People were still buying but it was slowing down and Ronan wasn’t going to blame him or anyone in his crew. His skin was smooth like a Hershey bar, he had perfectly straight white teeth, he was physically in the best shape he’d ever been in due to prison. Getting out and finding out his best friend Kendrick had snapped. He heard about it but hearing it in the street was an entirely different vibe. He wore a perfectly white wifebeater tanktop, a pair of Amiri jeans, Ethica boxers that had colorful designs on them, and a pair of retro Jordan’s. Walking up he immediately dapped Ronan. He still had a baby face but his scar that ran down his face made him look menacing. Years ago Mr. Madden had basically paid for a lawyer for him and he’d always ride with the Madden family. Kendrick was power tripping but he liked not being the face of anything. He liked the shadows. 

“Man, don’t get all uppity on me Ronan you act like your dad didn’t help turn Scottswood into the drug riddled paradise. Too good to see what’s going on in your territory? I thought not.” Killa said calmly, smoothly walking over to him and dapping him up. “So king lemme give it to you straight cuz I know you got a new baby. But we facing something new, something that’s got everyone talking.” Pulling out a baggie of LVLZ which was ice blue. “You know what this is? It’s called LVLZ and all the college kids are using it, the clubbers, and the crackheads saying it gets them higher longer. So I tested it and let’s just say we ain’t moving much merchandise because of this.” Killa handed him the bag of drugs. “Now my question is simple and it’s what all my boys are asking? When are we going to get our hands on what everyone wants? When are we going to get some LVLZ?” He sucked his teeth as he flicked the toothpick in his mouth to the other side showing his golden teeth on the bottom row. 

Ronan didn’t think uppity was the right word he’d use more annoyed if anything that he had to come down here. Looking at Killa and then the bag in front of him everyone knew that this was his area, his territory even Gia herself knew that and she wasn’t going to make a play. He inspected the bag looking at its contents and he’d heard rumors there was something coming making its way out of New York. Something that could send its own flow of assets and supply into his business, it was bad for business, specifically his business. He appreciated that Killa came to him with the issue instead of taking matters into his own hands unlike his predecessor, that was still a hard pill for him to swallow how everything with Kendrick had gone down. Killa had a reputation around him, and Kendrick had always spoken highly of him, he also remembered before his father died that he had helped him with legal issues meaning he was loyal. He motioned for Killa to follow him off the street and into the building, just in case there were still eyes on him. Things had been too heated after the casino, between the FBI and the local police he didn’t know who was or wasn’t watching.

“Tell me exactly where you found it and who pushed it to your people. This affects the business, our business I need my supply moved you need the cash. Rich people like to try and push new things to encroach on our business. We need to make sure they don’t. Are they bringing it into the club or is this something that is only on the campus?” Ronan said a few years ago someone out of Jersey had tried it, but it didn’t end well. There was also the unfortunate incident with a socialite from Delaware that tried his father had handled that one. Most in the business weren’t that dumb to try and push something on their end; he knew it wasn’t Killa or his crew’s fault. “I used to have an in at the campuses as I am sure you know that came to an unfortunate end. I have security at the club too. Things have been tense since the casino we’re being watched so my movements have to be carefully planned until it blows over. People talk in the streets so tell me what you know.” He finished looking at the crew members eyeing him almost like they were on edge.

Through Blissful’s many incarnations we’ve welcomed a bevy of talented writers to join the series. Today is no different however we have someone who has over twenty years of soap journalism experience and has interviewed the likes of Debbie Morgan, Diedra Hall, Drake Hogstyn, Alison Sweeny, Michelle Stafford, Maurice Benard, Kirsten Storms, Kelly Monaco, Michelle Morgan, Erika Slezak, Billy Flynn, Kate Mansi and more. In Ryan’s prolific career he has also interviewed some of the greatest soap writers such as Thom Racina, Michelle Patrick, Tom Casellio and more. With his vast knowledge of soap operas Ryan has joined the team as a storyline consultant and writer for Blissful. Now here to help push Blissful to a new level and new heights. In his first interview as a member of the Blissful staff Ryan will shed some insight on what new flavor he’s bringing to Blissful. 

Chris: Hi, Ryan how are you today? Please tell me a little about yourself. 

Ryan: I’m doing well, thank you for asking—I’m excited to be here. I’m based on the East Coast, and writing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I’m a communications graduate with a background in journalism, and I’ve had the opportunity to write for outlets such as Soap Opera Network, Soap Opera Source, TV Source Magazine, ATRL, and others. Those experiences allowed me to cover entertainment topics, conduct interviews, and develop a strong, engaging writing style. I’m always looking to grow as a writer and connect with others who share that same passion for storytelling.

Chris: Thank you for letting us get to know you a little more. So let’s get to the meat of the interview. As a new creator joining this already going machine, what did you see could be changed and how have you helped make that happen? 

Ryan: Coming in with fresh eyes, one of my goals has been to help increase the episode output without sacrificing the quality that defines the work of this team. There’s so much rich history and so many exciting elements to catch up on, but the sheer volume can sometimes be daunting. One approach I pitched is breaking the longer episodes into tighter, more emotionally focused segments, giving the drama more space to resonate. Between releases, we can keep viewers engaged with “Between the Bliss,” offering quick recaps and deeper insight into character motivations.

Chris: To be honest the volume of Blissful can be a reason some people might not jump into the series. Which gave me reason to pause and discuss a change. Even though some fans love the longer episodes, I believe this will help Blissful continue to grow. Our team is very aware that we are in the smart phone era. Where a video can snatch your attention and I agree it’s time to give them more digestible content without losing the integrity of what we see Blissful as. 

Fans have been clamoring to find out what you’ve been doing and have been cooking up with our team. I’m excited to announce that Ryan will be debuting very soon as the writer of a new character, Ariana “Ana” Castellano. What can you tell me about Ana and what is to come with her without giving spoilers? Also what made Ana the character you wanted to debut with and are there any chances for you to maybe take on a legacy character of Blissful lore?

Ryan: Ariana “Ana” Castellano is exactly the kind of character I’ve been dying to write. She’s this captivating enigma who seems to have it all figured out. On paper, she’s perfect: Cambridge-educated, successful CEO of a real estate empire, philanthropic, impeccably connected. But there’s something beneath that polished surface that makes you wonder what she’s really capable of.

What drew me to debut with Ana is her complexity, but also her potential as a storytelling vehicle. When I came up with the idea for this character, I wanted someone who could naturally weave into the existing Atlas Falls tapestry. Just as she is my intro to Blissful, I am hers in a way. She’s fiercely intelligent, knows how to work people to get what she wants, and she’s coming to town to help a college friend. But viewers will quickly realize there’s much more to her story.

Ana represents the kind of storytelling that hooks audiences today. Everyone has secrets, everyone’s managing their image, and she has mastered that game. Viewers will think they know her type – the successful heiress with everything handed to her. But as her past unfolds, they’ll discover she’s earned her power in ways they never expected. Her family history is definitely complicated, and she won’t be making this move alone.

As for legacy characters, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t eyeing some possibilities. But right now, I’m focused on Ariana “Ana” Castellano’s entrance and the waves it’ll create. Atlas Falls is about to get very interesting.

Chris: With a career spanning over twenty years in journalism. What are you hoping to explore and find in the webserial world that you’ve not encountered in your vast career? Also what has you most excited about working with team Blissful? 

Ryan: You know, coming from journalism, I’m used to telling complete stories in 800 words or less. Everything has to be immediate, digestible, wrapped up neatly. But webserials are a completely different beast. I get to build characters like Ariana “Ana” Castellano layer by layer, week after week. I can plant seeds in an episode that don’t bloom until another two or three seasons. That kind of long-form storytelling is incredibly exciting.

What’s also amazing is how engaged the audience is. In journalism, you publish and move on to the next story. Here, viewers are dissecting every scene, theorizing about character motivations, getting genuinely invested in these people’s lives. That real-time feedback creates this energy I never experienced in traditional media.

The collaborative process with team Blissful has been equally rewarding. In journalism, you’re often working solo, but here everyone’s building this world together. Someone will throw out an idea that completely shifts how I’m thinking about a character arc, or point out a connection I hadn’t considered.

But what excites me most is the freedom to explore complex, morally ambiguous characters. Ana exists in gray areas that traditional media might not touch, but that’s where the most interesting stories live. We can dig into uncomfortable questions about family, loyalty, and power. That’s storytelling that stays with people.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Chris: Before I let you go, and I again thank you for taking the time to interview. You mentioned something about “Beyond the Bliss” exactly, what is that and why is that important to new readers of the series who are jumping on? 

Ryan: “Beyond the Bliss” was really born out of recognizing that Blissful has this incredibly rich history that can feel overwhelming to newcomers. We wanted to create something that would serve multiple purposes. For new readers, it’s their entry point. Instead of feeling like they need to go back and read years of content, they can jump in with these focused pieces that give them the essential context they need. But it’s equally valuable for longtime fans who might have missed episodes or want to revisit key moments.

What makes “Beyond the Bliss” special is that we’re not just doing plot recaps. We’re diving into the psychology behind character decisions, exploring the motivations that drive these pivotal moments. We’re also introducing character promos that delve even deeper into their psyche in what we’re calling “My Blissful is…” These pieces will give viewers intimate access to how characters see their own world, their own story. It’s a way to humanize even the most complex characters and help readers understand their internal logic.

Sometimes we’ll reveal why we made certain creative choices, or highlight details that viewers might have missed the first time around. It’s also a way to keep the community engaged between main episodes. The discussions that happen around these pieces are incredible – fans connecting dots, sharing their own interpretations, debating character motivations.

For someone like Ana, whose arrival is going to shake up existing dynamics, “Beyond the Bliss” will be crucial for helping both new and returning viewers understand exactly why her presence matters so much to the families already established in Atlas Falls.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​