DynamiteKiddo

Nicole’s apartment redecoration isn’t great. It’s also sorta sad because that set was one of the few to be dressed with a lot of care for which character actually lived there—it had a lot of what was obviously Eric’s Africa photography and stuff he picked up on his travels. It’s pretty generic now. As far as St. Luke’s—I’m ok with anything that isn’t the park or Horton Town Square for this christening. The bar is low, lol.

It’s like a den/sitting room in the Kiriakis mansion. They’ve had it for several years, but I don’t think it’s really been used since RC started until now.

I think the new DiMera set looks great bbuuttt it is obviously the K mansion reconfigured. So it's not worth it to me. Those obviously should be very distinct places and this set completely lacks the gothic aesthetic that defines DiMansion. And even though DiMansion's "study" was small, I thought it was a good set . . . what's an absolutely horrible set is the K "den" that we'll be stuck with for however long now.

WTF?!? The character was really problematic but this is random af. Sarah was shoved down our throats from her (re)intro. to about halfway through 2020 and they did not capitalize on her Horton legacy status, but I think LG is really talented and was, by far, the star of the baby switch. I will miss the actress, if not the character . . . but it feels very irresponsible to ditch a character who was relentlessly positioned to be the ("young"ish) center of the show for so long. Between VK's sorta recurring status and ID's very lackluster turn as nuClaire, I'm sure hoping they've locked down MM so Abby can represent the younger Horton female portion of the show that's so necessary. At least we definitely seem to have a real asset with LA as Allie, unless she randomly gets dropped. They have GOT to get a better handle on keeping cast consistency . . . this revolving door has become so insane and very damaging to the continuity of the show.

I missed that 😵

I agree. I usually like random characters interacting . . . and, I mean, Roman is involved with Gabi through Will/Ari. But this was bizarre lol. One thing I really liked about RC's first couple years at OLTL was that everyone, esp. the newer characters, didn't act super familiar with each other. Soap towns should feel like a community, but sometimes it doesn't make sense for the super rich "public figures" to act hella familiar with a random twenty-something. Like, I wouldn't want to see Tony or Anna chumming it up with, say, Tripp . . . that saps believability out of the premise of who the characters are positioned to be. Sometimes these soap characters have no reason to know each other but they're often like, "oh hey!" lol As far as what everyone's saying about NuClaire . . . yaaa. ID is fine. But even though it took ORK a long time to really find her footing, she did. And it helped that the writers incorporated her quirks into Claire. ORK's Claire wound up having a lot of personality fueled by her neuroses and unrelenting drive and she was really extra and kinda offbeat. That really came to define Claire. And like many have said, ID's Claire is SO nondescript. She's palatable at best and that's so not Claire. Like this iteration of Claire seems only defined by being gullible and that's the extent of her insecurities . . . Claire was literally driven insane by her own sociopathic need to be the best and she was so weighed down by comparing herself to Ciara and feeling like she couldn't measure up to Belle's expectations (that was a surprisingly complicated relationship) . . . and she was sneaky and manipulative with Shawn and J&M and Theo/Tripp. She was a MESS. I don't get that at ALL with this Claire. And I agree with everyone that JH is fabulous as Paulina. RC is being really heavy-handed with her and the social commentary, but it's so fun and she is speaking TRUTH! But after JJ and Theo's "Blue Lives Matter" story, I am apprehensive of RC tackling the world's racial reckoning. Here's to hoping this Paulina commentary is some kind of attempt to correct that insanely tone deaf JJ/Theo story and Julie's casual racism toward Gabi. Smh.

Oh no! It looks like we're getting the Kiriakis "sitting room" back (instead of the foyer/living room set??) . . . Lol! The saddest part is the townhouse is better decorated than it ever has been. I remember when they returned in 2011 . . . omg the way that set was dressed then was horrifying. 2009-2015 was a really low period for sets and basically everything visual on this show. I do think since very late 2017, the sets(/how they dress them) have been improving more and more. But the fact that they can seemingly only have 2 "full" house sets at a time really takes you out of the moments on the show. The worst is Hope's Shawn & Belle's house consisting of that den, which was being redressed as Rafe's living room before he got Maggie's his kitchen back. lol

I’ve always loved Marci Miller. I think she took the notes that she should play Abby with more fire and unpredictably like Kate Mansi, which is working so well. But I liked her quiet strength, long-suffering heroine Abby she played from 2016-18, too. However, what’s most important is that Abby be on the show and the musical chairs between Marci and Kate is unsustainable. Kate obviously doesn’t want a long-term contract and I don’t know where Marci stands. It’s all over the internet that she’s pregnant (I totally missed this lol) so I wonder how they’ll handle her maternity leave (another recast would be too much, imo) and I really, really hope she’ll be sticking around long-term!! 🙂

Eli 😍 I have had ZERO interest in the Cin storyline, but I'm down for Claire (and Theo?) to get involved. The promo was kinda cringey, but I liked it enough. Sarah catching Kristen is actually a really, really interesting story beat. I hope Ron doesn't screw it up. Can anyone believe that freakin' Sarah was basically the main character of the show a year ago??? Lol thank God that's over.

LOL about Stefano!

I would really like to see Kyler as Theo. Despite a lot of criticism, I thought he did well with Theo’s autism and there’s an emotional connection for me between the actor/character. I do NOT understand Rex being brought back in any form, esp. played by Kyle Lowder. I know Kate was on the phone with Cassie during TomSell, but I was hella down to think the Gemini Twins were deleted from the Canon. And between the two, Cassie was definitely the more interesting character... esp. right before the piñata, Alexis Thorpe was really coming into her own.

I started casually watching AMC in 2001, but didn't start watching daily till summer 2003. So I was not very familiar with Dixie, but knew all about her. So maybe because I didn't have the history, I loved Dixie's return. The darker turn for the character really, really worked for me and while I usually HATED Zach, I really liked his connection with her and really enjoyed her rivalry with Kendall. I never loved anything to do with Kathy, but Dixie basically worked for me on every level then. It was beyond disappointing losing her to the pancakes, but that was when Brian Frons was in full swing gutting ABC Daytime. We unceremoniously lost Brooke right around the same time. The end of McTavish was super rough. Apart from some very brief periods, the last six-ish years of AMC were such a mess, imo. Except for Broderick's interim stint and, of course, her close for the ABC run. And I totally credit Broderick for how good the daily quality of Tomlin & Whitesell's "Days" was. I'd kill for her to head write "Days." Anyway about Jennifer . . . even though I really struggle with Missy on a personal level, I'm very unapologetic about loving her as Jenn. But more than anything, I desperately want Jenn on canvas and think she's one of the show's most important characters, especially now. And I did like Cady very much . . . it's just, for me, there was a missing connection, esp. with Abby and JJ . . . and when I see Missy's Jenn in the Horton home, it always feels SO right . . . but despite all that, Cady did a great job under tough circumstances. If Missy isn't going to commit to returning or if she continues being so unavailable like for the last few years, I'd LOVE to have Cady on a long-term contract (whatever that means for "Days" now).

Fun promo! Except for Ben/Ciara ugh lol. Thank God Jack (and Jennifer) is out of DiMansion. That was insane. I'm really looking forward to Abby and Gabi teaming up!

I totally get this. Up until 2008, except for Lucas & Sami, "Days" was dominated by these vanilla couples and it was overkill and sooo simplistic. But after years and years of being force-fed leads like EJ, Theresa, and Ben, I am nostalgic for couples like Shawn & Belle and Austin & Carrie. Perhaps I only like them in theory and, in practice, I'd be over them after a couple months on contract, but I just feel like the hero has been out of fashion in most fiction for the past 10-15 years and I tend to always favor the underdog . . . somewhere along the line, to me anyway, the hero really became the underdog. And Chloe is a wild card . . . after she returned in 2007, they've really taken a lot of left turns with her and I don't consider her a heroine anymore. I really like how unpredictable she can be and have come to appreciate Nadia Bjorlin, even if her acting is very questionable. I hate that she's always on the chopping block, but she keeps coming back so . . . I feel you about Austin, but I think he's been really misused . . . Lucas (and his other brother, Philip) IS more interesting, but Austin has a compelling backstory and they could really build on how screwed over he's been by almost everyone in his life. Patrick Muldoon did not work out at all in 2011 and Austin Peck only excels at "goofy," but AP would be my pick . . . or recast. But Carrie definitely has more value as a character at any given time than Austin.

I guess I’m glad Austin & Carrie got back together but I wish we’d get to see all this play out on the show! I know every return of theirs gets seriously f’d up, but I think they have a lot of potential after such a long break from the canvas. I’m just glad Shawn & Belle have a place on the show with RC. After a decade+ of “gray” (or just villain) leads, I really miss the role heroes used to fill. And while I super appreciate J&M and S&K, they’re way past their adventure “Days,” as Stevano proved. Abby is probably the only long-term traditional heroine under 55 the show has had in the last 10ish years. I am so glad Abby is still on the show. I always loved Marci Miller but she’s really delivering every beat consistently this time. Anyway, all I’m long-windedly saying is the hero still deserves a place... After so many years of Sami, EJ, Nicole, Xander, Kristen, Stefan, Eve, Theresa, etc. getting so much focus, it’s made me miss annoying airhogs like Austin/Carrie, Shawn/Belle, etc. lol.

I’m not here for the Evan twist. BK is really good and I thought they could rehab the character given enough time... never mind! Lol.

This is one of my favorite GH scenes, but in hindsight, I can totally call this ott af--when Tracy found out Lila died, after lashing out at everyone, I believe she fell into either Ned or Edward's arms and SCREAMED, "I want my mommy!!!" It was raw and so painful to watch, but also a lot.

Ya I'm hella down for Abby/Gabi. Good or bad, there is SO much history there at this point . . . when Kate Mansi returned for the Time Jump, I was honestly most interested in her scenes with Camila Banus. But the show is getting totally schizophrenic with which storylines they're featuring again--like Antoyne mentioned, the rape story is FINALLY getting play again . . . while I personally preferred the Deveraux and Elani/Vivian drama, that was too important a story to essentially drop for weeks after Charlie/Ava got all that focus after Christmas. And ugh Cin seems like it'll be the A story moving forward, hopefully not for long.

That was the BEST. And TC & NL were the presenters--she seemed genuinely thrilled for him.

I love CB/Zander.

Why?!? Despite her “beliefs,” I will always prefer Missy Reeves as Jennifer but Cady was doing an absolutely fine job. Jennifer is SO needed right now! Is this because the show can’t afford her or something???

Wow just wow if RC really kills Laura. I do NOT care for JLB's version of Laura, but she is as legacy character as it gets and to do this to generate story for Gwen would be insane. She has been a shot in the arm for the show, but she is a new character, whose background has been changed and is now convoluted at best. And Laura didn't even get scenes with Julie, Maggie, Marlena, or Doug . . . if she does die, RC wouldn't even have capitalized on the dramatic impact. Whether it's death or a coma, Laura's run-in with Kate will obviously play into this. Btw, those 2 scenes were great--the best part of JLB's Laura for me is her rivalry with Kate. I'm really crossing my fingers that this isn't actually happening.

They don’t need to do this wedding if that is what it’s gonna be, lol. Unless they’re out of frame, looks like Jack and Roman won’t even be there?!? BARF to Shakespearean Cin! Will they put us out of our misery and really off themselves for real?!? Lol

Linda Dano seemed very unsure, which is unlike her. It felt like she was imitating Louise, and she was doing a fine job . . . but LS's deadpan Vivian is equally funny, aloof, and crazy. LD's portrayal just felt confused, sedated, and too elegant. But hopefully she'll find her footing. And anything is better than whatever Robin Strasser (who I love!) thought she was doing. Like others have said, LS brings something so unique to the role to the point that no recast stands a fighting chance. After the last week, I'm officially done with Kristen. Just put a cork in it. And I think SH can be a revelation, but she misses the mark too often here--she's either psychotic OR saccharine and has mostly lacked the nuance that this role requires, which ED perfected. Susan was a mess and I agree with everyone that this newfound Marlena/Kristen "relationship" is not only unbelievable, it's actually very damaging to both characters and their very rich history. And F anything to do with Cin. I always hate psychic connections that JER was so fond of and this is especially triggering lol. I don't even know what Ron is going for with the Necktie Killer references anymore--Susan SHOULD be freaking over being in the same room as the Necktie Killer . . . it being played for laughs doesn't help Ben, but like others have guessed, maybe Ron is just trolling now. But other than Cin, this has been a solid af week. The Jack/Gwen stuff is reaching, but no more than any other long lost kid story. I personally loved the flashbacks, despite the aesthetics being very wrong lol. I know some have complained that Laura is being thrown under the bus here, but this is the JLBLaura I've always known--totally erratic and hysterical. I hate this interpretation of the character, but it totally tracks with her '90s era. However, this doesn't track with the serious and capable psychiatrist Laura that Ron was going for a couple years ago. And even though I am so not fond of JLB in this role, she did very well this week, and it was the first time she's been given meaty dramatic material in any of her returns.

Given how Maggie is now Xander’s #1 fan, I’m not taking her as a judge of character seriously. Lol. This Bonnie story is displaying how stupid it was to kill off Adrienne. I am glad that Wally Kurth and, especially, Judi Evans are still being used... they have been such team players in daytime, rolling with whatever punches have come their ways. After being front burner to forgotten, it’s so nice to see them still get play on their shows at this stage in their careers.