j swift

Today was a lesson for me personally in trusting the process. It was about learning to just enjoy the show while I'm watching. Rather that trying to stay two steps ahead. And, I really need to stop torturing myself with spoilers. All week, I was convinced Sophia was going to use that photo to publicly shame Holly in some over-the-top way—either to humiliate her or manipulate Tate into feeling sorry for her. Instead, what we got today was way more age appropriate. Sophia was using her available resources, she didn't need a magic potion, or some huge plot. It was not the smartest plan to get revenge on Johnny. But, even that is explained by the fact that she's 18. So, I'm relieved that despite herself, Sophia is not irredeemable. Also, are we really meant to believe that no one has noticed anything about the baby's racial background? If the child has any visibly East Asian features—such as epicanthic folds, dark straight hair, or a flatter nasal bridge—it seems unlikely that no one would raise questions. It feels like, in trying to sidestep any racial dimension to this storyline, the show is bypassing what should be an obvious narrative complication. I remember B&B once used the racial difference between a Black potential father and a white one as a built-in narrative clue in a “who’s the daddy” plot. So the absence of any commentary here—especially when the only East Asian family in town is Melinda and the Chois—really sticks out. I understand the desire to keep this about teenaged love, but it’s odd that race isn’t even part of the visual or social recognition around the baby. For example, it would've been less complicated (and timelier to 18 months ago), if Sophia had written the social that she wished her baby to go to an East Asian home (although I recall Amy mentioning that during the adoption process). BTW -- there's no politically correct way out of this, IMHO, because if they write that Tesoro has no traits, that assumes the non-Asian traits were dominant, which would be akin to erasure.

The chaos that an overnight blackout had on the society of Salem seems overwrought. (looting, people afraid to leave their homes, people instantly kissing). Especially when you take into account that the average citizens did nothing during multiple serial killers, demonic possessions, and submarines in the town's history. I assume Gen Alpha is ruining the traditions of life in Salem. 😉

But, the social worker came early for a surprise inspection?

There's an ironic humor that we all assume it's Aaron because DAYS wouldn't hire another teen character to be Sofia's hookup. 😉 Here's the loose thread I need explained. If Sofia knew that Tate wasn't the father of her baby. He wasn't able to get her an abortion in Salem. Why wouldn't Sofia tell Aaron he was actually the father so she could've had an abortion in Canada (or wherever Aaron was).? Like, why go through the whole nine months, if she knew Tate wasn't going to be with her? And wasn't pregnancy prevention more of a priority than scoring with Tate? Thus, the only explanation that I would buy is that Sofia didn't think Aaron was the father, and she'll be surprised by the news.

Aaron comes off as a pretty lousy friend here. Sure, he was in Canada for most of the pregnancy, but we know Tate told him Sofia was expecting. Aaron even referenced it at graduation. So for him never to mention that he slept with Sofia? That’s a major bro-code violation. I’m holding off on final judgment until we see how it all plays out, but it’s not looking great. Also, what exactly was Sofia’s plan with that photo? She didn’t know the evil social worker was at Johnny’s house. Was she just hoping Chanel would stumble across it? At first, I thought she was being strategic, but the more I think about it, the more it feels like pure dumb luck dressed up as clever plotting. Final irritants of the episode: Was that evil social worker sent from 1962? Why are adoption workers treated so poorly by soaps? They're all stuck-up white ladies who should be running a debutante ball, not a government child care agency. Kayla won't run a DNA text without consent, but she will reveal private health information of two adults (Tate and Sofia)? I hope Melinda helps Sofia sue the hospital for so much money, she winds up as the new owner. Why does Stephanie need to remain anonymous, if nobody knows who she is? The stakes are so low. What's the worst that would happen if EJ announced Stephanie was an author? Two people would be surprised, the other 300 million of us would not notice.

Agreed. I was recently watching Y&R from 1986, and they had a love scene go on for three separate segments. The episode kept cutting back to the couple doing it on a bed. These days, you hardly get a peck on the cheek. Everyone wakes up naked in bed, under the strategic sheet that somehow covers her chest, and his waist. But, there's no music laden humping. If I wanted to see a couple talk in bed, I'd watch a coffee commercial.

Here’s what I found on Belle Black’s canon history using Chat GPT, and whether there is any documented asthma or breathing‑disorder diagnosis. (Short answer: I found no credible evidence of her having asthma prior to a more recent storyline.) Character Background & Major Storylines (Brief) Belle Black (full name Isabella “Belle” Black, sometimes Belle Brady or Kiriakis, etc.) is the daughter of John Black and Marlena Evans. (Wikipedia) The “Who’s Who in Salem” bio notes that in 1998, Belle ate chocolate laced with penicillin (intended for Marlena, who is allergic to penicillin), but Belle survived. (SoapCentral) No major medical‑chronic‑illness arcs appear in standard bios or histories. Her dramatic troubles tend to be emotional, relational, or threats (kidnapping, memory loss, betrayal, paternity secrets, etc.). (SoapCentral) So: Belle’s documented canon history includes medical crises (pregnancy risks, miscarriage, near‑death events) but nothing that is obviously an asthma or chronic respiratory diagnosis in the standard character profiles or “Who’s Who” entries. Search for Asthma / Breathing Disorder Mentions I conducted deeper checks, and here’s what surfaced: A recent soap news article (The Rinse, Soap Hub) mentions that in a current episode, Belle suffers an “asthma attack” while stuck in an elevator with EJ. (Soap Hub) The article states: “She had an asthma attack. He said: Feel better. She wanted to take a nap.” (Soap Hub) However, this is presented in a spoiler / recap context, not in a verified “character bio / canonical medical record” format. A Facebook forum post (NBC/Peacock DOOL group) mentions “she begins coughing, claims she has asthma (have they ever mentioned that?)” (Facebook) That post is viewer speculation / commentary, not a canonical reference. I did not locate any earlier canon source (SoapCentral, official “Who’s Who,” DOOL wikis, or major historical recaps) that documents Belle as having asthma or any chronic breathing disorder prior to this more recent storyline. The major character histories (SoapCentral, Fandom) do not list respiratory illness or asthma among Belle’s known medical conditions. (SoapCentral) If we search more broadly across fan wikis and historical recaps, nothing credible turns up describing Belle Black having asthma historically. Assessment & Caveats The mention of an asthma attack in The Rinse suggests that the show (or at least recent plotlines) is introducing or acknowledging asthma as a condition for Belle. That might be new canon (a retcon or new development). (Soap Hub) But as of now, there's no evidence in the archival canonical sources that Belle had ever been diagnosed or pegged with asthma or a breathing disorder prior to that mention. Because soaps sometimes introduce new medical conditions as plot devices, this might be a recent addition rather than a longstanding trait Theo & PTSD However, I disagree with the consensus on Theo's PTSD being a similar "newfound plot device" After JJ quit the police force, he and Theo formed a friendship Then, JJ left South Africa, and immediately went back to being a cop So, I understand Theo's feeling of betrayal of their friendship It's like if your friend was a bad chef who gave people food poisoning because he refused to wash his hands. He vows to go into food safety philanthropy. Then, you meet him three years later, and he's slinging burgers with dirty hands again. The anger would be understandable.

I'm not anti-blackout, as I am on a wait and see basis. However, it pains me to remind us all that Cat and Chad just played out the "stuck in the elevator and kissed" scenes last month.

To be fair, it's private property. Tracy's parents are presumedly in there. Monica was a public figure, and Tracy is reacting to a stranger. So, it seems in character. They're both old ladies, so it is not as if there were threats of violence. That being said, I get the narrative value of a crypt on soaps, but it is still a creepy home addition. I mean, if the new Ms. Bard winds up owning the Q Mansion, is she going to want Edward's remains in the backyard?😉

As I was trying to say, before getting error messages: Today was a good use of Rachel. I’d been misled by spoilers into thinking she was going to confess to shooting EJ in a heart-to-heart with Thomas—but gossiping about the Cat and Chad kiss was a far better payoff. It felt age-appropriate, mischievous, and perfectly in character. That said, it’s getting distracting how often we’re served what feels like a second draft of scenes we’ve already watched play out. The show keeps retrofitting details, and it’s starting to feel like revisionist storytelling in real time. Take these examples: Version 1: EJ bought the hospital outright using his share of the merger funds Version 2: EJ needed an investor to make the purchase happen Version 1: Susan announces Stefano is alive Version 2: A cemetery visit (to a grave that isn’t Stefano’s) convinces Susan he’s dead Version 1: Cat was recruited by the ISA after her accident, strictly as an intel agent Version 2: Cat was recruited before the accident and occasionally worked in the field It’s like the writers are workshopping plot points from month to month.

This feels like an excellent use of Rachel. I was fooled by the spoilers into thinking that Rachel was going to confess shooting EJ to Thomas, but gossiping about the Cat and Chad kiss was much better. On the other hand, it is distracting how often we seem to be treated to a second draft of the original scene that we saw play out in real time. For example v1. EJ bought the hospital with his portion of the funds from the merger v2.EJ needed an investor to afford the hospital v1. Susan tells everyone that Stefano is alive v2. A trip to the cemetery (where Stefano is not buried) lets Susan know Stefano is dead v1. Cat was recruited by the ISA after the accident, but she was only an intell agent, not a field officer v2. Cat was recruited before the accident, and was sometimes also used as a field officer

What was the name of Cassie's creepy son? I only remember thinking, that kid actor played creepy very well. And that would've been a fun character to revisit as an adult if had to opportunity.

If we’re playing Imaginary, Time-Traveling TV Executive: The Mobile Game tm, here’s the move: we tried recasting Sally, we tried a new direction, and none of it landed. There’s no reason to believe a third attempt would’ve worked, and her absence was already being felt. So—bonus round—kill her off, grab the five points, and bring in Lisa Grady and the other ingénues we eventually grew to love. But here’s where it gets more layered. Suggesting that writing alone doomed Sally oversimplifies the process. Casting choices, actor availability, audience response, and behind-the-scenes dynamics all shaped the outcome. The fact that Taylor Miller’s version was so polarizing makes it hard to tell whether the character itself had lost momentum, or if Mary Page Keller’s original performance was simply irreplaceable. Either way, the decision to write Sally out wasn’t just a narrative pivot—it was a production calculus. I tend to reject conspiracy theories about network vendettas against certain families or histories. I don’t buy that every choice was part of some grand anti-Matthews agenda. At the time, these decisions were reactive—based on ratings, contracts, and shifting story needs. Sure, in hindsight we can trace patterns, but interpreting them as intentional strategy implies a level of planning that’s never been substantiated.

The irony is, we’ll never really know if Sally was a re-castable role. Taylor Miller’s casting was so polarizing that it’s impossible to tell whether it was Mary Page Keller’s unique spark that made Sally work, or if the character had become iconic enough to support a fresh interpretation. I mean, we could all name five actresses we’d love to see take a swing at Sally. But would it be more like Iris—where the recast still carried the DNA of the original? Or more like Sharlene, whose later incarnation felt worlds apart from her early days with Russ? Personally, I adored spunky Sally when she first met Catlin—so much more than her rebellious detour with Denny or the Peter Brady phase (Clarice’s brother). But I genuinely have no idea what Sally would’ve been like as an adult who survived the crash. Given the (IMO) underwhelming returns of Jamey and Dennis, I’m not sure whether I would’ve been satisfied with a toned-down, less sassy version of Sally.

**Hot take alert:** Mary Page Keller was basically playing Amanda Cory 1.0. Think about it—Sally was constantly orbiting the Cory family. Her sudden shift to brunette? Totally tracks. She had Rachel’s spunky attitude, and Mac's mix of elegance and edge. I miss ingénues like Sally: stunning in a gown, but also sharp, confident, and emotionally grounded. Writers clearly loved the idea of a “Cory Princess,” and you can see them testing that archetype with a few characters before finally SORASing Amanda into the role. As for Taylor Miller’s Sally? She was doomed from the start, and not just because of story mechanics. To make Britney sympathetic, Sally had to be sidelined. And let’s be real—I would’ve much preferred Sally heading off to visit Alice in Boston than getting run over in a plot cul-de-sac that went nowhere. But the show needed to pivot Britney’s character, and keeping Sally around would’ve made Britney the villain if she left with Catlin. Watching at the time, it seemed to be how the chessboard of soap plotting worked out, with story arcs, production realities, and actor contracts all colliding.

One of my favorites is the scene selected for 50 Years of Soap. Joyce invites Lisa to her wedding. Lisa declines not because she has an excuse, but she tells Joyce that she's declining simply because she doesn't like her.

This legitimately deserves its own topic, but here's my unrequested ranking. Using the three common criteria for a vixen in media (according to AI): Sexual allure: The term often refers to a sexually attractive, provocative, and glamorous woman. It can suggest a powerful or mysterious sex appeal. Cunning or cleverness: Drawing from the nature of the fox, a vixen can be characterized as clever, resourceful, and cunning. This can mean she is intelligently seductive or deceitful. Confident and spirited nature: A modern interpretation frames the term in a more positive or empowering light, referring to a woman with a strong will, confidence, and lively, spirited energy. I would rank from Brooke, Rachel, Jill, Lisa, to Erica as the ultimate of the five. Brooke - yes, she has slept her way through an entire family of brothers, more than once, and some of her daughter's lovers as well. However, the Forresters would be nothing without BELIEF (sp?). Brooke's prior degree in chemistry, or industrial engineering, fabric witchery made them wealthy. So, one could say that Ridge, Thorne, and Eric are actually the vixens of B&B and Brooke is the sugar-momma. Rachel - total vixen in the 70s. From manipulating the entire Matthews family into keeping the secret from Russ and Alice that Steve was Jamie's father, to out-vixening Janice in St. Croix, Rachel was a supreme. But, she hung up her vixen cape fairly early, and allowed Vicky, and others, to lead the pack at times in Bay City. Jill - yes, a vixen, but not very skilled. She literally fell into good fortune. She didn't have to do a lot of foxing on her own. Philip Chancellor provided the means necessary for her to fight Katherine. And, her good-looking divorce attorney John Silva got her the job at Jabot, with a salary, but no alimony. So, she was often a victim of her own greed. --- Speaking of a masterful scene, watch Jill's first day at Jabot. She thinks she's got it all, a big office, a six-figure salary, a cute male secretary. By the end of the day, Mrs. Chancellor barges her way into Jill's new office. She reminds Jill that, unlike Katherine, who used Mitchel for her divorces. Jill has to work in order to get her settlement. Lisa - @vetsoapfan said it all Erica - because she is the icon. You can argue if she was actually a vixen. But, the Jungian ideal of a vixen is Erica. When people define vixen, Erica Kane and Alexis Colby are the two names they use most often (according to Google's AI). So, to me, she's on top. I mean, you don't get more confident that telling a bear not attack you because you're Erica Kane. I like the three criteria structure because it accounts for the difference between a vixen and a villain. Rachel is a vixen because she possessed all three, Janice is a villain because her lack of confidence in Mitch's desire lead to her downfall.

Such a good comparison. Lisa and Jody got under everyone's skin, but the only weapon used to fight with them are accusations of over-estimated wealth. However, what bothers the cast is not a concern of the audience. We assume most of them over-estimate their wealth, so it is rarely an accusation that sticks, and it just makes the housewife look like a snob. There are plenty of more salient issues regarding Lisa's toxicity. Thus, to lay all of their stakes on the idea that she's not as rich as she appears feels like a first draft in need of a re-write. Time and again, if a housewife is faking their wealth, there are usually real world repercussions. So, these gals have got to let nature takes it course. Which is obviously tough for a group that was brought together at Beauty Lab & Laser, a business actually built on not letting nature take its course. 😎

As the wise man said, "Totes McOats" aka good point. But, even in our reality, they're all young adults, and viable partners. Chanel and Stephanie have hung out as peers. (remember the bachelorette party when Chanel got drunk?). I like that they're filling in that age group. Although, goodness knows where they'll all live. why doesn't Paulina ever hire anyone to work for her at PriceMart any longer?

I think of Theo as being in the Stephanie age range. So if Jeremy is coming in as a spoiler for her and Alex, then Liam would still be in their age group. Meanwhile, if Mark gets pardoned, he’ll join the list of bachelors: EJ, JJ, Shawn, Jeremy, Liam, Theo, Brady, Philip, Xander, and Rafe. Salem is becoming a bit of a sausage fest. 🌭 Also, note to Kayla: if your daughter—who has a legendary poor history with men—says she’s nervous about moving in with her boyfriend, don’t gaslight her with romantic wishes. Wouldn’t it be nice if a mother told her daughter to trust her gut now and then, instead of just pushing for marriage and babies?

@AbcNbc247, (1) - When did chronological age ever inhibit a story on Days of Our Live? 😉 (2) Ivy left because Mike was in love with Robin, Jeremy's eventual mother. So, he'd be 2-3 years older. 🤔

He was such a good crier that he was constantly cast in traumatic parts. I remember on GH when they shot that old man in the ally (Packy?), and they had Mike crying over the body for a full two episodes before they took the actor playing the dead guy away. I found it annoying as a kid myself, but now I think of how difficult that must have been for a little boy, on the set of GH, in the early 1980s. 🙈

Note: nobody ever advocates for the return of Audrey's grandnephew Jeremy Logan (slightly more mawkish than Mike, and much less adorable).😉