j swift

You have got to watch for the third personality, every soap fan knows, DID comes in threes…

I'm still not over the total disconnect of the exterior shot of the Dimera mansion and the imaginary placement of the suspects during this mystery. They actually show us a fully gated property. And then we're supposed to believe that there were at least 4 people just wondering about at night? And none of them bumped into each other hanging around the tunnels? I enjoy the murkiness of Belle's motives toward EJ. Like @Antoyne noted, she is fully aware of his entire history that repulses everyone else in her family. So, is it really love? Does she want to fix him after she failed to fix Shawn-D? Is it to get back at Sami? Or, does she like feeling pursued after doubting Shawn's loyalty toward her? I might be reading too much into it, but I like that we can feel their chemistry, even if we can’t fully trust their motives. That uncertainty keeps things interesting. On a more practical note: Paulina’s costuming needs attention. The large necklaces, seemingly meant to cover her cleavage, are distracting. Whether intentional or not, they don’t flatter her. She looks strong and energetic—her wardrobe should reflect that. I’d like to see at least one new flashback per episode. The constant repetition of scenes we’ve already seen doesn’t help move the mystery forward. We understand that everyone had access to a gun, and only Roman and Jada stored theirs properly. Time to move on. As for Sami—she continues to deliver. AS's ability to act so convincingly with someone she has no history with, while her other scene partner is in a fake coma no less, is impressive. It’s a performance worth watching for any *Days* fan.

@Franko recently reposted a list of impressive actors being considered for casting when Passions was being developed that had been previously posted by @DRW50 It occurred to me that one of the many lessons learned from the dreck that is Passions, casting, doesn't always help. They had prime actors who had either done great work, or went on to great work. But, once you've got a chimp nursing an old lady for laughs, Larry Olivier couldn't pull off that nonsense. It is easy to caught up in excitement over an old favorite coming to a new soap. But, Passions always told us ,”be careful what you wish for” (and they used the dangling participial).

On another topic: Given that Janet was clearly an afterthought once the character of Natalie needed a new antagonist, did we ever find out much about their backstory? I recall the well, etc etc. But, do we ever get the narrative connection from what drove Janet to madness to how Natalie wound up with wealthy Alex Hunter? Were the Hunter's Canadian? And what are the chances that both Natalie and Jeremy would have long-lost evil twins that they never told anyone about? It felt like they tried to brush the Alex stuff under rug, but I want to know how she initially got involved with that family?

No, I don't think they ever fought, because Phoebe tended to avoid Charles and Mona (and by default Erica, who was mostly in NYC at that time). She tried to actively outcast Mona, and she wouldn't let them join the Pine Valley Country Club. Which of course wound up just causing Phoebe pain and sorrow when she was seduced there by the notorious Wade Matthews. But, Pine Valley's second most popular type of employment was the "oldest profession.” So, odds are a single woman might get conned.

No, Phoebe disliked Mona for 'stealing away' her husband Charles, and that was transferred on to Erica.

J'adore an overly complex 1985 updo. It is so funny to think of these young women looking so mature in the fashions of the day.

A Completely Uninformed (and Therefore Not a Spoiler) Theory on EJ’s Shooting My initial theory was that one of the criminals targeting Doug3 mistakenly shot EJ. That would neatly set the stage for Holly and Doug3 to investigate the crime together, initiating a romantic subplot and offering Doug3 a path to redemption with Julie. However, EJ clearly recognized his assailant—unless there were multiple shooters, which would be excessive even by Salem standards. Revised theory: it was Sami. I feel like, the only way she knows that Johnny knows about the rape is if EJ told her. Rafe will uncover the truth via the bug he planted in EJ’s living room and opts to keep Sami’s secret (after they sleep together while he's on a 'break' from Jada). When EJ regains consciousness, he chooses not to expose Sami. Instead, he leverages the situation to blackmail Rafe, protecting himself from prosecution.

When did Paulina have time to talk to the ADA about prosecuting EJ for Sami's rape? And, if they have an ADA, why don't they ever promote that person? That might saved EJ's life. I have a theory that I'll share in the DAYS monthly spoiler section

Ironically, I don't think Will and Allie are necessary, although their responses are interesting, they never thought of EJ as a father. I think the missing component is Carrie. The sibling rivalry is what really starts everything, so it would be captivating to see that union healed. Unfortunately, Carrie has such a tenuous relationship with Salem, that it might not have as much of an impact, but would provide closure.

I think we all could've predicted 90% of the quotes in the article going back to the roots of the show focusing on core families telling multi-generational stories At this point, it's like the prototypical Miss America speech about world peace. And yet, in generations of journalists, nobody has ever challenged a producer on these vague promises.

I don't understand how Sami knows that Johnny found out she was raped? - Is that supposed to be a clue, or am I missing something? He keeps saying that he couldn't get in touch with her. And, I don't imagine he told her through voicemail. So, how does she know that he knows? I also don't know how Chad knew that EJ raped Sami, but somehow it feels more plausible that it was discussed during Abby's recovery. So, I didn't question that scene. I liked the very adult scene between Alex and Sarah. I'm trying not to let external stuff get in the way of just enjoying the 40 minutes of streaming time. And I found that once I let that go, I enjoy Alex. Even though we have no solid character analysis of him, other than, he's quick to anger and equally quick to calm down and forgive. On the other hand, it felt incredibly juvenile for Xander and Philip to gloat to Gabi about taking over her company (that she owns from a divorce settlement, so it seemed odd that she was so quick to give up the fight). I also like the creative storytelling of slowly filling in the time gap between when we last saw everyone prior to EJ getting shot, and where they were during the shooting. Finally, Sami's dress was a good choice to indicate that she just flew in from Italy. There was something very Dolce&Gabanna about the print and the fit.

Ironically, I like the fact that JJ and Shawn had scenes in a variety of settings. Yet, given the filming schedule that we've heard about, I'm willing to bet that Sami never leaves EJ's side for this entire visit to Salem. Maybe we'll get a second set of scenes with Roman and Kate at the Pub. But, I wouldn't be surprised if we never see Sami in more than two places.

Far be it from me to ask anyone to rehash old gossip about Ms. Phelps being the only executive producer ever to attempt influencing the notoriously inscrutable Daytime Emmys.😎😉 Rather, allow me to clarify my point: I’m suggesting that if one examines the storylines and performers nominated during her tenure, might there be any substantive reflection of the oft-repeated accusation that she harbored misogynistic tendencies? Because if she was trying to sway the Emmy voters to focus on selective writing and performances. It gives us insight into what she wanted to promote, and if that aligned with her alleged misogyny. I am merely asking if anyone has insight into that data? Like many here, I don’t place much stock in the Daytime Emmys as a meaningful barometer of quality. I only referenced the awards as a relatively neutral indicator of which stories and performances were at least considered noteworthy by the industry at the time.

A considerable suspension of disbelief was required today. Yes, I understand there’s no SEC in the Days-verse to scrutinize the DiMera/Titan merger—but how, exactly, do Xander and Philip have the phone numbers of the entire DiMera board? And let’s not forget: Titan shuttered Theresa’s magazine just a few months ago due to the poor sales of a single issue. Who in their right corporate mind would want to merge with that? Also, Mr. Shin flew into Salem a day after the stock dipped—but didn’t bother showing up when his son's murderer was caught or his daughter was kidnapped? I won’t even delve too deeply into today’s most glaring ask of the audience—Belle. If one is aware they’re imagining a conversation, why would they say it out loud? Unless, of course, they also know they're on television. When I’m alone in a hospital room, I manage to keep my inner monologue inner. But somehow, thanks to Salem’s uncanny sense of timing, Sami manages to bypass Aunt Kayla and slip into EJ’s room just in time to overhear her sister’s big confession. The highlight for me? JJ and Shawn. I appreciate that the show uses them to bounce ideas off each other rather than leaving one detective to soliloquize about motives and opportunities like a noir throwback. Also, the bullet still being at the hospital? Perfect. It neatly reaffirms that every division of the Salem PD is reliably incompetent, and gives JJ and Shawn a plausible reason to be there. In summary: logic may have taken a personal day, but at least the banter was gainfully employed.

May I ask anyone to either confirm or deny this memory of Cliff & Nina's (first) wedding? I recall that Phoebe did not attend because Palmer, following Nina's wishes, invited Dr. Tyler, who would be bringing Mona (seen center-left, daring to wear white to a wedding 😉👰). Dr. Tyler worked with Cliff, and he was part of Nina's treatment team, so it seemed like a natural request. But, Phoebe lived next door to Palmer, so she would be invited, despite the fact that she did not want to be in the space as the new bride of her ex-husband. However, I can never remember if Erica went to the wedding or stayed in the city? I always thought of there being a rift between Erica and Phoebe (given their various interactions throughout the 70s). Despite the idea that later writers tried to sell them as respected ol'pals. Which I track as starting at that anniversary episode when everyone gathered at the Martins (including Erica), to look at old family picture albums. One could hardly image Ruth Martin inviting Erica Kane over for tea and memories. But, it shows what a gracious hostess Ruth, and Mona, could be.

@chrisml I’d encourage you to take a look at the actresses who received awards during Jill Farren Phelps’s time as producer. I did a bit of a research dive a couple of years back, using awards as a way to gauge both industry recognition and broader appeal. What I found was interesting: more women than men received acting honors during her tenure, and notably, many of the winning actresses were older. So, the recognition wasn’t limited to the typical damsel-in-distress roles—we saw a broader range of women being acknowledged. That said, awards are just one way to look at things. I’d be curious to know if you spot any other trends in the data—especially if the observations are based on facts rather than behind-the-scenes speculation, or the based on the experience of actors who may be bitter because they were fired, regardless of who did the firing.

So, it's not as far off as I assumed. And, given that her agency is internationally funded, she doesn't need to know a lot about the legal statutes regarding evidence.

At what point do we begin to be concerned that a grown, unhoused, criminal is sleeping in his underwear next to a 17-year-old high school student? Even if we overlook the age difference, Maggie has a mansion full of staff that never noticed a tattooed stranger in their midst? The security is very lax ever since Xander moved in. I hope he hasn't done a buy-out of nonessential household staff. 😉

I would argue that the origins of DiMera Enterprises can be traced back to the introduction of Tony DiMera. The current head writer may be guilty of many literary sins, but he does, on occasion, gesture toward historical continuity. In Tony’s initial storyline, he and Alex Marshall were conspiring to seize control of Anderson Manufacturing—a move driven by Bob and Chris’s development of residential solar power technology. From the outset, DiMera has operated as a global conglomerate: its retail ventures functioning as a public-facing façade for deeper interests in energy, shipping, and medical engineering. Anna DiMera’s fashion line once masked DE’s more nefarious undertakings, much as GabiChic appears to do today. All that said, I would make these points—except that the person who started this discussion recently informed us they no longer watch the show. So I do question whether there’s any utility in exploring historical context within a thread ostensibly focused on the current episodes. Within the current context DE is just a McGuffin. People barely work there, and beyond the revolving door of CEOs, we only know 2-3 other employees.

I've often wondered what if Blaine had been spun off into her own storyline? Given that, she was more naturally associated with western culture. Picture this: she’s just been exonerated of murder, ready for a clean slate. She and Sandy decide to leave their troubles behind and relocate to Houston, where they buy a local TV station.

Another context variable that seems to have been ignored in our discussion thus far, is that this was 1980, during the height of Luke and Laura. I just looked it up. Texas premiered on August 4th, 1980. August 6th, 1980, Luke and Laura danced at Wyndham's Department Store. Which then meant that their first November sweeps period was dominated by the L&L wedding, which was (arguably?) the highest rated episode in daytime history. I don't care how cute Donald May was at the time. Nobody was going to compete against Luke and Laura by focusing on the past loves of Iris Cory. It did not matter if they weren't in direct competition, the youth were driven to ABC that summer.

WHILE, we are welcoming of all new ideas and opinions, it is important to recognize that sometimes those new ideas and opinions are incorrect, and engagement can be found more organically. That being said, to me, one of the highlights of the show for the past year has been Julie's friendship with Chad.

And it goes without need to mention that they should've given credit to Irna Phillips and William J. Bell on the cover (or paid an actual actor for use of their image), is it such a foreign concept to share the wealth?

Why can we see the boom mike above Vivian's head? One assumes it is because she is so much shorter than her scene partners, but that is also ridiculous.