j swift

If we are just playing the numbers, the proportion of established soap actors who've failed as re-casts is high. So, while I understand the urge, I would still have cast her as a McKinnon, given that the McKinnon's were the prevailing salt-of-the-earth family at the time. But, I would've cast her Donna's aunt, who married Vince's brother (to avoid any familial impact on Marley and Jake). She's a good woman, and long ago, Reginald would've preferred her over her sister. Now, he seeks her out as a calming force for both Donna and Victoria.

@AbcNbc247 That has to be a red herring, right? I had to laugh at the thought of Marlena zip-tying Orpheus off-screen. Or do we think she just stood there holding the gun while he tied himself up? Did he carry the zip ties (which would be unnecessary, he was going to kill her) or did she pack them (which seems unlikely)? Or was she staying in the 'spy suite' and that's an amenity? l😉l I've completely lost track of where everyone is at this point—they seem to be teleporting. But I’m guessing Steve is at “the facility” now, not the hotel? But, wasn't the café in front of the hotel, meaning that Steve and Andrew completely missed Orpheus entering the hotel while they gabbed. Also, it's 2025 (or 2023, if we're going by the filming date). Why is everyone relying on audio instead of visuals? Belle could easily have filmed EJ with her phone, and Rafe would have gotten far more information by planting a Bluetooth camera in the room. Also, this is the third time that Andrew has turned his head and let a suspect escape. I think Shane needs to re-order that nepo-agent some basic training. And, while I'm willing to accept that Rafe used the tunnels to avoid the huge gates we saw last week, why doesn't EJ lock the tunnels from both sides? Otherwise any Tom, Dick, or Arnold could get inside the mansion.... Final thought, doesn't Grandma Belle-a-hari want an agreement with Jada that if EJ starts flirting with her, they'll edit that part out of the evidence? I'm assuming Salem is a one-party consent-to-record state. Figures...

My thought exactly... 👏

I thought it was the opposite. Xander offered to buy it, but Sarah thought the dire state of the hospital would drain the coffers of his company.

The irony in Kristin's last line is that it only takes a couple of people to fill the Horton Town Square. It's not the achievement that it once was. Also, she helped bring him back from the dead last time. So, the threat level is quite low.

This might reveal my naïveté, but I’m not even sure if my issue falls under the executive producer’s responsibilities. Still, I wish the production team included someone with more experience in streaming. The show is still edited like it’s airing on network TV—with short scenes, limited camera movement, and conversations chopped into chunks, cutting away as soon as someone asks a question. I’ve made the conscious choice to sit and watch the entire episode by opening the app and streaming it. The production doesn’t need to rely on old tricks to keep me hooked. Instead, I’d prefer they focus on longer emotional scenes, letting those big reveals breathe and resonate. My second wish, to repeat myself from this month's DAYS discussion - they need to scale down the crimes and consequences to create stories they can afford to tell within the limitations of their production.

And one more thing… GabiChic managed to survive its owner going to prison for murder (and it wasn't the first time), yet now Melinda is raising alarms over an article in The Spectator? The stakes just don’t feel believable. I mean, who’s invested in the drama surrounding a one-woman fashion line that no one seems to wear? Is it even stocked at PriceMart? Plus, Gabi doesn’t need yet another reason to hate EJ, so those scenes felt like a complete waste, only to reveal that Melinda sold the necklace.

Alex’s reaction reminded me of two things: first, as everyone keeps pointing out, nobody in Salem can keep a secret; second, people are oddly more forgiving of Philip's lie than Theresa’s forgery. Theresa gave Alex a fortune, and he wanted her to rot in prison. But Philip works with Vivian to steal Xander’s inheritance—again—and everyone shrugs it off with, “Well, he kind of deserved it, so we’ll let it slide.”

On the one hand, I'm relieved Stephanie didn't resort to a ridiculous lie—like claiming she and Philip were secretly rehearsing a waltz for the hospital fundraiser. On the other hand, it's disappointing that Sarah and Stephanie didn’t seize the opportunity to leverage the situation and pressure Philip into saving the hospital. I enjoyed their scenes together, but it's frustrating that, being clearly more astute than their partners, they haven't come up with a smarter plan.

Is Orpheus undercover as a riverboat captain? What's with his outfit? And why hasn't Marlena taken off her coat the whole time she's been out of the country?

I blame a recency effect. If Lucas hadn't just been such a pain while he was in prison, he would've been higher on the list. Unless it is based on looks, then I would have to say Austin is definitely the most handsome of her sons.

If you play Strands on the New York Times site, you might find today's puzzle intriguing.

When Johnnie came to Salem, he was going to make a movie about Sami, featuring EJ. Are we now to believe Johnnie's conception would have been kept out of the movie about their origin story? Isn't this a huge plot hole? I know he quickly pivoted to try to make the film about Marlena's possession, but wasn't the rape in Will's script from a couple of years ago? If so, wouldn't Johnny have prior knowledge about the assault?

Final thought, back to The Spectator. If I were giving notes to the writing staff, I’d suggest focusing more on stories where the consequence is public shaming (using the newspaper or social media) rather than jail. For example, doesn't it feel liked a missed opportunity to not have Tate's response to what his peers are saying about Sophia on Pins&Needles (the Salem version of Threads)? Because that feels like it would be a daily harassment zone. Larceny, fraud, and kidnapping usually end with the villain either going to prison or escaping justice in some outlandish way. But if companies like Titan and Dimera faced cultural backlash instead, it could still define a villain without needing them to break the law to stay relevant. They need to scale down the crimes and consequences to create stories they can afford to tell within the limitations of their production.

I think they're doing a fantastic job building up the tension. Even if I didn’t know something big was coming, it feels like it’s just around the corner. Today’s episode hit the peak with so many characters fingering knives and guns—there was in fact too much fingering for my taste. Thought #2: There’s no way Holly seriously believes Maggie would be fine with her hiding a felon in her bedroom (and using her printer to help him with his resume). Also, does this mean The Bistro has been without a maître d' ever since that creep Ava killed after he attacked her? Thought #3: I really appreciate that they’re using Chad appropriately as a newspaper publisher. 'Muckraker Chad' has so much potential. And given that he’s already weighed appeasing his family, it could create a unique dynamic—Chad wanting The Spectator to succeed as a legacy for his kids, not wanting to get too close to EJ or Kristen, and still knowing right from wrong. He could be Salem’s version of William Randolph Hearst—Citizen Chad. I don't get why we haven't seen anyone directly respond to Chad, (nor whether he got the mustard out of his shirt). While I don’t usually engage in backstage drama—I prefer overthinking what's onscreen—I have to agree that the establishing shots are more distracting than helpful in setting the tone. They make me question how the DiMera entry gates looks like that, especially when two weeks ago Brady walked from the mansion to the square. And if the gates exist, why do so many people just barge in the living room? And if Aremid is suddenly within walking distance of Rachel’s house, does that mean Alamainia is now next to Smith Island? Instead of enhancing the experience, it pulls me out of it. Not only do the interior and exterior curtains not match, but the circumstances of the plot don’t fit the urban vibe the establishing shots suggest. I mean, that's a huge hospital to save by tap dancing fundraisers.

Johnny, a bit of advice for a dad-to-be who has only had one job in his adult lifetime, maybe he should ask for a settlement from EJ before closing the door on that side of the family? And I think we all agree that the Amy conflict makes no sense. She's saying to two teenagers that unless they vet a couple to adopt their baby, then they must raise it for the next 18 years?!? Why would anyone listen to her? I mean, even if Amy kicks Sophia out, we saw that Pauline treats the homeless in Salem to free pastries every morning, so it is not that bad.

Oh, @TEdgeofNight, I assumed that you and I didn't know what Jarley was because we stopped using portmanteaus a decade ago. When we learned, it had become parlance of adolescents who needed a sense of community in order to validate their devotion.

2 basic questions, because I'm not that into today's episode. When they eat at those tables in the square, is that exclusively for The Bistro? Or could Sweet Bits customers eat there as well? Because aren't they outside the window of the Pub (which is also open for breakfast)? Why do people in Salem want to eat outside by a dock? It has to have an unpleasant smell, given its proximity to the waste from so many local retail businesses. In their universe, Gwen doesn't resemble Theresa, correct? So, Gwen couldn't return undercover as Theresa by just tossing on a wig? And I mean literally tossing on a wig.

Also, allegedly, Julie's number is still written on the stall at Salem High School.

Tate has Julie's number because he is on his father's (actually Grandfather John's) cell plan. Plus, I am pro more texting and calling in soaps. They visit each other for dumbest reasons. I mean, the band quitting a lame excuse when your family knows Savanah Wilder for rock bands, or Melissa Horton as a Nashville connection.

Of all the scenes to skip today, make it Cat and Chad. Isn't the idea of a dream girl who is gorgeous, but also loves sports, a bit passé? And Chad grows a brain for three seconds to brainstorm about Clyde, then gets completely distracted. Also, those sets/kitchens are so small, it is a wonder that they don't spill mustard on each other more often. Also, it is a pet peeve when there is no resolve of the Friday cliffhanger on the following Monday.

How pathetic, 26 years later and I still can't figure out the blind items! 😉🫣😎

He had a successful Broadway residency last year. I would imagine that he'll have a Sutton Foster-like career, where he'll always be bankable to investors of stage shows, but he'll never have big mainstream success.

This was during my infancy, of course, but I was always more anti-Alice, than pro-Rachel&Steve. Steve always gave me the creeps. I think it was the baritone voice and the greasy hair. So, it didn't matter to me which lady ended up with him. However, I never liked the character of Alice until she returned as a doctor. She always seemed so fragile. It made me nervous. And, I think the writing was well-balanced between Rachel being cruel, and Rachel being motivated by her anger over feeling rejected by her father. It doesn't take a Freudian to draw the through lines from Gerald to Rachel, as well as from Jim to Alice. So, Rachel never felt unhinged. I think her triggers were clear, and Russ was too obtuse to read them properly. As a result, when she later faught with Iris they both understood that they shared the same pathology despite class differences. BTW when George Reinholt showed up on OLTL with now an even more out of date, but still greasy haircut, it solidified that I was never going to be a fan. Meanwhile, Jacqueline Courtney updated her look between shows and I was a big fan of Pat, and the later iteration of Alice. On a seperate note: I finished the Texas book, so I went back to AWHP to read the synopses of the transional period, it is remarkable how story time was wasted on superfluous expansion characters, as well as the establishment of Summerset, Point Clare, and the Houston clans.

I was surprised the e-book hasn't been released, because that is how I read his last book.