j swift

Well now we have to know the other three.

Speaking of Rafe and Javi, does anyone else find it odd that they figured out that Arnold has the family ring, and they didn't seem to care. Javi entrance story was all about how important the ring was to him, and now it is meaningless. My overthinking fanfic would have someone taking all the family artifacts, Alice's necklace, Rafe's ring, and a jewel from the Kiriakis and Demira family to create some McGuffin.

If Big Little Lies was produced in 1989, Jane Seymore would've been cast in Nicole Kidman's part, and the earnest nature of the production would have made it seem trashy. I would argue that the script for Big Little Lies would not have been out of place amongst the genre of female melodrama miniseries of the 1980s. I would also argue when accounting for inflation, the budget would have been close to what HBO spent on BLL (considering they often filmed in multiple foreign locations in the 1980s). It is simply that Max has the marketing cache to make a series like Big Little Lies seem like premium television drama. Those miniseries told engaging stories, but that was the only way they knew how to make them at the time.

I would argue that there are multiple cases of ingénues experiencing repeated trauma, but to demonstrate growth, they are usually a damsel-in-distress the first time, and the second time they have more agency. For example, Hope (DOOL) and Felicia (GH) became independent, in the eyes of the audience, once they were able to use the lessons learned from prior trauma to save themselves.

Are Shane and Kim remarried at this point, or did they just remain close?

And, to be fair, Mrs. Hayes hasn't had a director on DAYS who could guide her performance since her mother wrote the show.

searching around on EBay, I had no idea there were books

I’ve always cherished that early kitchen scene where Miss Ellie channels Lady Macbeth with Sue Ellen. She insists Sue Ellen needs to get pregnant fast—Pam’s younger, supposedly more fertile, and Jock would favor the first grandson. Right after, Sue Ellen bolts to seduce JR. We don't get to see that side of Ellie often, until she scoots over to see Carter McKay in her VW Rabbit Convertible. (still amazed that they didn't either drive American cars, and that it was before a network would work out a deal to advertise a car - imagine the #1 program today showing a closeup of a Mercedes-Benz every week, with no MB commercials, it would be nuts ). You’re all right—she was in on taking Lucy from Val. But, playing devil’s advocate, poor Gary was suffering deeply, trapped in the grip of addiction, and Val didn’t seem cut out for Southfork life or eager to stay. Miss Ellie likely thought she was doing what was best for her granddaughter. In that context, it feels less evil and more like a desperate, flawed attempt to shield Lucy. And, if we're honest about a young Val, it was not unreasonable to believe that she fed into Gary's dependency, which inhibited her maternal capacity.

Of course, you are correct. I conflated Pat and Lenore's story during the engagement party. It was relatively more embarrassing for Russ than for Mac. Because only three people were keeping it a secret from Mac. Meanwhile, everyone in Russ's family and their spouses knew Rachel's secret for months before him. (Correct this list if anyone is missing or incorrect) The people who knew Russ wasn't Jamey's father before he did included: Steve, Alice, John, Pat, Jim, Mary, and maybe Walter? Also, can anyone confirm - Zach only knew that Mac took a medication that caused sterility, so he figured it out that Mitch was the father. Nobody confessed to Zach prior to the trial that Rachel wasn't pregnant by Mac. Which lead to Mac's first most famous courtroom hysterics moment (obviously the second would mirror it, but with Iris).

I'm not sure which part of the story you're referencing. IIRC (which is never a guarantee) didn't Rachel tell Alice and Steve at their engagement party? Then, Alice calls off her engagement, she tells Jim, but begs him for secrecy. He tells Mary, but they agree not to upset Russ, also Pat had her own mishegoss. Rachel goes to a nearby town, so Russ can't tell how far along she is in the pregnancy. Then, Rachel returns to give birth. Jim is torn because Rachel wants a trust for Jamie so she can get a bigger apartment, meanwhile Pat wants Lenore's old place and she needs a loan.

I don't know about Kayla, but I know Kim miscarried when Eve was in a crisis over being forced into underage #$% work

Random question: If everything had gone according to plan, would Stefano really have been cool with Kristen and John raising EJ? It seems unlikely that he wouldn't have messed up that arraignment eventually. Because switching a baby to help Lexi be a mother makes a more sense than inseminating a look-a-like surrogate to help Kristen.

Somewhere in Kansas… “Mommy, mommy, can we use the Y&R plates for supper? I want the Lauren plate, not the Traci!”

I assure you, I'm an optimist, not a contrarian—but wouldn’t it be intriguing if this were the foundation for a long-lost child storyline set to unfold in the distant future? After all, Stefano’s grown children appeared out of nowhere in a Midwestern seaport far removed from his home. Imagine, 15 years from now, as we stream DAYS through advanced technology, Alex encounters Joy Jr. as an adult. It would offer us, the audience, a fun and satisfying call back. Or, a year from now, Stephanie finds out that she can't conceive (because she's actually older than EJ and in menopause). In a page out of GH, Joy dies, Alex and Stephanie want to raise Joy Jr, but Chloe joins forces with Philip to get custody because Parker is being a brat, and she needs to care for her sister's baby.

After careful contemplation of Friday’s episode, I couldn’t help but hope that Arnold, Joy, and Rachel Sr. escape the melodramatic confines of Salem and form a blissful throuple somewhere far more serene. Perhaps Fiji? Now, on to the ever-confounding world of soap opera law enforcement. Why do cops on soaps always fancy themselves as prosecutors too? JJ could’ve just arrested Trask and called in Belle for the legal gymnastics, but no—he had to deliver the statutory soliloquy on stolen goods like he’s lecturing in a first-year law class. Honestly, who speaks to their grandmother like that? Once again, I find the geography of Salem distracting. Are Julie, Marlena, and Maggie all within strolling distance of Horton Square, or has Salem collapsed into some space-time singularity where everything is simultaneously near and far? Is Horton Square the downtown nexus or just a glorified, slightly-outdated mall? And then there’s the Pub—it’s like a quantum object, once by the waterfront near the hospital, now in the heart of town but somehow still by the pier. I’m no cartographer, but these establishing shots aren’t doing much to orient anyone.

Thanks to @adams.delights on Instagram the Y&R plates they keep getting an odd perspective on Nikki happy to see Mamie got her own plate more plates What's up with Katherine's eyes? they de-hunk-ified Brad

It was such a strangely short run, and the ending seemed to turn on a dime between last week and this week. Perhaps she filmed the whole thing in two weeks, and has forgotten about it because it was so long ago? But, I assume her kid will haunt Alex and Stephanie forever.

I can't recall if Gabi got a settlement beyond ownership of GabiChic. You'd think she'd either get enough for her own place, or make enough for her own place. Especially because her nutty ex-assistant could afford a two-bedroom place, with a view. It's pretty suss that Gabi and JJ are both divorcees that can't afford to live in their own homes. And yet, they're one of the most eligible/least conflicted couples in Salem.

I hope Philip can take solace in that notion, given his perennial second choice status when it comes to affairs of the heart. That explains why we've never been given an update on her long-lost kid, Quinn. 😂👏😉

Knowing nothing from nothing, do we predict that Kevin will raise Ace in the other room for the next few years? Or do you think we'll get an explanation for his absence? Because I certainly hope that they are not looking to absolve Sonny of his sins, by practicing the common decency of helping his friend Laura through loss. And I'm not talking about the use of limousines, which is how Sonny has 'helped' women grieve in the past.

I concur. They're not even moving in together because they love one another. Leo is moving in because he could no longer pay his rent at The Salem Inn. Although, not only do we need to suspend our disbelief that writing B&S paid as well as Sloan, allowing Leo to stay on at the Inn. But also, we need to believe that after multiple people have broken into his room, Leo never decided to get a cheaper apartment. 😂 On the other hand, Rafe definitely seems like the type to send around a Venmo request to his roommates for Wi-Fi and other utility bills. As well as a 'chore wheel' and assigning different parts of the refrigerator for each roomie. I also don't think he is Vivian's favorite.

At this point, are they just using white tablecloths to costume Rachel Blake?

IIRC EJ and Kate were lovers, but not committed to each other. I've always felt Lucas was the favorite, because she spent the most time raising him. Then, Billie, Philip, Austin, Cassie, and Rex, in that order.

Credit: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Sometimes I look at an old DAYS wedding photo and think, “Why did that bride chose a teenager as one of her bridesmaids?” or “Where did Alice shop for all these formal events? Because it's not easy to find formal wear for women of a certain age” or “Damn, Grandpa Horton was an underrated hottie!” This time, I'm wondering, “Why did Shane ask Neil to be his best man over Roman?”