Didn't see a thread so thought I'd start it. What did everyone think?

Seems to me everything is so rushed and forced with the Willow stuff, she's not that integrated into the cast yet, but she's getting to chew Mimi out about how she trusted her and got her a job at Chez Rouge? I know she's just a plot device but do they have to make it so obvious? What the hell is she so mad at Mimi about anyway, for not knowing that it was her husband that Willow was banging? The actress is off-putting to me so far and the character's lines are so cheesy, not digging it at all.

Really enjoyed Steve/Stephanie today, I liked how she called him out on changing the subject, like she's picking up on his habits. Billie telling Kayla to fight for Steve was surreal, though. I know they're trying to dig the characters out of the triangle JER put them in but it's still not clicking for me on Billie's part. If you want her to fight for Steve, then back off the Patch man! Since when is it your job to goad her into it? I did like the mention of how Billie knows what its liked to be judged by everyone in the town, at the very least they should take this triangle as a chance to work on Billie's character. Mary Beth Evans is still fabulous.

I still don't get how Tek is in love with Lexie. He lusted for her, but what's this love based on? Comes off as an idiotic puppy dog, which is fine I guess since Abe and Lexie are now a rooting couple again. Speaking of Abe, I like how they're giving him authority at the cop shop, he is supposed to be the commissioner. And I really liked what he said to Lexie about not believing in "happily ever after", finally a check from all the fairy tale fa la la. Really liked the realistic approach to making marriages work, hope they keep it up.

Liked the Chelsea stuff, especially that new detective. And poor Bo, has one kid out in a storm with a hooker and another kid brought in for solicitation. Look on his face was priceless.

Liked the show today, sans Willow, next to whom even Mimi seems tolerable.

PS - Would appreciate it if Beemer and Rose stop over-enunciating the stops at the ends of their words. Otherwise Rose's delivery seems much more natural these days to me.

Tek's becoming stalkish towards Lexie lately.

Yeah, Hoagie's pacing is a good change, but it's VERY different. It's going to take some getting used to.

MeMe just STFU and leave Salem already!

It seems to me that Hogan is moving Farah Fath back to a supporting actress. Mim has become the "town crier" so to speak. She hears things and runs to other characters therefore moving their storylines along.

She moved the Philip/Belle storyline along after running back to Belle with the news of Philip leaving causing Belle to make the decision to let Philip go.

She overheard the news about Chelsea and will run to Hope causing turmoil in the Bope storyline and moving it along.

Mimi doesn't have a storyline of her own at the moment (even the Shawn stuff is more about Shawn/Belle than Shawn/Mimi).

Willow........ something is just not right about this girl. She is too interested in Shawn's childhood and his family life. She's becoming dependant on him to the point of weirdness. Sometimes she reminds me of Jan with her needing to belong to a "normal" family.

Peter Reckell was outstanding today in his scenes with Mimi and Billie. Loved the exasperated look on Bo's face as they both jabbered away at him about Shawn and Chelsea. Too perfect!

Tek needs to be smacked upside his pretty head. I used to like this character but I can't stand him at the moment.

It seems to me that Hogan is moving Farah Fath back to a supporting actress. Mim has become the "town crier" so to speak. She hears things and runs to other characters therefore moving their storylines along.

Thank sweet JESUS!

Thank sweet JESUS!

You and me both!

I'm wondering if Miss Willow is more than just a hooker.

Yeah, she's a DiMera chick. Remember JER started the glove thing and Jan was supposed to be the glove and Willow is probably the Jan-part of the DiMera's reeking havoc on the Brady's.

The story is so different I scarcely recognize it as Days anymore. The characters don't feel real even. Abe, was so off. Bo is not Bo.

What I did love was the Stephanie and Steve scenes. They work so well together and are very believable. Loved Kayla and Billie, too. This is becoming Hogan's story and it rings truer to me. Loved that Steve wants to rough up Max a bit on Stephanie's behalf.

Shawn needs to get back with Mimi. When he looked at Mimi when she showed up with Willow, the look on his face said to me at least that Farah's buddy-like nature has won Beemer. He actually has chemistry with her like all the guys do. I know the Mimi haters won't see this, but not everyone is a Mimi/Farah hater.

Tomorrow will be dramatic and infuriating....I read The Early Edition.

No, I hope Shimi is done and deader than the corpses at the graveyard. I'm actually looking forward to Max/Mimi, and the road that will be paved for Mabby. The Sweet Valley quad needs to end once and for all.

I'm actually looking forward to Max/Mimi

ITA. I think Mimi and Max would be good together. I kinda like Shallow, but it's something not right about Willow. I hope Hogan doesn't go down the "Shelle" road . They remind me of Bope and Lord knows they bore me to tears.

Even though I didn't get a chance to watch or tape Days today,I love that Hogan has made DAYS a much faster paced show.Sheffer tells a story fast anyway.If Willow becomes a problem,maybe Sheffer can find a way to kill her off if she proves in the long run to be unpopular with the fans.

For the first time in a long time, I actually enjoyed the Mimi scenes where she was chewing out Shallow. I like seeing the sarcastic side of Mimi.

I don't think that Billie is part of a Steve/Kayla triangle. I think there's more to the story than that. Did you guys notice after Stephanie kicked Billie out of her hospital room and when Kayla came up to Billie, Billie was text messaging someone. I thought that was an interesting scene thrown in there. I wonder who she was text messaging......

The other camera shot that I thought was kind of interesting was the closeup of Stephanie holding the medallion that Grandpa Shawn gave her in her hand, when Steve entered the room. I don't what that shot was supposed to mean (if anything) but it struck me when I saw it.

The camera shots are written by the scriptwriter/headwriter right? They're not the choice of the director, correct?

All in all, a pretty good show for a filler day...

For the first time in a long time, I actually enjoyed the Mimi scenes where she was chewing out Shallow. I like seeing the sarcastic side of Mimi.

I was going to say the same thing, Mimi didnt bother me at all and was glad Mimi let Willow have it. Mimi had some hilarious jabs at Willow.

How great is Rachel Melvin, she has fast become one of my favorite actresses. Those flashing heels Chelsea wore had me busting a gut. I don't like Chelsea being so obsessive about her parents getting back together though, she isnt 8 or 9 and never knew them until she was older anyway.

What the heck is Tek thinking, proposing to Lexie right in front of Abe?Even if Lexie wanted to say yes she wouldnt do that right in Abe's face. I hope Abe beats the snot outta Tek soon.

How cheap was that last scene with the GPS? That was fake as h.e.l.l!

Yeah, she's a DiMera chick. Remember JER started the glove thing and Jan was supposed to be the glove and Willow is probably the Jan-part of the DiMera's reeking havoc on the Brady's.

The story is so different I scarcely recognize it as Days anymore. The characters don't feel real even. Abe, was so off. Bo is not Bo.

What I did love was the Stephanie and Steve scenes. They work so well together and are very believable. Loved Kayla and Billie, too. This is becoming Hogan's story and it rings truer to me. Loved that Steve wants to rough up Max a bit on Stephanie's behalf.

Shawn needs to get back with Mimi. When he looked at Mimi when she showed up with Willow, the look on his face said to me at least that Farah's buddy-like nature has won Beemer. He actually has chemistry with her like all the guys do. I know the Mimi haters won't see this, but not everyone is a Mimi/Farah hater.

Tomorrow will be dramatic and infuriating....I read The Early Edition.

I would agree with you about getting back with Mimi, if Shawn hadn't met Willow because I also see the chemistry between Brandon and Farah. But no way now since Shawn has screwed Willow in every nook and cranny on the boat. I thought it was great how she handled the situation. Redemption is coming I can just smell it.

The characters don't feel real even.

I have to disagree there. I don't think we had any characterization, except by accident, under Reilly, so for me the only change is characters are starting to have personality again, not that they're turning an about face. There are a few off things, yes, messing with histories a bit, but what I see is an attempt to give characters some depth, and things will be rocky at first and there may be some missteps, but they feel more real and less plot-driven to me overall.