I loved this show, and I wanted to start a thread a little early because I just frickin' loved it. Deidre and Ali were the stars, they just shone as Marlena finally drew a line.

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Spoilers for US episodes until Monday.

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John/Marlena/Sami

John & Marlena are kissing (legs and all) as John tries to propose, when Sami comes barging in, not knocking and demands to talk to her mother. To quote Stephanie Tanner; "How rude!" She doesn't aknowledge John, the second person living in that home, even though John's smiling at her and offers to leave to give them time. Then comes the drama as Marlena asks Sami what's going on. Sami says her life is over and Marlena goes "Oh please don't be so melodramatic, come on..." - which is just awesome. Melodramatic is Sami's middle name. Sami tells her, blames Lexie and Carrie and Marlena doesn't buy into it.

Marlena faces away from Sami as Sami says A/C hate her, Will and Lucas moved out while Marlena stands there listening. She doesn't know what to say. Marlena asks if Sami cares about anyone but herself, Sami counters and Marlena stands up for herself. If I wasen't loving it already, I am now. Sami loves a lot of people. Her brother. Belle. Will. Curiously she never mentions her mother. Standing right in front of her, the person she's expecting to fix this mess.

Marlena exposes the act and says she knows what Sami wants her to do. Go to her daddy and make everything better. Sami asks HER to forgive her and Marlena can't (but when she turns around, it looks like she wants to because she takes a deep breath and closes her eyes). Marlena turns to face Sami and says that it's the last straw. She got herself into it, she has to get herself out of it.

And here it comes. Sami pulls the John card. And Marlena doesn't budge, she knows where it's going.

Sami says she's never liked John and Marlena counters that she has liked John, no, she's loved John. And here comes the awesomest moment yet. "But now you wanna play the little girl who wants her mommy and daddy to get back together. Well, guess what, it's not going to happen, so get over it!" And Sami is shocked. I am too. Shocked at how awesome these scenes are.

Sami asks if Marlena's talking as a professional or as a mother. And as her mother, Marlena says "I love you, and I pray for you, and I weep for you. But if you think you can manipulate me one more time. You had better think again." End scene. Next scene, Sami pulls the "as usual, when I need you" card and Marlena interrupts, she ain't buyin' it (but I AM lovin' it). Sami wants to finish, but heck, Marlena feels she can... She should, she's heard this same speech a thousand times before.

"I've heard it all before, let me see if I can get it right. I'm a terrible mother. I abandoned you when you were small. You were starved for affection, and I don't sympathize enough with your issues... Am I kinda going down the right road here?"

And Marlena stands up for true love. So Sami leaves, because she made a mistake coming there. Cue Sami exit. And awesome phone call happens. Marlena's upset over Sami and asks John when he's coming home.

Max/Abby/Stephanie

Stephanie's disappointed about Max not visiting her as Abby sits by her side. Abby leaves, goes to the garage where she's bought Stephanie a bear for Max to give her prompting a cutesy little Mabby momentand a kiss on the cheek (I'll take it). Max leaves and Shawn asks Abby if she has a crush on Max. Here it comes Mabbies!

John/Bo

So... Bo needs John's help. Again. Which I don't mind because hopefully it means that we'll see Marlena back in the spy game. Which was so fun in 2002. I like that the police department always need John to fix things. It's fun. They can't hire him, but they need him. Hilarious! Nice mention that Patrick helped save J&M on Morgan Island.

EJ/Patrick

Not really much to say, except that James Scott is HWBAB. Hot. When. Being. A. Badass.

I so loved Marlena in this episode. Hall & Sweeney were both great in their scenes together.

They always bring out the best in each other Mar was fierce, Sami was shocked. It was about daym time

It sounds it could be Dee's best performance in YEARS.

I cannot WAIT to watch this!! It's been so long since I've enjoyed Dee in a scene!!

I'm glad Marlena was tough on Sami. It's about time.

This sounds amazing. I can't wait to see this!

So glad to see Marlena is finally putting her foot down with Sami. It's been so long since that happened.

I was searching over at YouTube for classic DAYS clips and found the one from Sami's first non-wedding to Austin (the same one where he and Carrie married afterwards, Will's paternity came out, Carrie decked Sami, etc.). Apparently, this is when Roman had just returned had that rare blood disease and thought he and Marlena were still married. So John and Marlena had to sneak around to be togehter. Sami found them and started bad-mouthing Marlena. John went to grab her, but Sami retorted, "Don't touch me! You are not my father, even if you are sleeping with my mother." Marlena had enough and slapped Sami silly. Sami was so shocked her mother hit her, as was I.

I hope we start to see this Marlena again. I like feisty Marlena.

AWESOME!!!

I can't wait to see this!!

So glad to see Marlena is finally putting her foot down with Sami. It's been so long since that happened.

I was searching over at YouTube for classic DAYS clips and found the one from Sami's first non-wedding to Austin (the same one where he and Carrie married afterwards, Will's paternity came out, Carrie decked Sami, etc.). Apparently, this is when Roman had just returned had that rare blood disease and thought he and Marlena were still married. So John and Marlena had to sneak around to be togehter. Sami found them and started bad-mouthing Marlena. John went to grab her, but Sami retorted, "Don't touch me! You are not my father, even if you are sleeping with my mother." Marlena had enough and slapped Sami silly. Sami was so shocked her mother hit her, as was I.

I hope we start to see this Marlena again. I like feisty Marlena.

I love that she's fiesty. She hasen't been fiesty like THIS, well, ever. But if anything comes close, that'd be it. Marlena's softness where Sami's evilness is concerned is one of the things I never liked. Understood it, but didn't care for it.

*eagerly awaits today's episode.*

This was a great episode.

I love the start of Mabby. FINALLY! DAYS is seeing what we have all saw from the beginning.

I honestly do not care for Stephanie. I didn't see her as a baby. And I could not care any less about her character now either. I'm not even a big fan of Shayna Rose. Something about her is not NBC/DAYS. I might get blasted for saying that, but IJMO. So, Stephanie flatlining and all that crap with Max did nothing for me. Die for all I care.

Brandon Beemer is amazing. Love him to death. Maggie/Hope/Mimi was actually really nice! I hate both Mimi and Hope at the moment, but I enjoyed these scenes.

As for Sami/Marlena, WOW! Awesome. Both were great, of course. I liked Marlena's tough love with Sami, but I am also glad someone has finally called Marlena out on being a bad mother. And I like for once that Marlena kind of acknowledged that by saying John was there. Both of them deserved the words they got today!

Great stuff today.

The end of Max/Stephanie was wonderful. The flatlining deal was stupid. He's a crush, man. Girl's obviously obsessed- she needs help.

I've floved that Bo keeps saying "whoever he's working for".

Marlena/Sami was awesome. Marlena's got a back bone! Belle's got a backbone! Carrie's got a backbone! ...The hell?

Loved the Mabby moments today, especially how Max was just nonchalantly putting a shirt on during the entire exhange, totally teasing our poor, light-headed Abby.

Patrick/EJ was delicious. And is it me, or did John/Patrick's conversation sound totally down low?

AND: Bonnie on the phone with Lauren was a nice little reminder of that upcming SL.

Sami finally got a dose of tough love from her mom today! She's been needing it for years. Loved Deidre and Alison!

Brandon Beemer is quite the find. I love how the show is working him into the canvas of the show before pairing him up with Martha Madison's Belle. Smart move on their part.

MABBY! MABBY! MABBY! I can't wait for this one to start. Let's just hope Mimi isn't around interfering in that relationship for too long.

Patrick can't hold a candle to sinister E.J. Loved that face tap from EJ to Patrick today. James is great at playing a bad guy.

I LOVE having my show back! I can't wait to watch it every day.