Thank you Jean! Preach it!

If Belle was truly interested in Shawn for him being a father figure to Claire and that's it, she would've talked to Shawn and been done with it. Is that what the b!tch did? NOOOO! She has to go back to Willow's and start throwing her "holier than thou speeches" that the little princess is famous for.

I have to say that as annoying as Belle was today, this was the first time I've felt the true character of Belle was being displayed since Kirsten Storms was in the role. Belle is a character that worries only about herself. She's very self-centered and everything has to be perfect. Martha Madison plays a mature way of doing it, but it's still what I've been hoping to see from Belle for so long.

Belle has a right to yell and scream.

The reveal of Claire was big and so was J&J's farewell episode.

Belle has no right at all to even speak to Willow. Her business is with Shawn. Belle was bullying her way with Willow and all she actually wants is to bully Shawn, too. If Belle really just wanted Shawn to behave as her idea of a daddy, she would have at least given him a few weeks to show improvement, instead she inserted herself with foot in mouth into a place she had no business.

The reveal of Claire was so lame. It was apparent from the day of the barn scene. Disgusting. Practically rape, Belle was engaged to Philip and this was something neither Shawn nor Belle thought enough about to even remember. What a beginning in the world for Claire. I hope that she really is Philip's child to give her some dignity.

Practically rape

Okay Jean, you've lost me. How can Belle and Shawn's romp in the barn be considered rape? LOL.

Shawn is Claire's father, Jean. Therefore, anything Shawn does has an affect on Claire's life. He has been acting out recklessly and Willow only encourages that behavior (ex: the whole episode aboard the Fancy Face III). Shawn is being destructive too himself and others (driving into buildings, etc) so Belle has a right to be concerned now that he wants to be involved with Claire's life. She needs to be able to take him seriously and needs him to prove himself. Therefore, if Willow is being a bad influence, and she is, Belle has a right to go and yell at Willow. I would be the first to bash Belle because up until a few months ago I didn't care for her even with Martha in the role but in this case she was justified. Shawn's judgement skills suck and so far no one has really been able to get through to him about Willow so why not Belle try? Shawn is Claire's father so anything he does that puts him at risk and that could potentially put Claire at risk is her business and her issue. Willow lets Shawn behave recklessly and even goes along with it, like on the boat, and this could eventually lead to a bigger problem that could even put Claire at risk. Now does Belle have extra motivation there because she love Shawn? Yeah, sure. However, there are other reasons as I explained so she may be spoiled but she had a right to attack Willow.

Now I don't know you consider Belle and Shawn's barn romp rape but I don't see it as even close.

But for the first time in years, DAYS feels like an actual soap opera. Soaps are boring some times. Most non-Y&R fans feel that the show is so boring. I'm a Y&R fan and there are times when I'm just like, "God, nothing is happening!" But you have to realize that soaps like Y&R, ATWT, GL are boring because they write realistically. You feel like you're watching someone's actual life rather than fiction. Big events and drastic tragedies and adventures do not happen on a normal basis.

I'm willing to watch a boring DAYS build up to a great DAYS rather than watch an unrealistic DAYS any day.

Exactly. I watch Y&R too and don't care for it right now but that is because the stories suck and many characters are acting out of character. I just think people need to be patient. My god, Hogie only has been on the job for a little bit

But unlike what Belle is trying to do, Willow doesn't control Shawn. I have not seen one scene where Willow had a gun to Shawn's head and was making him do the stupid things he was doing. Willow allows it? Do you honestly think a grown man is going to be told what he can or cannot do? Shawn is a grown ass man. People seem to forget that.

Belle was totally justified in yelling at Shawn. She was trying to knock some sense into him about being a good father to Claire. THAT is where it should've stopped. But no, Belle had to come back to Willow's and attack Willow. That was uncalled for.

OMG, the reason why Billie and Chelsea are 'looking more like mother and daughter,' Phoenix, is because hair people have cut Melvin's and Pinson's hair EXACTLY the same way and made it the EXACT same hair color. I'm watching right now and am shocked. It's CLEAR that they did this to fool viewers to make them look more like mother and daughter -- or have something in common -- since it's pretty much common knowledge that everyone thought Melvin looked more like Hope's daughter. A for effort guys...but sneaky!!! Yet transparent.

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OH MY GOSH.

Willow does NOT want to be "free." What a lying WHORE. Literally. Remember how hurt she was when Shawn told Belle that he and Wills were "Just friends." Ha!!! You're just one of those desperate women who sleep with a man and THINK that giving the milk for free will give him a reason to committ. Well, YA WRONG, HEIFFER!!!

That said, I know who Willow is!!! Here eyes, her lips!! I think I figured it out.

She is SO Glen and Barb's daughter. Think about it!! OMG, could Glen and Barb return soon?

This may have been one of my favorite Days episodes since Hogie has taken over as headwriter. Like on Friday's show, I think the main focus of today's episode was characterization. Friday's show dealt with the characterization of Sami and Max mainly. Tuesday's episode was intended to provide greater depth and character motivation to Bo's children and former daughter-in-law.

Melvin's performance was amazing yesterday. I loved the intense scenes b/w Billie and Chelsea and then when they went outside, both Billie and Chelsea had tears welling up in their eyes. I think my favorite moments of Tuesday's episode would have to be the Bo and Chelsea scenes. In the beginning, she was hurt that Bo asked her to leave. Bo didn't intend to hurt her, but Chelsea was vulnerable at that moment. Then as the conversation went along, Chelsea started opening herself up emotionally to her father. But then when Shawn came on the scene, Bo was rather dismissive of her. When Chelsea was spying on Bo/Shawn, you could get the sense that Chelsea wanted to share the same rapport with Bo that Shawn and Bo have. I loved seeing that family dynamic of sibling rivalry, especially since it's not about siblings fighting over a love interest, but one sibling longing to have the same close relationship as another sibling.

I also really enjoyed the father-son scenes b/w Bo and Shawn at the hospital. Peter Reckell and Brandon Beemer have nice chemistry and the scenes were well-written. Peter Reckell gave an excellent performance throughout the episode with Alfonso, then Melvin and finally Beemer. Nice.

The other scenes that I really enjoyed were the intergenerational scenes with Mimi and Caroline. Their little talk was a nice way to provide greater depth to Mimi's character. We found out that the reason why she lies all the time is b/c it's the means of survival for her. I liked how the writers tied in her familial history of living on the streets with her current actions. At the same time, I liked how Caroline eluded to her past history with Victor when she talked about how lying almost destroyed her relationship with Shawn. I wonder if there was some foreshadowing going on though with the Mimi/Caroline scenes as well. The writers really wanted us to think that Shawn and Caroline had this great marriage but for Caroline's lying. Maybe this time, the Brady's marriage is almost destroyed b/c of Shawn's lying?

The Shawn/Belle/Willow scenes were inserted to provide some comic relief to the show. Hogie likes to have balance b/w comedic and dramatic scenes and the Shelle/Willow scenes were kind of funny. The scenes b/w Willow and Shawn when they were alone were awkward but I did like how Shawn was looking for a job and realized that he didn't have enough experience or wasn't qualified to do very much. That was kind of funny to me that Shawn was so naive that he didn't realize that his options were limited until he started going through the newspaper ads.

All in all, I thought that it was one of Hogie's best episodes on Days....

I found this online amateur critique of Hogan's work and thought I would share:

Better writing and quality story require something from the viewer: attention and patience. In the past, I could tune out some or most of a scene and not worry about missing much. The dialogue was often repetitive, there was lots of shouting and cutesy banter, and there was no character development. Now, you can’t do that. Character development and motivation often need time to set up and show. Therefore, you won’t have wham, bam action and lots of movement every day of the week. Good writing requires interaction and discussion and that is what is happening on xxxx now. ....the show has settled nicely into providing daily episodes of good dialogue, steady plot movement, and character development. It’s a sad comment to have to state that this type of quality, solid storytelling is a big risk in a world where instant gratification rules. Practically gone are the days where a storyline has a one or two year arc. Now soap executives think in terms of 3 month or 6 month story arcs and “hooks” to hold the viewers’ interest so that the hand never touches the remote. Sheffer is boldly stating that xxxx will be different. He will take his time. Sheffer will script wonderfully sweet and simple scenes.... because through these scenes grow characters and their relationships. It also bonds the audience to the characters even as they bond among themselves.

----

Sheffer shows and tells us the cause of every character’s actions. He doesn’t telegraph it in loudspeaker shouts of the obvious, so you have to watch and pay attention. But motivation is there and it’s repeated.

Now this critique isn't about Days, but about Hogan's work when he first started at ATWT. He's basically starting off really slowly and taking his time to define and redefine characters. Before we get any big plots or any heavy event-laden episodes, we're going to find out the character's motivations for doing what they do during those big events.

Oh, here's the link to that critique:

http://www.soap-news.com/atwt/vens/v092800.htm

Since I wasn't watching ATWT when Hogie first started, reading Vens critiques starting Aug 7-11,2000 has helped me understand what Hogie is doing in this transitional phase.....

http://www.soap-news.com/atwt/vens/

THIS cannot be a surprise to anyone. Belle has always thought they were a PACKAGE.

Remember her little talk to Claire in the hospital?

" Shawn won't fight for US."

US.

She believed she owned Shawn when she found out about the mixed up embryos. When it came out about Claire, she had no problems transferring that to her.

In her mind they are a package deal.

She'll pimp that kid like nobody's business.

Oh no, not surprised by it at all. Everything has always been about Belle and now that she has Claire, she will be used as a bargaining chip.

Does anyone see any similarities with Belle and Sami? Sami used Will that way, all the time.

Reading the second column after that (the Vicky ghost story) ... P&G/CBS *did* interfere too much with Hogan, especially towards the end. Hopefully NBC and Corday won't do that too much. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth" IMO.

I can see exactly what those articles are talking about and I immediately go to Days where Hogan is already working his magic. Defining characters previously undefined, etc. Sheffer is just wonderful. Too bad every soap couldn't have a writer like him.

I must say that more and more Days is a show to watch every day. Previously, I only tuned in from time to time and then starting in late April I watched with more dedication. While Reilly was still onboard, I often watched half-heartedly(and cringed with the overuse of flashbacks and redundant scenes). But no more. I find I actually want to know what everyone is doing now, not just some characters.

As Sheffer has moved into place as HW, the show just has grown in depth and characterization. For instance, I despised Chelsea. I found practically nothing redeeming about her previously. Under Sheffer we are seeing more of what motivates Chelsea and how she is affected by the smallest things that other more secure teens might ignore. Yesterday, she tried to reach out to Bo and comfort him in his distress over Steve and Kayla's peril. Once Shawn appeared, Chelsea was virtually invisible to Bo. She was hurt and felt unneeded by her father. We also saw that Mimi is taking what she did seriously and is trying to make improvements in her behavior. The Caroline/Mim scenes were great. They felt real and necessary for the redemption of Mimi. Under Reilly, we never saw such subtle character development. Consequently, the whole show is coming together as a great ensemble story.

I still think Belle had every right to get in Willow's face. If a girl that I had only seen one time all of a sudden started assuming things about me and being a beeyotch, I'd tell her off too. It's funny---some of you like Belle having a backbone, yet don't want her standing up for herself. You can't have it both ways. I'm glad Belle didn't back down. Who wants a deadbeat hooker banger for a father? While she does have enough money to take care of Claire thanks to John and Marlena, it's the principle of the thing. If Shawn wants to be involved in Claire's life, having no job and screwing a ho on the side ain't gonna cut it. At this point, Shawn is making Philip look like a saint. I do think Brandon is doing an awesome job though. It's the writing for him that's screwy right now, but that will get better.

I'm really enjoying Billie and we actually got to see a different side of Chelsea. While I still think she should stop this fantasy of wanting her parents back together, you can see where she's coming from. She wants to be accepted as a Brady and eccept for her mom, Kate, and Abby, she has no real connection to anyone else. Bo still puts Hope and Shawn above her. She's desperately crying out for attention, and when nobody seems to care, she acts out. And that's my dime store psychology for today.

Sheffer has done a good job of fleshing out some of these characters who were so one-note under Reilly.

I still think Belle had every right to get in Willow's face. If a girl that I had only seen one time all of a sudden started assuming things about me and being a beeyotch, I'd tell her off too. It's funny---some of you like Belle having a backbone, yet don't want her standing up for herself. You can't have it both ways. I'm glad Belle didn't back down. Who wants a deadbeat hooker banger for a father? While she does have enough money to take care of Claire thanks to John and Marlena, it's the principle of the thing. If Shawn wants to be involved in Claire's life, having no job and screwing a ho on the side ain't gonna cut it. At this point, Shawn is making Philip look like a saint. I do think Brandon is doing an awesome job though. It's the writing for him that's screwy right now, but that will get better.

I'm really enjoying Billie and we actually got to see a different side of Chelsea. While I still think she should stop this fantasy of wanting her parents back together, you can see where she's coming from. She wants to be accepted as a Brady and eccept for her mom, Kate, and Abby, she has no real connection to anyone else. Bo still puts Hope and Shawn above her. She's desperately crying out for attention, and when nobody seems to care, she acts out. And that's my dime store psychology for today.

Sheffer has done a good job of fleshing out some of these characters who were so one-note under Reilly.

AMEN BREE!!!

That was exactly my point about the Belle/Shawn/Willow stuff.

Put me on the Hogan bandwagon too. He has made every facet of the show interesting and now you feel like you have to watch everyday because things are happening, eespecially in regards to the characters.