It does seem as though my dream couple may happen...Philip and Belle. Of course, that was Kyle Brandt's Philip so I'm holding reservations for the recast. Time will tell, but to me the whole Kiriakis aureole is fascinating.

Shawn will need a pretty good while to get to acceptable as husband and father material in my way of looking at things.

Abe never gave his official OK to the investigation, but he was aware of it. I'm not sure about the legality of this. If a person is aware of something going on that is wrong and is in a position to do something about it, then I believe he is obliged to take action to stop it. But could it be proved? It might not because other than heresay, there is no proof Abe even knew (?????). I was shocked that he allowed them to talk about it in his office, frankly. I'd have told them to take it somewhere else as it wasn't my concern what they wanted to do and not to bother me unless they had concrete evidence.

I have a question - did the Salem PD technically give the ok on paper? No. By all means, it was a civilian investigation. Lazy, scapegoat writing! Abe gave his go ahead, but it's never been an official investigation.

But where Abe F'ed up at was leaving the file on his desk. While E.J. was sitting in his office. He still wouldn't know if that hadn't of happened.

Stupid Abe.

Stupid Abe.

That's what happens when you are a member of the Salem Justice League Of America.

Yeah. Abe is going down the drain, too, I'm thinking.

I really don't think he is. Abe was one thing when he started on days. Roman's sidekick. I see them putting him on recurring, before letting him go. He doesn't have to have a love interest to stay on the show, IMO.

I really don't think he is. Abe was one thing when he started on days. Roman's sidekick. I see them putting him on recurring, before letting him go. He doesn't have to have a love interest to stay on the show, IMO.

No, but Corday doesn't see certain characters as individuals, only as one half of a couple. I can see him deciding to get rid of Abe, but I hope it doesn't happen. Any one half of a couple has potential on their own. But DAYS has painted itself into a corner by being "the supercouple show."

No, but Corday doesn't see certain characters as individuals, only as one half of a couple. I can see him deciding to get rid of Abe, but I hope it doesn't happen. Any one half of a couple has potential on their own. But DAYS has painted itself into a corner by being "the supercouple show."

And THAT'S what pisses me off more than anything else. Corday needs to get out of this supercouple stuff, and just have HS write good drama. I really hope he isn't sticking his nose into HS's business.

And THAT'S what pisses me off more than anything else. Corday needs to get out of this supercouple stuff, and just have HS write good drama. I really hope he isn't sticking his nose into HS's business.

Agreed. He is only feeding the fanbases but Days got themselves into that mess so whatever.

I thought cop shop scenes were good. Cops make mistakes and Abe should've never left the file out. He let Bo and John do what they did because they are former cops and he trusts them. Leaving the file out is where the mess started. I love the fact that Hogan has people making mistakes and paying for them, especially while on the job. It is realistic to have people make human mistakes and have to deal with them whether at work, home, etc. I loved the EJ press conference and Roman and Abe's public apology. They had to eat crow and Reynolds and Taylor played it well. Loved Bo's reaction and the assistant DA is a pretty good actress IMO. EJ is totally playing Kate and I love her role in this story. I like that she is angry with John and the rest of the cop shop. Should be interesting and her fear of the Dimera's being brought in today was good.

Loved the Bo/Shawn scenes. Beemer and Reckell rock. I also liked Belle telling Shawn off. Her supporting and defending Philip was nice given what she went through with him and more props to the Victor/Philip scenes. Well done again. It was nice to see Mimi in scenes with them even if she wasn't used much. I am enjoying her now as a supporting character and I like where this story with her and Max is going. I like the approach they are taking to redeeming her. Nice Mimi/Chelsea moment too.

Great family scenes with Nick/Abby and Maggie. Nick was great to Chelsea. I like Billie and Hope talking and Hope not being mean about the Steve/Kayla stuff. Billie's little facial expression to Chelsea with the eyes was funny and I wonder what he little lie about Bo inviting her when Nick really did will cause.

Frankie made me sad while talking to Caroline/Shawn Sr. Good stuff.

The best moments by far were Celeste. Boyd was great at playing Celeste hiding her fear and I loved the EJ blind scene. That scene and the little exchange EJ had with her at the end were chilling. I am thinking she helped to raise him too or knows why he is here or who is in charge that sent him. Really interesting.

Today was kind of filler but still ok. Friday looks like a good holiday show with some drama so looking forward to it.

While I agree that the fanbases CONTROL this show....I just don't know HOW DAYS can get out of this mess with the fanbases.

Romance has always driven DAYS OF OUR LIVES and they have always been a couple show...even back in the 80's there was rabid fanbases for each of the couples.

I think that DAYS can still have GREAT human drama, while still keeping the popular couples together and I don't think breaking any of them up will do anything positive for the show in terms of writing or ratings.

DAYS has always been about couples and obstacles facing them, with some other things thrown in....and it IMO works for this show...when it is done correctly, when the writing is good, when the show elements are good, and when the dialouge and actions of the characters are realistic and true to history (which is something past headwriters completely ignored).

The problem with the fanbases is that they have NO trust in the show because the show has tried many times to seperate very popular couples and have used the same characters to try and break them up over and over again...the obstacles that have faced most of these couples have become unbearably unoriginal, predictable and unrealistive over the last 5-7 years and the fanbases I think just are sick of it. I think if the show could find original ways to provide tension and drama for these couples, their fans will be more accepting and will be able to tolerate the couple seperating for a time, however, there always has to be that lingering feeling that they will be reunited, which is something DAYS has not been doing for awhile now.

The only reason I can see Abe sticking around is because Abe and Lexie as a couple never caught on with fans. They never had a solid following. I think most fans liked Abe and Lexie as individuals, which is why Abe can survive Lexie leaving the canvas. That situation would never work in a Hope/Bo, John/Marlena, Steve/Kayla and as we saw Jack/Jennifer situation...their fans just would NEVER buy it. We should be happy that because there was no "fanbase" for Abe/Lexie the couple, it may result in James Reynold's Abe sticking around, now that Jones has been let go.

Mitch you have articulated my feelings very well. I feel that a show where the couples are relatively stable need not be boring or predictable, you simply have to write something other than mate-swapping. I can also understand the frustration some feel on behalf of the fact that not every couple need be locked in stone. As I see it, I feel Days should try to write realistic human drama for the big couples and if they choose to do a more mate-swapping gig with the younger cast, I guess maybe if they feel it reflects the times, it's their prerogative (I'll just turn it off if I stop finding it interesting, and I may well not). But as for the big couples, these characters pretty much have gone through hell and high water to be together, and they're in their 40's and 50's, and while life is certainly not over then, you look for different things in your life. Not sex so much as emotional closeness, companionship, etc, and that fact should be respected. Most importantly (I guess), it can also be exploited for drama.

The problem with the fanbases is that they have NO trust in the show because ...

Yes! This lack of trust leads to a lot of rather shortsighted comments that cause the fanbases to come off as impossible to please, and it makes discussions unbearable at times. On the one hand, you have to admit that the fanbases' support has been abused given the quality of writing and stories that drew them in in the first place. On the other hand, like it or not the fans are the on the recieving end of the communique here, they are not supposed to dictate stories (though feedback is always a healthy part of the creative process). Once things have been sour so long, nobody is willing to wait and see any more, but if they don't, then it begs the question, why stay with the show? It'll be a long road back to trust, in any case.

I think if the show could find original ways to provide tension and drama for these couples, their fans will be more accepting and will be able to tolerate the couple seperating for a time, however, there always has to be that lingering feeling that they will be reunited, which is something DAYS has not been doing for awhile now.

And the thing about all the "big" couples is their problems were very related to their individual personalities. What is missing for a lot of fans from their early runs is the character-driven nature of their romances, and character-driven romances are character-driven stories are good drama.

Couples fan or not, I think people across the board appreciate good human drama. I think that can happen both with big couples and without, and right now Days can play both with the right cast.

I know this is the Wednesday's Days thread but I had to respond to that. Just saw the show, I like Nick and Abby palling around, and I was reminded again how much I miss the Hortons.

Nick giving it to Chelsea was good. Nick nor the actor have grown on me quite yet, but he's further along than Willow and EJ combined.

Billie and Hope scenes.......love! LOVE! LOVE!

I'm sad to see Billy/Frankie go. One of the best actors on the show.

I had to cheer Belle on; Shawn was a lousy jerk today. A complete jerk.

Mitch I totally agree. Days dug the hole and now they have to deal with it.

However, the fanbases need to give a little too. They need to stop flying off the handle at every little thing. They will read the EE or whatever and get all upset or read a spoiler and boycott the show only to later find out their couple is ok and got through the issue but they missed the shows. There is a major lack of trust but the only way to build it is for Days to keep doing what it's doing and for the fanbases to watch everyday and give the show a fair chance and not just read the spoilers and tune in when they feel like it. Both sides have to give a little. I wish Days could be like other shows who can break up couples and get away with it. I love new pairings. Some of Days' greatest supercouples came from breaking up former great couples like Roman and Marlena (we later got John and Marlena). You never know what gem you can find but the fanbases don't care. If there is one thing I have learned, the majority of fanbases for Days don't care about the writing or quality as long as their couple is together and onscreen. That is it. They don't desire anything else and that is truly sad. I just hope Corday stays out of Hogan's way for the most part and that the both of them stick to their guns and just WRITE and not worry about the fanbases and such. I don't know if that will happen though.

I pity any writer that takes the Days job because that is one hard job from which to please everyone. It's like a lion's den. Days built that sort of following and now they have to live with it and cater to it.

Hogan's done wonders for writing for Belle. Martha Madison is just bringing it everyday.