Jean I can see where you're coming from, but I believe it's unfair to say that Shawn raped Belle, when she could have easily raped him. If you're going to say that one of them was raped, then we have to keep it a gray area.

I for one don't believe that either one of them was raped by the other, so I have to respectfully disagree you with DaysFanJean

What is really weird is that Belle is still married to Philip and wearing his rings. I wonder why.

Fine. If you ever have a daughter and she is driving a car that leaves an icy bridge and dunked into an icy river and suffers hypothermia and the only person to help her is a man who takes advantage of her comotose state and you think it's not rape, then you are a very unusual man.

Actually, the deeper I get into this I see all the erroneous things about it. Belle has never dealt with the issue that Shawn took advantage of her when she was in a comotose state or altered state of consciousness. I'd be livid if that happened to me and especially if there was a child due to that encounter. I think that needs to be addressed. It's not something to creme puff off.

Also, Victor and Kate keeping the truth from the three of them hasn't been dealt with efficiently either.

It's just whomp, bam, thank you ma'am, Shawn and Belle are together again. Not so fast. If they want to make a real supercouple out of Shawn and Belle, it has to be made something rootable and so far it's just been smacking them together like the little girl explaining how the cheese gets into the cracker.

I liked todays show just as much as yesterdays, two awesome shows in a row.

First off how great is it to see Victor on so much, I love it. John Aniston has always been one of my favorites so I am glad he is being used and going back to his old ways. I think if Victor goes back to hating Bo it will be interesting if Caroline confronts him and how Victor will react to her. I was glad Victor told Shawn off and hope he teaches him a lesson, never to mess with a Kiriakis.

I had no idea Kate was going to find Phillip so quickly which was a nice surprise. Since these SL's seem to be kicking into high gear I am gonna go back to being spoiler free. I was starting to miss Kate and was glad to see her in this episode. Could Victor helping out Phillip rekindle Kate and Victor's past as a couple. I loved when they were once such a powerful team. I would definitely enjoy Kate being back at Titan and ruining Sami and EJ at Mystic.

I don't mind Max and Mimi, but I just see them as good friends. I will say I enjoy Farah these days in much smaller doses, but I still hope she leaves and is recasted. I think DAYS has quite the younger cast except for FF.

I haven't enjoyed the character of John this much since his MercJohn days. I can't wait for this story to unfold with trying to find Stefano. Marlena by his side is a treat to watch.

Patch and Kayla scenes were well written, I liked Kayla being so candid asking about Billie and whats next as far as their relationship goes.

So far this week has been excellent, hopefully it will continue....

I think with Mimi being a bit wistful about her and Philip's baby today, it would be interesting to see Philip and Mimi join forces to get their child and in the meanwhile they could fall in love. Seems like all the men fall in love with Mimi.

Fine. If you ever have a daughter and she is driving a car that leaves an icy bridge and dunked into an icy river and suffers hypothermia and the only person to help her is a man who takes advantage of her comotose state and you think it's not rape, then you are a very unusual man.

Actually, the deeper I get into this I see all the erroneous things about it. Belle has never dealt with the issue that Shawn took advantage of her when she was in a comotose state or altered state of consciousness. I'd be livid if that happened to me and especially if there was a child due to that encounter. I think that needs to be addressed. It's not something to creme puff off.

Also, Victor and Kate keeping the truth from the three of them hasn't been dealt with efficiently either.

It's just whomp, bam, thank you ma'am, Shawn and Belle are together again. Not so fast. If they want to make a real supercouple out of Shawn and Belle, it has to be made something rootable and so far it's just been smacking them together like the little girl explaining how the cheese gets into the cracker.

Jean how did Shawn take advantage of Belle? She was just as much into the sexual act as Shawn was and I think its ridiculous how anyone can say otherwise. They were both suffering from hypothermia and neither one of them remember anything that happened that night, so how did Shawn take advantage of Belle's comotose state? Please explain that one to me.

And for the record I also think Victor has no right making demands to see Claire, I just like the drama behind it.

Fine. If you ever have a daughter and she is driving a car that leaves an icy bridge and dunked into an icy river and suffers hypothermia and the only person to help her is a man who takes advantage of her comotose state and you think it's not rape, then you are a very unusual man.

Actually, the deeper I get into this I see all the erroneous things about it. Belle has never dealt with the issue that Shawn took advantage of her when she was in a comotose state or altered state of consciousness. I'd be livid if that happened to me and especially if there was a child due to that encounter. I think that needs to be addressed. It's not something to creme puff off.

Are you for real? You just described why the barn was NOT rape. Neither of them were alert. NEITHER. Belle was out, Shawn was out. As in both. Shawn and Belle. Both of 'em.

Rape is a digusting, vile thing, but it's just insulting to use the word to describe a situation that was not within those terms.

Rape is being either forced to commit a sexual act, or doing it without permission. Drugs, brainwashing would be rape. Both being out of it and having sex is not.

There have been several unpunished rape in Days' history. Austin by Sami, John by Kristen AND later Gina (Stefano), Bo by Billie.

The last two days are EXACTLY why I've been saying to give Hogan a chance! The show is on FIRE right now! NBC sure as hell better NOT even think about cancelling the show anytime soon!

I couldn't believe when I read elsewhere about the show probably being cancelled next year. To me, it's unthinkable, especially now, when there are actual stories and character development and hints of things to come.

I'm loving the strong, dominant Victor, too. I just found this part of the Tuesday discussion and hope it is joined up with the other one, too.

ITA. I will be devastated if DAYS is cancelled next year, just when the show is FINALLY this good again. I don't even want to think about it.

Thanks. It irritates me when people think Shawn and Belle should suffer for no good reason. Why? For what purpose?

Granted, Shawn has anger problems and can be a hypocrite, and Belle isn't a perfect angel, but they had the right to know Claire wasn't Philip's (and Philip should have known for that matter, because he's been ruined too). Shawn is not a deadbeat dad, doesn't want to be a deadbeat dad, and Belle's first priority is her daughter. She also wants Claire to know how good a stepdad Philip was to her, and wants Victor to be a part of her life, even though she doesn't trust him. They are not the villians here and they don't deserve to lose their child.

It amazes me that so many are so sympathetic to Sami's plights, but Belle (and Shawn) should face nothing but heartbreak. The hostility towards some of the "good characters" on this show is interesting, that's for sure. If DAYS was featured with nothing but Victor, Sami, and Chelsea clones, it would make for a boring, one-sided drama.

Oh, and to respond to Jean's latest posts, I agree that Belle and Shawn wouldn't be heartless towards Philip (Shawn dropping the custody suit after realizing what it was doing to Philip is indication of that) but they should not be asked or made to give up THEIR child to a vindictive man and his son who is a few steps away from becoming just as vindictive, and a little psycho. It's not easy for anyone to see their loved one in agony, but destroying others family members' lives is not the way to ease the pain. What Victor is doing is in total character, but in the end, he will not only lose Claire, he will lose his other grandchild as well. I think once Bo (and Hope) find out what he's done, they will cut all ties with him. I won't blame them for that.

Perfect post! You completely encapsulated what I feel towards Belle, Shawn, Phillip, and Claire. You've also hit the nail on the head for Victor. Frankly, I'm ready for some happiness on the Shawn and Belle front. They haven't been happy forever. Granted, I hated them with a seething passion (because I couldn't tolerate the actors who portrayed them), but now that we've got two such awesome actors in place with such great writing to showcase, I'm ready to go.

As ridiculous as SHELLE fans think my view is is exactly how ridiculous I think the SHELLE view of an obvious rape being romantic is, too. At the time Belle was engaged to be married to Philip. Shawn was treating Belle like dirt beneath his feet and really hateful to her. There was no love there. Believe me. I started watching in August 2004 and never saw one tender moment pass between Belle and Shawn. I hated him and the way he treated her, so there was not one ounce of tenderness or love in that scene. He was not unconscious. I don't believe for one second an unconscious man could get an erection much less ejaculation. He was aware. Obviously, he blocked it out though. I still don't like Shawn for that and don't know that I ever will.

Eh, I was an anti-Shelle fan at that point in time, and even I didn't think there was rape involved on any level. Like most everyone else has said, it was unconscious behavior on BOTH parts. Unrealistic? Yep. A stretch? You bet. But rape? Not even CLOSE.

I don't see how anyone can think Victor has a right to take Claire away from Belle and Shawn. That is THEIR child, and Philip has NO CLAIM to her. Face it, Shawn and Belle are probably the best parents on the show right now. Belle, and Shawn to an extent, are focused on this baby. They have every right to distrust Victor.

Jean, It's one thing to not like Shelle, but to compare their relationship to a rape is disturbing, especially to justify why Shawn should be paired up with a worthless character like Willow. For someone who says they've been watching since 1967, you sure have a perverted view of DAYS.

Totally agree here, Bree. I didn't watch much during the last 2-3 years until recently....so I've been sitting here trying to think where I missed that Shawn raped Belle. Looks like it didnt happen, just as I thought.

Shawn has EVERY right to be a father to Claire. I think no matter whether a person likes Shelle or not...you have to look at the HUGE factor that Phillip is MIA here. Shawn and Belle have no idea what is going on with him. As viewers, we do..so we are able to put viewpoints and feelings into this situation that Belle and Shawn cannot. From THEIR position, the viewpoint of their characters and what they know/dont know, this is completely reasonable. Phillip might never come back for all they know...moved off, started a new life, forget his past. Shawn and Belle are doing what I would think any reasonable person would do in their situatio knowing as much as they do.

I have to say though, despite the disagreements we've had over Shelle, I think my tune might be different if Jason and Kirsten were still in the roles. But now we have Martha and Brandon, two capable actors of turning Shelle from a simpering, too-good-to-be-true couple into a mature and believable couple for the next generation, I root for them. It also helps that they are being written as focusing on Claire first. Victor's plans are just too evil too psychotic, and have no basis in reality, even if it's a treat seeing John Aniston and Victor is not being written as a cartoon.