DAYS: You were raped? Eh, who cares?

[ANDREA LOATHES REILLY]

Thank you so very much for clearing that up... I appreciate it, Kenny!

ANDREA

[Q Steph]

Yeah, I know he didn't hold the gun to her head. But the gun was present. Her "choice" was coerced from fear, duress and intimidation. If those factors weren't involved, if she hadn't been crying and pleading for his help, I could grasp a different interpretation. But a clear and present danger was imminent; Lucas' life was also on the line and I'm not enirely sure that EJ wouldn't have used the gun as a means of force. The Brit is a few teaspoons short.

[DrewH]

Never did EJ threaten Sami with the gun he had. He told Sami that he would only help Lucas if she slept with him. The only time he threatened her life was when the cop was around and EJ was trying to flee. That happened before he and Sami slept together.

[ClayZebra]

Nicely said. Except for the part where you want EJ and Sami together, but I already knew I disagreed with you about that.

Also nicely said, except for the part where you want EJ and Sami together.

Sigh... Ethan... I miss the days where James Scott played a character I liked.....

[Cheap21]

Thanks Kenny. I was confusing his character with his AMC character. Thanks for the recap. That doesnt quite sound like rape to me if she had a choice. I wasnt watching but from the way this looks to have played out, I wouldnt quite call it rape. What Alan did to her was, but this doesnt sound like the same thing

[Vee]

I believe that in every way that counts, EJ raped Sami. I believe James Scott and the writers have said it as well. It doesn't change the fact that I am a fan of both Lumi and the amazing chemistry between EJ and Sami.

I also don't see how it dooms EJ, who should be the future of the DiMeras. Roger Thorpe and Todd Manning both remained brilliant villains after committing rape. In Roger's case, GL did something no soap could probably ever safely do again, by continuing to tease and play with Roger/Holly for decades after and making it feel organic and right. That was a product of the time it started in, I think. I think EJ and Sami have the same chemistry, and that that connection should drive more story, but you could probably never really truly pair them again in this day and age like they played around with Roger and Holly after that rape.

Listen, it's a lot less boring than another round of Stefano wearing old man silk pajamas and purring "Marleeennnnaaa."

As for trivializing rape, I agree it's a big strike against them but it's nothing compared to the trivialization of rape and other things that prior regimes did.

[PhoenixRising05]

Ok, here is my view on this.

First off, it was rape IMO.

Now, in regards to the writing, I can't really bash the writing of today's show. J&M may not even know she was raped. maybe the word hasn't spread yet. Even if they do know, would they really bring up the issue in public? It's a delicate issue. Bo and Hope may not know and, out of respect for Sami, maybe no one wanted to say anything.

I like some aspects of what they are doing with EJ. Him being her hero is fine and him finally acknowledging what he did as rape means alot. However, I agree there needs to be more done. I know they are pushing EJ/Sami a bit. It doesn't mean they will be a couple but they are clearly exploring them again. I loved them last summer and loved their chemistry. JS and AS are great. I am a LUMI fan but I could get on board with them if they do more to redeem EJ. I won't say that the writers slept it under thr rug. The story simply became more about Sami's lies then about the actual rape. I think that became Sami's primary fear...losing Lucas and how all this would affect her baby. That overran her mind more then the rape. I am sure if she didn't have so much to deal with the rape would've dominated her mind and every action. She is also a strong woman who made a sacrifice for the man she loves so I wouldn't expect her to be a weeping mess. It as rape but not brutal. That doesn't diminish the action but it is what it is.

We have seen Days acknowledge the rape a little bit lately, especially in New Orleans and there was some minor mentions on Monday's episode. I agree that if they are going even going to make EJ and Sami friends, they need to do a hell of alot more to redeem him before that. They still have time to do it. We'll see.

[KLN]

That's why there's such a debate on whether it was rape or whether it wasn't.

Even though EJ didn't threaten to shoot her with the gun if she didn't have sex with him, there was still a gun present and many feel that Sami only had sex with EJ because the gun's presence influenced her decision. Still, the gun was to fight off police when he was escaping town -- not to use on Sami. She knew that.

In all honesty, though, EJ never forced Sami to have sex with him. He told her to get out of the car and he would leave her alone if she didn't want to do it. He never threatened to kill her or hurt her if she didn't -- he just told her that he wouldn't help her save Lucas if she didn't. Yeah, that's a very hateful offer to make, but is it rape? I go back and forth on it, myself. I tend to see it as more of an emotional/mental rape than physical.

[JER Soaps Fan]

BRAV-A, Andrea! I swear, Hogan and Meg better turn this around QUICKLY, have Sami see that she's the only rapist and EJ is NOT, and get these two hooked up as some hot, sexy lovers!

On another note, I agree with the original post in this thread but what REALLY unsettled me was that John didn't even act surprised that there was question as to the paternity of Sami's child. Now, I didn't see yesterday's episode (sadly) but isn't it true that Marls (on camera) hadn't given him a crash course on all this? If she did, I can understand his lack of reaction but if she didn't, then that was just silly writing, if not acting. I would 've been like, "Wha? Wait, wait... stem cells... how do you figure? He what?! He WHAAAAAAAT? You slept with a DiMera?! Whaaa? WHAAAAAAAAAA? WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?@$@%##@##@!!!!"

[JER Soaps Fan]

I disagree. They both didn't see it was rape; Hogan and Meg PUT THOSE DISGUSTING words in their mouths. Clearly, Sami -- as we all know, a rapist in her own right -- would not characterize THAT as rape. She had a choice. Hogan and Meg are just trying to push some agenda by having both of them act out of character. And I HATE IT.

[JER Soaps Fan]

Thanks, Andrea. I was JUST about to post the same thing, but I questioned whether it'd really be prostitution. I suppose it would though.

So there you have it, Hogan and Meg. GET OFF this silly rape train and call it what it is -- if you must call it something.

Just get EJ and Sami in BED, NAKED and DOING EACH OTHER'S BRAINS OUT -- ASAP!!!

[Keith]

Everyone who says the rape was a mistake are just as bad as a lazy writer. If the rape didn't happen, the story wouldn't be NEARLY as rich as it is. Sami wouldn't have been pulled into helping EJ escape, he would have been caught before cross state lines, and Lucas would have died. Where's the fun in that?

Argue whethe ror not it's rape. I don't bloody care. And no, rape shouldn't be taken lightly, but at the end of the day this is a television show for entertainment. I'm hugely disappointed that more attention hasn't been paid to the rape itself, and the potential for charges and Sami's reasons for not pressing them (beyond her attraction, because that's simply lame).

Do I think EJ and Sami have a chance for coupledom? Sure do. Do I think that Lucas should be sidelined becaus eof their chemistry? Not completely. But, if EJami is to work, they have to use the rape. They can't ignore it. Like Kenny said, their story would be mighty tricky to write.

This is my one problewm with LUMI. They've never once dealt with their actual history since they started seeing each other. And that's always bothered me. And I guess that's why I'm not completely on the EJami bandwagon -- Lucas and Sami do have unfinished business, and natural drama that they could work through as a married couple -- ugly truths that they've ignored. Will could find out about them as a teen/young adult. It'd be a great SL!

Bottom line, EJami is hardly the greatest thing since sliced bread. The rape provides this wonderfully complex situation that's not black and white. EJ raped her for his father's life. he didn't plan to fall for her the way he had. The two things got screwed up in his head, and he screwed up big time. The great thing about Sami and EJ is they are alike in their ways -- both trying to find their place within their own families, but they keep screwing up.

But that certainly doesn't negate LUMI. I still think this can be a viable triangle.

But unless they really deal with the rape, I don't think they can be that successful. Especially on a soap whose days are likely numbered. I mean, one of the major things that sells a show that's been of for 40+ years is familiarity. Chemistry or not.

[JER Soaps Fan]

I can't say enough how refreshing it is to read your posts today, Miss Andrea! LOVIN' 'em! And all so true! Sami has only herself to blame for feeling violated since, as you said, she COULD have been seeking real help in the time that she CHOSE to have EJ have sex with her.

Also, I disagree that EJ saw that encounter as about power. In his own twisted way, he loves Sami, and in his own twisted way, he was making love to her that night.

[IMissDrusilla]

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Sami was not raped.

It was a "trade off".

Give up the panties in exchange for Lucas's life.

My boyfriend just explained to me that that's not rape! It's a business deal between

a man and a woman, two consenting adults, a trade off.

[Cheap21]

You knwo this kind of reminds me of a story on AMC a few years back when Gillian went to David to help get money to help Ryan escape from the police and he told her the only way he'd do it is if she slept with him. She did it but the rape word was never thrown there