DAYS: Monday

[Keith]

Lexie and Stefano are being terminally wasted.

[PhoenixRising05]

Lexie's backburnering has alot to do with Abe but I agree we should have a Lexie/Stefano scene. However, Celeste did say that Lexie did not want to go anywhere near the Dimera's after what happened so perhaps Stefano is honoring that wish. Plus, the man is ill so I don't think he has the energy to give in an effort to convince his daughter that what happened was a mistake. She won't listen right now and he isn't well enough to deal with it. There should be a scene but, if there is anything we have learned of late, it's that the characters that should be involved GET involved eventually. John is just now getting involved so expect Lexie to as well.

In regards to Joe, he probably cost too much to be featured more then he is. Joe is not one who comes cheap so I knew he would not be on unless he is needed greatly. He was on quite a bit to start and last week was the first week without him since he returned. Remember, Stefano is ill so him not being around is justified. Plus, Stefano being on too much waters him down. That is what happened in 1998-2001. He was on alot as a normal citizen and he lost his essence.

I also 100% disagree about Sami. She needs to be at the center of this because we are still seeing her redemption. She wants to do this to prove herself to her family and it's time to pass the torch. The vets need to be on and involved and they are but it's overdue for Sami to involved in this. Bo, Hope, John, and Marlena have been at the center of this so many times that doing that again gets old. Just as long as they are frontburner, it doesn't matter. I don't want a rehash and that is why Lucas/Sami/EJ being at the center is better because it's fresh. Hell, I would even advocate for Shawn and Belle to have a greater stake in this since they are J&M and B&H's children.

In regards to today, I am officially invested in the "Touch the Sky" story. Donovan is tolerable now and Jett being so inquisitive all while Jeremy has some secret, creepy thing going on that has the Dimera's involved has made this story much better. I liked Chelsea telling Jett what she knew and Max being involved in something is a major plus. I am also shocked by what the preview showed in regards to Jeremy/Stephanie.

The vets were so good today. The flashbacks were selected perfectly and I love how Bo and Hope had their little romantic moment during it. I am glad they acknowledged all the history and John's connection to Tony. Plus, the fact that John doesn't know the real Tony was mentioned and I like that. LeAnn played her moments well too as we saw her vulnerable side. Great scenes all around. JT sucked but that was expected. Could we please get WN back or make John into Roman because he is messing all this up. That is why we couldn't see more flashbacks. Also liked Steve and Kayla being involved. Steve was hilarious in the car and his trivia was a nice touch. Good job all around.

I thought Hogan did a good job writing Stefano today and that he has written him well all along. His shock and anger played out well at the beginning and the scenes with Steve were also good. You can tell they are writing Stefano as a man at death's door who is just trying to get affairs in order for his family. If and when he is cured, then I think the Stefano of old will return. Thaoo played the scenes well too.

Fantastic show today. The week has started out real well.

[Euclid219]

If the Brady/DiMera feud was played out using just over 40 actors, it would get considerably less airtime. Strong demos have kept DAYS on the air for the past 42 years, not NBC's love and respect for daytime drama, and the show can't afford to have nothing but older characters moving the action. Any viewer of OLTL, GH or GL would be thrilled to have this many classic core characters involved in major umbrella story, instead some DAYS viewers are focusing on the fact that a Brady, Horton (Roberts) and DiMera, all aged approximately 30, are getting a good chunk of airtime. How about being in awe that characters from the Brady, Horton and DiMera clans are still front and center? Seen many Quartermaines in Port Charles lately? Many Hughes in Oakdale? Any Brooks in Genoa City? Any Bauers in Springfield? It should be remembered that "the perfect can be the enemy of the good".

[Ives]

See, I think that Stefano knows that Steve is playing both sides. And Stefano is playing Steve a bit by not calling him out quite yet. I see them both smartly playing each other because they each can provide information to the other without causing any immediate harm. Is any of the intel that Steve provided to the Bradys stuff that Stefano did not want given? And vice versa.

It is fun game of cat and mouse. Who is the cat and who is the mouse?

[IMissAremid]

Oh yeah that's right. When I typed that for some reason even though I heard it correctly and typed it correctly apparently I was thinking Roman called her the Salem Slasher by mistake. Oh well.

If I'm going to be posting another time in this thread I'll just say I watched part of the ep again on SoapNet tonight and oh I just love Anna being back so much. Can't wait to see her with the REAL Tony.

[DrewH]

Throughout today's show, I kept saying, "I love this show." I really do. I'm so excited to see DAYS on a daily basis more than I have been in a very long time.

The Brady Pub scenes were my favorite part of today's show. I love seeing John, Marlena, Bo, Hope, Roman and Kayla crowded around talking. The flashbacks were a very nice touch and they helped as the characters retold the several past stories. The scenes got even better once Anna arrived. I agree with Keith that Anna showed humanity today. She'll always be a money-hungry golddiger, but today she showed that she truly loves Tony. I did feel bad for Roman every time she made reference to Tony being the love of her life. He looked heartbroken. I never thought I would accept the Andre storyline, but Hogan and crew are doing a fine job with this. Everything is being explained and he's done his homework, that's for sure.

Steve was cracking me up in his scenes with Stefano and Andre. Stephen Nichols does comedy very well and I love it. Who knew that Tony DiMera was a world class fencing champion?!

Andre is pure evil.

I don't have a problem with the lack of screentime that we have been getting from Joe Mascolo. In my opinion, he's not being misused. He is used when he is needed, just like all of the other characters in this storyline. Lucas, Sami and EJ were the main characters at the beginning of the storyline. Bo and Hope have become used a lot with the uncovering of the truth. Anna, John and Marlena are about to start being used more in regards to the actual story. Everyone has their time to be on the screen. You can't have Stefano on every single day. It gets old. Take a look at 1998-2001. Stefano became played out because he was all the time.

The Touch the Sky storyline has peaked my interest. Friday's show confused the hell out of me. Who was that girl and what exactly did Jeremy do to her? She looked scared to death. I'm also starting to accept Trevor Donovan as Jeremy. He's one evil bastard and totally opposite of everything Horton. Hopefully, this will become more explained. What exactly happened while growing up in Israel to make Jeremy such a bastard.

I have a funny feeling that Max is going to go down once this airline cover thing busts. Max is getting in way over his head. Could the writers be gearing up to release Darin Brooks by sending Max to jail? I hope not!

Jett is so an undercover cop. I'm glad they're keeping it in the family.

[DrewH]

I saw nothing wrong with Josh Taylor's performance. He's been on fire lately, and today was no different.

[Money]

One of my biggest fears is that RJ was brought back to be backburnered. Nothing justifies her being in only TWO episodes since her return, with or without James. Lexie wanting nothing to do with the Dimeras is a very weak excuse. How about we actually see oncreen her wanting nothing to do with them while we also see onscreen that Stephano has no choice but to comply with her wishes. In addition to actually seeing that the Bradys are happy she's back. Whatever...

Stephano is also being wasted since he's supporting the Feud instead of driving it. The key players here are EJ, Sami and Tony. Even the Bradys are supporting them in their own right. I agree that Sami should have a prominent role but she should NOT be the focus. Hogan is doing a disservice to the Vendetta since all the key players are being used as props regardless of their now increased airtime.

[maconrich]

I tend to agree that Sami and EJ probably shouldn't be front and center in this sl, but you made my week with your last statement!!

[Ilovemydays]

I think it is a good sign when the show is going to such great lengths to interweave the past SLs into the creation of a newer character like EJ. Hogan and Corday are laying a foundation for future SLs while paying homage to the past.

[MichaelGL]

Days was on fire yesterday....sigh I wish I could care this much about a certain other soap opera these days.

I loved all the flashbacks, and I'm loving how history is being used to tie in with this much deserved rewrite. I've never seen the real Tony, so I am anticipating the real Tony's return.

I have to disagree about Leann not showing any energy in her scenes, if anything she's been doing the complete opposite since she arrived. I love the actress and I adore the character, they need to put LH on contract ASAP.

Yesterday's scenes at the Pub were a soap fan's wet dream!!!!! So many vets interacting with each other. No other soap right now does scenes like these anymore, not with such detail and clever use of history. Hogan might have some flaws in his writing, but damn his niche is definitely scenes like these.

[Keith]

I agree that the younger set needs to be involved where this vendetta is concerned. My problem is that never in the past has it been an omnipresent issue for them. It makes the current story completely jarring to have Sami suddenly care so much. Yes, her redemption, but you know what? It would be far superior to have her help out while those who have been involved get to the bottom of things. She should be supporting here, not lead. Nothing anyone says is going to change that view. Not the fact that Sweeney has been lead since 1993. Nothing. The fact is, this story is not HERS, but can be used as a vehicle to help her grow. Instead, they're focusing it on her, which is a big mistake. This is exactly why DAYS has failed to create a good younger set since... well, since the 90's at the latest, but arguably since the 80's.