DAYS: Friday August 3

[IMissAremid]

WOW.

What a fantastic episode! Aside from maybe the Brady-DiMera family meetings episode we got for Leann's second episode back, today's might have been my favorite in the last ten years!

I just simply love what James Scott brings to the show and it was so fun seeing EJ ruthless again. I don't want them to squander all the goodwill EJ has built up with Sami and the Bradys and do something rash that would waste all the time they'd spent redeeming him, but if they can strike the proper balance where he's still ruthless and maybe sometimes a scoundrel but always with a soft spot for Sami then I am a happy camper. I only wish we got more stuff like this from Jan-April to have added more vulnerability to EJ so he wasn't as cartoony a villain back then without his motivations as clearly fleshed as out as they were today. What a fun drunk he is though! I loved the spitting and the "Trick or Treat" and the dumping booze on Lucas's dead body and then Kate mocking him as the bottle caressed his face. Oh it was so lovely. Could have done without EJ calling Kate a whore, but that's Hogan's chauvinistic writing showing through loud and clear as always, so I can't say I'm that surprised.

Oh but the EJami scenes... HOT! Toups, you ALMOST have me believing you that Sheffer actually is writing for EJami with the scenes we got today. At the very least they are going to keep the triangle going for quite a while longer or else they wouldn't be showing EJ and Sami kissing and in bed together (in a much more romantic and luxurious setting than Lucas and Sami got for their honeymoon, in fact, lol) even if it is only in an EJ fantasy.

Yay for Doug and Julie returning and more letters. It had been a while since we got more in the Colleen and Santo saga and I thought Ali Sweeney played Sami's confusion/discomfort well as she hears them now knowing that not only does she look just like Colleen but that EJ looks like Santo as well.

The Tony-Andre showdown was fun to see, although I agree it was directed/edited poorly in the way they had Bart randomly come between them and get stabbed. I had hoped maybe Tony would have been the one to do the stabbing and cut him open to get the key, but oh well. I am sad that Bart is gone because I really have enjoyed him this run, but I am glad that someone is dying in this storyline and apparently staying dead because I think it gives the story more impact. I just would have preferred they kill Roman off.

And what a bloody fun bloody week it's been! From Roman's stabbing, to Max getting beat up to Bart's shooting and then stabbing... Has there even been one bomb? I so prefer the blood and the slapping to the stupid non-fatal bombs.

Also, once again, Joe Mascolo showed why he is the master as even though he's a total bastard still he engendered sympathy as his faithful soldier Bart died in his arms.

Can't wait to see what's next!

[IMissAremid]

Oooh thanks. Yeah that would have been right around the time I started watching and Y and R was my first soap. Ahhh memories.

[Ryan]

Glad you enjoyed yourself IMA

[IMissAremid]

LOL. Yeah, as I was typing that, I was just thinking... yeah everyone who knows my posts is going to be SO surprised I liked this ep. Oh well. I couldn't help gushing, dammit.

[MichaelGL]

Really good episode today. Poor Bart!

[KSlater]

I'm gushing right there with you IMiss! James as drunk EJ surprised me. I knew he'd be good, but I didn't expect gritty. Spitting. Shooting Lucas. Threatening Kate. Ending up in bed with Sami. That was some good sh*t.

Sad about Bart though.

[maconrich]

I give the show an A+ (haven't done that since the DiMera dinner).

James Scott was brilliant and has shown such a range of emotions the last two days that I continue to be impressed all over again. Loved EJ drinking; the shooting of lucas fantasy and the way he put Kate in her place. It was especially powerful when Kate apologized and EJ backed off and told her she didn't have the right to hit him and his father didn't either -- the sick comment about Stefano was brilliant -and I didn't mind the flashback at all - it actually worked and fit in with what was happening. The bed scene with EJ and Samantha was ok - not great but since it was a fantasy, I'm fine with it.

Poor Bart; that was downright sad. Tony and Andre were beyond fantastic!! Stefano holding Bart just made the tears flow even more.

Colleen and Santo (and those reading the letter) = good. Wonder if Santo slipping might be a clue on how Colleen dies

Days that focus on the DiMeras sure seem to be the best!!

[Days4Life]

RIP Bart. I'm going to miss him as I rather enjoyed his comic relief. I agree that the scene was directed badly, with him getting in the midst of Tony and Andre for no reason; however, loved him dying in Stefano's arms. And, IMissAremid, the idea also went through my mind that Tony was going to cut him open to get the key! Glad he didn't, though.

I enjoyed the Santo/Colleen scenes--and I usually don't. Today I could actually feel the emotion and longing--and the kiss was wonderful! But best of all, was EJ today. James Scott nailed those scenes, and it was great to see him showing his feelings. He's been too quiet and repressed lately so I love seeing him get his edge back. And those sly writers! They knew this was a difficult week for those of us who aren't on the Lumi bandwagon so they gave us that fantasy of EJ shooting Lucas and living HEA with Sami. I loved, loved, loved it.

I don't care how many times Sami tells Lucas she hates EJ--she doesn't mean it. Her conversation with Hope from a couple weeks ago combined with the way she was acting during the letter reading today has me totally convinced that the girl is in deep denial. Then there's the parallels between Santo and Colleen. Colleen (Sami) has, for most of her life, felt a love and duty towards the church (Lucas) that ran so deep she didn't even consider an alternative. Then, just as she's ready to make her final commitment, someone new arrives in the person of Santo (EJ) and she begins to experience feelings she's never had before, for a different life than she's ever considered. Oh, yeah, folks, we're definitely heading somewhere interesting!

[dawn9476]

I haven't see the show yet but EJ got drunked? What a wuss. Poor, poor EJ. He finds out the babies aren't his so he goes out and gets drunk? Thanks for proving what a loser you are, EJ. I also read Stefano slapped him. WOO HOO. GO Stefano.

[dawn9476]

So EJ has a fantasy of [!@#$%^&*] Sami and shooting Lucas? They really are turning him into a obsessive, vindictive, vengeful stalker. I love it. Thanks Hogan for bringing out the loser EJ really is.

Sorry Kate. But it is useless. That disgusting, vengeful, spiteful monster of a rapist has no idea how to be a man. If he did, he would stay the hell away from Sami and her family. Hell, if he was a man to begin with, he would have never raped Sami like it was no big deal in the first place.

[heatherwebber]

After some Valley Girl antics earlier this week this show was amazingly calm. So far at least.

I'm glad they seem to be addressing some attention to fixing Kate. A businesswoman fighting for her company, a strong fighter, is far more interesting than a silly woman meddling in her kids affairs with a bizarre obsession about their love lives.

The Andre/Tony stuff is great.

And any time I don't have to get annoyed by fake Stephanie I am happy.

[DrewH]

I loved Tony vs. Andre. I agree with King though. I was thinking the same thing. Those stunt doubles look nothing like Thaao. I felt so bad for Bart when he died though. Poor Stefano. He lost one of his most loyal confidants.

Those Kate and EJ scenes were pretty intense there at first. The way James Scott was just throwing Lauren Koslow around, they did a great job with that. Loved the EJAMI love fantasy. Hopefully, that becomes reality soon.

Santo and Colleen are heating up, and I love it.

It's nice to see Doug and Julie as well.

[Loretta3938]

We got more of an edgy EJ today. He's tired of being kicked around (or rather punched) by Stefano, Lucas, the Bradys...and I think it's about time! I don't see a loser there at all. It was fitting that Kate would be the potential victim of his anger, since she was responsible for Nick's fake DNA report.

Well, I guess if EJ is a disgusting, vengeful, spiteful monster of a rapist, we'd have to classify Jack Deveraux, Bill Horton, and even Sami Brady in that category, too...because they have all raped someone at one time or another.

Loretta

[Keith]

Speaking of the way EJ manhandled Kate, anyone else disappointed she didn't go ballistic on him, and reference her past with Curtis? All this character needs is stuff like this, away from the one-note, meddling mother and Koslow shines. The best Kate's been since the fall.

Scott played everything perfectly. I don't care what he did that was despicable, he's too fun to watch. He's passionate, he's human, and he's vulnerable. Such a throwback to 80's Tony (who also raped a prominent blonde, even if she was his estranged wife). I wasn't keen on the fantasies, save for Scott's reactions as drunken EJ. Sweeney and Dattilo were both equally lame in their portrayal of Lucas' fantasy death, IMO. Total camp, which is plenty part of DAYS, but which I've never really enjoyed all that much. And when juxtaposed with Scott's raw, gritty emotion and incredible range, it was kind of odd. I did love that they threw a bone to the EJami fanbase. I'm happy right where I am, in the middle of this triangle. No fanbase wars for me!

Damn! I though Doug and Julie last aired last month? Maybe I got my airdates confused, or they taped some more. I'm glad for it! Although, this story needs to eb taken to the next level already. The letters, I've enough of the damned letters. The story needs to start coming from other sources.

If I wasn't paying as much attention, I'd agree about bad directing, and the overall shot itself was dreadful, but Bart was attempting to stop the gruesome twosome from fighting, so it wasn't done for no reason. Lame, I suppose, but he's nothing if not loyal, and if somehow Andre was hurt, I'm sure he would have felt responsible somehow. I have no feeling whatsoever about Bart's death. He was great for comic relief, but I never really enjoyed him as a character. The DiMera henches just aren't what they used to be. Can Rolf be next please?

I loved how they had Tony and Andre in different shirts. I also love how Tony's the only one who knows what happened to the key. Stefano's treatment of Andre in the aftermath was so very telling.

Onto the previews, I am so glad to see Kate getting involved in the Dimera saga, even if I think it needs work. I really like what the show is doing on the whole, but some of the stories still have severe disconnects.

[KevC1980]

Kudos to James Scott for a magnificent performance today...I was blown away, and today really could be a potential emmy tape for him...I'm with Keith...I'm probably a bigger Lumi fan, since i've seen them since the beginning..but there is no denying Ali and Jame's smoking, incredible chemistry..And EJami just feels so right sometimes...I wonder if today was a sign that Sami would end up with EJ based on her lust for him...Like Colleen and Santo..

Today was also a great day for Kate..I'm really excited to see her away from her kids...and i can't wait for the Kate and Stefano scenes...

Bart dying was well done, i was never a big fan..So i won't really miss him..but Steve Blackwood is a great actor and seems like a genuinely nice man...