DAYS: Friday, Sept. 7

[IMissAremid]

Friday, Sept. 7
DAYS OF OUR LIVES




Am I the only one who misses Stefano playing chess? For your Friday LOLing enjoyment: imagine the current incarnation of Roman Brady being a good chess opponent for Stefano.


And a little tidbit so you can all can try to imagine what today's episode would be like if John actually was involved in the Stefano fake death setup... it's up to you to decide if that is a good or bad thing.

[Toups]

*sigh* John and Stefano.......so much history between the two. Such a shame they no longer interact with each other. Thanks for the clip, IMA.

[MichaelGL]

I missed when scenes were scored like that during the Stefano/Jimmy chess scenes. Good score.

[IMissAremid]

Now THAT is what I call a Friday episode. Perfect intensity and culmination of stories that started out earlier in the week. And I just love how the week started out and you could tell it was early in the day on Tuesday and yesterday I noticed things were a little darker at the hospital to let you know EJ and Sami had been reading the letters for a while and now on Friday it's darker still so you really know it's night. I had no idea what a difference lighting could make before Ed Scott came into my life. Love him.

I **heart** whoever told Bryan Dattilo that quiet rage was a MUCH better acting choice for Lucas than INDICATING INCREASING ANGER BY RAISING THE SOUND OF HIS VOICE. I don't know if it is simply that I think Lumi has so much better chemistry when the storyline dictates them to have problems and Lucas to distrust Sami or Bryan is really working hard on his craft and finally has someone giving him good direction or some combination thereof, but I'm enjoying Lucas scenes on a consistent basis now. Who knew?!?! And who knew before this just how much the incompetence of Wyman was ruining this show? I had no idea. And Alison Sweeney just continues to dominate. I know she and Sami have a lot of haters because of all the screentime she's taking up that isn't going to other faves, but IMO she is showing she deserves it with her excellent performances as Colleen and Sami this week.

Seriously I can't stress how much I *LOVED* today's Lumi scenes. And I didn't think that was possible for me to ever say such a sentence. Yeah my sympathy is and always will be more with Sami's side of things and I want her with EJ, but I totally see where Lucas is coming from in all of this and what Lucas said about having a right to be upset with Sami about her reading love letters with the man who raped her was so valid. It didn't come across so much as judging her but more him being incredulous in this instance, which is SOOOO believable given the way Sami has lied to Lucas about things in the past and just his general awful experiences with women. Just about every beat was played so well by BD, especially loved when his reaction to her saying she needed him was the more understated smiling through gritted teeth and folding his arms. It's kind of funny to me he compares his relationship with Kate to Sami's with EJ, but that aside, I liked this whole scene because it established that however skeeved out some people may have felt watching EJ kiss Sami when drugged up yesterday that Sami DOES have feelings for EJ and is NOT afraid of him as she doesn't tell Lucas about the kiss and is caught flashing back to it, she vehemently defends EJ to Lucas and says over and over "I need him." I only wish that when Lucas dropped the bomb about Sami hanging out with her rapist that we would have got a flash of Sami spunk right back in that moment as she threw it back in Lucas's face that only happened because of her love for Lucas and wanting to save his life. Because I do think Lucas needs to be reminded of that part of the bargain more often. Now with all that BD/Lucas praise I can't fail to note Lucas almost calling Colleen a whore and when he comes back in the room referring to Sami has "my little baby." Yeah DOOL writers, thanks for reminding me that no matter how much better acting BD is doing and how much more sympathy I am gaining for Lucas in this situation I DO NOT want Lucas and Sami to wind up together. And LOL at the nurse saying everyone should stay in their rooms and Sami saying she and Lucas need to have this out being his cue to leave. Well crap, I give him all that credit and then he has to end the episode on the clunker of calling EJ: Elvis Wells Junior? Ummmm wtf? And duh Lucas the vendetta wouldn't end if Stefano died because hello that sociopath that locked your wife in a steamroom a couple days ago is still on the loose. Sheesh.

TTS was also really good today. I LOVE Rawlings and Ilsa and I love the twist that all the girls were in on it. I wasn't expecting it and I'm glad I wasn't spoiled for this twist in the story (well before reading yesterday's Prevuze anyway). It wasn't quite the fiery plane crash I had been hoping for when this story started, but I still liked it probably just as much as I would have that because it was so unexpected. The casino stuff just kind of bored me even if Jett was supposed to be near death and I thought it was funny how yesterday it seemed like no one was in the casino after the shooting yet everyone was back in there again when Jett was getting placed on the gurney. Did he declare his undying love for her at some point too? Meh. I just don't care about Chett and I never will. Sorry Hogan.

Love the Stefano sarcasm of "What fresh hell is this?" and "I might as well just slit my wrists." Love the look between Tony and Stefano as Tony injects him. Love the intensity of Stephen Nichols and James Scott in all of this. Interesting EJ subtext in a couple moments with the random "Love conquers all" comment and there was some moment where Bo told Tony that the reason Steve is the way he is is because of Stefano and there was a random shot of EJ spliced in. It amuses me that Stefano and EJ don't realize Tony is not on their side when he is wearing the Brady all-in-black uniform just like Bo and Steve while EJ and Stefano are clad in baby blue. They also seem to be stressing that EJ and Stefano connectedness with EJ knowing so instinctively that Stefano isn't really dead even after his initial grief.

That said, I'm annoyed about some of this.

I don't like that EJ and Tony found out about Benjy's liver being sliced off screen because we could have gotten good EJ reaction as he is even more angry with the Salem PD for preventing him from donating his liver and Tony would probably have something good to say or do about the fact that once again Stefano has harmed the children he claimed to love. I also don't like that Bo and Roman apparently have no self-awareness that their idiotic decision to try to arrest EJ and stop EJ from willingly donating his liver is what set the chain of events in motion that led to Benjy getting cut up in the first place. It would have been fun to see them at least half-ass apologizing to Steve, and Steve saying no, it's the DiMeras' fault for being crazy. I would have been satisfied with that. Of course, not that I was expecting Boman to acknowledge their role in this the way that Boman never acknowledged how their extreme incompetence at solving crimes coupled with their obsession with pimping out Sami to entrap EJ all those times could have been somewhat of a contributing factor to Dec. 29. *sigh*

I don't like in the Lucas-EJ confrontation that they played it like Lucas is a Brady and has been involved in the feud his whole life. Just like I didn't enjoy his "You can't beat the Bradys" thing last week. It's just weird. The rest of the confrontation I did like. I'm curious about Tony's remark to Lucas about the Bradys using someone related by marriage to do their dirty work even though he was speaking about Steve I'm wondering if we could have some foreshadowing for Lucas down the road, which would actually be a cool plot development.

I also don't know when Stefano got so trusting. Why would Stefano trust in Tony's loyalty after he banished him to an island for 20 years and is badmouthing Tony to EJ all the time? Why would Stefano trust Steve and if there was any doubt about trusting him why wouldn't they bust out their handy dandy Devil tarot card to bring him to heel again?

As annoyed as I am about all the dayplayers that Hogan is bringing in, does anyone else notice how all these people are better actors than the people they have on contract? Rawlings was great IMO and so much better than MP acting like getting shot in the back with a bullet was like getting hit with a tranquilizer dart. Ilsa and Jenna are stronger actresses and have more chemistry with Max than Shelley Hennig IMO. Jim Lunsford rocks. And a while back there was that pizza boy who totally stole a scene from Trevor Donovan when he brought a delivery to Jeremy and Stephanie. Just something I'm feeling...

All in all... another good week. Here's hoping Days can sustain this creative momentum and get recognized in the ratings for it eventually.

[JER Soaps Fan]

Still stunned about the "angels." BRILLIANT twist! NEVER saw it coming.

[Days4Life]

Okay, I know he's a bad guy and sleazy and evil and all that...but I love this Rawlings guy! His voice has a wonderful hypnotic quality...kinda like the snake probably sounded to Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Why is Lucas lumping himself in with the Bradys when talking to EJ?

Jett, please die. And I just knew this love confession to Chelsea was coming, but I don't care.

[JER Soaps Fan]

Lucas are you an idiot?! Am I missing something here? Stefano's death does NOT spell the end of the vendetta. ANDRE'S the one who's a crazy sonofabitch. You need HIM to die for that bitch to be over.

And OMG, I just saw Steve's line to EJ for the day-ahead promo. Does Steve WANT EJ to kill him? You just DON'T say that to a grieving son. Remember, Steve, Stefano is NOT really dead. You're in on this sting. EJ's NOT in on it. He CAN REALLY kill you. In other words, SHUT UP.

[GBB]

Oh, I think Steve would love nothing more than for EJ to come at him one on one. Don't think for a second that Steve couldn't take EJ in a fight (one in which EJ didn't have goons at his disposal). Steve would kick his ass eight ways from Sunday.

[KevC1980]

I haven't been much of a fan of the past few episodes..But todays episode was excellent..All the stories were exciting, and left with cliffhangers...The Angels twist was very unexpected, loved that they left that out of the spoilers..Days actually surprised me..And it hasn't done that in a long time..Also the Sami and Lucas scenes were very emotional..I have to commend BD on a great performance this past week, i really do think Ed Scott has helped him a bit...

Finally the Stefano, Tony, Ej, Roman, Steve and Bo scenes rocked..My favorite part was after when Stefano saw Tony betray him by injecting him with the syringe..tony's smile was just priceless..Hopefully Days can keep up with the momentum next week..

[Toups]

Great hospital scenes for Stefano's "death." I loved EJ's reaction, it was so intense.

That was good. I just want to see the Phoenix to rise from the ashes and become more powerful than before. I'm tired of seeing Stefano all weak.

What's up with Jett professing his "love" for Chelsea? Okay there, Jett. LOL

[DaysForever]

The scenes with Stefano being stabbed, and the doctor saying that he's gone, with the powerful music and EJ screaming and hollering... So intense... had me on the edge of my seat. Hopefully DAYS can keep this up next week.

[DaysForever]

LMAO. I was actually laughing at that moment.

He's known her for about 3 months and he suddenly "loves" her?

[maconrich]

ICAM with the above parts of your post, however I'm not as generous with my praise. It goes mainly to the hospital stabbing scenes and characters. Also when Sami was finally annoyed enough to asy to lucas: "God, what do you want?" It might be a personal thing coming thru for me and in the face shouting men (or women) - it just ticks me off to no end and brings on a headache from hades.

I agree with whoever said Steve was pushing things: bad timing to say the least. Guess Steve wouldn't fare well against a gun would he? But since I love both characters I'd rather not see that happen and prefer not to see either of them acting like inconsiderate morons (ditto for lucas but at least it's the way he is -- Steve isn't that way). Now EJ's comment way back about John almost being able to breath on his own (to Hope) was tacky but funny as hell. Razing someone who's just lost a loved one isn't funny and as IMiss pointed out, if the Bungling Brady boys hadn't stopped the surgery, Benji would never have been touched. So if Steve is ticked - he needs to take it out on his in-laws.

TP, JM and JS once again showed the range of their acting ability (SN did too). I was pulled in and clenching my seat. Great scenes and overall a very good day (and yes to it being a real cliff hanger Friday!)

[DAYSisHOT]

I think Stefano's death would be more dramatic if the audience thought he was really dead. If they treated it like Bo killing Lexie back in 2002, I think it would be better. But I did enjoy the episode especially Steve.

[maconrich]

Heck yeah it would have been!! Wonder if they were afraid viewers would get ticked off and not watch?