How do we bring Drake back?

[MikeGoldy]

OK, now that John has been killed off, and hopefully stays dead, how do we bring Drake back, with hopefully a lower salary (sorry Drake), a new character, and a story that hopefully makes sense. I in no way, shape, or form, want John Black to be alive. That would totally ruin the entire last week of story, and hurt the much needed dose of reality that has come to Salem. However, in time, Marlena will need a new love interest, and for lots of people, Drake and Deidre have THE chemistry. So, I say, Drake comes back as a new character, who is totally unlike John. Maybe he is the long absent son of Dr. Tom Horton Jr, a son that has never been talked about on air, or maybe a son that the Hortons don't even know about. And this character, we'll call him, Dr. Adam Horton, was the man that the pre plastic surgery John Black was modeled after. So, not only would people be shocked to see someone who looked just like John, but then the mystery of why John was modeled after Adam, why Adam has stayed away all these years, and how the Hortons are involved, could become the story. Marlena wouldn't trust him, but would be drawn to him. She would think he was somehow involved with the DiMeras; then maybe he was involved with John's death (although, we know it was Roman haha) maybe Adam becomes involved with Kate. Marlena is filled with jealousy, but denies it. She investigates with Bo and Hope, Adam's life. Hope is conflicted because she is a Horton, and worries that her "perfect" family isn't so perfect. So much story could come of it. Ok, your turn, what would you do?

[Graciecat]

But the question is, does Drake have the ability to really transform himself? Because I think it's quite rare to really be able to create a completely different new character. I just can't see it.

I definitely agree with you, though, that John needs to stay dead. We need some evidence that in Salem, death can really be final.

I agree that Marlena needs a love interest. Not right away, of course, but at some point they will need someone for her. Maybe they could recast Roman? Right now he's way too much of a doofus, but in another form, I think it could work. I really doubt they could get Wayne Northrop back, but I think they should try.

[MikeGoldy]

I actually have that faith, that he has it in him, to play a new and different character. I think he has been phoning it in for so long (other than this past week) because of the material that has been presented to him. No excuse, but it could explain in. I think it would be an interesting story. But, I really wouldn't want a reunion for Roman and Marlena, even if Wayne returned. Too much water under the bridge and all, and it think it would make Roman look like a sucker.

[Dr. Chip]

Wasn't it explained at some point that John never really did have plastic surgery? If he did, how were Greta and Princess Gina able to recognize him? Or was the surgery done even before that time period? I thought it was only after Stefano found out about John and Gina that he decided to send John to Salem to take Roman's place.

I am missing John so much right now, but I'm with you, Goldylicious. If this character returns from the dead, the fans will never, ever, ever trust this show again. What a way to cheapen everything we saw this past week.

However, did anybody catch this from the Australian TV interview with Ken, Drake, Deidre, and Thaao?

When asked about the most memorable storyline, Drake was teary-eyed remembering his first story with Dee. It seemed to confirm the fact that he's gone and it's time to be nostalgic. But then came this:

QUESTION: My question is probably going to jump ahead about 10 months. We've read on the Internet where Marlena was going to seek revenge for John's death. Are we gonna actually get to see that played out on screen?

DEIDRE: [hesitates] You know what? You're way ahead of us as the audience here, and . . . we're not going to discuss it . . . except to say, "Everything is wonderful. Just stay with us."

So, what does that mean???

[YRBB]

I think that killing John off will be proven to be a huge mistake and they will be desperate to bring him back. I am glad that it gave veterans some stellar material, but you don't kill off half of your show's strongest and most beloved couple. You just don't do it. It's going to turn back and bite them in the ass. My guess is that he'll be brought back.

Obviously, it destroys credibility, but I'm sure they could pay for his salary, if USELESS, STUPID and BORING characters are thrown out of the show (you know who I'm talking about! ). But that is NEVER happening.

[Graciecat]

You know, I really doubt it means anything. The Australian audience was months behind, and most of them, except the ones who went on the internet, didn't know that they'd killed off John. I think it was just Deirdre trying to quiet down the audience member. It sounded to me like she just didn't want to talk about it, both for those who didn't know yet, and for Drake's sake.

[Pest Spray]

Except that Pat knows Deidre, they've been sitting down and meeting once a year since 1982, so I don't buy that.

There's something going on. John Black may be dead, but that doesn't mean Drake isen't returning. His contract isen't up until January. And he did talk as if he was still with the show, mentioned Corday as his boss... it was wierd. Cute, but wierd.

[Khan]

I'll put it this way: killing off half of one of your show's biggest, most beloved couple might be suicidal...but so would revealing down the road that said half isn't really dead after all. (Especially when it isn't the first time you've pulled that kind of stunt on your viewers.)

Either way, DAYS is screwed.

[MikeGoldy]

I really do hope that Drake comes back, but to me, the character of John has been played out. And I think it would be great to see Dee and Drake to play a whole new love story, have Drake play a character that hasn't become a joke to so many people. Either way, I have a lot of respect for Dee that no matter what she feels on the inside, she doesn't speak badly about the show. She's a class act

[Roman]

I think what we all witnessed was truly the death of John Black, the character.

Hogan sent John out with his people surrounding him, and they gave him a hero's funeral.

But........when Drake returns, he will be playing a different character.

They way I take it, HS killed every single character that Drake played after he lost his identity as Roman Brady. So, he may no longer be John Black, Forrest Alamain, that priest, the thief Romulus, or whatever he was.

That is dead and buried from here on out.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

If John is dead, I don't want Drake to come back to Days as another character. What's the point after 21 years, playing first Roman and then John? The audience will never accept Drake as anyone but John, expectations just won't be met. Days already has a horrible history of bringing back actors, just to have them play completely different roles. That crap needs to end, as well as the overly contrived soap cliche of the lookalike.

Keep John dead, because if she's mysteriously alive, Days looses all creditability it might have gained last week. Also, don't bring Drake back as another character, that's yet another mark against the show's already damaged credibility. It's time Days moved into reality and stayed there.

[dragonflies]

If Drake returns, it should be as John, no one else.

IMO anything else is a slap in the face

[Roman]

I, for one, don't know what the audience will accept. I just know what I will accept. And, it does seem that some of Days's fans are always complaining about one thing or another, and if that is the case, HS and ES might as well tell good stories and hope that the audience stays with them.

[DaytimeFan]

I just hope that John stays dead and that Drake hits the road and doesn't come back. To me, John Black and Drake Hogestyn are the manifestation of everything which made DAYS Jump The Shark.

This isn't to say that I dislike Drake Hogestyn...because I actually think he's a wonderful person. The unfortunate thing is that he is the scapegoat for everything wrong with DAYS. The show needs credibility and anything having to do with Drake just loses all of it.

[MikeGoldy]

You know, back in the day, I thought that Drake was great as Roman, and was wonderful opposite Dee and Genie Francis. But, Drake became a victim JER's campy writing, which Drake played so well because of his limited acting ability. And now here we are....