DAYS: December Discussion

[Guest dc cubs]

I agree that the Horton's hanging their ornaments was too rushed. I think that's because as Toups said there aren't many Hortons left on the canvas. It's especially noticeable this time of year. I hope we see some Hortons return to the show full time in 2010.

It seems as if the new regime is concentrating on the Kiriakises and Dimeras. I'm enjoying both of those families but it shouldn't come at the expense of the founding family of Days which is the Hortons.

[JackPeyton]

The hortons have been lacking for years. I actually feel the current PTB care more than previous ones. No, we may not have a huge amount of hortons but most of the ones we do have - Hope, Maggie, Nathan - all have story and are being used. Tying in Mia and Melanie with Maggie was the best thing to happen to her in 20 years to be honest. Bringing Doug and Julie back was also good. I would have loved to see jennifer and mike return, but any other returns would pretty much have to be a recast and at that point, what is the point? Also nice to see Lucas and Allie there. I liked it, even if it was rushed. However i cant wait for tomorrow because

. I didnt mind that they just acted like Alice and Mickey were there but off camera, what else can they do? It wasnt the best christmas ever on days, but it was a good episode.

The turn of the focus to the Kirakises and Dimeras come at the expense of the Bradys if any family (Who do we have as a Brady that has a story right now? Sami and Bo? I guess Steph .. And Sami is pretty distant from the Bradys), not the Hortons. But its well worth it because the K's and the D's have been great to watch. The Hortons were shoved aside for the Bradys decades ago. I would like to see Sarah, Mike, and Jen return tho. I do think they could easily fit into the show. I still think that DAYS messed up by casting Shawn C as Daniel, it should have went to that guy who played Coop on GH who almost had it and Shawn C should have been made Mike Horton. Tamara Braun would have made an amazing Sarah Horton too.

I feel she has improved greatly. DAYS has also added some bitch back into Steph and that helps.

[DRW50]

I agree with a lot of what you said, JackPeyton. I think the show does care, or tries to. Maggie has a more central role, and Nathan, although not as connected as he could be, is a decent young man who could stay around for a long time. I feel like every time the show has brought in a young Horton in recent years, it ends badly. Nick had such promise which was squandered by two straight years of awful writing, and Jeremy had one of the worst introductions of any soap character I can remember.

If they've built up the Kiriakises it might be because the family was so neglected for most of the past two decades, to the point where Victor was wheeled off to a nursing home, then only brought back to cause problems for Nicole or Kate.

[JackPeyton]

Exactly. I mean, it is far from perfect and all, but i feel they try and they care a lot more then some thing. Def more than other shows do. I would rather have a few good intersting hortons who are used than a lot of piss poor ones like we had with the brady family for so long.

I just love what they have done with the Kriakis family. Victor, Brady, Philip, Justin, Bo adding in Carly, Hope, Vivian and some Melanie, Ari, Stefano, and Kate has been wonderful. Even Daniel and Chloe work the best in that grouping of people IMHO. That family was so ignored and reduced to nothing for so long and all they needed was some TLC. It has really paid off. I just wish that Chad has turned out to be one of them because i feel he would really fit in with this family well.

UGh, Nick. He could have always been so wonderful but never got the chance. I was actually glad to be done with him when he left. And jeremy was just awful all around. Jeremy and Abby would be a nice addition at some point, but are just so not needed right now. But it cant be ignored that Maggie Horton has appeared more thus year than any year since 1983, not to mention she has actually been used! Not just standing around on special events. No, she didnt have her own story but she played a very strong supporting role pretty much all year long. I would say that DAYS' use of Suzanne Rogers is the soap highlight of the year. I do hope for more Horton returns in 2010 tho! I still think that Mike Horton should be Carlys baby daddy and that bringing jen back would be a great angle to play in the carly/hope story.

[JackPeyton]

watching some of wed's scenes was odd because i was at the studio in early nov and seen them being taped. its really odd to see something you watched taped to be on screen.

so i really like nathan and stephanie now. "all of my feelings for you are nice ones" LOL at Nathan getting all twisted up when talking. I feel Mark & Shelley play really well off eachother. The miseltoe scene was very disney but they pulled it off. i also love philip and melanie, a tad rushed i guess but given their history both together and with others it fits for them.

i just dont care about nicole anymore at all. i hope shes off screen soon. i need a break.

i really like t, kinsey, will, mia, gabby, and chad. they play well off eachother. i actually like t and kinsey more than gabby and will, lol. but i am so a fan of mia and chad. taylor & casey have really nice chem.

what has happened to me. why do i like Arianna? this is not good. lol. Linds is very breezy in this role, if you know what i mean. It just fits well and her and Eric M are much better together here than they were on passions IMHO.

Carly & Rafe! ITS ABOUT TIME! I was starting to think Days forgot! lol. I really like the way it was done. Their was an obvious tension and awkwardness to it, as there should be.

Those sami and hope scenes were very unexpected, but nice. but OMFG Hope let it go, please! It is not 100% Bo's fault. I was distracted tho because alison sweeneys boobies looked gigantic! lol.

i LOL when Nathan says "its my first one in years" as if hes been around before, lol. Its nice tho. i dont mind it. Oh man, JKJ is ripped. Damn. I would just say yes. Philip is hot and rich! what more does one need! I really dont mind them rushing if this goes where i think its going..

i loved annas line to stefano!

sami and nicole's scenes were amazing! also loved sami and rafe discussing them having the baby and raising her just the two of them. i have been waiting for this convo. i also loved that ej heard. i bet ej is behind this kidnapping.

ej on one side, rafe on the other, sami holding both hands... awesome scene! as was sami/rafe embracing with ej in the back and hope watching bo look at carly.

[Ann_SS]

Great Christmas episode, Days.

The Kiriakis mansion was jumping. Victor’s reaction to Philip’s wedding announcement was classic. Is the church you booked to marry the Johnson girl still available? Maybe you can have the same date? Have you ever gone on an official date? To Phillip in another phase of his life. ROTFLMAO!

Stefano and Vivian snarking at each other was funny as hell. I also couldn’t stop laughing as Vivian kept insulting Chloe. Daniel is so annoying and out of place. Where was Justin? Brady doesn’t want to be around “well adjusted people.” Victor is hilarious.

I am rooting for EJ and Arianna. Brady is not worthy to lick her boots.

The hospital scenes were heartwarming balancing out the iciness at the Kiriakises and sadness at Sami's home.

Nathan is so young to read the Christmas story. I would have preferred Abe read the story, but the flashback to Tom reading the story was nice. Nathan and Stephanie are really good together. I’m glad that he growing to care for her. Now if only, he would stop pining over Melanie.

The little boy who plays Theo was adorable as was sweet Sydney in her red outfit.

[JackPeyton]

I actually feel daniel fit well. Justin had a scene with Philip telling him he didnt want to deal with all of them and was going to a football game or something.

I like Brady & Ari myuch more just because i feel like JS & LH have no romantic or sexual chem at all.

Abe? read the Horton Christmas Story? No thanks. Even tho he has been around forever and is a vet of the show, i would rather have a newbie Horton read it.

[quartermainefan]

The last couple of christmas episodes were really well done. Somehow in the middle of everything it is Nathan who you can see as the one who might become the new MVP down the road. The actor has everything a soap actor should have, looks and charm, and you could see just at that hospital scene with the singing that Melanie is not thrilled looking at Nathan and Stephanie. That was actually my favorite moment of the show because it foreshadows perfectly what we can expect in 2010.

Seeing the lack of vets these days, why doesn't the show just bring Doug and Julie back on some sort of regular yet recurring basis? I am not digging her white hair though. Her face is still youthful and it isn't matching the Alice Horton hairdo. I was bummed Doug didn't get to sing a christmas tune, I have to say.

And thank someone for Anna DiMera, because I am FFing everyone else associated with this baby post script. It's over, DOOL. The baby story was told, it had a beginning and it had an end. Give it a rest. Better to leave on top than wear out your welcome. Time to move on to some new characters and give Sami, Nicole and EJ a rest for the winter.

[Guest dc cubs]

I like Nathan and thought he was the perfect choice to read the Christmas story. Days is portraying him as the future reliable, good guy Horton.

I agree about using Doug and Julie more on Days. However, Bill Hayes is 84 years old. He looks fabulous. Bill may be comfortable with a few appearances here and there and not want to work much more.

I'm also on board with wrapping up the baby switch story. Days has tried to stretch this out too long. It's been great seeing Anna. Those scenes on the pier at the vigil where Sami was talking to Rafe about raising Sydney and she wishes it could have just been her and Rafe involved were a big anvil. EJ was listening in the background with kind of a smirk on his face and I'm pretty sure he is working with Anna. EJ wants to keep Sydney away from Sami just like she did to him when his daughter was first born.

Ari is on maternity leave and her last episode before her on air leave is in early January so we should get a rest from Nicole for awhile. I can't say the same for Sami and EJ as my guess is they will still be frontburner in 2010.

[dc11786]

Part of the problem with the return to the Horton family is it would require more new characters. Any of these characters would be new to most of the audience. Storywise, Sarah and Melissa should be considered for a return based on Maggie's presence and the arrival of Nathan Horton. Melissa Reeves' husband is back in California, but would the audience really accept the return of Jennifer without Jack? One of the thing the current regime does seem big on is bringing back characters to pair them with people already on the canvas. Jennifer would more likely than not return alone or with her children ripe for youthful storylines, and would that really please an audience?

I agree there has been a concentration on the Dimera and Kiriakis clans and I LOVE it. The show has tried to force a Brady-Dimera feud for years to no avail. This seems more organic, more interesting because both sides can do anything without the audience crying foul. It is two groups of characters who really can go at it with one another and produce results from Victor/Stefano and Kate/Vivian to EJ/Brady and EJ/Phillip. The dynamic between the characters has been well established and keeps the veteran characters at the front and center. Also, there has been a concentrated effort to diminish the Brady family. Bo's ties have moved from Brady to Kiriakis and Sami has been detatched from her family, for better or for worse.

I think the treatment of the Horton clan has worked given who is there. The initial Nathan/Melanie conflict was grounded in the Nick/Melanie history and Will's story has been moved along by meaningful conversations involving Aunt Maggie. Hope has begun to do work for the Horton foundation again. I do wish Hope's ties were played up more, but I think the show is trying to create meaningful connections.

In the hands of a more nuanced actress, Chloe's role as the Kiriakis family doorknob could be important, intense, and quite humorous. Instead, Chloe seems inconsequential considering her history with Phillip, Brady, Lucas, and Daniel.

Thanfully, Chad is not related to anyone. "Days" has worked hard to eliminate the incest motif of the past decade or so.

I enjoy the group, but there are no real stand outs. No one in the younger set makes me go, OOHHH I really want to see you carry the storyline.

I thought the Carly/Rafe scene worked well and it made sense that Carly would show up at the vigil under these circumstances allowing Hope and Bo drama to play out. The whole thing worked for me. It didn't feel as forced as some things have in the past. The Sami/Hope scene worked well and I wish the soap would do this more. There are some obvious connections that need to be played out. I know "Days" hasn't been that kind of soap, but for the past two regimes it has tried to be that kind of soap.

Hapka works. They have spent the better part of the year tryig to mold him into the new, noble Horton in the vein of other Horton doctors. It made sense that he read the story.

Doug and Julie would enhance the current Bo and Hope storyline, but I don't feel they are absolutely necessary. I would love to see Julie around as sort of foil to Maggie. Julie has a sort of been through it all "cut the BS" sensibility which could really work to make things interesting.

Funny, I sort of agree. I don't mind the story being continued, but it is Anna's role that keeps me interested. I've been surprised to see that everything continues to play out, but more surprised that I'm not bored by it.

[Khan]

As others have said in this thread, it's especially hard to spotlight the Horton clan on special occasions when so many have died or have been forgotten.

Tom, of course, has passed away; and Frances Reid, I imagine, is simply too advanced in age even to make a special cameo.

Both Bills, Edward Mallory and Christopher Stone, have passed away IRL, so it would seem awkward to have a new actor there unless the character is once again a permanent fixture. Same goes for Tommy, since the definitive one, John Lupton, has passed away as well; and even for Mickey, since John Clarke has retired, and none of his successors in that role have worked out. (And, of course, Addie's dead, so unless Patricia Barry wants to play a ghost, lol.....)

Jaime Lyn Bauer could reprise Laura, since Susan Flannery is on B&B (although, if we're talking about just family gatherings or even recurring visits, why couldn't Brad Bell and Ken Corday work out some sort of arrangement like they did for Lauren Koslow?). And yeah, sure, Melissa Reeves would return, and either Matt Ashford's with her, or Jennifer just explains that Jack was away on business and couldn't make it back to Salem, but sends his love and regards.

Therefore, aside from Bauer and/or Flannery and Reeves (w/ or w/o Ashford), all that's left are the Hayeses, Kristian Alfonso, Suzanne Rogers, Maree Cheatham (Marie #1), maybe Gregg Marx (ex-David), Jean Bruce Scott (ex-Jessica Blake Fallon) - athough, w/ Nick out of the picture, why would she show up now? - and Rick Hearst (ex-Scotty), another out-of-left field choice, but possible if Corday and Bell worked out some kind of arrangement.

At this point, I think we could forget about seeing Mike, Jeremy or even Nick again for the holidays (unless, again, as w/ Bill, the characters have been permanently re-established on the canvas - b/c, Michael T. Weiss or even Roark Critchlow coming back? Just for the holidays? Huh-uh.)...and the same could probably be said for Sandy, Melissa and Sarah, too.

Damn, DAYS, what the frak did you do to this family?!

I, for one, don't mind the de-emphasis of the Brady clan, since they always seem to be major players in DAYS' more ridiculous storylines. Yet, at the same time, I don't know whether I want a DAYS that is increasingly focused on warring crime families such as the DiMeras and Kiriakises. That's just a little too GH for me. Rebuilding the Hortons, at this point, might not be an option, but I definitely think this show needs to take the opportunity to (gradually) introduce a new, more middle-class element that embodies the show's core themes of family and community.

Sorry, but I can't get behind that decision, lol. I've always been against de-aging Mike Horton. Even Weiss seems inappropriate, in retrospect. IMO, Mike needs to be the age that Wesley Eure, the first adult Mike, is today, whether it's Eure playing him or not.

[Guest dc cubs]

I don't have any insider info but I think we'll see Jennifer back in Salem in 2010. It could be just a short term stint. Jennifer could fit into the Bo/Hope/Carly story. She is Hope's cousin but also Carly's best friend so where would her loyalty lie.

Missy's husband is working on GH and I think I read they are spending the next few months in CA. I remember reading an interview with Scott Reeves where he said their kids would be home schooled this year so they could keep their career options open.

Unfortunately, if Jennifer comes back long term I think it's without Jack. As a big J&J fan I'd be disappointed if that was the case but Days hasn't written for them as a couple in a long time so it might be better not to bring back Ashford.

I think this is what they are trying to do with the Hernandez family. However, I'm not sure it will be successful so I'd rather see Days bring back some more Brady's or Horton's if and that is a big if they can integrate them into the show.

[YRBB]

Victor is a God--A GOD!

"Ladies, please, it's the holiday season. Let's get into the holiday spirit and not be quite so... bitchy."

Aniston rocks.

[DRW50]

I think part of the problem with the Bradys is that there were such distinctive members of that family, it's very difficult for new people to compare to them. I think Belle and Shawn became damaged goods for many reasons but one of them was they often came across as very knockoff version of characters like Marlena and Bo. Stephanie seems like a pale version of what Kayla was.

This isn't as much of a problem with the Hortons, but that's because there have been few strong younger or middle-aged characters in that family for a long time. Jennifer was never quite the same even when Melissa Reeves returned, and Hope is as much of a Brady as she is a Horton.

I think trying to bring in a few new Hortons might work, along with recasting a Horton in the middle or older male range. I don't see why they can't recast Tommy and bring in one of his kids, or grandkids.

[Guest dc cubs]

I agree on these points. If the show wanted to make the Brady presence larger perhaps it could be a good time to bring back Eric. I'm surprised it has been such a long time since Sami's twin has been on the show. They could also stay younger by bringing on one of Kim's kids in Andrew or Jeannie. They would have a fresh perspective there since neither of those characters were seen since early childhood.