I never get emotional with television, it's just not who I am. But, that little scene where Johnny stroked Sami and EJ's faces and then told them that he was remembering them, just in case, made my eyes well up. He is a talented little dude, Alison Sweeney's reaction was perfect. Just give the little guy an Emmy, I don't care how little he actually does, kid has some chops. James Scott was good in those church scenes.

Unfortunately, Rafe had to be there and ruin everything. Galen Gering is a terrible actor in these sorts of scenes. He just stinks up the place.

LOVING Kate and Stefano. Delicious as always.

Amen and +1. That face-stroking scene was pure perfection in terms of investing even the most hard-hearted, cynical viewer (um, me) in this story. Now all I can think is "I hope little Johnny doesn't lose his eye!" He registers with me as a character as much as, say, Stefano or Kate.

Speaking of Kate & Stefano,

I love Melanie as this bitchy, entitled snot, because there is something human and vulnerable behind the bitchiness. When she's a put-upon heroine, I buy it less. And BSC Stephanie practically breaking Melanie's door down? Oh, YES! Bring the crazy, RageStephanie!

Michael hit the nail on the head. Both these two are flawed and have done bad things, but there are also relatable, too. Days is not asking us to side with the "good one" against the "bad one." Though in terms of the cray-cray, Stephanie right now is more nuts because she is just. SO. Angry! That's two years of frustration and bitterness bursting forth. Stephanie was once the pretty, entitled little princess with men falling over each other to ask her out... until Melanie became that very person and Stephanie became second choice. For both Philip AND Nathan. No wonder she lost it.

I think this would be a good time to do an in-depth psychological study of Stephanie (from what I hear, she was raped and also held hostage in a morgue?!?!) In real life, someone whose gone through one of those situations has emotional scars that never quite go away, even with therapy. Perhaps, they should focus more on her past traumas as opposed to losing two guys to Melanie. Just a thought and would give Stephanie some more depth. However, I'd hope they wouldn't turn her into a Sami 2.0 though.

I think this would be a good time to do an in-depth psychological study of Stephanie (from what I hear, she was raped and also held hostage in a morgue?!?!) In real life, someone whose gone through one of those situations has emotional scars that never quite go away, even with therapy. Perhaps, they should focus more on her past traumas as opposed to losing two guys to Melanie. Just a thought and would give Stephanie some more depth. However, I'd hope they wouldn't turn her into a Sami 2.0 though.

That's always been my problem with this character. There has never been any signs of any growth or development from one story arc to the next. I won't even go into the whole racecar driver thing cuz it's one of those plot points that are best swept under the rug. But you are entirely right, she was raped, her father was believed to be dead growing up (yet they act like he was there for her entire childhood), and went through whatever trauma during the Touch the Sky mayham (I've forgotten the details of much of the past 6-7 years of this show). Yet she still comes across the exact same way without any truly defining qualities. Hopefully this will finally give her an edge and some depth. And hopefully the actress will continue to put some actual effort into her performances.

Happy Birthday, Dr Neil Curtis!!

I loved the Carly/Melanie scenes, but will Carly please remember that she has another child besides Melanie as well? So Melanie is the best thing that happened to you, that's great, but what about Nicholas? She's acting like Mel is her only child. I find that very annoying!!

Shutup and get over it Stephanie, gosh I am so over her & her waterworks.

Why is Maggie caring so much about Vivian? And why is this all she and Victor talk about?

Are they doing a remake of Swept Away with Vivian and Gus?

Watching their scenes that's what immediately came to mind.

I wish Maggie would get off her high horse and stop being such a judgemental bat. She is really starting to irritate me how all she keeps doing is going around bashing the Kiriakis men. The show needs to do something about her and Victor already and stop dragging it out bc they are close to risking the point of people not caring anymore.

I loved the Carly/Melanie scenes, but will Carly please remember that she has another child besides Melanie as well? So Melanie is the best thing that happened to you, that's great, but what about Nicholas? She's acting like Mel is her only child. I find that very annoying!!

Have they mentioned Nikolas since she came back? Does Melanie know about him? Honestly, I forget he even exists except when I read this board. The show definetly doesnt do much to acknowledge him

Edited January 18, 201114 yr by Cheap21

Happy Birthday, Dr Neil Curtis!!

I loved the Carly/Melanie scenes, but will Carly please remember that she has another child besides Melanie as well? So Melanie is the best thing that happened to you, that's great, but what about Nicholas? She's acting like Mel is her only child. I find that very annoying!!

Shutup and get over it Stephanie, gosh I am so over her & her waterworks.

Why is Maggie caring so much about Vivian? And why is this all she and Victor talk about?

Thank you soooo Much!! It was a great day!

I agree about Nicholas. I haven't heard her mention him since she been back. I remember Nick was the best thing to happen to her when she learn he was alive!

I was just saying yesterday that Maggie and Victor story needs to be beefed up without Vivian. I wanted a Maggie/Victor/Caroline story, but now that she is Battyline I don't wanna see that. If not a Victor/Maggie/Stefano/Kate story (with Maggie seeing a different Stefano much like Rachel/Carl on Another World) or bring in a great soap vet like Peter Simon, Richard Van Vleet, Kale Browne, Ron Raines, Nicholas Coster, John Reilly, Ben Masters, etc to come in and make Victor jealous as hell!

Edited January 18, 201114 yr by Dr Neil Curtis

Have they mentioned Nikolas since she came back? Does Melanie know about him? Honestly, I forget he even exists except when I read this board. The show definetly doesnt do much to acknowledge him

Early on, I remember there was a Nikolas reference. Carly said they had had a falling out when Carly killed his father Lawrence. Given Carly's story, Nikolas should be mentioned more often. It does bother me that Carly acts like she has one child, but it bothers me moreso that Carly acts like she hasn't been denied the opportunity to raise her own child before. It would explain Carly's often desperate attempts to bond with Melanie.

I don't understand why Nikolas isn't in town. Considering, SPOILER ALERTNathan might be leaving town I don't know why Nikki is brought in to complete the quad. Imagine the drama of a Stephanie/Nikolas pairing!

Regarding Maggie and Vivian, I think Maggie feels guilty. As a moral character, she is afraid Vivian is right; she has been lusting after Victor while he has been married to Vivian. I don't have a problem with Maggie's complaints regarding the Kiriakis men. They buried Vivian alive in her name only for Vivian to turn around and do the same to her. Plus, Phillip has ruined his marriage to Melanie, who has become a surrogate daughter to Maggie. I agree it will have to move on a bit, and "Days" laid the groundwork for an eventual Maggie/Victor/Kate/Stefano/Vivian storyline if they decide to go there.

In mention the list of Stephanie storylines, let's not forget the all to brief pill abuse storyline. I wish that had played out longer than it had.

Carly and Rafe need to happen!

That's what I like about this story, and about the general approach to the writing in this era. The "good guys" aren't allegedly perfect and pure as the driven snow. I don't think you're wrong about Melanie, but I don't think anyone's asking us to believe anything besides what we're seeing. Melanie's outrage IS justified, but so is Stephanie's. In their minds, they're both right. In reality, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Melanie and Nathan went into their respective relationships with feelings for one another, but they never acted on them. That, to me, makes a big difference. They never held back from cheating out of pity for their partners, but because they did genuinely care for them. Was it true love between Mel/Phil and Nathan/Steph? No, but they wanted it to be. They did try. Remember when we were supposed to feel sorry for Belle, who was in love with Shawn but married Phillip out of pity and a fear of being alone, and then spent all her time running to Shawn and making out with him? Then she would only give Phillip the time of day when Shawn was occupied elsewhere? She was flat-out supposed to be the heroine of that story! Everyone spent all their time walking around talking about "poor Belle." This, to me, is light years away from that.

Melanie is a brat. She's immature, but she's also genuine. I don't feel like I'm being asked or told to believe otherwise by the show. Nathan wants to be a stand-up guy, but trying to act noble doesn't make you noble. Carly got caught in a shitty situation and made a judgment call that could cost her some important relationships. Phillip acted on selfish impulse and screwed up his marriage. Chloe fell into her old routine of cheating to feel loved, and it caught up to her.

And I loved Shelley Hennig's performance this week, and the fact that Stephanie finally has some definition, but it seems weird to me to act as though she's the heroine of this story. She pretended to be Melanie's friend and kept the letter from Nathan. She lied to him for months and months, and she manipulated the Chloe situation (regardless of whether she actually switched the tests herself or not) to benefit herself. I like that they're writing her and Mel with such animosity, but in no way do I think that Stephanie is any more in the right here!

I so, so agree with all of this. Esp what i bolded.

Carly and Rafe need to happen!

I totally agree!!!

aw chad visited his nephew. sweet little scene.

Poor Nicole getting the shaft again. I really like this new edgy Brady. And Carly had back bone with Philip. I loved her little "shh shh" . An overall good episode today

Go Chloe! LMAO loved her going to Stephanie's and ripping into Caroline. She called her a "Pitiful old grandma" and later on to Philip she said Caroline was a "Disgusting old witch" LOL!!! And I loved Stephanie's annoyance/bitchiness with Chloe, trying to get her to GTFO! She had to call Philip to come get her cause she was so annoyed. Loved all of it...

Chloe was so out of line and she's so blind and playing the blame game but I was loving her anyways! I'm glad she has Philip in the end to sort of get her back into reality & realize this all started with her and him in the first place!

Philip looks so pathetic begging Melanie for another chance!

I love Nathan/Melanie but wow Nathan is taking things a little to fast, she is not just going to be with you right away! Give her some space & let her sort out things for awhile. She is a mess.

Stefano & Kate are just awesome and I love that they're reunited again!!

Gabby/Will loved them this week. They are ADORABLE. LOL @ Rafe's reaction to them dating. I'm glad he approves. Also loved Chad earlier this week, how great was that little scene he had with Johnny?

Next week is going to be even better! Bo & Hope story heats up, the new Dimera story starts, Victor and Maggie heats up, Justin & Adrienne get screentime, and Taylor Raines return!!