See, this more "neutered", less carton Stefano has made me LOVE him. And its not like he is mr happy go lucky "i love the world" guy. Hes still doing very stefano like schemes just on a smaller scale without the mustache twirling and evil laugh. His interest in Will was ver similar to his mid90's interest in Sami. His romance with Kate has taken him from one note cartoon to multi layered guy.

This is why I don't enjoy Stefano as much as I used to. I hate that Stefano is now a normal citizen living in Salem. It has ruined him just like it ruined him in 1998-2001 (I know alot of people blame the science-fiction crap with tooth chips and brain chips but that was just one of the reasons). Stefano used to be the larger than life villain that would come and go. There was this mystique around him. We didn't have to see him all the time. We already had a "living in Salem" kind of villain in Victor who was more of a classic gangster turned business tycoon. And through the years we've had alot of other villains in Salem but Victor was always the major one after Stefano.

This isn't just the writers fault, it seems like Joe doesn't want to work the way he did in the past when Stefano used to come and go.

Contract: January 18, 1982 - March 8, 1983

Recurring: March 2, 1984 - May 11, 1984

Contract: October 19, 1984 - February 22, 1985

Recurring: November 4, 1988 - December 19, 1988

Contract: September 17, 1993 - August 3, 1994

Contract: November 4, 1994 - August 14, 1996

Contract: October 4, 1996 - December 24, 1996

Recurring: February 7, 1997 - February 13, 1997

Contract: June 13, 1997 - June 14, 2001

Contract: June 6, 2007 - February 29, 2008

Contract: August 5, 2008 - Present.

Edited May 6, 201114 yr by Sindacco

Days isnt larger than life with cataclysmic plots which threaten to destroy the lives of nearly everyone in town anymore. The show and its plots have evolved and as a result so have the characters as a means to stay relevant and consistent with the changing times. It wouldnt make sense to write Stefano the way he was in the 80s and 90s. What is there left to fight for? He's older, he's mellowed out; it makes sense. Like Jack said, he's still doing very Stefano like things like with this Rafe plot but even that borders on the line of over the top at times. What we are seeing is probably the most relatable Stefano has been in a long time and he works the way he has. I prefer this version over the previous cartoon villian.

I think Dena has done a great job in spliting up EJ and Sami . Its know longer their show. I commend her for that as I enjoy Days much better now.

Days isnt larger than life with cataclysmic plots which threaten to destroy the lives of nearly everyone in town anymore. The show and its plots have evolved and as a result so have the characters as a means to stay relevant and consistent with the changing times. It wouldnt make sense to write Stefano the way he was in the 80s and 90s. What is there left to fight for? He's older, he's mellowed out; it makes sense. Like Jack said, he's still doing very Stefano like things like with this Rafe plot but even that borders on the line of over the top at times. What we are seeing is probably the most relatable Stefano has been in a long time and he works the way he has. I prefer this version over the previous cartoon villian.

Stefano's only purpose on the show these days is to help EJ in his plots (Sami/Rafe) or to screw up EJ's love life (Nicole, Taylor).

That's been his only purpose since he came back in 2008. Even in his 2007 return it felt like that most of the times while other more important stuff like the Tony/Andre reveal, Benjy's death, John's death, Marlena's revenge, etc had very little to do with Stefano when it should have.

Edited May 6, 201114 yr by Sindacco

I think the show erred years ago in not developing Stefano's OTT stories to be about more than just Marlena or John. I think they also erred in making a lot of his later stories so...bad. They seemed to think if they had the cartoonish elements that's all they needed.

Days isnt larger than life with cataclysmic plots which threaten to destroy the lives of nearly everyone in town anymore. The show and its plots have evolved and as a result so have the characters as a means to stay relevant and consistent with the changing times. It wouldnt make sense to write Stefano the way he was in the 80s and 90s. What is there left to fight for? He's older, he's mellowed out; it makes sense. Like Jack said, he's still doing very Stefano like things like with this Rafe plot but even that borders on the line of over the top at times. What we are seeing is probably the most relatable Stefano has been in a long time and he works the way he has. I prefer this version over the previous cartoon villian.

I agree, completely.

I can see that. It would take a FAR superior writer than Higley to lay the groundwork (slowly, gradually and carefully) for such an attraction, certainly. I just love their friendship chemistry and mutual respect, which reminds me why Peter Reckell is possibly the most underrated and overlooked actor in all of soaps. In many ways he is the quietly heroic heart of Days. Other soaps have thrown over their male heroes as being "too wimpy." Bo is not on as often as I would like (he could have scenes with SO many other people besides Hope and Roman!) but he is the lynchpin of the show IMO. And I say this as never having really been a big Bope fan.

Totally agree on Reckell. He is my favorite actor on Days and the reason I tuned in 25+ years ago. He has really improved since the 80's but as you said is still very under rated. I just wish Days could use him more but know that his low episode guarantees are due to budget issues.

Stefano used to be the larger than life villain that would come and go. There was this mystique around him.

That's why Stefano's best stories will always be the ones from the 80's to 1997. I think Stefano's being watered down has to do with Joe getting older. He can't be running around anymore. Nobody's going to remember 2000's Stefano.

I can see that. It would take a FAR superior writer than Higley to lay the groundwork (slowly, gradually and carefully) for such an attraction, certainly.

It wouldn't make any sense for them to be attracted to each other. This is the type of idea that someone like Tom Langan would come up with! Bad bad idea!

I just love their friendship chemistry and mutual respect

That's all their relationship should be.

I love that, after all these years, we're really getting to see Stefano DiMera as an actual character. I don't really see him as being 'neutered' -- we're just seeing him in the context of an actual personal relationship. When Kate betrayed him, remember how he started screwing with her, making her go apologize to Daniel and Chloe, inviting Vivian over for dinner, then kicking her out anyway? That was cruel. He's still cruel. He actually seems less dopey to me than he did in that 1998-2001 window, and I just love having him on the show. He's sort of the bizarro Alice Horton, for me.

And I think the only way that Bo/Jen could ever fly, at this point, is if Hope were dead and they turned to each other in their grief, with a very slow build from loving friendship to something deeper. Back in 2001, it might've worked, but there is no way Bo or Jen would do that to Hope if she were alive.

I love that, after all these years, we're really getting to see Stefano DiMera as an actual character. I don't really see him as being 'neutered' -- we're just seeing him in the context of an actual personal relationship. When Kate betrayed him, remember how he started screwing with her, making her go apologize to Daniel and Chloe, inviting Vivian over for dinner, then kicking her out anyway? That was cruel. He's still cruel. He actually seems less dopey to me than he did in that 1998-2001 window, and I just love having him on the show. He's sort of the bizarro Alice Horton, for me.

I do think he's better now than that 1998-2001 period. He's still great to watch but I won't remember him for these storylines.

And I think the only way that Bo/Jen could ever fly, at this point, is if Hope were dead and they turned to each other in their grief, with a very slow build from loving friendship to something deeper. Back in 2001, it might've worked, but there is no way Bo or Jen would do that to Hope if she were alive.

Yeah, that's only possible way I could see it happening....but the thought of DAYS ending (we only got a year or two left) with Bo/Jen....that doesn't sound right.

Oh, totally. Literally the only way THAT would work is if Kristian Alfonso were to die in real life or something (I feel bad even saying that)...

If Days is gonna end in the next few years, I think it has to be established that, even if they're not all onscreen, John/Marlena, Bo/Hope, Jen/Jack, and Steve/Kayla are all together.

But would anything make you actually five a damn about Melanie? Brady? Sami? Chad? Rafe?G Gabi? Dario? Taylor? Daniel? For that matter Stefano, Vivian, Victor, Hope, Bo, Lexi, Will, Jen, Dan? Honestly, even if stories were well written would you be able to get over the hatred and come around to liking them? caring about them? being invested in them? Be it for the first time or a time again?

I think I could. With better writing, anything is possible.

And its not like he is mr happy go lucky "i love the world" guy. Hes still doing very stefano like schemes just on a smaller scale without the mustache twirling and evil laugh

But his schemes don't make any sense.

Take this two-Rafes story, for example. It's quite obvious that the writers made it up as they went along. From what I've gathered, Stefano's goal was to eliminate Rafe as a thorn in his side, so if that's the case, why didn't he just kill him? Why bother with a doppelganger and go to the trouble of locking Rafe in the basement just to move him to a sanitarium? What was the purpose of keeping Rafe alive?

Then there's the EJ angle. From what I can tell, EJ couldn't care less about Sami anymore. He's all about Taylor, so how exactly does he benefit from turning Sami against her husband? It's not like she's going to go running back to him after she gets a divorce. I read something about EJ's goal being to make it look like Sami has an unstable home so he can win custody of the kids, but that's a weak motive at best. Couldn't he tell the judge she shot him in the head and achieve the same result?

It's just... none of it makes any sense. What irks me the most though is that the writers are trying to make Rafe the new John Black. I don't understand why Stefano gives a damn about him in the first place. I mean, I understood why he did battle with Roman and I understood why he did battle with John. But Rafe? He's so not a worthy adversary. The writers are lowering Stefano considerably by having him do battle with such a miniscule pissant. Who's he going to go after next? Dario?

Yes, Vic/Mag was an accident, but it was an accident that occurred over a year ago now that the show has gone with and given considerable story too. Its a story they have stuck with

But where's the story? All I'm seeing are scenes. Random scenes stuffed into random episodes as filler. There's no story. Victor and Maggie are cute, but I need a little more content than a few sweet lines spoken once or twice a week to hold my interest.

As for Vivian, she should have never been brought back or kept on.

Why not? There's tremendous potential for the character with so many of her rivals on the canvas. There's Victor, Stefano, Kate, Carly... hell, even Melanie. And I'm sure Nicholas will be back soon. Vivian being on the show makes perfect sense. The only reason she isn't clicking with viewers is because Higley doesn't know how the hell to write her. Like every other "villain" on the show, she's been completely neutered and turned into a joke.

Vivian needs to team up with Chloe to take Kate down. I really want to see an unholy alliance between them. It would give Chloe some purpose bc she's walking around town like a hopeless cause

^ Ooh, I like that!

And Kenny, I don't agree with you on much these days, but you're right about the fact that Vivian has a place on this show. The stories are there, but it's like they keep forgetting to do anything with her. I really think bringing Nicholas on would open up story for so many people, especially if they were to try a Nicholas/Chloe pairing.

I think they went too far having Sami shoot EJ and eventually having him find out, because you're right -- he basically has to forget about that in order for the stories to keep going. I would be okay if there were never another story/situation involving Johnny or Sydney again, though, so as soon as this two-Rafes thing is over (I do think the story has been worth some of the big leaps or suspensions of disbelief, because it's put Sami in the sort of position she should be in) I want EJ and Sami out of each other's orbits for a good, long while.

Rafe has foiled stupid DiMera plots enough times by coming to Sami's rescue that I can see why Stefano is so offended by his continued existence, but you're correct in that he's no John Black.