I don't get why they recast Chad when they were in such a rush to get Nick off the show. They basically serve the same role.

I also don't think they were in a rush to get Nick off the show -- Blake Berris only wanted to come back for a year and they had him extend his contract to play out the end of the story (muddled as it was).

Time to bring Carrie back with Mike (RK) helping her grieve Austin's death. Please!!!!!!

I'm fine with Carrie and Mike returning but it would be a mistake to kill Austin

I'm fine with Carrie and Mike returning but it would be a mistake to kill Austin

Indeed, it would be a huge mistake to kill Austin. Granted, having Patrick Muldoon reprise the role was an unmitigated disaster, but a return by Austin Peck would be a great thing for Arianne Zuker.

Time to bring Carrie back with Mike (RK) helping her grieve Austin's death. Please!!!!!!

I am all for Carrie returning, but I instead of killing off Austin, why not have them break up. I still want to know about their baby. And as for Mike returning, definite yes. Just as long as he too despises Daniel

I would honestly rather have them try to pair Jen with Austin than keep pushing this Daniel thing (even though the Abby/Austin thing might make it icky). Mike/Eve could maybe be fun to try, too.

We know that death is hardly ever permanent on soaps and the show would be glad to have JS back in the future, so I appreciate wherever they're going with Kristen injecting him with whatever magic serum that is. Even if he never returns before the show is cancelled, his fans at least have that, for whatever it's worth.

Seriously? What a damn copout

AS continued to nail it today. She was just fantastic, and I loved the trickle down news of EJs demise.

Today's writing was excellent, great job. Poor Johnny!

I thought Eileen had a great reaction to EJ's "death"...soap characters need to break glass more often.

We know that death is hardly ever permanent on soaps and the show would be glad to have JS back in the future, so I appreciate wherever they're going with Kristen injecting him with whatever magic serum that is. Even if he never returns before the show is cancelled, his fans at least have that, for whatever it's worth.

IA! He can return just in time for the 50th anniversary to reunite with Sami and the two can have a final sail off into the sunset

Uggh, that last scene today - after all the years it has taken this show to build back some sanctity around the finality of death, they pull this shite? If I wanted to watch this type of crapfest, I'd watch GH. I'm too old for this nonsense.

Frankly, the only time I accept a character's death these days is when their veteran portrayer of advanced age passes away. I never, ever would have fully accepted the finality of E.J.'s death and I don't think I'm alone in that. As crazy as it may seem, this feels more final, like more of a "button" is put on his story for now. He's on a shelf, we may or may not get back to him in the near future, but fans can let it go and move on for now.

Frankly, the only time I accept a character's death these days is when their veteran portrayer of advanced age passes away. I never, ever would have fully accepted the finality of E.J.'s death and I don't think I'm alone in that. As crazy as it may seem, this feels more final, like more of a "button" is put on his story for now. He's on a shelf, we may or may not get back to him in the near future, but fans can let it go and move on for now.

Agreed. We know he's not going to walk in the front door of the mansion and resume business as usual in three days, which is the kind of fake death I really loathe. This is literally the same thing they did with Patch 24 years ago -- sticking a tag onto the story so the seed was planted. The mourning is real, and the story isn't a giant fake-out, so it works better for me than, say, Melaswen or those ridiculous safehouse deaths in 2012. Though the science of it really bothers me: Stefano has a drug to CURE DEATH?! Why doesn't he sell that and get filthy rich instead of pulling all these nonsense schemes?

Today's episode was beautiful, though. They hit the right beats, down to Abe telling Sami that Theo would be comforted to know EJ was with Lexie now. Roman was even good!

And Kate was looking extra glamorous today: seriously blinged out.