Days of Our Lives a boring mess…How would you fix it?

[Soapsuds]

Discuss

This show is sooooooooo boring.

[Michael]

I posted this on my blog way back in May, but once you hack through the opening (which is just ushering out Sami, EJ, and Gabi), it's a good year of projections that aim to refocus the show: http://whathappensinsalem.wordpress.com/2014/05/23/lets-play-a-game/. And it contains my beloved Matt-Ashford-as-Peter story.

[KMan101]

Oh my God, where to start ... I will definitely be back for this thread ...

[JtSmarts]

Get rid of most of the cast to start...

[Cheap21]

So it's that time of the year for another Plan to Save Days?

[full hearts]

Free Peter Blake. lol

I don't think the show will ever get better unless some real changes are made internally.

[NothinButAttitude]

This.

But first of all, Ken Corday would have to pony up more money for new sets. I feel like the biggest issue on this show is that there are hardly any sets. KC has the money to purchase new sets with his own money. He needs to invest in his family's legacy [like the Bell kids do], and get new sets.

Then let the cast exodus begin....

Daniel, Melanie, Jordan, Ben, Clyde, and Rafe would be goners. Wiped off the canvas. Killed with no chance of returning. Their organs would be donated to solidify that.

JT's Roman would immediately be recast and Wayne Northrop's Roman would resume his role once again.

Love Joe Mascolo but he'd die [FOR REAL] the first year of my reign. But in a beautiful swan song ending and the ending of the Dimera dynasty. That would be my primary story. It would market well as Stefano has draw, and old fans would love to tune in and see Stefano's demise.

Surprisingly, he'd be defeated by pancreatic cancer--a more humanized way to go. Upon Stefano learning the truth, he is destroyed. Crushed. Unwilling to accept it. He's Stefano Dimera! No cancer [stage 4] is supposed to take him out. He refuses any treatments and refuses to tell anyone. In his mind, this will pass....

Marlena would accidentally stumble across his prognosis, and Stefano would force her to silence. Though Marlena is a bit enthused that her foe may be stricken down finally, she feels bad for him.

Who knew that little ole' cancer would be the one thing to finally kill the Phoenix?

Much to the chagrin of John, who has returned for a stint, Marlena starts to hang around Stefano instead of trying to repair their relationship. This causes a rift between Marlena and John. When asked why Marlena is hanging around Stefano, Marlena lies and states Stefano is seeking therapy from her. John sees this as a scheme and demands Marlena steer clear of him. But Marlena can't. The inner doctor in her urges her to help Stefano in his time of need. John is called away for a few weeks for a job with ISA, but before leaving, John goes to Roman and asks him to figure out why Marlena is hanging around Stefano as of late.

Roman spies on Marlena and meanwhile, Marlena and Stefano continue to bond. Stefano and Marlena rehash their tumultuous history [filled with tons of flashbacks]. Stefano finally apologizes to Marlena for wreaking havoc the past thirty years of her life and hopes she forgives him. To his surprise, Marlena does. Stefano drops a bomb on Marlena too he plans to not get any chemo. This bothers Marlena as she feels Stefano, a fighter, is giving up. She urges a weak Stefano to fight for his life but he does not want too. He has come to the conclusion that this is karma. He needs to accept his fate and so does she.

Roman, lurking around the grounds, hears Marlena and Stefano arguing and he barges in to break the two up. Roman tussles with sick Stefano, thinking he's trying to harm Marlena, and Stefano falls and harms himself. Stefano is taken the hospital where then EVERYONE learns of his diagnosis. All of Salem is elated to hear that Stefano is dying ... expect Marlena and Chad. Chad is pissed that Stefano didn't divulge the truth to him and he blames Marlena.

Meanwhile, Marlena surprisingly berates everyone in Salem after they practically have a celebration that Stefano is dying. She announces that she is going to stand by Stefano and help him defeat his cancer. This stuns everyone and pisses John off. This is a decision that affects and divides all of Salem. In the process, Marlena then becomes a leper--no one wants to be around her or understand her stance.

But she finds an ally in Abe. And Roman, sympathetically, tries to understand Marlena's stance too. After Marlena has a heart to heart to Roman about Stefano apologizing, Roman offers to have a word with Stefano.

Roman and Stefano have a heart to heart [with flashbacks], and Stefano confesses that his biggest regret is causing a rift between Roman and Marlena; he feels that his meddling caused the couple to never repair their epic romance. Roman is moved by Stefano's admission and tells Stefano that despite their past he needs to fight. For Chad. For his grandkids. And for his fallen children. None of them would want Stefano to just give up.

Basically, Stefano would fight but lose the battle in the end with Roman, Marlena, Abe, Kate [who shifts to their side], Chad, and Theo at his bedside. Stefano would be surrounded by the family he always wanted and the love he wanted too. Before crossing over, Stefano would get a visit from each of his deceased children, who he repents his sins too. Forgiven, all his deceased children help him cross over to the other side.

[sungrey]

I'll be back later to post. Got my two cents as well.

[Bright Eyes]

I liked the Stefano story, NBA. Two things I would add to that is the contrast of Isabella also dying from the same disease, mostly affecting John, and one last visit from all the dead DiMera children, with Renee and Tony (reunited in heaven) getting the most poignant of the scenes with him, an idea many people have posted about wanting before me.

[NothinButAttitude]

Thanks! But I forgot about about Isabella dying from pancreatic cancer.

As long as Stefano dies from some form of cancer, it is fine with me.

Oh and might I add to my original post that Stefano's death would mark the beginning of Marlena and Roman finally reuniting [for good].

[Michael]

I like a lot of the interactions between Stefano/Marlena and various Salemites that you pitched, NBA. And the idea of something non-violent finally taking Stefano out for good.

My biggest point of dissent would be that I'm not sure I want to watch a story of an 85-year-old man (who's been on this show this long and is clearly having health problems) dying of an illness, but that's more of a meta thing. Stefano is as much Days to me as Marlena or Alice at this point, and I kind of just like knowing he's around, being a ridiculous, generally toothless villain who apparently can only capture Sami and the kids if they're within the Salem city limits.

[tylerbo20]

Get rid of much of the current cast build new sets get one head writer have nbc Sony step in and fix this show

[juppiter]

Agreed. I would also recast Will.

[Soapsuds]

Who would you like to see as new Will??

[Dr Neil Curtis]

This right here, This right here!! My God, and why aren't you at the helm of Days!! I LOVE ALL OF THIS!!!!