Final thought, back to The Spectator. If I were giving notes to the writing staff, I’d suggest focusing more on stories where the consequence is public shaming (using the newspaper or social media) rather than jail. For example, doesn't it feel liked a missed opportunity to not have Tate's response to what his peers are saying about Sophia on Pins&Needles (the Salem version of Threads)?  Because that feels like it would be a daily harassment zone.

Larceny, fraud, and kidnapping usually end with the villain either going to prison or escaping justice in some outlandish way. But if companies like Titan and Dimera faced cultural backlash instead, it could still define a villain without needing them to break the law to stay relevant. They need to scale down the crimes and consequences to create stories they can afford to tell within the limitations of their production. 

Edited March 28Mar 28 by j swift

37 minutes ago, j swift said:

They need to scale down the crimes and consequences to create stories they can afford to tell within the limitations of their production. 

This!

When Johnnie came to Salem, he was going to make a movie about Sami, featuring EJ. Are we now to believe Johnnie's conception would have been kept out of the movie about their origin story?

Isn't this a huge plot hole?

I know he quickly pivoted to try to make the film about Marlena's possession, but wasn't the rape in Will's script from a couple of years ago?  If so, wouldn't Johnny have prior knowledge about the assault?

Edited March 28Mar 28 by j swift

Welcome back, Paul and Andrew! We’ve missed you a lot 😊😊😊😊

Now, please save us from the massive vortex of suck that is Javi and Leo 😂😂😂

Just like before, the two of them fit so effortlessly back onto the canvas. It’s almost like they never left. I’m glad that they’re on the case of John’s disappearance too. And I loved that Paul was there to comfort Marlena. Their trip down memory lane was really nice. 

Andrew, having kept the secrets about John’s mission from Paul could be really interesting too. Hopefully, they at least have a conversation about it at some point in the future. In a perfect world, this would cause Paul and Andrew to break up (for a while anyway) so that Andrew could date Dimitri, and Paul could cause problems for Will and Sonny 😂😂

As for John’s mission, I don’t dislike it but hopefully the fallout plays out for a long time. And the cliffhanger was good but at the same time, I admit that I’m rolling my eyes a little too. 

And again, poor Stephanie and poor Philip. I still like this storyline but both of them, as characters, deserves better than this. Everything is still too biased in favor of Alex.

They're back!!!😍😍

Oh, I guess if anyone is taking John out it should be Orpheus.  Since Stefano is gone.  

Any episode with Paul is an A+ for me because I just adore him.  He is everything Brady isn't and can carry John's legacy even if his mom is random.

Phillip talking about Kate's favorite kids like he was reading this board last week.😂  Kate did say she called AUSTIN first...just saying....

18 minutes ago, carolineg said:

Phillip talking about Kate's favorite kids like he was reading this board last week.😂  Kate did say she called AUSTIN first...just saying....

To be fair, I think that's because Austin is reliable, never let her down and probably the most stable of her kids. I still say she favours Lucas for obvious reasons. 

55 minutes ago, te. said:

To be fair, I think that's because Austin is reliable, never let her down and probably the most stable of her kids. I still say she favours Lucas for obvious reasons. 

What is obvious is that Lucas is there, sometimes at least. The others are never there except for now with this Philip.

3 hours ago, carolineg said:

Oh, I guess if anyone is taking John out it should be Orpheus.  Since Stefano is gone.  

Any episode with Paul is an A+ for me because I just adore him.  He is everything Brady isn't and can carry John's legacy even if his mom is random.

Phillip talking about Kate's favorite kids like he was reading this board last week.😂  Kate did say she called AUSTIN first...just saying....

I blame a recency effect.  If Lucas hadn't just been such a pain while he was in prison, he would've been higher on the list.  Unless it is based on looks, then I would have to say Austin is definitely the most handsome of her sons.

3 minutes ago, j swift said:

I blame a recency effect.  If Lucas hadn't just been such a pain while he was in prison, he would've been higher on the list.  Unless it is based on looks, then I would have to say Austin is definitely the most handsome of her sons.

Lol! I really hope Kate doesn't base her opinions on her kids on looks.  BD never changed, but the rest have varied through the years.  Except Cassie I suppose.  She hardly counts though.

Is Orpheus undercover as a riverboat captain?  What's with his outfit?  And why hasn't Marlena taken off her coat the whole time she's been out of the country?

Catching up now and how random they randomly mentioned Kate being with Cassie in Chicago last week. I wouldn't mind if they dusted off Alexis Thorpe as I always liked her - it does feel like there's more men to pair her with in Salem at this point. 

On the one hand, I'm relieved Stephanie didn't resort to a ridiculous lie—like claiming she and Philip were secretly rehearsing a waltz for the hospital fundraiser.

On the other hand, it's disappointing that Sarah and Stephanie didn’t seize the opportunity to leverage the situation and pressure Philip into saving the hospital. I enjoyed their scenes together, but it's frustrating that, being clearly more astute than their partners, they haven't come up with a smarter plan.

1 hour ago, j swift said:

Is Orpheus undercover as a riverboat captain?  What's with his outfit?  And why hasn't Marlena taken off her coat the whole time she's been out of the country?

It reminds me of her SSK get-up. 

Alex’s reaction reminded me of two things: first, as everyone keeps pointing out, nobody in Salem can keep a secret; second, people are oddly more forgiving of Philip's lie than Theresa’s forgery. Theresa gave Alex a fortune, and he wanted her to rot in prison. But Philip works with Vivian to steal Xander’s inheritance—again—and everyone shrugs it off with, “Well, he kind of deserved it, so we’ll let it slide.”