And, to be fair, Mrs. Hayes hasn't had a director on DAYS who could guide her performance since her mother wrote the show.

1 hour ago, Antoyne said:

I thought she did better work in her grief scenes with Chad than the actual death and funeral scenes.

I agree with that.

53 minutes ago, carolineg said:

SSH seems to better with younger, lower key actors like Billy Flynn, Casey Moss, and the guy that plays Doug 3.

Yep. She's clearly better when trying to match the energy of her screen partner.

2 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

I agree with that.

Yep. She's clearly better when trying to match the energy of her screen partner.

Well, she's a very giving actress & she comes from a tradition where the majority of players were that, giving, so naturally it is her first thought or intention to be complementary to her scene partner & since y'all have a preference for more natural acting over stylized, or even mannered acting, then, of course, you see her as "better" when she's toning it down with people who are more or less letting it all hang, natural style or playing realism. It's not per se better but it is a different rung on the acting ladder. 

I like her no matter which or what but my personal preference is different. It's fireworks & "swinging for the fences" to use Drake's & Brandi Carlyle's phrase. 

11 hours ago, Contessa Donatella said:

Who is playing the recast Chad?

At first, I was gonna suggest Chad Duell but now I'm just like 

😂😂😂

12 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

At first, I was gonna suggest Chad Duell but now I'm just like 

😂😂😂

You have a gift for this. He would be a great choice. 

I am not good at spec casting/recasting. Or in Yodaspeak: No gift, have. 

 

Are Shane and Kim remarried at this point, or did they just remain close?

On 3/20/2025 at 5:42 PM, Bright Eyes said:

I was pretty much going to post the exact same sentiments with about the Kate/EJ scenes. That music cue needs to be thrown in the trash. This show proved last week they know how to do drama correctly, I don't understand how they dropped the ball so quickly.

I watched the episode since Kate was in it and everyone had such positive comments on the scenes and I concur. They were great. The music cue, on the other hand, was the strangest choice for it and the volume of it was way too loud.

On 3/21/2025 at 10:49 AM, Antoyne said:

Kate and EJ scenes from Thursday were fantastic. Why the hell did they use the stupid twangy Pub music underneath such a dramatic scene. Someone should be fired for that.

 

On 3/20/2025 at 9:41 AM, carolineg said:

The Kate/EJ scenes were great!  Weren't EJ/Kate once an item?  Back in the early James Scott years?  Kate's really been around so it's hard to recall.   I always thought Austin was her favorite child, not Phillip lol.  I put Phillip above Rex and Cassie, but below Austin, Lucas and Billie.

Good scenes with Rafe and Johnny as well.  Galen Gering works really well with younger actors in general.  Much better than with love interests.  

 

I really liked the scene with Rafe and Johnny as well. You make a great observation about Galen Gering working well with the younger actors on the show. His 'kind dad' vibe kicks in.

The EJ/Kate scenes were electric. So good to see Lauren Koslow with Kate having her strength and fire back.

On 3/20/2025 at 9:50 AM, j swift said:

IIRC EJ and Kate were lovers, but not committed to each other.

I've always felt Lucas was the favorite, because she spent the most time raising him.  Then, Billie, Philip, Austin, Cassie, and Rex, in that order.

On 3/20/2025 at 10:13 AM, carolineg said:

See, I did think about that.  Lucas has a case here.  I was under the impression that Kate overcompensated with Austin and Billie because she didn't raise them.  Plus, I also factored in how pro-Austin/Carrie and how anti-Sami/Lucas she was.  Austin just seems like the least screwed up one and caused minimal trouble.  Kate doesn't feel like a 'girl mom' so I'd rank it-

1. Austin 2. Lucas 3. Billie 4. Phillip 5. Rex 6. Cassie  

Phillip doesn't top any list for me in the end.  He's obviously Victor's least favorite child too.

 

I think it goes: Lucas, Austin, Billie, Phillip, Rex, and Cassie. Lucas only gets first place because Kate raised him his whole life and covered up a murder for him, I think Kate *loves* Lucas the most.

However, I think she *likes* Austin the most. He has basically never disappointed her and always done the right thing by her, and generally.

4 minutes ago, DaytimeFan said:

I watched the episode since Kate was in it and everyone had such positive comments on the scenes and I concur. They were great. The music cue, on the other hand, was the strangest choice for it and the volume of it was way too loud.

I really liked the scene with Rafe and Johnny as well. You make a great observation about Galen Gering working well with the younger actors on the show. His 'kind dad' vibe kicks in.

The EJ/Kate scenes were electric. So good to see Lauren Koslow with Kate having her strength and fire back.

I think it goes: Lucas, Austin, Billie, Phillip, Rex, and Cassie. Lucas only gets first place because Kate raised him his whole life and covered up a murder for him, I think Kate *loves* Lucas the most.

However, I think she *likes* Austin the most. He has basically never disappointed her and always done the right thing by her, and generally.

I absolutely agree with your rankings. Lucas is her pride and joy. Gosh I just love BD and LK together as Lucas and Kate.

10 hours ago, DaytimeFan said:

I really liked the scene with Rafe and Johnny as well. You make a great observation about Galen Gering working well with the younger actors on the show. His 'kind dad' vibe kicks in.

Rafe is probably one of the few characters that should have had a child years ago or had a long lost child show up.  Rafe has been on a loop of failed love interests and cop/adventure stories and he's far too old for that now.   Since the show seems to have no plans to write Rafe off, I would at least use Rafe in a capacity that works for him.

10 hours ago, DaytimeFan said:

I think it goes: Lucas, Austin, Billie, Phillip, Rex, and Cassie. Lucas only gets first place because Kate raised him his whole life and covered up a murder for him, I think Kate *loves* Lucas the most.

However, I think she *likes* Austin the most. He has basically never disappointed her and always done the right thing by her, and generally.

That's a pretty spot on assessment that I would agree with, so Lucas is #1 on my list now.

I still think the show missed the mark by not making Lucas a main player in this story.  It really has nothing to do with Phillip in the end.

52 minutes ago, carolineg said:

Rafe is probably one of the few characters that should have had a child years ago or had a long lost child show up.  Rafe has been on a loop of failed love interests and cop/adventure stories and he's far too old for that now.   Since the show seems to have no plans to write Rafe off, I would at least use Rafe in a capacity that works for him.

Now that you mention it, maybe Javi would’ve worked better as a long lost son of Rafe’s. 

24 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

Now that you mention it, maybe Javi would’ve worked better as a long lost son of Rafe’s. 

I could see that working. There are certain things GG does well (sarcastic/snarky and Dad-Mode), and they don't use them nearly enough. I actually loved the scenes with him and Johnny, which surprised me.

5 minutes ago, Michael said:

 I actually loved the scenes with him and Johnny, which surprised me.

I always liked the Rafe/Johnny relationship and I’m glad Days remembered it. 

It also could be pretty interesting if, as a way of distancing himself from EJ and the Dimeras, Johnny joins the police force or even the ISA. 

2 hours ago, AbcNbc247 said:

Now that you mention it, maybe Javi would’ve worked better as a long lost son of Rafe’s. 

That's actually a really good idea.  I don't know if that would 'age' Rafe too much, but there could have been an interesting dynamic finding out he has a grown son that is gay and now thinks he's in love with Leo.  Javi could be resentful Rafe was never in his life and some of his selfishness and obnoxious with Leo could be because he's trying to test or annoy Rafe.

1 hour ago, Michael said:

I could see that working. There are certain things GG does well (sarcastic/snarky and Dad-Mode), and they don't use them nearly enough. I actually loved the scenes with him and Johnny, which surprised me.

I always enjoyed Rafe with Allie as well.

14 minutes ago, carolineg said:

I don't know if that would 'age' Rafe too much, but there could have been an interesting dynamic finding out he has a grown son that is gay and now thinks he's in love with Leo. 

Galen is 54 years old, lol. Rafe probably should've had a kid by now considering how long he's been on the show, but I suspect the fact that he never seems to really spark in any romantic pairing has kept that from happening. So maybe a secret child is the way to go with him. 

 

22 minutes ago, carolineg said:

That's actually a really good idea.  I don't know if that would 'age' Rafe too much, but there could have been an interesting dynamic finding out he has a grown son that is gay and now thinks he's in love with Leo.  Javi could be resentful Rafe was never in his life and some of his selfishness and obnoxious with Leo could be because he's trying to test or annoy Rafe.

It would be a lot better than Javi just being a Leo prop.

The obsession with him messed up another storyline that could’ve been really good 

Edited March 23Mar 23 by AbcNbc247