16 hours ago, j swift said:

I'm still not over the total disconnect of the exterior shot of the Dimera mansion and the imaginary placement of the suspects during this mystery.  They actually show us a fully gated property.  And then we're supposed to believe that there were at least 4 people just wondering about at night? And none of them bumped into each other hanging around the tunnels?

 

The gated exterior is the Kiriakis mansion, not the Dimera one, but same idea

Today was a confusing day between what they've told us and what we've seen.

For example, they show us that Salemites live in a vibrant metropolis with a large police station, but they tell us that detectives directly hand back guns to suspects, bypassing any chain of command.

Then, they tell us that Sami's gone to therapy and now is in the right space to talk to Johnny about her past.  Yet, they showed us a Sami today that would still debase herself by arguing with Javi and Gabi.  Don't get me wrong, it was some cute banter, but totally out of place with the story that they're telling.

Shoehorning in Rafe just feels like too much in one day for Sami and her cherry-print dress.  Because if she is actually going back to Italy today, why is wasting time eating waffles with the Hernandez, rather than seeing her family?

Now, it feels more like Sami's Greatest Hits, rather than Sami's Next Era Tour.  I concede that if they had just focused on Sami, Johnny, EJ then most people would have had the opposite opinion and decry the notion that she didn't get scenes with different actors. But, today felt like an unexplained regression in the Sami from last week.

Edited April 15, 2025Apr 15 by j swift

Just now, j swift said:

 But, today felt like unexplained regression in the Sami from last week.

Exactly!

It didn’t fit, with what we’ve been seeing lately, at all 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Kristen arrested on her way to the office?  Because, I'll give her a pass that she didn't know she was going to jail.  However, why is she wearing a see-through dress? (I spoiler-ified the photo to be polite to those who might not wish to engage in this topic).

Spoiler

Also @brisbydog , since we can always count on you for accuracy, has Sami told Johnny why she didn't answer his calls?  Did he just assume it was because she was in flight?  Johnny had the scene with Chad saying that Sami was unavailable, then they run into each other, and I don't recall him asking why she's been ghosting him. (He also didn't seem surprised to see her, but I'll chalk that up to the writers wanting to jump to the meatiness of the scene.)

Edited April 15, 2025Apr 15 by j swift

The Sami stuff today was a complete fail.

1 hour ago, j swift said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Kristen arrested on her way to the office?  Because, I'll give her a pass that she didn't know she was going to jail.  However, why is she wearing a see-through dress? (I spoiler-ified the photo to be polite to those who might not wish to engage in this topic).

  Hide contents

Also @brisbydog , since we can always count on you for accuracy, has Sami told Johnny why she didn't answer his calls?  Did he just assume it was because she was in flight?  Johnny had the scene with Chad saying that Sami was unavailable, then they run into each other, and I don't recall him asking why she's been ghosting him. (He also didn't seem surprised to see her, but I'll chalk that up to the writers wanting to jump to the meatiness of the scene.)

She made some excuse about wanting to talk to him in person so was avoiding talking on phone aa she knew what he wanted to talk about.

On the other hand she made a bee line for EJ from the airport, not Johnny

15 minutes ago, brisbydog said:

 

On the other hand she made a bee line for EJ from the airport, not Johnny

Right.

I don't know if we're meant to question the timeline of her trip?  Or, if that's just overthinking it?

Spoiler

I saw a preview that she's in another outfit, so I assume she packed a carry-on bag and stashed it at the Pub.

 

Edited April 15, 2025Apr 15 by j swift

Today was an improvement over yesterday. Sami was used a lot more effectively as well. 

I enjoyed her reunion with Kate, even though I really hated the music that played over their scenes and I wish that they had spoken more about EJ, Johnny, etc. than Rafe/Jada. It was good that they each had somebody to talk to about everything’s that going on. And on some level, it is kinda nice that they can forgive each other after everything that’s happened between the two of them 😂

I also enjoyed JJ and Gabi as well. This is good conflict for the two of them and I’m interested in seeing this all play out. Casey Moss and Cherie Jimenez played it really well too. They both played it as more hurt than angry and I think that was the right choice for both characters. I don’t think Gabi is the one who shot EJ though. 

But Kristen was a pain in the ass today. I’m tired of her trying to act so tough but just blowing a lot of hot air all the time. Idk if it’s the writing or the way that Stacy Haiduk plays it, but there really is like nothing to root for anymore when it comes to Kristen. 

The cliffhanger with Xander and Vivian was good too. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. 

Sami was never my favorite character by a long shot, but it just "feels like" classic DAYS when she pops up. I know AS has other things going on, but I wish they could keep her full-time or for a much longer arc.

This is a recently-aired establishing shot.  (with palm trees?)

Edited April 16, 2025Apr 16 by janea4old

2 hours ago, 1974mdp said:

Sami was never my favorite character by a long shot, but it just "feels like" classic DAYS when she pops up. I know AS has other things going on, but I wish they could keep her full-time or for a much longer arc.

I feel the exact same way.  Sami wasn't ever my favorite either although I usually liked her.  AS/Sami leave a hole in the canvas when she's gone. 

On another note, Sami mentioned her job was in Italy to Rafe.  What exactly does Sami do for a living lol?  Seriously, I can't remember a legit career she ever had.

13 minutes ago, janea4old said:

This is a recently-aired establishing shot.  (with palm trees?)

Do they just google these images?  That is not at all how I picture Salem in my mind lol.

2 hours ago, janea4old said:

This is a recently-aired establishing shot.  (with palm trees?)

   I thought Salem was supposed to be in the midwest, not next door to Miami!

51 minutes ago, I Am A Swede said:

   I thought Salem was supposed to be in the midwest, not next door to Miami!

At this point, I think, Salem exists in a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man.

For some reason Salem was established in Illinois even though it seemed more New England than the Midwest to me. 

There is an actual Salem in Illinois, but it's not the massive urban city that is portrayed on the show.  So I'm just going to assume it's Salem in a different universe.

Based on past accounts, even though the new regime doesn't start till next week, I do believe that the breakdown/script writers usually handle episodes a few weeks after the head-writer outlines them.   So I'm sure that the breakdown/script writers are working under the direction of the new head-writing team this week hence the somewhat improved flow of the most recent episodes.

3 minutes ago, Soaplovers said:

For some reason Salem was established in Illinois even though it seemed more New England than the Midwest to me. 

Originally (in the 1960s, it was in New England.  Some things had a fictitious zip code that started with "6", indicating Connecticut.  
In the last ten or more years, most documents and license plates now say "Salem USA" on them.

In recent years, the set for the Salem Police Department has a map of Illinois on the wall.   I do remember characters discussing whether they were fans of Green Bay Wisconsin football or Chicago sports teams.   Several years ago, JJ connected up with someone in Salem that he'd known in Europe in the past, who was now going to college in Chicago, and the characters discussed at the time that Chicago was a 30-minute drive, so he could conceivably see her again if he wanted to (but she didn't appear again).