Speaking of the new writing team, what do you HOPE to see a few months in once their work has really taken over? 

I'm hoping there's a renewed interest in the Horton family and that it's expanded again. There's hardly anyone left, and only Sarah bears the last name.

I hope we FINALLY get a break from the constant Dimeras and any "sci-fi" type stories.

Just a return to more relatable drama, romance, and twists and turns.

I'm kind of over the constant bringing back of bad villains, like Vivian. The show needs to work on developing the NEXT generation of true troublemakers.

Good episode, not great.

I really like the Sami/Kate scenes.  How refreshing to see them be respectful of one another.  Also, refreshing to see Sami in a new outfit, a lime bouclé jacket, which may have reflected that she's not fully acculturated to Italian fashion.  

Maybe she dressed for the palm trees?  Or, was it that classic thing where Google Maps got confused between Salem and Melaswen?  Because those trees are from the island version of that building.

However, I found the Kristin and Sami interaction unsatisfying.  And, if Sami's going on a tour of the square before she goes, I'd like to hear her reaction to Nicole's baby switch (although, there seems to be nobody left to discuss that with...).  I wonder if the Brady twins visit each other in Europe, now that he's in Paris, and she's in Rome?  I'll note that Marlena hasn't visited either one of them, but we all know the only direct flight out of Salem is to Estonia.

Finally, is this same Rafe who was unquestionably supportive of Jada through the whole Bobby/Everett saga?  Why is this situation so different to Rafe?  She told him the truth, which is what every soap guy says they wanted to know.

Edited April 16Apr 16 by j swift

2 hours ago, 1974mdp said:

 

I'm hoping there's a renewed interest in the Horton family and that it's expanded again. There's hardly anyone left, and only Sarah bears the last name.

She's going by Kiriakis these days 

Loving the show this week!

 

Rafe is so very low key. I really wish Galen would put a bit more oomph into his performance. He should have played that scene with some emotion. Jada/Elia puts in all the work. I'm glad she walked. Everything she said was absolutely correct: his own sister was fooled, and he basically assumed she was sleeping with Shawn again and retaliated. Good riddance.

 

On to Dope #2. First JJ, you should not be interrogating your own girlfriend, second, you have zero physical evidence, third, like Rafe, put some emotional reading into your delivery, you put me to sleep. Gabi rocks. I love Cherie. Glad she walked as well. Even though she was totally outside the house with a gun that night. But I don't think she did it.

 

Sami and Kate were a joy. Just two old enemies sharing gossip. I loved them giggling over Shawn and Jada's hook up. I also liked Sami's run in with Kristen. I think the last time they tangled Kristen was trying to get Xander to shoot her.

 

Philip, Maggie and Vivian were also great fun. I adore Louise Sorel. Philip though is an idiot if he thinks that he can keep postponing the inevitable. Vivian is a ticking timebomb who has no real allegiance to him. I think she is going to tell Xander a version of the forgery that does not implicate herself. She would throw Kate under the bus in a heartbeat, but would she sell out Philip? I think Sarah's part is safe for now. Alex is the most likely to tell Xander that one. He is the other cog in this wheel of lies that is not on board.

 

Bonus: I loved Vivian's note. And Maggie's reaction.

 

Xander and Kristen were the best part. He had no fear of her at all, and no concern that she was going to shoot. He's been down this road with her far too many times. My favourite part was him reminding her that he once loved Rachel as his own, and telling Kristen that she is still a better mother than Fiona ever was to him. That kind of writing has been sorely lacking and makes me wonder if the new girls were already playing around with the scripts. A few years back Xander didn't seem to even remember he knew Rachel, let alone played dad to her for over a year. Can't wait until tomorrow to see what Vivian has to say to him!!

8 hours ago, janea4old said:

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

Janet Spellman-Drucker was playing with her Google Machine again.

4 hours ago, Soaplovers said:

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.

Anything's possible lol

But yesterday's episode had Ron (and Jamey) written all over it.

3 hours ago, 1974mdp said:

Just a return to more relatable drama, romance, and twists and turns.

That's what I'm hoping for.

And for Leo to finally be killed off 😂😂

39 minutes ago, brisbydog said:

On to Dope #2. First JJ, you should not be interrogating your own girlfriend, second, you have zero physical evidence, third, like Rafe, put some emotional reading into your delivery, you put me to sleep.

Wow. I couldn't disagree more. I think Casey Moss did some of his best work in those scenes. JJ seemed very emotional and in pain to question Gabi that way.

 

35 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

 

And for Leo to finally be killed off 😂😂

The obsession with Leo when he seems to irk the majority of the audience is such a head scratcher. Why can't we have Will (even with a recast), Paul, or Andrew full-time versus Leo?

1 minute ago, 1974mdp said:

The obsession with Leo when he seems to irk the majority of the audience is such a head scratcher. Why can't we have Will (even with a recast), Paul, or Andrew full-time versus Leo?

The reason why was fired last July 😂😂😂

48 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

Wow. I couldn't disagree more. I think Casey Moss did some of his best work in those scenes. JJ seemed very emotional and in pain to question Gabi that way.

 

I agree.  I generally find Casey Moss dull and bland, but I thought he did good work today.

I wish they could have brought Greg Vaughan back for Sami's return. The Eric/Sami relationship is one that always feels like it should have been more important than it was. 

One week to go!!!!!

I’m glad that we got some follow up with Marlena and Steve. I really like seeing them work together, and how they were able to trick Orpheus was just the icing on the cake. I’m still sick of him and hope he dies for real when this is all over. And, we got an update about Evan-Christian. He was such a wasted character. But I’m glad that he finally got up out of the river 😂😂

I enjoyed both mother-daughter scenes as well. Both Maggie/Sarah and Stephanie/Kayla work very well together. Maggie discussing what Victor would’ve wanted really elevated her scenes as well. That was a dynamic that was often mentioned in this storyline but was never really delved into. I like that Maggie was the one that was finally able to do it. And I also like how their discussions about the secret were juxtaposed against Vivian revealing everything to Xander. Paul Telfer did a pretty good job too. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s going to happen next. Hopefully, it’s big and explosive. 

And Philip, tuck your shirt in, bro. Like wtf? 😂😂😂😂

Reallly good episode. Again!

Xander slowly being told that Philip, the brother he has grown to trust, has been duping him for months was exquisite thanks to the amazing Louise Sorel as Vivian (I knew her when she was putting her daughter's pigeon into a pie on Santa Barbara!). And that she just did it for spite, knowing Philip was never going to pay up, makes it even better. I can't wait for the fall out tomorrow.

And Philip, at the start of the episode realizing that Alex is a ticking time bomb who will tell Xander as soon as he can, and at the end realizing it is too late for him to heed Alex's advice and tell him himself. If only Sarah would now tell Xander her part, but I bet she won't, thanks to Maggie who agrees with her that Victor would love his two sons working together. I imagine that is not going to be quite so harmonious now. Wonder if Xander keeps up the facade so they can solidify their takeover?

The Estonia stuff was plodding. I just don't feel any urgency. I wish John's children were on this trip to give the scenes some energy. The only part that made me wake up was when Orpheus asked Marlena for help with Christian's custody case? Wait what? He got out of Salem river with that gaping head wound? Swam to New Zealand or whereever Jan sailed off to? Has the resources as a criminal on the lam to get himself a lawyer and sue for custody? I want answers lol!

I enjoyed the Kayla and Stephanie scenes—the actors have strong chemistry. Ironically, I was just thinking it would be helpful, in orienting this actress to the Johnson family history, if Kayla used an analogy from her own past. But I can’t recall a time when Kayla had enough agency in her relationship with Steve to keep a secret from him. Let me know if you can think of an example.

Steve in a lab coat was like Clark Kent with glasses—no one’s fooled. That leather eye patch is hardly inconspicuous. It wasn’t exactly stealth mode.

And I feel no urgency around this nuclear bomb plot. There’s zero intensity or immediacy—no one seems remotely aware of the supposed threat. I don’t believe for a second it’s actually going to detonate.

The note from Orpheus was a fun gag, even if it was telegraphed from a mile away.

What’s more interesting is the recurring reminder that Sarah’s motive stems from not trusting her husband’s instincts. That’s a compelling dynamic, especially because Sarah is self-aware enough to admit it. She’s not manipulating Stephanie and Maggie—they’re helping her because they relate to the fear of loving a man who might be violent. If the show follows through on that thread, I’ll be impressed. But it feels like a one-off script device.

Finally, while I was pleased by the reference, I'm not exactly shocked that Christian and Jan didn't wind up happily ever after.  Her craziness and his sexuality were just two of the most immediately obvious barriers to their satisfaction as a couple. 

Edited April 17Apr 17 by j swift

2 hours ago, brisbydog said:

Xander slowly being told that Philip, the brother he has grown to trust, has been duping him for months was exquisite thanks to the amazing Louise Sorel as Vivian (I knew her when she was putting her daughter's pigeon into a pie on Santa Barbara!). And that she just did it for spite, knowing Philip was never going to pay up, makes it even better. I can't wait for the fall out tomorrow.

I agree that pay off was fun to watch, but it doesn't take you out of the scene when it feels unearned?  The entire setup of Vivian getting out of prison is so distracting for me, that it is difficult to concentrate on what and why she's doing stuff.   I try not to get distracted by external stuff, but this screamed of RonC wanting to finish this plot before he leaves.  So, Vivian got out of jail free because the time was right with Ron's contract.

But, that whole part about revising the letter to find the tone that was most likely to appeal to Xander (by impersonating Victor) was great.  The subtext of whether Vivian or Maggie knew Victor best was really fun.  Because that explains Maggie's vitriol.  Yes, there's history, but also there's an insecurity about how well Vivian knew Victor, versus the rose-colored glasses version of Victor that Maggie recalls.

Edited April 17Apr 17 by j swift

Very good show today. DAYS has been interesting and eminently watchable since Body & Soul ended.

If the show had been this decent, I wouldn't have been calling for Ron's firing for a year. He has no one to blame but himself. People are fine with humor and even camp on a soap, but they're not OK with treating it like a joke.