DAYS: April 2025 Discussion Thread

[te.]

Did anyone notice the odd cut in Wednesdays episode with Phillip / JJ / Sara / Xander? As Xander's telling JJ that he might want to murder Phillip, there's an odd jump-cut to Sara saying he just "has a dry sense of humor". I wonder if that was an adjustment towards the new writing regime? 

[ranger1rg]

New writers always shake things up, but this is a HARD right, and it came out of nowhere. I hope these writers have a plan for where they're taking this Janel relationship.

[Contessa Donatella]

Agreed. This just suddenly >poof< was something Johnny said, seemingly totally out of left field. (I don't know why the phrase is ALWAYS left field but it is!)

[Soaplovers]

Quite frankly, I welcome the sudden shift in Janel because I'm sick and tired of seeing young vibrant couples saddled with a baby when they still have a lot of avenues and conflict they could explore before being saddled down with a baby.

Given his chaotic upbringing and parentage of EJ/Sami... it's realistic he would have second thoughts because of his fears of how he would be as a father.  He should sit down and talk with Chanel about this because it would be interesting to get both of their perspectives since I don't recall Chanel having a typical upbringing either.

While I'm happy Shawn D and Belle are divorced (never thought they had chemistry), I'm confused as to why she's drawn/in love with EJ.  Does she not remember the toxicity that he brought into Sami's life?   Does she think it'll be different for her because she's Belle and not Sami?

I've heard of Jada, but I'm never seen her in action.  It makes my heart happy when I found out that her father was Marcus Hunter

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 He and Patch had a great male friendship back in the late 80s and it's nice to see that Marcus lives on with his daughter Jada being on the show.  I don't see chemistry between Jada and Rafe.. but I saw chemistry between her and Shawn D.

I've watched some Youtube scenes and episodes with Xander/Sarah.. and I still don't understand the appeal.  In fact, I don't find that either of them have much acting talent, although I didn't realize that she had been on B & B as Caroline (where she had much prettier hair, was blonde, and had a nicer wardrobe).  

Kristen is too one note.. at least as played by SH.  I've yet to see her play the layers and vulnerability that Eileen did when she played Kristen.. though her Susan is so much than Eileen's.

Still trying to get use to the newer Gabi since I had a fondness for Camille's take on the character.  The new Gabi is a good actress, but she has a slightly more whiny princess approach to playing Gabi vs Camille's more intense take on the character.  

 

[Contessa Donatella]

I thought they were too young, also. But, here, probably 30% of people don't have typical upbringings & it's not going to deter them from having kids, nor should it. 

Huge fan of Richard Biggs both here & on B5. 

Yeah, I still miss Camilla. 

[brisbydog]

Paul Telfer was on every list last year for soap publications as actor of the year as Xander, both for the show and in some cases all shows. I think you are maybe not looking at the really heavy episodes. You can't really judge 6 years of story by watching clips. They've been through the ringer, both on screen and because Ron kept firing her to promote his favourite 

Linsey had cancer and chemo and has a hard time growing her hair. Early Sarah was all extensions.  

Edited April 27 by brisbydog

[j swift]

Johnny’s decision to hold off on the adoption actually makes a lot of sense to me.

It reflects a need to regain a sense of control and agency after a series of destabilizing events. In their timeline, EJ had just been shot, and Johnny had a major argument with him the day before. He’s only seen Chanel once since everything happened. It feels like a real, human reaction to a sudden pile-up of emotional stress ( and he's the suspect of the week

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).

On the other hand, I thought it was a little quick that, right after her father-in-law — who she'd lived with for a year — fell into a coma, Chanel met with Amy to say he was out of their lives for good. Timing-wise, it felt a bit rushed, and the optics were a little messy. Normally, I feel like switching genders to make a point is silly  — but in this case on Days of Our Lives, if the parental roles were reversed, it would be clear why Chanel suddenly felt unready to raise a baby

As for Belle and EJ, I have a few theories. That storyline started back when Sami was in town in 2022, so it makes sense to revisit it now. EJ offers danger, independence, and a relationship dynamic where Belle is desired for who she is — not for how well she fits a mold. Belle is responding to a sense of inferiority from her multiple divorces, seeking out someone like EJ who validates her worth and makes her feel empowered. Plus, after the latest baby switch fallout, most of Salem seemed ready to give EJ a pass — so, back when it started, there were fewer barriers to consider.

Finally, I've proclaimed that portmanteaus were done in 2008, so I refuse to acknowledge it in this context.

 

Edited April 27 by j swift

[te.]

I'm pretty sure Belle was five years old in that alternative timeline and also a mother of five. 

Jada was rough in her first few months, but the actress have grown so much over the years. And yes, I want her and Shawn D to be end-game. 

She's a good recast, but she's more ice as opposed to Camilla's fire. I hope they start noticing that and write to the actress in the role more because I do think she's good. 

[j swift]

We should note: this Gabi has been given much lighter fare than her predecessor. 

This one's only trauma was her breakup with Stefan, and she moved on from that within a month.  And then had a new guy by New Year's Eve.

So, if she seems less serious, it may be because the character hasn't been tasked with any big events since being cleared of murder.

[Khan]

Is anyone looking forward to seeing Belle end up with her sister's rapist?  Because, God knows, I'm not, lol.

[carolineg]

I think that's a good way to describe the two different portrayals.  I think it works though?   When Camilla left Gabi ended up in jail for months, her husband cheated on her, and her entire life fell apart.  It makes sense Gabi would be more jaded, guarded, and less fiery than she was before that.

I think DF and MM have really good chemistry.  It doesn't make sense for the character of Belle.   I think Belle can sort of deluded herself that Sami forgave EJ so it's okay for her to.  I mean, she shouldn't be dating her sister's ex-husband/baby daddy in the first place-rapist or not lol.

[Wendy]

And despite the time line now being effed up beyond measure, the history does still exist that Sami tried selling her baby sister on the black market (so, now, Sami must have been one industrious year-old kid. LOL! From different generations to contemporaries!), so Belle probably feels no sisterly loyalty, anyway.

Still, the guy they both lust over is a RAPIST. Just eeewwwww. At least Jack Deveraux had the self hatred for eons and had to WORK for his current "pillar" status. EJ is still gross, yet the ladies flock to him!

[te.]

For me it works, but I'll always advocate for writers to start noticing what's happening on screen and adjust more. I think this Gabi could benefit from it is what I'm saying. 

Yeah but Belle's kind of a hoe tho'... 

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[Contessa Donatella]

They have not done a good job at all of mining that history. I loved Jada, though, from Day One & I think she could potentially show chem pretty widely with any decent writing to support it. She & Rafe were to me quite credible & I was even excited for them when they got engaged. Yes, first time excited for Rafe in years!!! I'm still smarting over him & Nicole having a thing for a stuffed animal. Just not into stuffies either here or on GH. 

[AbcNbc247]

Welcome back, Marlena and Steve!

And just in time to get involved in Bo’s storyline. 

I liked the way that everybody absorbed the news about Bo, particularly Steve and Shawn and Jada. Jada using her own history with Marcus to help Shawn get through his guilt about Bo was a good idea and if that’s used to help propel this storyline forward, and also Shawn and Jada’s potential relationship, I think that would be a good idea as well. But I will admit that the hospital working on an experimental drug that could help Bo seems very sudden and random though, especially since the hospital was supposed to have been in such a dire financial situation. 

As for Johnny and Chanel, I don’t mind the pivot in their storyline either. It does seem like a normal reaction to everything that’s happened lately and much more believable and realistic than something that we would’ve gotten a few months ago. And based on his scenes today, I think on some level that it’s providing another red herring in the Who Shot EJ mystery. But I don’t think Johnny is the shooter though. And I’m really glad that he went to Marlena to talk to about how he’s not ready to be a father yet. This is how Marlena should be used; being there for her family and friends, not her dopey patients. I’m really looking forward to his scenes with Chanel tomorrow. 

Btw, I know that this is a nitpick, but how was Chanel able to just walk right into Salem High to talk to Tate and Sophia? Even if she was there for Felicity’s swim meet lol 

Speaking of Tate and Sophia, I don’t mind them going to prom together but again, I think Holly or Doug III should’ve been in the episode as well, in order to balance out their scenes. We haven’t really gotten Holly’s POV yet since the breakup.