When I saw the spoiler pics for Tuesday May 27, I was concerned that the episode would entirely be about Ari's hook-up, Sophia's adoption process, and Leo doing whatever.
I don't mind some of that, but I didn't want to lose the momentum of the John and Bo storylines.

I was glad to see that it was written more organically -- the teens and young adults doing their normal stuff, but they they get the news about John.   Glad Tate was there.  They must have found a way for Leo Howard to tape before/after his wedding.  Glad they all talked about John. Good to know that Tate, Ari, and Johnny are visiting John at the hospital -- not sure if that was or will be shown, but at least it's happening.

5 hours ago, Vee said:

If it's really that good I'll have to check it out. Where to start? I won't know who half these kids are, Higley and co. added way too many.

I would say just start initially with as late as Friday/Monday. Neither episode was inundated with the kids you're referencing and both were just superb. 

I want to add my comments in appreciation of the turnaround these new writers have somehow accomplished. If you'd told me this would happen this way, I'm not at all sure I would have believed it! I didn't know it was possible & I've been watching soaps daily since the 70s. This is remarkable. Kudos go to several people. It's as if DAYS never stopped being a great soap. The dark days are gone, long gone, it would seem. Happy DAYS are here again. Although, of course, this is a sad time, very sad. I didn't mean to disrespect that. 

 

Why is Sonny not part of this return as well?

I just finished with today & it was definitely odd. I can understand that they've got to fill in extended family. There was just so much of it. Without even one scene of Marlena. That, to me, was problematic. However, I'm not going to jump to any conclusions. We'll see what tomorrow brings. 

Johnny said today that Sami and Sydney were trying to fly in from Sicily, but were stopped by a volcanic eruption because the ash had grounded all the planes.

10 minutes ago, janea4old said:

Johnny said today that Sami and Sydney were trying to fly in from Sicily, but were stopped by a volcanic eruption because the ash had grounded all the planes.

And proved what a well-placed line of dialog can cover. 

Has there been any mention of Claire?

I had to think about how Tate is related to everyone.

First:  major storylines of John and Bo.

Tate is obviously grandson of John via Brady Black.

Tate is twice-connected to Bo:
Bo is Tate's great-uncle via Isabella.
Bo is Tate's great-uncle via Kimberly.

Tate is separately related to Pandrew:
Andrew is Tate's uncle on the Donovan-Brady side.
Paul is Tate's uncle on the Black side.

Connections to young people in town:
Via Kimberly and Roman, Tate is related to Johnny and Will.
Will is Ari's father, so Tate is related to Arianna via Will.

Via Isabella and Justin, Tate is related to Sonny.
Sonny is Ari's third parent, so Tate is connected to Ari via Sonny.

I started to diagram out second cousins, third cousins, half-cousins,
half-uncles, "once-removed", etc, and then stopped myself, LOL.
What matters is that they are extended family to one another.

4 hours ago, janea4old said:

this applies to so many characters through the years, LOL

Priorities 😂😂😂😂

1 hour ago, John said:

Why is Sonny not part of this return as well?

It really is too bad that Will/Sonny/Paul/ Andrew aren’t full time.

John’s death could’ve led to so many storylines for them. 

I got a new Robo-mop/vac today and I named it Dustin' Kiriakis.  And, it is connected through my home network, ISA Headquarters.

The episode felt like treading water. Not much happened.  But, it confirmed @carolineg's time/space theory, that sometimes when characters aren't on screen time stops for them, and we go back in time to catch up with them.  Other times, they have been living the boring parts of their lives, and we catch them as they are at the moment.

For example, Johnny, Tate, and Ari are all stuck back in the morning after John's accident.  But, Marlena, and John's kids are already in the afternoon of the same day.

Also, I'm not janea4old, or Jason47, in that I can't tell when this episode was filmed.  But, I know airplanes were grounded in Italy on July 5, 2024, due to ashes from Mount Etna.  Ron retired immediately, starting 7/19/24.  So, it lines up with the new writers. 

 

Edited May 27May 27 by j swift

8 hours ago, Bright Eyes said:

I would say just start initially with as late as Friday/Monday. Neither episode was inundated with the kids you're referencing and both were just superb. 

I'll give it a shot. If this is bad it's on you, @carolineg!

I'm not ready at all. But at least I can take some time at least. I know I'm going to be a crying mess.

52 minutes ago, Vee said:

I'll give it a shot. If this is bad it's on you, @carolineg!

Lol.  Even if the writing has been slightly better I am not going to claim it 😂

When NuArianna said "OMG, my cousin and uncle are right there" when talking to Doug 3 I had to pause and remember if it checks out.   It did.  Gabi also hilariously said Ari doesn't know any man in this town she isn't related to so they did acknowledge the log jam of Horton/Brady/Kiriakis blend kids.

Edited May 27May 27 by carolineg

So I’m currently on May 7th. Should I just go ahead and skip to this week or last Friday? Though I do want to see Xander beat up Phillip. Maybe I should skip ahead and then go back. Thoughts daily watchers?

1 hour ago, Antoyne said:

So I’m currently on May 7th. Should I just go ahead and skip to this week or last Friday? Though I do want to see Xander beat up Phillip. Maybe I should skip ahead and then go back. Thoughts daily watchers?

I’d watch the episode where Xander beats ups Philip and go from there. There’s probably been one or two dull episodes but the rest have been well written and put together, especially the Xander and Sarah showdown.