I could buy Belle being drawn to EJ, even being confused/horrified over it... but to actually date/sleep with him is a stretch.

Still... this is the soap that had Satan possess a character, underground dungeons, a heart being removed from someone's chest and then slipped back in (Jennifer), and almost every is related by blood and/or marriage... so I can't expect the soap to not have Belle go for it with EJ.

 

I loved the cliffhanger of Xander being arrested for Philip's attack.

Welcome back, Will and Eric! 

They were both used so well today. I’m so glad that they’re going to be here for Marlena and everybody. She definitely needs them. And I love that we got a flashback of Will and John, and that Will credits him as the reason that he’s so courageous. Hopefully, he has scenes with Arianna coming up, and possibly Doug III. I think there’s a storyline there, especially considering what Will said about her being so stubborn and also a little similar to John. Btw, even though Chandler Massey is technically old enough to have an 18 year old child, he definitely doesn’t look it lol 

And we got a Will and Paul reunion too. It really is too bad that we can’t get them full time. There’s still so much drama that can be mined from the two of them, and their relationships with Sonny and Andrew, especially now. But with Leo still slithering around, I guess it’s for the best that we’re not getting that 😂😂 

And I love that Will was there for Johnny too. We never really got to see their relationship on screen and I’m glad that we got some of it today. I wish their scenes had been a little longer though. There’s a lot more that they need to discuss about EJ and the rape. But I like that Will comforted him about whether or not he was worthy of having John’s name. And that Marlena was able to shrink him about leaving EJ in the square after he fell. 

Eric’s reunion with everybody was really sweet too. I loved the dorky family moment 😊😊

Belle is still being a total douche but I like the drama of her storyline. And I do think that she isn’t being completely stupid, when it comes to EJ. I’m glad that she has Brady though, who was also used very well today. He was breaking my heart in the scene where he was at John’s bedside. 

And, congratulations EJ. I think lol 

But I have to say, all this talk about John’s miraculous recovery is a little tough to here 😥

And, the final scene with John and Marlena 😥😥

16 hours ago, Vee said:

I remember MM's Belle well enough from back in the day. The answer is the same as it ever was: She got horny for forbidden dick.

 

9 hours ago, NiqueAlexis2020 said:

Belle doesn't have a "savior complex" she has a half assed martyr hoe complex. See her staying with sponge bob square head Faux Philip(KB)cause he was injured overseas in war & he was "the father of her baby" like it was the 1950s or something. Not out of some true love kinda ish. That's what she told Shawn as to why she couldn't be with him despite cheating with him behind Phil's back. I didn't care but a spade is a spade cause that logic went straight out the window once Shawn moved on with Mimi & stopped letting her string him along. The minute he found someone else & she couldn't string him along while playing house with Phil? It's the minute the facade of her's dropped. Belle just wants to have her cake and eat it too. A self righteous thot who looks down her nose at others Sami, Xander while she lays up with the monster who not only tortured her beloved daddy but her sister & rest of her family. Like her using her daddy "dying" back in 07 as the reason she was having an affair with JKJ Phil & slept with him in her martial bed she shared with her husband. I think it was either before John's funeral or after. Belle's loyalty is too a dick especially one that's not her husbands🤷🏾‍♀️

I agree with both of these takes.  I have no problem with a person being horny and trying to justify it to themself with whatever rationale.
        edit to add here:
        and/or I have no problem with just being horny for enjoyment and zero rationale

I just can't believe there's any deep emotional love to what Belle is feeling about EJ

I had no problem with Abigail lusting after EJ -- at first. The horniness was fun in the first encounter.  But I disliked how the show wrote later on ... as if Abigail was catching feelings.  

Edited May 30May 30 by janea4old

Even if you put the rape and the fact he was married to her sister for so long, it's a bit hard for me to buy EJ/Belle have strong feelings for one another.  They've known one another for years and years and there was never any indication they were attracted to each other until recently.  Then the first time they hooked up EJ immediately dumped her, went on to marry Nicole and steal her own brother's baby, then slept with Gabi.  I don't see any appeal for Belle here outside the obvious.

I do think MM and DF have nice chemistry though.

On a different note, what is on Belle's shirt?  Are they people running, crawling, riding bikes, in wheelchairs, all of the above?  The shirt is so distracting.  Worn on TV wasn't much help as I still couldn't get a close up picture.

I’ve spent a lot of time at the bedside of dying family members. These hospital scenes feel very real. The entire Days team is doing incredible work.

The other reason I enjoy Belle and EJ is that it has really lit a spark in Martha Madison.

MM's Belle was always such a sad imitation of the delightful way she was played by KS.  But, I feel like she's come alive with this new pairing.  She's aware, she's astute, and she is being totally logical about an illogical attraction.

I can honestly say this is the only time that I have enjoyed this iteration of Belle (and Philip).

Nu Rachel continues to show promise.  I liked the depth of nonverbal stuff with Johnny. 

Her mother (and the costume dept) aren't doing her any favors in the popularity department by dressing her like a Madame Alexander doll.  Also, glad that went to see to John.

Will ripped my guts out.  The actor's emotion expressions are perfect for soaps.  I understand the common criticisms of his limits, and I wouldn't want to see every day, but he was perfect for these scenes.  He and Carrie honestly look like family that has come to say goodbye. 

Glad for the mention of Sonny, but it never really makes any sense why certain characters get too swamped with work to be present in a crisis.

Also, Ari just left Will yesterday, so I understand why he wouldn't go see her first, but I'd still be annoyed if Gabi didn't text to say she lost her Ari last night.

Two weeks later, did anyone say goodbye to Rex? At least call to see how he's healing from his accident?  Should I be suspecting Rex?😉

 

 

Edited May 30May 30 by j swift

I have not watched yet, but today's episode is #4 for the day.

 

Yesterday's episode was hovering at #5 until later that evening when it went to #4.

Very good episode today. The writers are hitting so many important beats saying goodbye to John. And the flashbacks. I loved all of them. Greg Vaughan looks fantastic and was a welcome sight. Chandler still smirks in his acting. He hasn’t overcome that acting tick. He’s looking older but that fits in with Ari being aged upward. Dee is doing tremendous work. 

10 minutes ago, TEdgeofNight said:

Greg Vaughan looks fantastic and was a welcome sight.

You don't find the hair distracting?  It is two-tone, brown on top, gray underneath.

Also, good to see some characters never change, Eric is never too busy at work to drop everything (although it is interesting how much more accessible he is in Paris, than when he lived on the African continent).

Am I being too greedy in wishing that the flashbacks were a bit longer?  I like variety, and the trip through time, but I need more than a line or two of dialogue.  

Edited May 30May 30 by j swift

While Fridays episode was really good, why couldn't Carrie be in this episode as well. Same for Sami. Would have been wonderful to see them all together for once.

Great episode. It has been so long since I felt genuine emotion while watching. I miss demonic Rachel, but I accept that with Ron gone, we've lost the camp. In most cases that is a good thing though!

I haven't been watching, so I have a stupid question: How have they been showing John on camera in the hospital?  Is his face bandaged or something?  And how about his voice?  Does the voice sound like Drake?  It seems that viewers are accepting the situation, so it must be playing as believable.  Am I correct about that?  

3 hours ago, Soapsuds said:

I have not watched yet, but today's episode is #4 for the day.

 

Yesterday's episode was hovering at #5 until later that evening when it went to #4.

It usually trends between #3-5 now. Under Ron, it was usually between #6-8 😂😂

2 hours ago, Soaptastic75 said:

but I accept that with Ron gone, we've lost the camp. In most cases that is a good thing though!

I imagine he would've done a good job with the tribute to John... but I also worry that he would've made Leo a part of it 

1 hour ago, Tisy-Lish said:

I haven't been watching, so I have a stupid question: How have they been showing John on camera in the hospital?  Is his face bandaged or something?  And how about his voice?  Does the voice sound like Drake?  It seems that viewers are accepting the situation, so it must be playing as believable.  Am I correct about that?  

His face is completely bandaged, similar to how he looked when he first came into Days. And the voice sounds a little similar, but you can tell that it isn't Drake.

Not sure opening my return to Salem by showing the surviving cast happily chatting to a body double seen from behind while old Drake Hogestyn lines are added to the soundtrack is giving me the proper 'all-new, mature Days' experience I was hoping for.