While I didn't dislike the Ari/Holly kidnapping scenes today, I felt like the stakes needed to be a little bit higher for everyone involved. It was nice seeing Tate be the hero and save them, but I think him and Rafe needed to be in a little more danger before Ari and Holly were rescued. Maybe the loan shark should have had like some U/5 accomplice who tried to shoot Tate and Rafe or something. And the same could be said for Ari and Holly as well. What was the point of Ari getting hurt if she was ultimately going to be fine in the end? And, I also think Doug III should have been a part of this too.

And, I still stand by what I said about Sophia and the baby. 

I also enjoyed Philip vs. Xander, and that today's fight involved Johnny. But I'm ready to move on to the next part of this storyline though. There were some hints of it today in Xander's scene with Gabi, but I'd like for them to finally kick it into high gear.

And yeah, Gwen/Leo... Skip.

I love my Leo! So glad the new writers get him. Leo is the best part of Days. 

On a good day, Days manages to be completely unhinged and still land something emotional. Today’s episode did both. We got a sweet reunion between Gabi and Ari—and also another nudge in the ongoing mystery of who’s actually paying for EJ’s hospital takeover.

In the May 13th episode, EJ announced his intention to buy the hospital. He said he was using funds from Titan’s purchase of DiMera, and the moment was played straight; no hesitation, no mention of needing help. It read like a classic DiMera move: strategic, overconfident, and entirely self-financed.

Now we’re being told he couldn’t afford it alone, and the ISA is tracing the money. Meanwhile, Gwen tells Leo today that she ended up with Dimitri’s fortune. The timing feels deliberate. If we’re meant to connect the dots, she’s likely the silent partner.

What’s less clear is the logic. Gwen and Dimitri were married, yes, but he’s alive, recently released, and hasn’t been written as destitute. If Gwen has his money, how? And more to the point—why doesn’t Dimitri? I assumed that's filed under “questions we're supposed to ask because Dimitri's not around”?

Also worth noting: the Ari and Holly kidnapping wrapped surprisingly fast. The rescue happened over the course of a single episode. But even with that pacing, the Gabi/Ari moment landed. That’s the balance I keep coming back for.

15 minutes ago, j swift said:

 

Also worth noting: the Ari and Holly kidnapping wrapped surprisingly fast. The rescue happened over the course of a single episode. But even with that pacing, the Gabi/Ari moment landed. That’s the balance I keep coming back for.

I wonder if we're coming to an end to the outlines that the new writers were sort of using to tie up some of his threads.. and that's why the Ari/Holly kidnapping was wrapped up pretty fast (because it was the last thing on his outlines for these particular characters).

I'm interested to see what the head-writers will be like now that they're nearing the end of Ron C's outlines (which someone had previously mentioned were in effect until October when the last episodes using his outlines were coming to an end).

2 hours ago, j swift said:

What’s less clear is the logic. Gwen and Dimitri were married, yes, but he’s alive, recently released, and hasn’t been written as destitute. If Gwen has his money, how? And more to the point—why doesn’t Dimitri? I assumed that's filed under “questions we're supposed to ask because Dimitri's not around”?

Gwen was able to get the inheritance from Dimitri's family. I guess, because of what he did to her.

Dimitri is off somewhere his new bf, not caring about the money anymore. One of the many, many reasons why the Dimitri storyline was terrible.

2 hours ago, Soaplovers said:

I wonder if we're coming to an end to the outlines that the new writers were sort of using to tie up some of his threads.. and that's why the Ari/Holly kidnapping was wrapped up pretty fast (because it was the last thing on his outlines for these particular characters).

I'm interested to see what the head-writers will be like now that they're nearing the end of Ron C's outlines (which someone had previously mentioned were in effect until October when the last episodes using his outlines were coming to an end).

I guess it's possible, especially now since 

Spoiler

Doug III is leaving Salem

 

Gwen and Dimitri are still married, so I guess she has access to his money but he also does?

After running myself in circles trying to explain how Gwen got her money—from Megan? from Dimitri?—I remembered the actual point. The point of Gwen saying she’s rich in two different scenes isn’t for me to ask why, it’s to make sure I know she is rich enough, 

Spoiler

that she could secretly back EJ's bid to buy the hospital.

They’re laying pipe, not writing a moot court case examples for Property Law 101.  I don't know why I keep forgetting that?

And if tradition holds, she’ll be pawning Von Leuschner earrings by September.

Edited July 21Jul 21 by j swift

From what has been explained Dmitri stayed married to Gwen to get the inheritance.  Dmitri gave her a cut or most of it to stay married to him because I believe they have to stay married for a certain period of time.  Either Dmitri split it with her or gave her more to keep her quiet, but he doesn't care because he's living his new life with his new bf.  We were always led to believe the amount of money was quite significant so it's not surprising two people can easily live off it.

It doesn't make a huge amount of sense.  I still think it's an easy thing to hand wave in general when we only have Gwen's side of the narrative though.

2 minutes ago, carolineg said:

We were always led to believe the amount of money was quite significant so it's not surprising two people can easily live off it.

But, because it is Salem, not enough money to buy her own penthouse (or even a condo).  And not live either out of a suitcase, or in with her middle-aged siblings-in-law.😉

4 hours ago, j swift said:

Now we’re being told he couldn’t afford it alone, and the ISA is tracing the money. Meanwhile, Gwen tells Leo today that she ended up with Dimitri’s fortune. The timing feels deliberate. If we’re meant to connect the dots, she’s likely the silent partner

Yes! It would make perfect sense for it to be Gwen, because of her vengeance against the Horton family. 

4 minutes ago, j swift said:

But, because it is Salem, not enough money to buy her own penthouse (or even a condo).  And not live either out of a suitcase, or in with her middle-aged siblings-in-law.😉

I know, right?  She has to live in the Dimera mansion with a bunch of people she barely knows instead lol.  I don't even know what's dramatic about Gwen living there.

I never had use for Gwen. The money angle doesn't change that. She still seems aimless. And, as pointed out, living in the DiMera mansion makes zero sense, to me.

But then, Gwen never made sense, so it's just continuing that trajectory.

-- I feel nothing when I see Leo and Javi get teary-eyed over this baby.

6 hours ago, carolineg said:

I know, right?  She has to live in the Dimera mansion with a bunch of people she barely knows instead lol.  I don't even know what's dramatic about Gwen living there.

I guess having a squatter in your home is sort of annoying, but the Salem real estate market is horrible. I still say they should have the next mayoral election be about the housing crisis in Salem. 

6 hours ago, ranger1rg said:

-- I feel nothing when I see Leo and Javi get teary-eyed over this baby.

It's gross. It's weird how we have a lot of other gay couples in the DAYS universe (Will and Sonny, Paul and Andrew, Dmitri and unknown dude, potentially Craig with an unknown partner) and they get stuck on Leo. I can only assume Greg Rikaart has agreed to work for the money in the change jar. 

Edited July 22Jul 22 by te.

44 minutes ago, te. said:

It's gross. It's weird how we have a lot of other gay couples in the DAYS universe (Will and Sonny, Paul and Andrew, Dmitri and unknown dude, potentially Craig with an unknown partner) and they get stuck on Leo. I can only assume Greg Rikaart has agreed to work for the money in the change jar. 

I feel like everyone likes the character behind the scenes (writers, producers) and Greg. And, as much as Leo is hated, Greg has a pretty decent fan base online as well. I am sure that's been noticed. 

I think TPTB sees Leo as the comic relief Days has constantly had for decades. Calliope and Eugene in the 1980s, Vivian and Ivan in the 1990s, Bonnie in the 2000s. I feel at a certain point, Leo could of worked like that. It's just the show has him involved in situations and with characters now that make the him insufferable. All the other comic characters mentioned were totally outlandish and in a sense proudly owned it. They were never boring. Leo has been outlandish and campy in the past, but IMO like a lot of other characters under Ron, he was tamed and pushed into stories that made no sense. Now he's in this boring and totally predictable relationship with a character who honestly if he were to disappear tomorrow, what would be remembered of him?

I remember liking Leo and Gwen's relationship at one brief point and seeing the potential of them being good comic foils who could have gotten into Vivian and Ivan type situations easily. Now, I just can't see it working. Both characters have had been written to terrible for to long. 

I've began to feel lately, the major reason the new writers and producers seem to be falling flat is they are scared to make big moves. They continue to showcase characters who were heavily featured under Ron. In the past, when the show has gotten new writers, there was a large cast exodus that followed, why not this time? Why are Kristen, EJ, Leo, Gwen, Alex and Rafe still there? This is a show that fired its two biggest stars at one point and were able to turn the show around and bring nearly a million lapsed viewers back. They honestly have nothing to lose. Their budget is literally 30% of what it was a decade ago. They are on one of the smallest streaming platforms in the US. They should be doing big things. Changing things and reshaping the canvas, not playing it safe.