I’ve never been a Belle-type-of-guy. Not during the Shelle years, not during her legal crusader phase, not even when the show leaned on her as the stable sibling. I found her boring. Respectable, sure, but dull. The character never sparked for me, and I’ve never been especially drawn to Martha Madison’s performance.

But something’s shifted.

The EJ/Belle dynamic has done more than make her sexy—it’s made her compelling. She’s smart, self-aware, and finally written with the kind of agency that gives a character shape. She’s not being protected by the narrative. She’s carrying it.

I never thought I’d say this, but Belle is working as a protagonist. And I’m into it.

(Also, are we sure Johnny’s not actually related to Brady? I get that he's the designated exposition sponge, but the way he keeps needing Chanel and Belle to explain his own murder trial is starting to feel... familiar.)

Edited July 24Jul 24 by j swift

2 hours ago, j swift said:

The EJ/Belle dynamic has done more than make her sexy—it’s made her compelling. She’s smart, self-aware, and finally written with the kind of agency that gives a character shape. She’s not being protected by the narrative. She’s carrying it.

I never thought I’d say this, but Belle is working as a protagonist. And I’m into it.

Martha Madison did say she was liking the new writing, and she was right to say so.

Belle, sort of, is being positioned as a lead character, similar to the way that Johnny/Chanel and Xander/Sarah are positioned as lead couples, IMO. And as John and Marlena's only biological child, she should be.

Edited July 24Jul 24 by AbcNbc247

See ya, Doug III. Some of us will miss you 😂😂😂

Like I said before, it really is too bad that it didn't work out for him Even if it was unintentional, the writers made his character so complex. And except for the loan shark thing, he was put into the middle of a lot of good storylines. Everything for the teens could have been tied together in one big mess that could have played out for a long time and we didn't really get that opportunity. And despite the acting, Peyton Meyer did work well with some people, particularly Susan Seaforth Hayes. I'm glad that they got to have one final scene together and that Doug III was able to get the necklace back to Julie. And that they were able to make peace. 

I'm glad that Marlena's ok as well. And I always enjoy scenes of her and Belle, especially since they now seem a lot more in depth and mature. Hopefully, Susan's vibes about Marlena lead to something interesting happening, in addition to what we already know. 

Speaking of Susan, I guess she's necessary in Johnny's storyline. I'd rather she had spent the entire episode with Johnny and Chanel though, rather than being a pain in the ass with Gabi and Gwen.

I'll get the most embarrassing thing out of the way from today.  I paused the show halfway through and came back so when Sarah looked up the test results I thought "OMG!  Marlena's a male!"  Because I totally forgot Sarah/Brady were talking about Sophia's baby earlier.😂 

Does anyone know what those Marlena flashbacks were?  I assume it's from before she got OG Possessed but I couldn't recall those particular scenes.  

I really enjoyed those Doug3/Julie scenes.  They were sweet.  It's too bad the character didn't work out.

Also count me in as someone who doesn't even remember Gabi/Gwen fighting over Jake of all people.  

Well… now we know why Doug III turned to a life of crime 😂😂😂

 

2 hours ago, carolineg said:

Does anyone know what those Marlena flashbacks were?  I assume it's from before she got OG Possessed but I couldn't recall those particular scenes.  

I think it was from the beginning of the possession, when Stefano started invading Marlena’s dreams 

4 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

I think it was from the beginning of the possession, when Stefano started invading Marlena’s dreams 

That's what I figured.  I just remember more opera dates with Stefano and don't recall harem girls, but it clearly happened lol.  It looked like Joe Mascolo was either edited out or something because you could vaguely see Stefano behind her in the beginning of the clip.

10 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

Well… now we know why Doug III turned to a life of crime 😂😂😂

 

 

Ooo Ooo😂😍

While Doug III had a moment of closure with Julie before leaving town, it does seem odd that the new head writers couldn't find a way to keep his story going... yet have no trouble with keeping the Sophia story going

Edited July 25Jul 25 by Soaplovers

20 minutes ago, Soaplovers said:

While Doug III had a moment of closure with Julie before leaving town, it does seem odd that the new head writers couldn't find a way to keep his story going... yet have no trouble with keeping the Sophia story going

I am assuming Sophia will be out once her arc is over because the actress is terrible, but who knows?

It does seem like it would be easy to keep Doug3's story going now that he and Julie made up and he stole the necklace from Gwen.  Plus, there was unfinished business with Holly/Ari and he could have grown his relationship with Roman and planted some definitive roots in Salem. 

4 hours ago, carolineg said:

Does anyone know what those Marlena flashbacks were?  I assume it's from before she got OG Possessed but I couldn't recall those particular scenes.   

 

I found it quickly because I remember a long time ago, Sony would post audio-only episodes of Days, and they would include the script I believe. So I think I only watched a few episodes of that, and I found out these characters were called Handmaidens in the script. I probably had just listed them as Woman # 1 and Woman # 2 in my notes back in 1994. But, in any event, because that was the episode I had happened to "listen to" (mainly for the script data), it was a quick search of Handmaiden in my file.

 

7430...12/16/94:
Cast: Abe, Billie, Bo, Caroline, Gina, Jack, Jennifer, John, Kristen, Laura, Marlena, Shawn, Stefano, Dr. Perkins, Father Francis, Lisa, Priest (Paul), Handmaiden # 1, Handmaiden # 2, Mystery Person ("Marlena").
Sets: Carrie's Apartment & Corridor, The Meadows Common Room, Brady Pub & Exterior, Rectory Office, Marlena's Bedroom, Golden Tent with Bath Area, Jack's Room/The Meadows, St. Luke's Church.

2 hours ago, carolineg said:

That's what I figured.  I just remember more opera dates with Stefano and don't recall harem girls, but it clearly happened lol.  It looked like Joe Mascolo was either edited out or something because you could vaguely see Stefano behind her in the beginning of the clip.

Oh I remember the episode. I wish it was still available on YouTube. They gave her a pampered bath while Stefano watched. 

26 minutes ago, JAS0N47 said:

 

I found it quickly because I remember a long time ago, Sony would post audio-only episodes of Days, and they would include the script I believe. So I think I only watched a few episodes of that, and I found out these characters were called Handmaidens in the script. I probably had just listed them as Woman # 1 and Woman # 2 in my notes back in 1994. But, in any event, because that was the episode I had happened to "listen to" (mainly for the script data), it was a quick search of Handmaiden in my file.

 

7430...12/16/94:
Cast: Abe, Billie, Bo, Caroline, Gina, Jack, Jennifer, John, Kristen, Laura, Marlena, Shawn, Stefano, Dr. Perkins, Father Francis, Lisa, Priest (Paul), Handmaiden # 1, Handmaiden # 2, Mystery Person ("Marlena").
Sets: Carrie's Apartment & Corridor, The Meadows Common Room, Brady Pub & Exterior, Rectory Office, Marlena's Bedroom, Golden Tent with Bath Area, Jack's Room/The Meadows, St. Luke's Church.

Thank you!

8 minutes ago, Gray Bunny said:

Oh I remember the episode. I wish it was still available on YouTube. They gave her a pampered bath while Stefano watched. 

Very creepy.   It's a shame because the OG Possession was available privately in edits on you tube for a long while, but someone had to ruin it lol

Goodbye to Doug! Wonderful last scenes with Julie. Doug was likable enough, but he could have been more if Peyton Meyer didn't always seem like he just woke up from a long slumber. Plus, it's just unfortunate there wasn't more specificity about his relationships with Dougie and Robert. Also, it's a weird coincidence that he exited in July, the last month we saw his namesake, Doug Williams. Still, those last scenes gave me hope he could turn up again someday, maybe with a new face.

I would be happy if we never saw Susan ever again.

Today almost made me believe Marlena could have shot EJ, or she realized it was Rachel. Either way, I like that I don't know for sure. I'm excited for whenever the reveal will be. 

The 'Mackenzie' mention was very well done. I think Xander and Sarah still have loads of chemistry and seem to be the couple to root for with the well rounded writing they're getting, but I think this potential interlude with Brady could be interesting because of Rachel. The only tired aspect is that Brady seemingly has to be a loser in love for the trillionth time.

Are we sure Doug³ didn't just set a curse on Julie? Because there's no way Gwen is going to let her keep that necklace. 🤔jk . Everyone is so sentimental every time an actor is fired. But, from @AbcNbc247's video, I think we dodged a bullet. Doug³ was seconds away from turning Doug's Place into a hiphop/zumba/zebra-print aerobics studio, if Tate didn't get rid of him when he did (love the tiny matching backpack, BTW).

 

Anyway, weren't we just talking about which writers should get credit for the current story when Marlena went from grieving widow to the Queen of the Night? (Me, no likey...). It feels very retro/homage, rather than modern and progressive.

 

Correct me if I am wrong (this means you @Bright Eyes or @brisbydog ), Stefano invaded Marlena's dreams in the Paris Underground Queen of the Night Story, (not the possession), that reunited Rachel Blake with her daughter Kristen. That was separate from the possession. This is totally speculative, with no information. But, it seems like they are going to revisit Rachel telling Kristen that she is Stefano's biological child. Yet, we were told that the actress playing Rachel Blake (old Rachel) had her last episode back in March when EJ tried to drug her, and then he kidnapped her. However, weren't we told that EJ returned Rachel Blake (not Black) to Kristen in return for Brady's vote on the hospital board? So, where's old Rachel when we need her? Is she at Aremid? Can't Gwen stay there while they're repainting the east wing?

Edited July 25Jul 25 by j swift

6 hours ago, JAS0N47 said:

 

I found it quickly because I remember a long time ago, Sony would post audio-only episodes of Days, and they would include the script I believe. So I think I only watched a few episodes of that, and I found out these characters were called Handmaidens in the script. I probably had just listed them as Woman # 1 and Woman # 2 in my notes back in 1994. But, in any event, because that was the episode I had happened to "listen to" (mainly for the script data), it was a quick search of Handmaiden in my file.

 

7430...12/16/94:
Cast: Abe, Billie, Bo, Caroline, Gina, Jack, Jennifer, John, Kristen, Laura, Marlena, Shawn, Stefano, Dr. Perkins, Father Francis, Lisa, Priest (Paul), Handmaiden # 1, Handmaiden # 2, Mystery Person ("Marlena").
Sets: Carrie's Apartment & Corridor, The Meadows Common Room, Brady Pub & Exterior, Rectory Office, Marlena's Bedroom, Golden Tent with Bath Area, Jack's Room/The Meadows, St. Luke's Church.

I happen to have a copy of this episode if anyone wants to watch it or download it to borrow or whatever. I'm avoiding posting links out in the open but I would be glad to give someone a link in PM. I would just expect them to also avoid posting my link. IOW, don't post, instead share only in private. 

EDIT TO ADD: I uploaded a copy to the Internet Archive. 

https://archive.org/details/dool-12-16-94

https://archive.org/details/dool-12-19-94

 

Edited July 26Jul 26 by Contessa Donatella