The aging makes everything really difficult, but I think all the things we saw with Sarah like her exposing Neil/Maggie's affair, her vaguely trying to set it up like she and Neil were having an affair when she didn't know it was her dad still exist.  So her being almost an adult when she left is how it stands unless there is some sort of specific rewrite. Much like Sami kidnapping Belle is brought up or EJ being passed off as Kristen's kid was just brought up.  It sounds strange because of the actor's ages, but I think the narrative still remains.

Seeing Susan and EJ share a scene as mother and son will never not be funny.

In today’s episode, EJ looked like he should be calling Susan “mom” in air quotes—and Johnny’s youthful glow only amplified the absurdity, making Susan look like she’d been chugging down some kind of anti-aging elixir brewed in Dr. Rolf's lab.

Honestly, even the world’s most questionable wig department—yes, DAYS hair and makeup, I’m looking at you—could toss in a silver streak or two to remind us we’re witnessing intergenerational drama, not a metaphysical prank.

Edited August 5Aug 5 by j swift

3 minutes ago, j swift said:

Seeing Susan and EJ together in a scene as mother and son will never stop being funny to me.

On today's episode, EJ looked older than Susan.  And, Johnny's age really makes Susan look like a witch with a magic potion of youth.  

Even the world's wig artists, aka DAYS hair and makeup, could add a gray streak or two to remind us that we're supposed to be witnessing intergenerational drama.

Lo’real baby, Lo’real! 🤣

And while I'm nitpicking...

Why is it that soap characters always appear in their family's living room mere moments after a transatlantic flight—as if customs, jet lag, and the concept of personal hygiene don’t exist?

Now, before the "literal police" barge in, yes, I know Alison Sweeney was only on for a day and nobody wanted to waste precious airtime with dull logistics. But still—can we talk about how poorly they justified Sami flying from Italy to Salem for what amounts to a glorified cameo? Especially since she called Marlena last week to say she was coming. Couldn’t Marlena have at least tracked her flight on an app like every other mom since 2014?

The acting and writing were genuinely strong. But honestly, Sami could’ve said all of that over the phone—preferably while sipping wine and hugging a photo of John in her Italian palazzo. Or better yet, she could’ve invited Marlena to the palazzo itself and skipped the dramatic detour. I kept getting distracted by the convoluted logic explaining why Sami was visiting Marlena and Johnny but wasn’t attending the trial. It all felt like narrative gymnastics. I couldn’t help but wonder why these scenes weren’t edited into earlier episodes, where they might have landed with more emotional punch. 

Or, say that it was a Sunday. Court wasn't in session. And elevator repair guy was off duty. To be clear, I’m not interested in why the writers made these choices. I just found the execution too awkward to let the scene’s intended emotions fully resonate. 

Also, why don't soaps take place narratively on a weekend?

Meanwhile, if I’d just flown in from Rome, I wouldn’t be sneaking into my grieving mother’s penthouse. I’d be looking for a restroom, a glass of water, and some time to scroll my phone.

Soap logic says surprise airport arrivals are a dramatic necessity. I say they’re right up there with returning from the store clutching hat boxes, and maybe it’s time we let those tropes rest in peace.

Edited August 6Aug 6 by j swift

-- Today's show was flat to me. The only thing I liked was the Xander/Sarah stuff.

-- Since Julie's going to buy a bookstore, at least we'll get to see the inside with fake books on the shelves, unlike Sweet Bits where we never get anything but someone walking around Horton Square with desserts on a plate or in a box.

-- I am so damn tired of Susan.

I understand that Alison Sweeney has other things going on career wise. I also understand that fans love her as Sami.

But the never-ending writing gymnastics to have the character flit in and out at will - often disrupting the show's flow - drags things down, in my opinion. I will be controversial and say, if Alison is unable or unwilling to come back to Days for a longer stint, recast Sami. She is needed on canvas with Johnny's issues. And if Carrie (even if it was short lived) and Eric can survive recasting, so can Sami. But the one foot in, one foot out method serves no purpose.

4 hours ago, ranger1rg said:

-- Today's show was flat to me. The only thing I liked was the Xander/Sarah stuff.

-- Since Julie's going to buy a bookstore, at least we'll get to see the inside with fake books on the shelves, unlike Sweet Bits where we never get anything but someone walking around Horton Square with desserts on a plate or in a box.

-- I am so damn tired of Susan.

I’m so glad someone brought this up. I wish we could get a set of the inside of Sweet Bits! I mean people could be there in the am. Before work running into each other there’s so many possibilities with that set. But I do love the bookstore. 

I have no idea why they never built an interior for Sweet Bits. It could function as a bakery/coffee shop with a little table and chairs or a window bar. 

They should also have something like that inside the bookstore. I love the IDEA of a bookstore (and I personally love going to one), but it's the type of set you're going to have to twist yourself into knots to get characters coming into to have interactions with people they wouldn't seek out on their own.

1 minute ago, Michael said:

I love the IDEA of a bookstore (and I personally love going to one), but it's the type of set you're going to have to twist yourself into knots to get characters coming into to have interactions with people they wouldn't seek out on their own.

I fully expect the duration of this bookstore to last as long as Stephanie's new found passion for writing literary smut lasts.

Shut up, Belle.

I understand her mindset about Sami and why she's choosing to check into the Salem Inn, but she annoyed me a little today. Her venting all of that to Tate was a bit of a surprise but I didn't mind it. It's nice seeing that family connection onscreen and I liked how she helped him reach an understanding about Sophia.

Even though Sophia is totally in the wrong and her actions still don't seem to make a lot of sense considering what we saw onscreen. There needed to be a much stronger reason for her to have done what she did. And yeah, Melinda's reasons for being a part of this mess still are making her look kinda stupid. But I do like that Tate is having second thoughts about having given the baby up for "adoption." He seemed a little smart lol and despite the Leo of it all, I'm glad that Tate finally did get to meet his son in the end.

The court scenes were the best part of today. I do enjoy seeing Belle and EJ go head to head, and Paulina's call from the attorney general about Belle adds another interesting dynamic to this storyline. In spite of the flaws in all of this, I feel that it's still being written in a much stronger way than it previously would have been. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next. 

I love Belle. She doesn’t like Sami and that’s okay by me. I’m not a Sami fan either.

17 hours ago, Wendy said:

I will be controversial and say, if Alison is unable or unwilling to come back to Days for a longer stint, recast Sami. She is needed on canvas with Johnny's issues. And if Carrie (even if it was short lived) and Eric can survive recasting, so can Sami. 

Oh Lord, let's just pretend Tracy Middendorf never happened. 

Unless they were able to pull off a casting coup like Sarah Michelle Gellar, I wouldn't want to see a Sami recast, IMO. 

The writing feels sympathetic toward Tate’s desire to reconnect with his son, but I hate the (perhaps unintentional) political undertones.

Paul, Chloe, and Lani all grew up without knowing their biological fathers. In each case, the eventual reunion worked because it happened when they were adults, seeking answers on their own terms—not because someone forced the door open during early childhood.

And in the more heightened, even absurd corners of the show’s history, we’ve seen this dynamic play out with characters like Stefano DiMera, whose children consistently emerged in adulthood—Peter, Kristen, EJ, Chad, and even Megan. Days may exaggerate the reveal, but it still respects the underlying logic: these connections come with time, and usually only after the child has an identity of their own.

If the show wanted to honor that legacy, someone like Paul could easily voice it: “That baby has parents. Let them do the job. If a connection is meant to come, it’ll come when he’s ready, not when you are.”

That would shift the story from romanticized redemption to something more emotionally mature: not a dramatic gesture, but a respectful decision not to interfere.

Edited August 7Aug 7 by j swift

I don't really see a need for a Sami recast.  There are definitely times I think Sami is missing in stories, but perhaps the show could work around Ali's schedule better?  She seems willing to return, so maybe some organization on both Days and her part would be helpful since they film 6 years in advance lol.  

I would recast Allie, bring Sydney in, and at some point recast* Nicole to fill the gap. 

*I obviously would prefer Ari, but it's highly unlikely she will return and I assume the lawsuit will be settled eventually.

1 hour ago, carolineg said:

I assume the lawsuit will be settled eventually.

 

This post got me wondering if there had been any movement in Arianne Zucker’s case since that wave of coverage last summer. From what I could find, the last public development came in August 2024, when a Los Angeles judge ruled Zucker could proceed with her request for injunctive relief under California business code §17200. That portion of her suit sought to prohibit Albert Alarr from engaging in similar workplace behavior in the future. The court agreed there was enough alleged pattern to justify that claim moving forward.

That ruling, in effect, bars Alarr from ever executive producing another daytime show. It was a major win.  Reading between the lines, the judge agreed that there was enough evidence collected to determine a pattern of abuse by Alaar, which indicates Zucker had a strong case.  Alaar's attorney even tried to argue that the injunction should be dismissed because he wasn't working, nor did he foresee any future employment opportunities (one hopes not 😎).  But, the judge ruled they didn't want even the possibility to be left open that Alaar would ever be offered a similar opportunity.

The court scheduled a follow-up hearing for October 2024. But there’s been no public record, media reporting, or legal filing visible after that date. Although I trust @carolineg never presumes. It’s tempting to assume the case was settled out of court, but I’d caution against jumping to that conclusion. Here’s why:

• In California civil cases, especially when injunctive relief is involved, settlements usually appear in the public docket, even if the terms are sealed. Most often, the case would be dismissed “with prejudice,” and that would be noted.

• Injunctions like the one Zucker is seeking are generally harder to resolve quietly. Because they implicate future behavior, judges typically want some form of formal agreement or court order, even if the rest of the case is resolved privately.

So while the absence of new filings is notable, it doesn’t necessarily mean the matter has been settled. It could also indicate procedural delays, continued negotiations, or that the October hearing occurred but wasn’t covered.

 

 

Edited August 6Aug 6 by j swift