@Liberty City & @carolineg - are you both unfamiliar with ALM's Saudi Arabian oeuvre?😎 --- It's like Lifetime for those who can't get cast on GAF, but often date international athletes.

Just finished watching Tate’s reaction, and I found it predictably nuts.

He’s spent weeks frantically searching for his son, only for his dad to drop the bomb that it wasn’t his baby. So what does Tate do? He sprints to the airport, buys a ticket to France, breezes through customs without a single bag, and rushes off to kiss Holly. That’s his pivot?

I’m hoping he gets a second shot at a real response when he finally sits down with Sophia. Because right now, it feels like this is the response of Hugh Grant in a romcom, not an 18-year-old college freshman.

Edited October 13Oct 13 by j swift

3 hours ago, carolineg said:

I am one of the few that find her an engaging performer.  The character is a mess, but I find her likeable.  She could definitely work on the God network if that was her thing.

I'll join you on ALM. I think she's good in the role.

I think her likability as a performer is the reason she was able to survive and redeem her character after what she did to Chad.

I really like ALM. And Chad and Cat together.

ALM^tm  is an awesome find, and she is so lovely.  I was chuckling at the thought of Cat applying to work in the cafeteria, before she bumped into EJ.  She doesn't seem to have the wardrobe for food service.

I hope the character survives because of Cat's charm (including with Gwen).

Also, I don't want Rachel to be directly and indirectly responsible for the fate of so many adults in Salem.  I do not want a serial "kiddie-killer".  EJ and Ava barely made it.

Edited October 14Oct 14 by j swift

I always thought AnnaLynne was the best part of the messy 90210 reboot, so I am not surprised.  Once she got out of the dour fakeAbby story she was allowed to be a bit more lighthearted and sillier.  I also think the Greene family has potential.  I am not sure if it will ever be realized, but I like the idea of the siblings all rallying around one another.

It was mostly about Dimera today.

I actually didn't expect Tony to double-cross Gabi, but it makes sense with the way that Tony's been written lately. And while I enjoyed their scenes today, maybe they would've worked better if they had taken place in tomorrow's episode, and today could've ended with the cliffhanger of Tony telling Gabi that she was out. And now that Gabi knows that Theo is going to be CEO of Dimera, I'm interested in seeing what happens next, especially if they go there with Theo and Arianna.

Speaking of Theo, I also enjoyed his and Abe's showdown over Theo deciding to work for Dimera. They work pretty well together and are believable as father and son. And, this is a much better and much more effective way to use Abe. And, it looks like Belle is going to be weaved into this storyline as well. Her and Abe's scene together was a nice surprise. 

Xander and Sarah's therapy session with Marlena was really good too. Hopefully, Marlena can get them to find the root of their problems... which will lead to the next conflict for them 😂

But once again, Susan was unnecessary. If they're doing this just to burn through Stacy Haiduk's guarantees or something, then write her and both her characters out because there doesn't seem to be any reason for Susan to be sticking around. 

12 hours ago, carolineg said:

I always thought AnnaLynne was the best part of the messy 90210 reboot, so I am not surprised.  Once she got out of the dour fakeAbby story she was allowed to be a bit more lighthearted and sillier.  I also think the Greene family has potential.  I am not sure if it will ever be realized, but I like the idea of the siblings all rallying around one another.

The Greene family does have potential, but they are utilising the wrong members of the family, truthfully. Aaron should be the one who is focused on over Felicity. No offence to Kennedy Garcia, who seems sweet in real life, but the constant direct fourth-wall looking at the camera is distracting. And I would take Mark back in an instant over Cat. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I really appreciate the ambition behind the Greene family. It’s rare these days to see an entire family debut at once. When was the last time DAYS introduced that kind of ensemble from the ground up? It was a bold move.

But I worry they might not withstand the test of time, simply because they were the passion project of a previous writer. Without that original vision driving their arc, they risk being sidelined or reshaped beyond recognition. Soap history is full of families who started strong but faded when the creative baton changed hands.

Edited October 14Oct 14 by j swift

Cwikly and Ford really have to step it up. I find the show so boring! Maybe it will pick up with the anniversary and returning characters. I find the day to day writing very dull. 

I am very glad that is increasingly clear that Xander is going to fess up the ugly truth about Philip himself, in therapy. Best case scenario to wrap up a miserable year of lies for Xarah that really were not necessary. Given we are wrapping up Ron stories this week and next I think that will be it for this. Sarah will be mildly pissed but given that she was happy to let him castigate Stalex for covering for Philip while telling Maggie she was cool Xander never knew her part, I think she, and we, should just let it go and move on.

Gabi getting agency over her own company was a good compromise. Theo was wrong though, she does not care about his autism she just meant he is young and inexperienced. Clearly though this was manufactured so things are awkward when Ari starts dating him.

Susan and EJ were entirely unnecessary today.

Other than Susan, I really enjoyed this episode.

I thought Tony was written pitch perfect. He screwed over Gabi, but was fair in giving her Gabi Chic as a consolation. I'm glad Gabi Chic will be its own company going forward. I had to make a mental note when Tony mentioned how Gabi slept her way through his brothers, that she also slept through various Hortons. I respect her game! She might possibly have the best track record, ever? And am I the only one jumping 100 steps ahead in thinking her scenes with Theo were setting up a future Gabi/Theo/Arianna triangle? Maybe I just had sex on the mind.

A random note I've been meaning to say: that DiMera chess set is so cool. I can't play for shite, but I want it for the aesthetic.

I was very happy to see Abe get a point of view today, and his having scenes with Belle were a nice surprise. I hope we get Abe confronting Tony about his plans for Theo, so hopefully Tony (and Anna) won't be in Monte Carlo for too long.

The whole 'therapy session' Xander/Sarah had with Marlena was completely ridiculous if it was happening in reality. Just way too many boundary violations to count.

Edited October 14Oct 14 by Bright Eyes

I was THISCLOSE to turning off today's episode because of Susan.

1 hour ago, Bright Eyes said:

Theo were setting up a future Gabi/Theo/Arianna triangle? Maybe I just had sex on the mind.

I’m unsure of a full triangle, but Gabi definitely has plans on inserting herself into whatever Theo and Arianna are building—romantic, laundry-based, or otherwise.   But, also, Theo can fill out a suit quite nicely (ahem).  Also, we know the secret of Gabi being responsible for hiding the pen to record Xander and Philip is bound to come back to bite Gabi in the behind. 

1 hour ago, Bright Eyes said:

I'm glad Gabi Chic will be its own company going forward.

I’m glad too. It gives Gabi some narrative autonomy again. But does that put her in direct competition with Basic Black? I honestly can’t tell what Brady’s company does anymore. Maybe Belle will finally weigh in on her father’s legacy, assuming anyone still clocks in at that office.

Also, are Tony and EJ conning Gwen?  Because EJ's using her to pay the hospital contractor, while Tony is buying companies left and right.

Where does Tony have the cash to buy back Dimera (after EJ and Kristen already pocketed their part of the original merger)?  And now he's giving away divisions of the company?  When did Tony get so rich? -- It is ironic because during his first marriage to Anna, they depended on her fashion line, because he was also the Dimera with the least assets.  

1 hour ago, Bright Eyes said:

The whole 'therapy session' Xander/Sarah had with Marlena was completely ridiculous if it was happening in reality. Just way too many boundary violations to count

I’m still puzzled by Marlena dropping Cat due to “cutting back,” yet somehow she’s still seeing half the town. And Sarah choosing her husband’s anger management therapist for couples counseling? Beyond the boundary issue, doesn't Sarah want someone more objective?  For example, Rachel's therapist is available.  She is not very good at solving Rachel's issues, but clearly she's worked with rage addicts. 😡

And yeah, I don't watch Susan either.  I couldn't tell if this was the end of Doc fainting, or just the beat?  I wish they would give Susan scenes with Johnny.  They can speak like country folks to each other.  Chanel could roll her eyes.  Her priorities of looking after Marlena feels like a mean spell that Kristen imposed before she went to jail.  "You will hang on Marlena like a wart - hahaha..."

Edited October 15Oct 15 by j swift

Tyler Joseph Andrews has been absolutely great as Theo.

Casting did an excellent job and Andrews made the role his own almost immediately. This board went crazy (and I think overboard) over the Donnell casting on BTG, but this is the actor who deserves the attention and praise.

13 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

Tyler Joseph Andrews has been absolutely great as Theo.

Casting did an excellent job and Andrews made the role his own almost immediately. This board went crazy (and I think overboard) over the Donnell casting on BTG, but this is the actor who deserves the attention and praise.

I absolutely agree with you on both fronts, and have stated my praise of Tyler Joseph Andrews previously. But to be fair, a lot more people watch BtG, me included, while only a small handful of us regularly watch DAYS.