A pregnant woman is being drugged and gaslight into believing her multiple personalities have returned with a vengeance. All I can do is just cuss at the TV, mad that anyone would dare to stop the shenanigans of Gabi Hernandez. Abigail, Dr. Laura and Gaby (with a Y!) all deserve to be under Gabi’s high heel where they belong. In my best Michelle Obama voice -Period.
Alas, not everyone is entertained. There are viewers uncomfortable with Gabi deciding to go low. Sami’s understudy has made Abby doubt her sanity, switched paternity results and will leave her taste on Chad’s breath if given the chance. Camila Banus is the next daytime supreme. She’s so good at breathing life into the fire breathing dragoness that is Gabi.
Since my favorite couple is currently a serial killer romancing a young heroine, doing the most doesn’t bother me in the least. You’ll catch me smiling every time Ben looks at his Ciara.
But I get why certain antics offend. I’m not a fan of the Stefan/Abby storyline. It wasn’t suitable to my taste buds. Hope and Rafe get under my skin on sheer principle. There are always going to be triggers for those in the audience and I’m not here to make light of that. To each their own. Still, I’d rather a bad arc disrupt my afternoon that the charged climate we live in.
At this very writing, pipebombs have been sent to the homes of George Soros, Barack Obama, the Clintons, Eric Holder and John Brennan. It’s hard to turn on the television and absorb the latest descent into acts of violence and terror. It’s always something and for just one hour, Days of Our Lives is an escape; that and turning into an Avon lady by hocking my novel.
There’s a lot of hatred and I just want to reserve it for Xander Kiriakis. He put a bullet in Marlena but he could not kill our Doc. Even at death’s door, there wasn’t a strand of those Goldilocks out of place, face beat and perfect cheekbones.
For all the camp that Days of Our Lives is known and celebrated for, the classic beats of traditional arcs are evergreen. John, Sami, Eric and Belle arguing over the end of life decisions regarding Marlena’s well being. The emotional fallout offered Drake Hogestyn some of the strongest materials of his career. He can do more than just perfectly lift his brow and that’s a fact!
Drake’s John exemplified controlled fury as he took on his beloved Isabella; he could’ve gone outside to get a switch and stop her from pulling the plug. Instead, he just whisked Marlena away to a secret facility and put a clone in her place. When will your leading men ever?
It’s a testament to the potent chemistry of Hogestyn and Deidre Hall that their dynamic shifted as John and Hattie. Please give the Queen of Days all the awards. She’s played straight lace Dr. Marlena Evans for so long that the beauty and full range of her talents are easy to take for granted.
Even for those who think Jarlena is taking up too much screen time, their recent wedding was a necessary reboot of the show. It introduced Stacy Haiduk as Kristin Dimera and Susan Banks. She’s a natural fit as the Elvis loving and naive Susan and the heir to Stefano; vulnerable also to Brady. Oh that Brady Black who tries my last patience. He redeemed himself by going after Will and Sonny for their treatment of Paul.
Will’s memory returning should’ve added an extra layer of depth to the triangle. Instead, Will has forsaken his feelings for John’s son. It just doesn’t make sense. Hopefully, writers will fix this just as they did by separating the forced Jennifer and Eric. Sami’s twin may be the nice one but he’s still driven by visceral emotions, especially for Nicole. Greg Vaughn is ripping hearts out with his performances and his hands just may be open for another Emmy.
There is also life outside of those already mentioned. Kate and her wardrobe are an entity unto itself.
Eli and Lani’s slow burn is being given time to develop into a meaningful relationship. The writers didn’t just pair two black characters together, add water and assume that an insta romance would suffice. Each is being given a point of view and Sheila’s spoiler role is more than just being Eli’s friend and getting under Lani’s skin. T-Boz has more than taken a scene stealing character and created a compelling one. It’s not all about being Bonnie’s sidekick.
Speaking of which, Judi Evans can just turn on a dime. In one scene, she’s the diplomatic Adrienne who coddles Sonny too much. In the next, she’s the scheming jailbird and appropriating Mimi’s baby as her own. When is Mimi ever going to stop hiding kids from Rex? It’s all so messy and here for it.
Ron Carlivati, head writer of DAYS, recently had to respond to criticism that the soap was going too far. For me, he’s hitting that sweet spot. I prefer my explosives to be of the fictional kind. Even if Nicole is randomly strolling a child into danger. She’s got a lot to think about while Dr. Rolf holds her hostage for the next two years. Until then, Eric will just have to mourn his love. I’ll be watching the day Nicole returns from the undead with Eric’s baby at his wedding to Sarah Horton. Hopefully, there won’t be an interruption of reality.
