The New DAYS OF OUR LIVES Thread (Part 2)

[EmmyLoser]

#1206277086

So I guess DAYS figured since Y&R stole their Chad to play Cane, they would steal Chance to play Chad?

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/yrs-conner-floyd-is-the-new-chad-dimera-on-days-of-our-lives/

I’ve seen maybe five minutes of Conner Floyd on Y&R, and honestly he never made much of an impression on me, but neither has anyone else playing Chance. I guess we will see how this goes (in April). It’s funny that Rory Gibson and Conner Floyd have both recently been cast on competing shows after a stint playing a Y&R legacy character that the show doesn’t seem super interested in.

I really didn’t think DAYS was going to recast Chad at all. I enjoy his presence on the show, but he hardly seems like an essential character, and his current story feels more obligatory than inspired. I enjoy the Chad/Cat scenes when they air, but I don’t miss them when they don’t. But who knows what will be happening story-wise by the time Billy Flynn’s episodes run out.

Reply

[EmmyLoser]

#1206277579

It was interesting seeing Chad acknowledge that DiMera Enterprises was established basically as a front for criminal activities and that the idea of making it legitimate would have Stefano rolling in his grave. I hope this is also a change to idea that the DiMeras are constantly at each other’s throats over wanting to run the company, which was definitely Ron writing the DiMeras as if they were the Quartermaines.

Cat’s involvement with the ISA is an interesting twist. I liked getting some backstory on why Clyde got involved with her family, instead of us just being presented with this idea as if it all happened by coincidence.

One of the characters on this show most in need of rehab is Gabi. Having Ariana back in town helps, because it makes her focus on being a mother, most of her scenes are still talking trash about people who have done bad things (things that are mostly not on par with things she herself as done) as if she’s better than them. She needs to be doing more than disapproving of Leo, Cat, EJ and Xander. At least the dialogue between Jennifer and JJ lets us know that the show remembers she’s a murderer who also was willing to do whatever to Julie’s heart to make Lani suffer, and they didn’t even mention all the stuff she did to Abigail. I guess it’s too late to also remember that prior to her first prison stint and his “death,” EJ and Gabi had a very good relationship, that he helped her cover up having knocked Nick unconscious and thrown him in the river, and that he negotiated a good deal for her when the police arrested her for shooting and killing Nick. It would be fun to see her be a little more classic Gabi, maybe coming up with a fun but crazy scheme to get Gabi Chic away from Titan-DiMera or setting her sights on some new guy in a way that’s fun and vulnerable. I know she runs a company, but that doesn’t mean she has to be a CEO-bot.

Reply

[EmmyLoser]

#1206280030

As far as one-day weddings go, the Paul/Andrew wedding was pretty nice. I love Will and Sonny, but I still wish we’d gotten more time with Will and Paul as a couple. Maybe next summer we can get a special where Will, Sonny, Paul, Andrew, Leo and Javi rent a house in Provincetown and end up having to solve a murder or something.

I’m glad that we’re now getting back into things with EJ’s shooting and Titan-DiMera. After weeks of ambiguity, it’s good to have confirmation that Johnny was not actually the shooter and something else happened. Can’t wait to find out what!

I have also gotten a tremendous kick out of people passing around One Stormy Night and enjoying it so much. I cackled when Kayla and Steve were using it to spice up their bedroom antics. Though it is CRAZY that Stephanie found it at the nurses’ desk before it got back to Kate one way or another.

Reply

[EmmyLoser]

#1206282172

DAYS has released a new two-minute trailer of what’s to come on their socials, and it looks pretty good! I was surprised to see they’ve resurrected a courtroom set, and a pretty nice-looking one at that. I feel like we haven’t seen one of those in forever. The last time I can remember them being in actual court was maybe when Abigail and her alters got Gabi sent to prison for murdering Andre. It looks like Marlena will be plenty busy between Johnny’s trial and these dreams/fears about Stefano being resurrected. It’s good to see that she’ll be doing this and not spending all her time giving therapy to the newer characters. Of course, the most exciting thing is that we’ll be seeing Sami again soon!

DAYS – A Look at What’s Next

Reply

[EmmyLoser]

#1206284994

I’m starting to think that maybe Kristen shot EJ. My mom thinks it was Rachel, which I could also see, but it seems like a lot to put on a little girl. Fake Rafe/Arnold seemed like an option, but surely if he had gotten out of wherever he is supposed to be, Rita would have known by now?

I am getting so tired of little Doug and his money troubles. After he stole the Horton family necklace and got money from Holly AND got money from Leo more than once, it just feels like he should be out of this by now. I supposed it’s more on the writing than the character, because it is unreasonable that he still could owe these people money at this point. But aside from constantly needing money and never having any, he is also just irritating me with being willing to use Arianna as long as Holly isn’t around and having absolutely no tact or charm in his feeble efforts to push people away for their own good. It feels like the soapy story direction would have been for him to find an in with the DiMeras or the Kiriakises, get the money from them, and then have to do morally questionable things to pay them back. (Well, that’s a typical soapy story direction for a male character at least.) Anyway, I guess most of this back and forth was under Ron’s regime, and I’m guess the current writers plan to end this one way or another.

It was nice to see some softer scenes between Xander and Maggie.

Gwen’s haircut looks great in the previews for this week. I’m excited to see what mischief she’s going to cause. Maybe the Hortons will hold less of a grudge against Cat once they realize they have to deal with Gwen again.

Reply

[EmmyLoser]

#1206288237

LOL, it did not occur to me that the footage from the video could be used to implicate Chanel! She’s going to be even more mad about this whole situation now.

I’m glad Xander didn’t sleep with Gwen, but I am wishing he’d swiped that necklace and taken it back to Julie.

Reply

[EmmyLoser]

#1206290285

Rachel Boyd is really interesting as Sophia. I think in scenes where the actresses knows exactly what the character’s feelings and intentions are, she’s very good (she’s wonderful in the scenes in the town square when Sophia runs into Javi and Leo with her baby), but she seems a little lost in scenes where the focus in less clear (like earlier in the episode when she’s writing the message to her baby). Hopefully as the continues to play the character and know her better, she’ll become consistently really strong.

The picture of Holly and Ari the kidnapper sent Dougie was unfortunately very funny.

Reply

[EmmyLoser]

#1206294502

Tate going to where he thinks Holly and Ari are being held without calling the police is making him a competitor for dumbest boy in town. Doug has the title well in hand for now, but it looks like he’s leaving town.

Reply

[EmmyLoser]

#1206297846

I did not expect Belle to be going this hard at Johnny’s trial! I’m impressed with the writing of this, which makes EJ’s gamble that having Belle try the case would work to his advantage look like a pretty bad idea. This is also pretty incredible work from Martha Madison.

I find this whole business of Stephanie’s exes potentially being a problem with the publication of her romance novel, even under a pseudonym, and her apparent concern about one ex in particular to be pretty interesting. I was thinking how, aside from having dated Alex, Chad, Everett and Philip just in the last couple of years, we’ve seen Stephanie with Max Brady, Jeremy Horton, and Nathan Horton, and who knows who else she could have dated when she was racing cars or during her other time away from Salem. It’s also funny that Philip read the book and immediately recognized himself in it. This gives some more credence to Stephanie’s concerns about getting it published in the first place.

Reply

[EmmyLoser]

#1206299963

It’s great to see Sami Brady on screen at any time, but this visit already feels rushed even after just one day. I’m not sure how long she’s sticking around, but based on yesterday’s dialogue, I wouldn’t be shocked if she only appeared in the one episode. With such a limited time, it makes me feel like the show would have been better off editing this to happen closer to John’s funeral, even if Ali Sweeney wasn’t available to film with the rest of the cast when they were doing it. She should be in Salem at least through the resolution of Johnny’s trial, and Sydney should be with her.

With the new courthouse set, which is gorgeous, and little things like production making an elevator set for Chad and Cat to be stuck in for two episodes, it feels like the show’s been able to spend a little more money on production. I am really hoping that extends to the music. There’s nothing wrong with the music they have except that I am just very tired of hearing the same melodies deployed over and over again and that some fairly general score pieces are being used in scenes that warrant something more fitting of the moment. The score during John’s death scenes was pretty distracting, because you have this incredible performance from Deidre Hall and scenes that are firing on almost every cylinder, but then here is the same old background music we hear every other day.

Reply

[youngsoapfan]

#1206300727

EmmyLoser wrote:

It’s great to see Sami Brady on screen at any time, but this visit already feels rushed even after just one day. I’m not sure how long she’s sticking around, but based on yesterday’s dialogue, I wouldn’t be shocked if she only appeared in the one episode. With such a limited time, it makes me feel like the show would have been better off editing this to happen closer to John’s funeral, even if Ali Sweeney wasn’t available to film with the rest of the cast when they were doing it. She should be in Salem at least through the resolution of Johnny’s trial, and Sydney should be with her.

With the new courthouse set, which is gorgeous, and little things like production making an elevator set for Chad and Cat to be stuck in for two episodes, it feels like the show’s been able to spend a little more money on production. I am really hoping that extends to the music. There’s nothing wrong with the music they have except that I am just very tired of hearing the same melodies deployed over and over again and that some fairly general score pieces are being used in scenes that warrant something more fitting of the moment. The score during John’s death scenes was pretty distracting, because you have this incredible performance from Deidre Hall and scenes that are firing on almost every cylinder, but then here is the same old background music we hear every other day.

I could be in the minority on this. But i realllllly miss the 90’s music scores.

Reply

[EmmyLoser]

#1206300822

I don’t really remember the 90s score. But if they want to cycle some of that in with the music they’re using now, I would welcome it! You know what I do miss from the 90s? The Penthouse Grill. It was fun to see it in some of the flashbacks with Sami on Monday.

Reply

[youngsoapfan]

#1206301092

most specifically 1993/1994, some played right up to 1998. I think my personal favorite was the one played during most of the vivian scenes in the winter heat special, and a few other times in the special, also another that played a lot during billie’s trial. the billie’s trial one is actually on youtube called Sami’s theme.

Reply

[alokin]

#1206301359

Omg the music on DAYS during the 90s was everything (one of the reasons why I first fell in love with the show)! So much of it has become iconic. Love the pieces you mentioned, youngsoapfan; some of my other personal favorites include the music composed for the Aremid/Maison Blanche storyline (1994) and when Hope and John search for the rare flower in the Jungle (1997). There was a fast-paced guitar piece (or perhaps it featured the Zither?) that I recall was featured heavily during Sami’s bulimia storyline which I also loved. Too many wonderful themes to name. Glad the Emmys honored Ken Corday and his gifted music team with a win at least twice during that era (1990 & 1997).

But I completely agree with you, EmmyLoser, that the ball has slipped away from them a bit as far as what’s been recently airing, and the general music direction needs to be a lot tighter and treated with more sensitivity to the respective material. If the music team were to examine and really take to heart what worked so well during the 2010s (and they have the Emmys to prove it… with DAYS winning back-to-back a record-setting five times, from 2016 to 2020), I have complete faith that it’s just a matter of time before they can get back to that place of sheer brilliance.

Reply

[EmmyLoser]

#1206301770

Thank you both for that great trip down memory lane. I want to get on youtube right now and enjoy some of this classic material. I remember loving the music on DAYS and feeling like it really set the show apart when I was growing up. I would love to get back to that, and I do think the could do it. I just think, as alokin said, tighter and with more sensitivity to the respective material.

Reply

[Author]

Posts