After reaching the half-century mark on the air, Days Of Our Lives has given us many, many memorable stories. Some stories were outrageous, some outlandish, some complex, and some so romantic I wished they were truly happening. It’s a wonder the writers were able to continue to come up with quality storylines on an ongoing basis.
For over 45 years, I have been pleased to tune into this long-standing NBC daytime drama. It’s unfortunate DOOL has been relegated to the position of last surviving soap opera on NBC, and it continues to have to fight to remain on the air.
However, despite my love for Days, as with all soaps, longevity does not equal perfection. There are some currently running storylines that are completely engaging and others that should be retired as quickly as possible.
One of the challenges in this particular part of the Love/Hate series was the fact that I am quite fond of many of the characters, yet some of their storylines have become repetitive or are falling flat. I would also venture to propose some of the characters are being written, borderline, out of character. However, other storylines have me completely engaged and hoping for more. I would love to see this trend continue as the summer season progresses.
Photo Credit: Brad E. Young
Love: There are currently two scene pairings on Days that completely engage me whenever I get the chance to see them. We recently were treated to several scenes, during the “virus” storyline, with John Black(Drake Hogestyn) and his son, Paul Narita (Christopher Sean). The scenes precipitating Paul’s possible, and seemingly imminent, death were extremely moving. As the virus scare was resolved, the father/son moments took a natural turn toward warm and loving. Add to the mix Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), and these scenes illustrate the reason I continue to watch DOOL. In addition, I adore the blossoming romance between JJ Deveraux (Casey Moss) and Gabi Hernandez (Camila Banus). These two talented young actors deliver all the components of a budding romance with just the right measures of charm, humor, and chemistry needed to define young love. It warms my heart whenever JJ and Gabi smile at one another in their scenes.
Photo Credit: Youtube.com
Photo Credit: Youtube.com
Hate: While I’m still recovering from the “Elephant” fiasco of 2015, my head is spinning from the breakdown of the character that used to define Hope Brady (Kristian Alfonso). She has always been a strong woman in every sense of the word. Although there were times Hope needed to lean on her partner for support, I never viewed her as weak or fickle. Unfortunately, Hope’s current storyline, as well as committing murder of an unarmed man (as evil as he may have been), has come too close to an out-of-character portrayal for comfort. While I believe Kristian is, and always will be, brilliant as Hope, it’s as if the writers no longer have a sense of who Hope truly is–something I find unsettling. Add to the mix the blatant lack of mourning for her late husband, Bo, and I find myself unfamiliar with Hope as she appears now. I hope to see the strong, independent, self-assured Hope back sooner, rather than later.
Please share your Love/Hate relationship selections with respect to the current storylines on Days Of Our Lives! I look forward to reading your viewpoints.
Let’s talk!!!
I agree with everything stated. Paul is a great addition to the show and CS is talented. I look forward to JJ/Gabi – finally a romance based on a genuine connection and the actors have great chemistry. Where do you start with Hope? This character has been destroyed. She was once strong, feisty and loved Bo beyond measure. Six months after his death she is moving on with Rafe and torn about Aiden. Aiden is the guy that was paid to destroy you by the DiMeara’s, stole money from you and your whole relationship was a lie. Hope can barely be bothered with mourning Bo and forget about her kids, love life first. She was one of my favorite characters and I can no longer stomach the site of her. I no longer believe she is “fixable” or at least she is not the Hope that so many loved over the years.
Thank you so much for all your support and great comments. It’s good to know I’m not the only one who see DOOL this way. I hope we can see much more #Jabi and more Paul scenes too. In addition, I would love to see Hope return to the woman we’ve all known for so many years.
I just can’t get past the fact H. was basically related to R. by marriage, actually SAW him and S. together and said they were meant to be together, and she was all ready to move on with him until A. appeared. That was sooooo fast.Bizarre.
Yes, Yes, Yes! So true!
My love hate has to do with Hope. I was a huge #BOPE fan. I am not liking this Hope at all. The writers have dumb down her so bad. Having her go back and forth between Rafe and Aiden is awful. And then having Hope even consire go back to Adien after what Chase did to Cearia is also dumb. I want to see the strong indepentent Hope
I agree with you. It’s become very hard to watch Hope as the character seems so unfamiliar. I would like to see the writers give Hope back her moxie! Thank you so much for continuing to chime in with your great comments!
Where to start? Days of Our Lives is the only soap left I have watched since I was a child. The other shows I watch as shows. Days is like extended family at this point, as corny as that may sound. I agree with you on all counts, and this is sort of where my main complaint about Days comes in lately. Family… it is an important element of all soap operas, and this show puts every story in a vacuum of late. With all the other issues going on with Kristian Alfonso’s character, the fact that Hope never interacts with family anymore (beyond Ciara is sad.) The best part of the teens getting in trouble was that it finally put Shawn and his mom and Claire and her grandmother in the same room. I know they have not shown Jennifer again since the day she admitted she had a problem and went to a meeting, but I so want Hope to show her support for “Cuz”. She could check in on Steve and Kayla too, and Caroline. And while I am complaining, when was the last time Theresa was invited to a Brady family function? Vacuum. (Sorry, Carolyn. I got off topic there.) I want to LOVE this show again, but it has been difficult. Great scenes like Paul and John and great episodes like Jenn hitting rock bottom are few and far between. They have some great couples, like JJ and Gabi, but they seem to use them quite sparingly. I just don’t get it.
I can completely understand how you feel, David! I feel the “family” connection on two of the soaps I watch, but DOOL was always the one that was all about family (the only one once Ryan’s Hope was gone). You and I both have similar feelings about what we are seeing on Days, particularly related to family, and Hope’s connections–or should I say current lack of connections w/family. I only wish the writers return to what made Days so special. Hopefully, we will get more #Jabi scenes & scenes with Paul, John, Marlena, etc. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.
I agree with everything you stated in your love section and I will add that I was really surprised to read many fans hating that particular plot. Though, I suppose that the saying “haters gonna hate” applies.
I also hate the characterization of Hope, but I do not consider it completely out of character. I first became disappointed in Hope back when Ciara was kidnapped as a small child and Bo was having visions (not unlike what Caroline has now — I’m surprised no one ever made that connection) then around that same time she and Bo split and Hope started taking prescription drugs and had a mental break which caused her to attack men in her sleep. Ridiculous, yes. Anyhow, the current Hope plays right into that sort of fickleness and instability that turned me off from her character way back then. As for a lack of mourning for Bo – I actually think that was covered just fine. She and Bo had been estranged for a long time and they only had a day together before he died, plus she was in shock from Aiden’s betrayal. Honestly, I think that part was one of the more believable parts of her whole story fiasco.
Thank you so much for chiming in with your views! I appreciate your opinions and can look back at Hope’s history and see where you are drawing your conclusions. I think this is part of the problem, I began to see Hope as strong and independent until Bo returned last fall and then felt there was a rapid deterioration of the character she had organically been building under the writers & directors. I especially find your reasoning behind Hope’s limited mourning period to make sense.
I apologize in advance for how long this will be…
Back around the 50th anniversary Ken Corday had said that they were going to focus on bringing back the romance and family connections to “Days” but those two things have certainly been lacking as of late. With the exception of the Hernandez family finally all coming together and the romances between JJ/Gabi and Chad/Abby, the rest of the show has continued on in the same fashion as I see it. Body doubles, love triangles and revenge plots that have been done a thousand times.
What I Love: JJ/Gabi, Chad/Abby/Ben, Steve/Kayla, Jen
The show has been showing such promise in JJ/Gabi and I truly feel like they are building something special. The reasoning behind their pairing is one that actually makes sense as they have a lot in common and are looking not to rush into anything. Chad/Abby/Ben has been nothing but gold storytelling since June of last year. The buildup of Chabby’s budding epic romance and Ben spiraling out of control, to Abby’s descent into madness has been the prime reason I’ve been tuning into watch. Everything is so on point in this story from and all 3 actors are bringing their A game. Steve/Kayla is just nice to see on screen. Mary Beth and Steve are just magic together even 30 years later, it’s like no time has passed for this couple. Jennifer finally getting a storyline around a pill addiction is also a story that makes sense. She has been stuck in the same old story since Jack died and it’s finally time for Jennifer Rose to grow as a character and rediscover who she is!
What I don’t like:
I was named after Kristian Alfonso so I hold a very special spot for Hope and with her story since the anniversary it feels like SHE has the body double, not Aiden. Killing Stefano in cold blood, covering up his murder, letting her teenage daughter regress and not seek help for her rape, pining after two men just 6 months since Bo’s death… Who is this? It’s certainly not the Hope Williams Brady that’s been on our screens for the last 30 years.
Where have the scenes between family members and friends been? I miss the relationships between Lucas and Jen, Chad and Rafe, Nicole and Brady, John and Hope, Steve and Adrienne… I truly feel like if the show would focus on character development (Like the stand alone episodes) and not so much on plot development, we would not be having any of these issues. I want to continue to love this soap, and I truly hope they take note to how things are actually working for fans.
Thank you so much for this incredible comment. It was a pleasure to read all your important thoughts. It is clear you have been a long time fan of the show. I truly hope TPTB will read some of the comments and concerns people have been sharing over the social media. It would be wonderful for Days to find its way back to those components that made it so special and significant. As another commenter wrote, DOOL is about family and we need to find our way back.
I look forward to more of your comments!
I SOOOO agree with you about the FRIENDSHIPS …Chad and Rafe, Nicole/B, J/H, even Steve-Hope that have just been lost. She should have been hanging out with Steve and getting support from HIM!!
Add to the HATE column: Ciara’s crush on chad…Abi’s crush on Austin, anyone? EJAbi, anyone? Aren’t we kind of recycling, here?
I definitely do NOT like Ciara’s crush on Chad either.
I agree with you Carolyn with everything about dool and things that you hate I didn’t recognize the story of will/Paul/sonny the story that was never resolved and made everyone look bad and were we just supposed forget everything Wilson has accomplished when Paul arrived are we supposed to believe sonny would fall victim to Paul that easily and the way they made will don’t get me started on that if just seem the writers wanted to destroy all these characters then get rid of them Not happy with this hope when sonny comes back the writing will be better for sonny/Paul. I love dool but the writing needs to get better
I do hope when Sonny returns to Salem we will see a quality development and sustenance of whatever his new relationship might hold. Thank you so much for joining in the conversation and commenting!
Like a lot of things, though, they left the grieving for Will kind of unfinished, and it would be really obnoxious (like the Hope-Rafe thing) if S. just jumped right into a relationship as soon as he hit Salem. Even if it is with P.
ITA about grieving for Will. I hope we get some scenes demonstrating how much Will is missed. Thank you for chiming in!