LAST BLAST: Never give up on the good times

Eek! The party's over. The ''Last Blast'' reunion turned into a massacre. There were slayed Salemites everywhere and one woman standing over them -- Jan Spears is back! So, celebrate like it's 2002 for old times' sake and take a stroll down memory lane (more like murder alley) in this special edition of DAYS Two Scoops!

There's good news and bad news, fellow DAYS fans. After having coffee with Chloe and Belle, your faithful Two Scoopers had to leave the Big Apple and zip back to Soap Central Headquarters to ready the Golden Donut and Alex North Memorial Awards. Why is that good news? Well, had we stayed in New York, we'd probably be dead like Chloe, Mimi, Philip, Belle, Kevin, and, who cares, but Jason, too. We haven't seen Susan's body, so we refuse to believe she's gone. Whew. We dodged that bullet. Well. Blade dodged. Sadly, the bad news, most of the Last Blasters didn't. Or did they? Hmm...

Just a note before we really get reunion-ing. The first three webisodes were Two Scooped during our regular weekly columns, but, since later episodes fell during the holidays, we decided to keep a running Two Scoops to post once it was all over. So, sure, some ideas or suspicions might have been blown out of the water by the next episode, but, like the series itself, you never know what will happen next. Here are links to the first three Digital Two Scoops:

Episode One: Hello from the other sideEpisode Two: Talk about, talk about, talk about movin'Episode Three: Do you believe in life after love?

All in all, this digital series was, well, a blast! It was like a gift to everyone that loved the "Last Blast" crew (or grew up along with them, well, sans the SORAS-ing). There's the familiarity of characters and warm-fuzzies mixed with the right amount of camp. It's like DAYS blended with a reunion episode of Friends and tussled with Scream. We loved it! So, let's get down and digital and catch up with our Last Blasters...

Episode Four (12/19/19) started out with chilling cinematography. I loved the forward motion through the streets as Kevin's killer was closing in. It was amazingly done (and made me a little homesick for NYC)! And then, you know, Kevin was stabbed. That was sort of the end of Episode Three, too, and, as Laurisa mentioned in her Two Scoops column, "Do you believe in life after love?", well, the guy runs a bar and ran out of beer. That's weak, Kev. Still, I'll cosign the sympathy card. He didn't deserve to die. Just, well, maybe a bad Yelp review or a non-lethal stab.

The living Last Blasters found out about Kevin's death the next day. Let me just say, I want to stay with Craig and Nancy next time I'm in the Big Apple. They seem to always have something to snack on and great advice to dish out. They're totally adorable, too. I'm also cosigning the petition to relocate them back to Salem. Plus, it might be safer there at the moment, as the only serial killer around is in jail.

Though I could have told the Chlomeister that spending time with Philip would be nice and that Mimi would be annoying. Those are two things that scream, "Adoy!" But I digress.

Alas, Chloe didn't have a chance to reunite romantically with Philip or tell Meems how annoying she is because Ghoul Girl got herself murdered, too! I was not ready for that. While I highly suspect this will turn out to be a nightmare or delusional daydream, killing Chloe off hit me right in the heart. Okay. I heard that after I wrote it. Bad choice of words. Chloe's death hit me hard, but this isn't our last blast with Ghoul Girl. I just know it and will drink enough grief wine until I believe just that.

Following trend, Episode Five (12/26/19) picked up where the prior episode ended. A dead Chloe, and Philip finding her. Belle also arrived on the scene, and she was alone, as Shawn-Douglas left for Hong Kong in the previous installment. And I was still heartbroken about the Chlomeister.

Nancy and Craig were heartbroken, too. Kevin Spirtas and Patrika Darbo's performances were wonderful, and each time I see them as Craig and Nancy, I'm sad they're not on our screens daily on DAYS. Salem needs more Wesley presence. They would certainly spice things up at the hospital, too, but I'll end it there, as I'm getting on a tangent. With that...

Philip and Belle were sad about Chloe. There was booze involved. And, really, was anyone surprised where things led? Spoiler alert: they had grief sex. Considering I was much more into "Shelle" and "Phloe" than "Phelle," well, it was the low point of the episode for me. Though, even though they weren't my ship at the time, I do love that Ron Carlivati is checking all the "Last Blast" boxes. He's making sure there's something in it for every fanbase. Cheers to that!

Of course, Shawn-Douglas didn't make it to Hong Kong, but he did make it to the hotel room, where he caught Belle with Philip post-coitus. His exasperated, "Seriously!?" pretty much speaks for me, too. I also loved his little rant. Well said, Shawn-D. Well said.

And, really, Belle. I thought we were friends. I'd offered to comfort Philip, and you said you'd check in on him. That's just selfish, lady. To make it clear, it's been brought-en, 'Tink. Unless this all turns out to be a dream, and then we good. We good. Again, I'm tangent-ing, so...

Shawn-Douglas ended up with Mimi. See! Ron really covered all of the fanbases here. Again, I love that. Shawn-D and Meems, though? Yeah. I didn't love them so much back in the day -- maybe loathed would be a word I'd use -- but the scenes were quick and painless as (it was later revealed) Mimi made her first wise move in a long time and told Shawn to stop kissing on her. He was grieving and angry. She shut him down for his sake and because she grew some self-respect. Hold up...

A smarter and self-respectful Mimi!? Sign me up for this new and improved version. I mean, I seriously give her credit. She used to be a pit of neediness and dumb decisions, and Shawn-Douglas looks like Brandon Beemer. That's some impressive newfound willpower there, Ms. Lockhart. I like. I like. And then she died. It figures. We were just about to make some strides in our relationship. R.I.P, Meems.

Episode Six (01/02/2020) started fresh. There wasn't any overlapping. It was the day of Chloe's funeral. There were lots of tears, and, once again, Kevin and Patrika made me a bit misty as Craig and Nancy mourned Chloe.

We also learned Mimi was sent to Chicago and even got a Rex shout-out! It was left up to us to assume it took Dr. Brady a beat to remember who Mimi was, and the scene could have played out like, "Oh. Oh. The one I got pregnant. Right. High School Girl. That's a bummer. Okay. I'll give you the hospital's FedEx number." Oh, Rex. That's all I got.

Here's where it was mentioned that nobody ever reached Susan. My theories? One, Susan read the news and is hiding away in a Hilton by the airport. Two, she's in on the murdery madness. Or three, she gone. I hope it's one or two.

And that led the last Last Blasters to piece together that someone is out to get them. They figured it was Jason and set a trap. And, well, it was a trap for them. Philip and Jason were murdered, too. Oh. No. That's not all. Belle was found dead at the end, too...too! THAT is when I knew it must be a dream. I mean, it must be, right!? He ruins everything.

Shawn-D found them all then found himself coming face to face with the killer -- Jan Freakin' Spears! Yes. Yes. And yes! Love it. Love the craziness. Love it all. More, please.

Episode Six's cliffhanger led us to Episode Seven (01/09/2020). Things jumped right into the action again. Belle is "dead." Shawn-D finds her. Jan Spears appeared. Hello, crazy.

As it turns out, none of the Last Blast Crew are actually dead. *whispers* Resurrection by Wilhelm wasn't even used as an excuse. Nope. Jan was simply writing a screenplay about her old friends and foes to process her anger. The transition from "reality" to "Jan's script" began when Shawn-D went out for beer. Ugh. Kevin, amIright?

Side note: Jan didn't say Susan's name when she listed the Blasters she killed. So, she was spared from a knifey death. There's that. But back to business...

Jan merrily told all of that to Shawn-D -- as he was tied up to a bed, wearing only baseball pants, all "Love Cage" style! Yep. She's still crazy and not very well processed -- angerly speaking, that is. This led her to reveal she baked a cake. Nice. But there was a bomb inside of it. Not nice. So, she took it to the reunion -- and cliffhung again!

And finally, we get to Episode Eight (01/16/2020)! It's the explosive, or in this case not-so-explosive, finale of the series. Jan was about to leave the party and detonate the bomb once outside, but Jason walked in, giving Philip time to tackle Jan and get the detonator. Whew!

I'm not a Jason fan, but shouldn't he have gotten a little credit? Either way, Dimples done good and scored a date to go out dancing with Chloe! There was a long flashback before she agreed, but I'm thrilled she did. Could "Phloe's" reunion be material for a Part Two of the "Last Blast" saga? This Two Scooper hopes so.

Once Jan was taken down, Belle rescued Shawn-D. And they did adult things before she untied him. I'd say his hostage bed is the weirdest place "Shelle" ever you know-ed, but then I remembered the time the plane crashed on the way home from Ireland, and they got down in a tent amongst the debris and tents sheltering their families, and, well, yep. They just like to get freaky in odd places. Whatever floats your boat (or plane), Shelle. No judgment.

After a beer run by Susan and Kevin -- again, Kevin who owns a bar -- the Last Blast Crew, sans Jan, came together for one last toast. It was a perfect end to the party, but I do hope to see more of this crew in future app features. And cheers to the Last Blast Crew and Ron Carlivati for getting the old gang back together!

LINE OF THE SERIESShawn-Douglas (after finding Belle post-coitus with Philip): "You know what, Belle!? You know what? You don't need to explain because I get it -- I get how finding out your best friend was murdered in cold blood can be a powerful aphrodisiac."

FUN FLASHBACK LINE OF THE SERIES Baby Chloe (to Baby Philip): "Kiss me like you mean it, Philip. Like you never want to stop."

EXCHANGE OF THE SERIESJan: "Do you know how hurt I was to find out there was a party and I was the only one who wasn't invited?"Shawn-Douglas: "Are you talking about the reunion? We thought you were in a coma."Jan: "Would have been nice to at least been asked."

RANDOM THOUGHTSZing, zing! We have a shout-out. It was said that Aunt Joy is babysitting Parker! One. That's amazing. Two, we still believe we should catch up with Joy soon (in Salem or New York). And, three, shouldn't Parker be, like, 30 and old enough to watch himself by now? Sometimes soap time and math are so confusing.

Speaking of Joy, J.J. could use a new storyline (and flirtation) over in Salem. Though, given his track record, she may have a better shot at surviving Jan Speer's spree. Maybe.

Those bloopers were hilarious!

Kevin Spirtas, Patrika Darbo, and Nadia Bjorlin's interview on the DAYS app puts the "heart" in heartwarming. Their genuine affection for each other is touching. Watching them interact might have made one of your Two Scoopers a little misty-eyed. Hint: It wasn't Laurisa.

I thoroughly enjoyed the use of vintage flashbacks, even if the characters have different actors portraying them. It's fun! It also makes sense, and it's a heck of a lot better than a faux-flashback or blurring out faces. I know this approach could get confusing for some casual viewers (and there can be legal entanglements and such), but I wish they could be used on the main show, too.

Martha Madison never fails to make me smile.

During the "Love Cage" flashbacks, I was half expecting to see Charity Rahmer's Belle pop up. She was 'Tink for a brief while then. She skinned her knee, and, well, that's about it for her tenure. It hurt. Her skinned knee. Yep. That's what I'm talking about.

In the Salem-verse, it's 2021, but we're still wondering whatever happened to Claire! We're surprised Shawn-Douglas and Belle didn't bring her up or simply mention they were in Salem while she recovered. Uncle-Once-Dad Philip might have wanted an update, too.

I totally hope that Jan Spears makes it to Salem! While there aren't any "Last Blasters" in town right now, that doesn't matter. Ms. Jan has ties to Nicole and Victor. I'd bet my love cage that they wouldn't be happy to see her again, but, say, watching Nicole and Victor possibly teaming up to face off against an older, wiser, and, let's be real, crazier Jan might be fantastic.

Jason seemed to turn into a great man. Oh, wait. Nope. He was still a dope.

Once I heard banana bread, my stomach won out over tears. Yes, please.

Hearing Bonnie is on a book tour will never not be weird.

Not to be morbid, but would Craig and Nancy be allowed back in their apartment so quickly? More so, would they want to return? I don't think I'd ever want to go back, except maybe for that previously mentioned banana bread.

And a subway rat clip, too!? Now I really am homesick for the city.

Was it fitting that Chloe was buried in her black cloak? Sure, that's a nod to her transition from "Ghoul Girl" to bombshell, but I surely wouldn't want to be laid to rest in what I wore to high school unless a B.U.M. Equipment sweatshirt, baggie bib overalls, and blue plastic-y Airwalks are en vogue in the great beyond. I guess eternally smelling like CK One wouldn't be so bad, though. There's that.

The rose being buried by snow was fitting symbolism to our beautiful Chloe passing. I'd like to think when Laurisa and I go, it'll be represented by two empty wine glasses being artistically buried under corks.

PARTING THOUGHTSSo, friends and fellow DAYS fans, that wraps up the "Last Blast" reunion ramblings! To find out what the word is in regular Two Scoops Land, click here for this week's column. As always, thank you for reading! And, "That's a fact."

What did you think about the Last Blast series? Did you watch? Why or why not? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.