Lovers, leave-ers, and lost souls: Days of our Lives Two Scoops for the week of October 28, 2024

We began the week with a pair of rushed and utterly unnecessary goodbyes. At least the door is open for both to return, but I can’t help but feel they had major unfinished business in Salem.

First, Viv and Ivan showed up to whisk Stefan back to Alamainia, where he’ll spend the rest of his days forgetting that he’s still in love with Gabi. At least, that’s Viv’s plan. I don’t know how she’s going to manage that when his last words in Salem were professing his love for Gabi. But who knows? Maybe he’ll finally get to meet his long-lost brother Quinn, and the two can start a garage band or something.

In all seriousness, losing the uber-talented Brandan Barash is a hit that DAYS shouldn’t take. Like pockets for an outfit, he makes every scene better. His chemistry with Dan Feuerriegel, Cherie Jimenez, and Tamara Braun was delightful. He easily could have stayed back in Salem and hardened into the villain that the show is missing.

Speaking of hardened villains, Fiona wrote Xander a “Dear John” letter and left town. Well, first she rubbed it in Sarah’s face, then she finished her martini, and then she left town. But you get the picture. I blame a lot of this on Serena Scott Thomas and her darn ability to make everything she plays believable. I could never tell if Fiona was serious or sinister. But one thing I knew for sure was that we were due a Fiona vs. Kristen scene.

There’s no universe where Kristen DiMera doesn’t go after the woman who both framed and bedded the dude she loves, father of his children, first of his name, defender of the horrible decisions. Kristen vs. Fiona is a battle we were robbed of. And while I feel for Xander and Sarah, they’ll be fine. They’ve got a mansion, Maggie, and unlimited lemon bars. It’s a great time to be alive.

Speaking of lovers headed for a collision, Tate and Sophia slept together at the literal same time Holly was texting Tate to talk. Hot take here -- I think Sophia is out of both of their leagues. She’s playing chess while these two are playing Candyland. It’s not that Tate wasn’t respectful and earnest with Sophia. But I don’t think he was being completely honest. And I have to say that Sophia didn’t exactly trust her gut here.

Sophia did the right thing by confronting Tate and questioning if he was ready for a new relationship. She gave him every option for an out, including a story about how she and Holly were always close. It’s clear that Sophia is done with Holly which is understandable since Holly kind of humiliated her. And while I wish Sophia would have moved a lot slower…at the end of the day, Sophia — who has been honest about who and what she wants from the beginning — deserves better than Tate and Holly. While I like — and can forgive — both characters individually, Tate and Holly seem to exist too high upon Mt. Superior. This is where they decide what the rules are, and the others in the kingdom get sh&t upon.

That’s not to lay the blame upon any of Holly’s support systems. Scenes with Erin, Maggie, and Sarah all prove that she has regular reminders of goodwill and how to display it. If she could focus on learning from them, she’d be in good shape.

Loose Ends

Julie went understandably all Julie when Chad recounted the events of Paris. She’s the audience rep for all of us when she defends Chad and denounces Cat. He didn’t know any better. She did. She planned this. She sucks. Mark and Cat compile the least sympathetic list of why they should appeal to the moral gods. For one, “At least you didn’t kill Chad in cold blood.” Secondly, “Your marriage isn’t legal due to fraud.” Claiming incompetence is not something that will win points with the Salem crew. But, we’re all in Julie’s team here.

In what scenes I’m sure should have been John and Steve, the remaining vets discussed how John/Pawn really wasn't a murderer. Now, to wait and see the true Caterina.

Gabi and Rafe’s cousin Javi is in Salem! I love that she has a buddy. He agrees to be her assistant, and I’m hoping that doesn't go south. Considering all Gabi’s been through, I’d rather her have a ride-or-die than, well, just die.

While I appreciate the emotion, Brady needs to take his pity party boots off and start stomping around his own self-improvement. The friendship with Ava could be a great start…this is, if it’s actually a friendship and if Ava is ready to fight Kristen.

Philip came back from the dead in a truly inconvenient time. You see, he and Viv were working together, and then Kate dropped in. Yassssssss!!! Who doesn't love a Viv vs. Kate storyline?

Finally, Johnny’s Apology Tour 2024 continues with a bunch of audiences, some family members, and surprise guests. He truly wished he didn’t go back to Joy's hotel room. I suspect Joy is happy to hold onto that secret…until it can benefit Joy. She is Craig and Nancy’s daughter, after all.

Extra Scoops

HOT:

It’s hard not to get choked up when the episode was dedicated to Drake Hogestyn. It followed Marlena saying that John got great news, which makes us all grateful that he’s not suffering anymore. The show still hasn't announced what it will do with John, but we’ll never decline a time to salute Drake.

NOT:

I'm thrilled that the next-gal Joy is back in town. She (along with Sydney DiMera and J.T. Reiber ) has been on the top of the "Where are they now" list for the younger set. However, I have no idea why she didn’t know who Kate or Leo were. The former tried to kill her big sister. The latter was walking down the aisle with her father. Her not knowing Johnny is fine. The others not knowing her is crazy.

LINE OF THE WEEK:

Johny: “There's a stairwell?!?”

Abe: “It’s off-camera.”

This. This is the way to use Heart and Soul. Previously, the show had to look for ways to zag. But now, we can all throw up our hands on anything serious and just mock soaps — the way we all had a heart for it when it was Abe’s captive pastime. I can’t be the one who was hoping that the Pineview Plunger would actually take out the whole cast and we could go back to a place where there was no soap storytelling.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

The horror that Holly expressed at using a phone to call someone was funny.

Anna Lynne McCord should always have that wavy hair.

Is Nancy still in town? Because if she doesn't run into Vivian then that is a miss of epic proportion.

Cat is on the verge of psycho delusion if she thinks that Chad could love her. It’s akin to Stefan brushing aside that “Abigail” was Gabi. Her thinking he is in the right mind to fall for her is not so great on the consent scale.

Seth Burns is a messy twerp. With Kate neutralized because of her position with the soap, it’s up to Paulina to check his problematic self. Considering his gross conversations with Stephanie, he needs to be reminded that women are powerful.

The only thing more curious than Kristen not confronting Fiona was Kristen announcing she didn’t want to hear the Kiriakis family drama. Um, has she met herself?

I want to defend Sophia, but I’m thinking if she was more honest about where she was, her mom wouldn’t be so “paranoid”. (Note: She’s not paranoid if you’re lying!)

We got a whole episode of Body and Soul for Halloween. I’ve never been a fan of Halloween getting a stand-alone episode where other holidays are either marginally acknowledged or forgotten. I say give them all a “very special episode,” but here we go.

What started with Faith’s insufferable accent and the Scream villain turned into an enjoyable camp sketch with Johnny as a detective, the necktie killer reference, a Pineview Plunger (ha!), begonia juice and more!

It was so ridiculous, I enjoyed it.