DaphneCat

Unfortunately, because of Rolf's magic serum, they've brought back too many people who we've SEEN die so many times, any death on this show falls really flat to me. I'm not talking about when someone is missing and presumed dead or the body is so damaged no identification can be made - I'm talking about dead - someone weeping over the dead body in the morgue, organ donation, funeral and burial - dead. I fully expect an Abigail recast to simply stroll in to Salem some day and come up with some lame excuse. Doesn't matter how well the actor portrays it, I don't really buy anyone's grief any more.

Yes, Eric didn't want to be married when he WAS married. And Nicole is supposed to be OK with being approximately #27 on Eric's priority list? He stayed around for Sarah (who is supposedly only a friend) but couldn't be bothered to stick around for (or even manage to visit) his WIFE? I love how this show seems to say the ONLY solution for any problem you might possibly have is to get involved in a romantic relationship.

And with a cropped (tummy baring) shirt as well! At least with Lani, she wore a slight "bump" after the birth of the twins. I liked that they didn't immediately have her super skinny.

At least he was smart enough to realize that he deserves better than what he's getting from her.

I guess they've given up the storyline that there are only limited ferries to Smith Island. Weren't several people stuck there because there was no ferry? But somehow, Ben managed to set off for the wrong cabin and still get there in record time. And what modern ferry company has fancy tickets that someone would actually save? But at least they went somewhere other than Kidnap Kabin or the Hideout Motel. Why is Lani walking around with a picture of a dead drug dealer on her phone? While I'm glad that some of these stories are at least moving, I think I'm nit-picking because the stories are not really compelling enough to make me not notice stupid details.

Supposedly, the only reason Jan was let out of prison is because a cop was supervising her so a short term rental wouldn't work. He could, however, have insisted she be released to Shady Pines or whatever the hell the mental health facility is called. That would make too much sense for this show though. So because EJ was around when Belle got drunk once, he's now on the hook for all her follow up booze? That was strange. She could have simply gone to her parents house, where presumably they don't care if she drinks the booze. I love when RSW tries to portray "angst" or "internal conflict." If John's go-to is "Smell the fart" Ben's go-to is "Man, do I have gas pains."

Rolf will have attached it to a different body - and given it plastic surgery. That way we're supposed to believe whoever is recast is actually the character.

Yes, Belle has cheated multiple times and I'm sure didn't come clean with Shawn. Yet, she has no sympathy for someone who doesn't really want to talk details about being sexually assaulted (which Belle admits, Shawn was.) I've never heard of someone being able to get a court order to force someone else to take Plan B. I'm thinking this is the show taking things WAY out of the realm of reality.

Are we supposed to be sympathizing with Belle? Because, boy was she a royal bitch today. Shawn basically tells her he will jump through any hoops she wants. She pretty much lets him know that she has no intention of telling him what she would like him to do. She apparently just wants him to suffer until she decides he's had enough.

They probably can't mention them - like when characters were younger they used to talk about PalPage rather than FaceBook. Characters also use Ewe Search rather than Google.

No spoilers about him.

While the song contains many biblical references it mostly refers to the downfall of both King David and Samson because of sex. Regarding the meaning of the song, Leonard Cohen said: “This world is full of conflicts and full of things that cannot be reconciled. But there are moments when we can… reconcile and embrace the whole mess, and that’s what I mean by ‘Hallelujah’. The song explains that many kinds of hallelujahs do exist, and all the perfect and broken hallelujahs have equal value. It’s a desire to affirm my faith in life, not in some formal religious way but with enthusiasm, with emotion.” I assumed it was because she was young. On some other show I actually heard someone credit someone NOT Tom Petty (I don't remember the name, just remember it wasn't Tom Petty) with writing "American Girl." Again, SACRILEGE to us old people.

While I agree Nicolina did a very good version of "Hallelujah" it's also pet peeve time. She was indeed smart to go soft at the end as far too many people scream that song. However: JEFF BUCKLEY DID NOT WRITE "HALLELUJAH"!!!!!! Us old people WORSHIP Leonard Cohen and he should at least get proper credit for writing that song. And I'm really not trying to pick a fight @TheGreenKnight but it is in no way a religious song. Simply having the word hallelujah in it does not make it religious.

Abby said Kristen blackmailed Gwen (i.e. threatened to tell Xander where Sarah was) to help her escape jail. That's how they found out that Gwen had known where Sarah was since November.

Unfortunately, it's often on the floor though.

I've been behind in my tv watching so some of my comments may be a bit out of sequence. Like everyone else, I loved the whole Gwen/Abigail confrontation. I particularly liked that Xander asked if they could discuss this privately and Abigail gave her (sometimes quite revenge seeking) reasons why she wanted to publicly out Gwen. Gwen had publicly humiliated her and her family and whether she knew it or not, exposing Gwen's schemes and lies would simply expose her evil doings but wouldn't necessarily make Xander look like a sap for not knowing what Gwen was up to. Plus, Abigail has no real reason to want to spare Xander any embarrassment. Contrast that with the Leo/Craig scene the day before. It seems like the whole Leo expose was also designed to publicly humiliate Craig by pointing out what an idiot he has been in front of everyone. I get that the show wants DRAMA, but in my opinion, it REALLY paints Chloe in a nasty light. She didn't try to move things to a private venue so her FATHER (who she theoretically cares about) wouldn't be publicly humiliated. While I get that a lot of people don't like Craig, (I don't mind a somewhat scheming, not always nice character) Chloe is supposed to love him. As a minor plot criticism, I also don't buy that Jackie would blow up their whole supposed scam just because they HEARD that Leo signed a pre-nup. They would have a least tried to talk to Leo to find out if he had another angle before giving up entirely. Which leads me to Trask and her never-ending immunity deals. This is really starting to ruin the character for me and needs to stop. She had actual evidence against Ava. Granted, it wasn't as solid as everyone on the show seems to think, but it was at least actual physical evidence. She gave up any chance for a conviction based solely on Ava's word. As Gabi pointed out, how could Trask know that Ava wasn't lying? Even though Ava's story was enough for the people who know Gwen to change their opinion of her, you can't actually convict someone based on someone else's say so. Ava actually has NO evidence whatsoever against Gwen. While we all knew that the evidence against EJ was planted, at least it was solid, physical evidence. They either need to start giving Trask real cases or have her start saying that she can't prosecute people until there is physical evidence against them. Otherwise, she's just going to turn into another lawyer, like Justin, who never actually wins a case.

It's like when Abby returned from being presumed dead and ran around town in that big black REALLY subtle hat. People on this show always pick the most conspicuous outfit to wear while trying to be stealth. Gwen would have been better off in a glitter shirt with flashing lights on it.

Yes, the most fun they ever were was before they got together and were trying to cover up Dr. Snyder's death. Them as friends who have a slightly off-kilter method to cover each other's back would be sort of fun.

Unfortunately, I believe we're supposed to think Allie is just a poor, confused person and excuse all of her behavior. Because she's not "scheming" she's "good."

Yes, I can't imagine original Craig simply rolling over on keeping Marlena - even though BOTH Nancy and Marlena should know that he doesn't have the authority to keep her. If they fired Kayla for not getting rid of Marlena, of course they'd fire Craig too. I can't imagine him being stupid enough to tell Nancy he was getting married again before she signed divorce papers. Maybe they're going to do something along the lines of Leo setting up Chad with Nancy. Make her life such hell in a way that she begs Craig for a divorce. They're clearly setting up Craig to be unpopular in Salem, which I'm OK with. I wouldn't mind someone shaking things up a bit for the "good" people of Salem. Brady was an ass to Philip about Chloe and actively tried to sabotage their relationship. Yet we're supposed to cheer that Brady got the girl. Same with Rafe and Nicole. Clearly, we are supposed to be rooting for them. While Ava is not a good person, that doesn't make the fact that Rafe cheated on her with Nicole a good look for either of them. We're supposed to find serial cheater Belle somehow admirable. I still can't figure out if we're supposed to think Gwen really if just a poor mistreated soul who DESERVES a happily ever after or if we're supposed to think she's sort of like Ava where anything anyone does to her is justifiable.

See, I'm not buying that Craig has actually changed and needed to be manipulated into going after Kayla's job. He's probably still the same scheming person he was before. I don't actually want Leo to be redeemed - I just don't think he needs to be an asshole to Craig to still be an asshole. Sort of like Victor is capable of being an incredible asshole, but generally treats Maggie well. I honestly don't know if they didn't want Patrika back or if she didn't want to come back, but it really seems like they're setting up Leo to be Scheming Nancy, part 2. Yeah, it seems like they're really trying to tone Leo down but I get your point. However, I'm willing to have two more jackasses if it stops us from having Stefano 2.0 - another BIG BAD who is responsible for every. single. thing. that. goes. wrong. in. Salem. EVER.

See, maybe that's my problem. I honestly don't see how Craig is hurting his FAMILY. Yes, he hurt Nancy. Yes, he's seeing someone Chloe doesn't approve of. But how does that hurt his family? Chloe and Joy are not small children who will be devastated that daddy isn't home any more. People on soaps break up and get divorced all the time and they aren't accused of destroying their entire family. Did Hope somehow hurt Ciara when she divorced Rafe? Did Brady get accused of hurting John when he finally got rid of Kristen? People also often get involved with people their family doesn't like but that, again, is pretty typical soap fare. Until yesterday and Chad (and I'm still not sure how that will play out) we haven't SEEN Leo lie to or manipulate Craig. With other people (like Ava) we would SEE them do despicable things while declaring they had changed. While it's entirely possible Leo will lie to or manipulate Craig I want it to actually happen before Craig is declared the scum of the earth who has somehow destroyed his family, simply because he met Leo - under circumstances that had no connection to Salem at all.

I agree we see it from different angles. I don't believe that because he schemed in the past he deserves to be treated the way he is by his daughter. Does that mean if Nancy somehow angers her she is justified in scheming against Nancy? Maybe she should be allowed to blackmail Brady - because of his past? Nicole still has a little revenge coming too, right? And Craig has NOT abandoned his family. Yes, he left his wife (and I agree, not in a kind way) but marriages break up all the time simply because someone has decided they're no longer fulfilled in the marriage. That's essentially what happened with Craig. He has in no way indicated he doesn't want a relationship with either of his daughters. It's not like they're young children and Craig simply walked out one day and never came back.

Yes, against their RIVALS. Craig is her FATHER. I get she was angry at Craig's behavior. She is probably justified in her skepticism that Leo is on the up and up. That's still no reason to lie to him and try to manipulate him. How would she feel if Craig decided it was better if she and Brady broke up and he lied and manipulated her to try and get her to do what HE wanted? Given his history, there is a really good chance that Brady WILL, indeed end up being an ass to Chloe and breaking her heart. (Does anyone REALLY believe he is over Kristen for good? Or that he wouldn't somehow try to justify having her in his life for Rachel's sake?) Shouldn't her family accept that she is allowed to make her own decisions? Yes, they can warn her, but ultimately, it should be her decision. She should give Craig the same respect.

Actually, I kind of think she should. All he really did, was get justifiably angry over the fact that she lied to him about wanting to get to know Leo but was really just setting him up for an "intervention" from Sonny and Will. (So she was lying and scheming - just as Craig said.) It's fine to warn him about the person he's seeing. It's even OK for her to call in reinforcements. It's NOT OK to lie and try to manipulate him like somehow SHE'S the parent who knows best. It really doesn't matter if she's right or wrong about Leo. She has no excuse to treat her father like that. I'd have been pissed if someone treated me that way too.