Current Plots Discussion: Actually Today's Episode

[Happytobehere]

Seg 1

Hope doesn't regret killing Stefano today. She's disappointed she didn't do it 10 yrs ago.

Herein lies my problem with this story, if Hope is so proud of what she did, why not claim it. You and your equally corrupt fellow officer are sneaking around, lying, burying bodies and fleeing from scenes like thieves in the night. Admit to your crime and see how that confession goes down; this is Salem, Stefano was hated and on his way out age-wise, you would probably get 6 months max and be out in a week with good behavior. Or how about confess to people with equal and possibly even higher stakes in the "I Hate Stefano" game -- John and Marlena, Steve and Kayla, Roman, etc. and see if they'd go all in in making sure no one pays for Stefano's demise. In all the years I've watched Hope, this is the first storyline where I am not on her side and feel no sympathy for her, this tells me the story and her motivations are being poorly crafted.

[Kitty Redstone]

The only time Abigail is ever happy is when she's gaslighting someone, or befriending the wives, girlfriends or children of the men she's trying to sleep with, or when she's stringing two men along.  She's really a nasty piece of work, and her head is so far up her ass she can't and won't see how terribly her mother is struggling.

 

I'd be enjoying the Stefano murder/putting the frame on Andre plot if it were being carried out by Sami and Kate.  But the whole thing is so out of character for Hope.  She's a law and order person, not a vigilante.

 

Chase needs to smarten up.

 

Gabi and JJ were the highlight of the show.  More, please!

[BlackMamba]

Welp... they are definitely hinting the beginning of the end for Abifail and Chad today.

Fine by me.

[minirth]

I skipped the V-day fantasies, so I was vastly confused by Abby's flashbacks. Did Chad, in reality, call her his most precious possession, and she had a fantasy about the way she wished she had responded? Or was that all fantasy?

I'm warming up to NuCiara, mainly due to her scenes with Theo. She really does resemble a young KA -- I can buy her as Hope's daughter. I think she will improve with time.

I'm not an Abby fan, and I am concerned about this eloping concept. Why is Chad pushing this so hard when anyone can see it's making her almost physically sick to contemplate? Damn it show, I don't want to care about Abby! Stop it!

I stopped watching just before Rafe was introduced, so I've only really known him for a year. That said, I find him planting evidence to be wildly out of character, and against everything I thought the character stood for.

And from yesterday, I really love that Nicole is wearing a more natural look right now, I think it's really appropriate. But I'm finding her fixation on Brady to be creepy and off-putting.

ETA: Forgot to mention, VI is giving me life. He is more handsome and charismatic than he's ever been!

Edited February 17, 2016 by minirth

[Rick Kitchen]

 

I skipped the V-day fantasies, so I was vastly confused by Abby's flashbacks. Did Chad, in reality, call her his most precious possession, and she had a fantasy about the way she wished she had responded? Or was that all fantasy?

 

It was all a fantasy.  She dreamed that Bad Chad (the DiMera in him) drugged Good Chad and locked him away and then he was the one who wanted her to sign a prenup.  She drugged Bad Chad and went and rescued Good Chad.

[Polaris]

Really? Considering Rafe has covered up two murders and Hope told him not to be involved he's way more bothersome because hes clingy and doesn't give Hope enough space to breathe. 

 

Yeah, I hear you on that.  I have a couple of really unpopular opinions when it comes to Days.  Rafe just doesn't irritate me although I would like to see his interaction with others open up, especially with his father and sister.  Secondly, I really don't care that Stefano is gone or that Hope was the one to dispose of him.  I had my fill of Stefano 20 years ago with the Marlena possession.  He had moments where he was enjoyable, especially with Kate, but altogether he just seemed like a hilarious villain you couldn't take seriously, like out of a GI Joe episode or something.  My dad would sometimes catch me watching Days and imitate Stefano's voice and we'd have a good chuckle.

No shade to Joe Mascolo, though.  He did a good job.  Stefano was just not my kind of character.  Deimos is, however.  :D

[boes]

I skipped the V-day fantasies, so I was vastly confused by Abby's flashbacks. Did Chad, in reality, call her his most precious possession, and she had a fantasy about the way she wished she had responded? Or was that all fantasy?

I'm warming up to NuCiara, mainly due to her scenes with Theo. She really does resemble a young KA -- I can buy her as Hope's daughter. I think she will improve with time.

I'm not an Abby fan, and I am concerned about this eloping concept. Why is Chad pushing this so hard when anyone can see it's making her almost physically sick to contemplate? Damn it show, I don't want to care about Abby! Stop it!

 

It was all fantasy.  Abby was remembering her Valentine's Day dream and now she thinks it means something??  I suspect she's terribly confused, mainly because the whole concept of thinking about someone else for more than "Do they think I'm the prettiest person in the world?" or "Do they have a brother?" is such an unusual concept for her.  

You're far nicer than I.  I don't see Abby as uncomfortable about eloping as much as pissed off because by eloping she can't the center of attention and have a whole day of everyone kissing her kangaroo feet and telling her she's so BEEEEEEEEEEEEUUUUUUUUUUUUUTEEFUL.  She's Bridezilla times 10, pissed off because not everyone is so thrilled for her.  Woman wears narcissism like it's a shade of lipstick.

 

I like NuCiara, more every day.  And as you say, her with Theo is nice to watch.  I'm loving the mother/daughter dynamic between Hope and her and I'm buying her awkwardness as part of her youth in the same way I buy Claire's winsomeness as part of hers.  I'm really struck by how good the actor playing Theo is.  He communicates Theo's autism, his "difference" if you will, subtly, not broadcasting it.  Well done IMO.

 

The only time Abigail is ever happy is when she's gaslighting someone, or befriending the wives, girlfriends or children of the men she's trying to sleep with, or when she's stringing two men along.  She's really a nasty piece of work, and her head is so far up her ass she can't and won't see how terribly her mother is struggling.

 

I'd be enjoying the Stefano murder/putting the frame on Andre plot if it were being carried out by Sami and Kate.  But the whole thing is so out of character for Hope.  She's a law and order person, not a vigilante.

 

Gabi and JJ were the highlight of the show.  More, please!

 

Man, Our Heroine Abigail really does have a high RBF, doesn't she?  First she's all twitchy and "whatever" with Chad about not being a star at her wedding - could seem to care less about leaving her newborn at daycare for the first time.  When she said to Jenn that she'd checked on Thomas "like a thousand times" I didn't buy it for a second.  Earlier she tells Chad that her mom is busy with caterers and florists, then at the hospital Jenn says if Abby needs any help just to ask, so Jenn is DOING NOTHING about the wedding and Abigail lied to Chad.  Shallow doesn't describe this lttle horror.  You could wade through her deepest parts and not get your feet wet.

 

JJ is my hero - and he looks mighty fine in his cop drag, too.  He is no longer cowed by Abigail, doesn't hesitate to tell her what he thinks and man she does not like that.  She was making faces that would disqualify her from ever getting a job in a petting zoo ever again.  I hope she's not going to send that in to MeerKat Manor as her audition tape.

And even with Gabi backing Abigail up, JJ didn't back down.  Snif'....our boy is all growed up, folks!

 

I'll sit over her in the unpopular opinions corner - my it's roomy! - because I am having no trouble with Hope as Stefano's killer.  After the crap he's pulled on her - the times he's sent her off as Princess Gina, the times he's tried to have her killed, not to mention what he's done to her nearest and dearest - nope, don't bother me a bit.

 

I'm also enjoying creepy Andre with Chase, especially Chase when he looks at Andre, waiting for Andre to ask him if he'd like a friendly game of nude wrestling when they get back to the hotel.  Chase heard them when they said not to take candy from strangers but I guess coffee and croissants don't count.  I know I'm in the minority but I do enjoy a dose of crazy Andre.

 

Oh!  I'm glad Chad kept Hrold on at the mansion.  He needs to have someone around who really knows where all the bodies are buried.

[annabel]

The whole Chase/Andre thing is just coming across really strangely. Chase should know better than to be so trusting of a Dimera, and I really don't get what Andre's ulterior motive in befriending Chase is.

[BlackMamba]

Man, Our Heroine Abigail really does have a high RBF, doesn't she? First she's all twitchy and "whatever" with Chad about not being a star at her wedding - could seem to care less about leaving her newborn at daycare for the first time. When she said to Jenn that she'd checked on Thomas "like a thousand times" I didn't buy it for a second. Earlier she tells Chad that her mom is busy with caterers and florists, then at the hospital Jenn says if Abby needs any help just to ask, so Jenn is DOING NOTHING about the wedding and Abigail lied to Chad. Shallow doesn't describe this lttle horror. You could wade through her deepest parts and not get your feet wet.

JJ is my hero - and he looks mighty fine in his cop drag, too. He is no longer cowed by Abigail, doesn't hesitate to tell her what he thinks and man she does not like that. She was making faces that would disqualify her from ever getting a job in a petting zoo ever again. I hope she's not going to send that in to MeerKat Manor as her audition tape.

And even with Gabi backing Abigail up, JJ didn't back down. Snif'....our boy is all growed up, folks!

I'll sit over her in the unpopular opinions corner - my it's roomy! - because I am having no trouble with Hope as Stefano's killer. After the crap he's pulled on her - the times he's sent her off as Princess Gina, the times he's tried to have her killed, not to mention what he's done to her nearest and dearest - nope, don't bother me a bit.

Yes.. yes... yes to all of this.

JJ is my baby. Hes definitely Jack D's kid. He will call you out and not get the foot of your neck, especially his own sister. I love it. Even Abifail is have doubts about going so quickly with Chad and even moving into the creepy mansion.

Hope won me today she set this whole thing beautifully even though she had to use and play dim useless Roman.

The dialogue had me giggle

Hope: I'm so sad since Bo died...

Roman: Maybe you should get your job back. When me and Marlena went through things it helped me to heal. Come back ro work.

Hope: (Dry tears) Ok.

Edited February 17, 2016 by BlackMamba

[Frozendiva]

I wondered why Jenn asked her daughter if she would be returning to work? I would think that the Salem hospital offers some maternity benefits, but I don't know if they will hold a job for up to a year. If Abigail was in her job for at least a year?  Abs doesn't have any income. Daycare isn't cheap, baby food and clothing and baby needs aren't cheap either. Is Chad footing all the bills? Where if anywhere do you contribute to your child's care? Many new moms would have a hard first day of taking the baby to daycare. I don't even know how old Thomas is - many daycares here have waiting lists that can last months and it's hard to find a spot for a 3 month old baby. And if Chad is rich, he can hire a nanny!

 

The pre-nup thing still bugs me. Yes, Abs, many couples these days have them, even middle class ones! You do need a Plan B, in case your thing with Chad goes belly-up. Or when you find someone more interesting, or gives you proper credit/raises your interest. It isn't the 1950s and you are not obligated to marry your baby daddy. She probably hasn't given two hoots about an actual marriage/life partnership - just the Bridezilla day and being the centre of attention. And movin' on up into a dreary mansion. Maybe Harold can be her new best friend. Until another mansion beckons and a richer new baby daddy.

 

I am liking semi grown up JJ the new copy and him calling out his big sister.

 

Chase is easy prey for someone like Andre to manipulate. He isn't exactly part of Hope's family, he has feelings for his 'step'-sister. Andre offers support - at a price.

Edited February 17, 2016 by Frozendiva

[swtrgrl]

I really don't have an issue with Chase crushing on Ciara. They're not blood relatives. They're step siblings...and not for that long, either. 

[kitmerlot1213]

I'm wondering if the show is having Hope and Rafe doing so many alarmingly illegal things while still being thought of as upstanding police officers as a way to reflect what's happening with the real life incidents of the police shooting unarmed suspects?  I wonder if this is the writers attempt to be edgy and timely?

 

Who else was kind of hoping for Belle to actually slap Claire?  I would love for Claire to demonstrate to her dear sweet mother why she takes after Grandma Hope as Claire opens a can of whoop-ass on that horrible woman.  And yes, Belle is now the heir apparent to Abby--I guess Belle is Slappy2?

 

BF's Chad literally comes alive when he is in scenes away from KM.  I love every single moment where he's verbally sparring with Andre--the two actors are obviously having a great time together.

Edited February 17, 2016 by kitmerlot1213

[swtrgrl]

I'm wondering if the show is having Hope and Rafe doing so many alarmingly illegal things while still being thought of as upstanding police officers as a way to reflect what's happening with the real life incidents of the police shooting unarmed suspects?  I wonder if this is the writers attempt to be edgy and timely?

 

 

They'e not that smart or clever...or talented.

 

And, I'm an hour ahead so...

the rape of Ciara by Chase starts in the last segment

[Kitty Redstone]

Isn't that lovely.  This show sucks.

[kitmerlot1213]

They'e not that smart or clever...or talented.

 

And, I'm an hour ahead so...

the rape of Ciara by Chase starts in the last segment

 

This is what happens when I turn the show off with 10 minutes left--I can't believe the writers went there.  

[mariah23]

They did.

[kitmerlot1213]

This is just as horrifying and needless as Will's murder and purely done as shock value.  

[BlackMamba]

Seg 1

Chase is still fucking eating.

Hastag - #ChaseEats.

Oh damn Andre wasn't too smart to keep Bo's gun. Rafe is playing his role acting like he had no idea. Chase still is questioning.

Ahhh, Hope and Shawn scenes.

[BlackMamba]

Seg 2

Belle wants she and Claire to have quality time and Belle is such a weekend mom she forgot Claire has school.

Theo and Ciara are flirting some.

Andre tells Chase to not fear the darkness. He tells Andre he needs to achieve his goal and try to get with Ciara at all cost. She needs to know how powerful he is. Oh dear. Andre is manipulating the fuck out of him.

Roman is now at Stayla's. Kayla wants Ava arrested. Steve believes Ava is gone for good but Kayla says she'll be back.

Ava is at the hotel she looks at pamphlet "Things to do in Salem"

[BlackMamba]

Seg 3

Claire and Belle are talking about money again. Claire thinks Belle is taking money from Phillip. Belle almost smacked but stops herself. (She's no Marlena)

Ciara is saying she's glad Stefano is gone in front of Theo but Theo thinks differently of Nonoo.

Some cops finally finds Chase at the Horton Square.

Back the station, Rafe is playing his role again as he reexplains Andre's motives to kill Stefano.

[BlackMamba]

Seg 4

Belle tells Claire about the Dimera money.

Claire ask when she became a good liar (Umm shes a lawyer)

Ciara sees Chase. They go back to Jennifer's. Theo don't look happy.

Chad is at Andre hotel. Chad is telling him about the police. LMFAOOOOO

Andre calls Rafe a poodle.

Rafe is doing a good acting job with this framing shit. Roman is useless, I tell ya. Rafe is playing the game.

Edited February 17, 2016 by BlackMamba

[LeftPhalange]

This show can be so self defeating and disappointing. All they seem to care about is pulling stunts for shock value or to get people talking on message boards. 

[BlackMamba]

Seg 5

Claire is telling on Belle to Shawn about the Dimera money.

Kayla is irrate that Joey and Ava were connected. Steve still isn't telling Kayla about he and Ava boned though.

Chad said Andre has a Wikipedia page.

Andre says have you looked at Hope’s Wikipedia page!

[Dandesun]

Ava is at the hotel she looks at pamphlet "Things to do in Salem"

 

1. Get killed.

2. Lose all sense of moral focus.

3. Get addicted to something (drugs, brownies, family secrets, bad fashion)

4. Get involved in some aspect of rape (either getting raped or raping someone else, it's a local tradition!)

5. Have visions... that oddly don't predict your losing all sense of moral focus. 

[Kitty Redstone]

Does anyone know who to complain to at NBC about this?  It isn't something I've ever done, as usually when a soap opera pisses me off I just quit watching.  I'm not sure I want to give up on Days just yet, but this just may be the final straw.  The writers and producers need to be told that this shit is not acceptable.

[BlackMamba]

Seg 6

Joey joins Theo at the Square.

Chase and Ciara are back home. (I just realized Ciara is wearing a dress). They are having the same convo. Chase tells her, he loves her. She says they are like brother and sister. He said it's not like that. And they kiss... deeply.

Andre and Chad are still bitching at each other. Chad is slowly believing Andre that he didn't kill Stefano. Then Rafe comes to Andre's wants him to come in for questioning at the station.

[BlackMamba]

Final Segment

Belle still in her feelings that Shawn is her and hiding something.

Kayla and Steve kiss. He promise he wont let Ava back in their lives. Ava is now in her cell phone looking at her sex tape with Steve.

Chad is back at home. He seems to be packing some things. He picks up Stefano's pic.

Andre is at the office. Hes cracking jokes.

Ciara says tells Chase to stop and that she's not ready. And now he a rapist.

This show can be so self defeating and disappointing. All they seem to care about is pulling stunts for shock value or to get people talking on message boards.

But when it's isn't that what happens too.

[minirth]

BlackMamba, thank you so much for the recap. It would not have been good for my mental health to have stumbled into that scene unprepared. I feel like I'm going to throw up now, but that isn't your fault!!!

[Dandesun]

Why soap writers are so obsessed with rape is beyond me. It's been decades since it was written as a legitimate story where the victim's feelings actually mattered. No it's just shock value and it's not even all that shocking in and of itself anymore.

 

The showrunner for Jessica Jones talked about specifically NOT showing what happened to Jessica and Hope on the show because it was so prevalent in popular culture that it was wallpaper. She was sick of seeing it and seeing it used merely as a means of 'shocking' the audience and it was far more important to her to show the after effects of surviving.

 

Soaps would do well to learn that lesson.

[BlackMamba]

Well since Chase is written into ruins...

If the writers are smart (which I doubt) they will turn Chase into a Dimera. Get him out of the orbit of Hortons and have Andre be his fatha. Hell, if Stefano could turn Kristen and Peter Blake into his adoptive minions, Andre could too. This is also where you pull in Kate for Andre. Kate should be with Andre at this point not playing revenge against Victor IMO. Then Kate can control Chase like she's done with Lucas all these years. You could save the Dimeras if you build a new Dimera lineage.

And when are the geniuses gonna have someone bring up Andre killed his siblings Renee and Benji to his grill! He cut up Renee and put Benji's body in a dumpster! I'm laughing how he wants everyone to feel sad Stefano is dead. It's called Karma.

Anyways I'm not going to go postal over the story yet. I need some beats hit before everything comes out.

Edited February 17, 2016 by BlackMamba

[Pete Martell]

Why soap writers are so obsessed with rape is beyond me. 

 

It's because it's an easy, lazy story. It's also a quick way to define a female character, and given how misogynist soaps have become over the years, that's more tempting than ever. They don't have to actually write for Ciara - they can just focus on her being a victim. 

 

The "writers" at DAYS now make Irna Phillips look like Andrea Dworkin.

[BlackMamba]

It's because it's an easy, lazy story. It's also a quick way to define a female character, and given how misogynist soaps have become over the years, that's more tempting than ever. They don't have to actually write for Ciara - they can just focus on her being a victim.

I wonder will Ciara pull a Sami and shoot Chase's nuts off.

[Pete Martell]

I wonder will Ciara pull a Sami and shoot Chase's nuts off.

 

I think one of the only reasons they did that was because Sami wasn't supposed to be a heroine. 

 

With Ciara, Hope will probably shoot him, and frame Andre.

[BlackMamba]

With Ciara, Hope will probably shoot him, and frame Andre.

Ciara might kill Andre since he was the one who was coaching Chase up to be nasty little predator. LOL.

Or hey could be Rafe who whacks off Andre if it goes down that road. Hes never really had a hero moment that has been worthy of me to root for him. He's alwsys been a boring as hero IMO. But if he did it could be interesting. This could be his moment FINALLY.

Clearly today's rape was a plot device so I disagree that it's not much lazy writing. The only thing I loathe about it is the creepy sibling angle.

[Dandesun]

It's also a quick way to define a female character, and given how misogynist soaps have become over the years, that's more tempting than ever. 

 

How does it define the character when every other female character is also a rape victim? That doesn't define anyone. They've all got that in their past.

[Rick Kitchen]

Let's go to Paris, London and Tokyo, let's forget that you have school.  God, Belle, what an idiot.

 

"Please tell me she hasn't brought the Horton family Hummel collection with her."

 

Love the Wikipedia comment.  LOL

 

Dammit.  I hate that they've destroyed Chase.

[buffynut]

Well I think I'm going to be taking a break from the show.  I didn't watch today and don't plan to watch tomorrow.  Perhaps if I hadn't been spoiled, I might have watched today, but I couldn't bring myself to watch a show knowing what was going to happen at the end.  Teen rapes happen.  Probably even between step-siblings.  But having Andre encouraging Chase to go after Ciara, crosses the line for me.  Andre probably didn't mean for Chase to rape Ciara, but just having him involved sickens me.

 

And besides the Chase/Ciara storyline, I'm also hating the Steve/Ava/Kayla storyline.  And especially the Hope/Rafe murder coverup. And I don't much care for nu-Belle or nu-Philip. 

 

So not much reason to tune in these days.

 

I'll keep reading these forums and the spoilers and will likely watch again when these current storylines end.

[Aymery]

So this is Josh Griffith's writing? Or are we still going to blame it on Dena Higley? It's going to be kind of difficult since she's officially off the show since Monday's episode, but where there's a will, there's a way, I suppose.

 

Hiring Higley was a stroke of genius by Corday; people despise her so much that she's a shoo-in as the scapegoat for whatever's wrong with the writing. I personally am disinclined to believe she was responsible for a LOT of the crap that went on these past few months. I don't remember her having such a yen for gratuitious violence or a disdain for gays. Those are much more Griffith's speed, leading me to speculate that he was behind the serial killer storyline, the endless violence, and the decision to kill off Will.

 

The actor who plays Chase is the best of the teen set, and I always prefer to root for the underdog - remember when this was a cornerstone of soaps? But the character is irrevocably destroyed now and instead we'll have to put up with months of the terrible actress playing Ciara trying to act traumatized and the equally bad actor playing Theo vow revenge. And I won't be able to look at the Horton living room the same way now.

[buffynut]

So this is Josh Griffith's writing? Or are we still going to blame it on Dena Higley? It's going to be kind of difficult since she's officially off the show since Monday's episode, but where there's a will, there's a way, I suppose.

 

Only Josh Griffith is mentioned in this short interview with Vivian Jovanni (Ciara)

http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/story-behind-ciara%E2%80%99s-shocking-days-rape

[boes]

Hiring Higley was a stroke of genius by Corday; people despise her so much that she's a shoo-in as the scapegoat for whatever's wrong with the writing. I personally am disinclined to believe she was responsible for a LOT of the crap that went on these past few months. I don't remember her having such a yen for gratuitious violence or a disdain for gays. Those are much more Griffith's speed, leading me to speculate that he was behind the serial killer storyline, the endless violence, and the decision to kill off Will.

 

Then you must have been lucky enough to have missed the Daniel Coulson storyline she wrote for One Life to Live.  "Disdain for gays" would be putting it mildly.

 

No matter who wrote this, it sucks.

[Pete Martell]

 

How does it define the character when every other female character is also a rape victim? That doesn't define anyone. They've all got that in their past.

 

Well that was actually part of my point. That's why I said it was lazy. It means they don't have to actually make an effort to develop Ciara. 

So this is Josh Griffith's writing? Or are we still going to blame it on Dena Higley? It's going to be kind of difficult since she's officially off the show since Monday's episode, but where there's a will, there's a way, I suppose.

 

I've seen some fan speculation that he planned this story months ago and then Higley came back in and moved away from it, which is why upon his return Andre got involved to speed things along to today's rape.

[RedRockRosie]

I really don't have an issue with Chase crushing on Ciara. They're not blood relatives. They're step siblings...and not for that long, either. 

 

One of the things for me, that has messed this whole storyline up more than anything, is the super ridiculous SORASING they did with the kids and when they chose to do it....from 10 years to 16 years in a weekend  and so shortly before Hope & Aiden's wedding? So much was missed....were Chase & Ciara were little kids who supposedly lived as step or almost step siblings for like 6 years or not....and this crushing on her comes out of the blue. Are we supposed to pretend they aged normally when we saw Hope & Aiden get engaged when they were elementary kids?? IMHO, Days really missed the boat with the abrupt aging of all the preteens.

 

If they wanted to play this angle, then they should have had them aged months before they did. Really really lame timing if they wanted to focus on the teen storyline. These kids should have been in place long before they were. Blood relatives or no, I remember seeing them as little kids playing together & now suddenly they are teens and Hope is like a stranger to Chase? Not working for me.

[Happytobehere]

They'e not that smart or clever...or talented.

And, I'm an hour ahead so...

the rape of Ciara by Chase starts in the last segment

That's exactly what I think they are trying to do with the cops who have crossed the line and have become no different than those they have sworn to protect society from. I think the writers think that because Stefano was so reviled that we will root for Hope and Rafe. Well, I for one do not find them rootable. The framing of Andre makes them more even more reprehensible IMO because while unlike Stefano, who I loved based on JM (who I just finished watching in both Jaws 2 and and episode of All in the Family), Andre has always been scum in my eyes, I have an issue with framing someone for a crime they not only did not commit, but you are fully aware of them not committing. I would be outraged if Andre framed them, and I'm equally outraged at them framing him (this is why I can't look too fondly on little Miss Theresa, she accused an innocent man of attempted sexual assault-- if the actor/character ever came back, nothing he could do or attempt to do to her would be unwarranted because that level of vileness really says a lot about who a character really is. Rafe and Hope have crossed a line -- I know it's not real but to make a joke out of something so serious is not entertaining to me.

As for today final moment, Andre didn't have to do a lot of convincing with Chase, which says that that level of self-serving, power-based, soul-crushing violence against women is inherent in who Chase is -- Andre didn't make him do it, Andre just gave Chase permission to do want he wanted to and ultimately would have done anyway. The one thing that shocked me about that moment was that Days didn't give itself the usual retcon out by not showing too much. By having Chase throw Ciara on the couch after she repeatedly made it clear she wanted him to stop, and then covering her mouth, there is no way they can even allow the usual apologists an out -- perhaps that was their intention-- if so, I'm glad, own what you have chosen to present. Chase should not be allowed the option of "I thought that's what she wanted, "Ciara's account isn't what happened, she's just lying now because she doesn't want to get in trouble," or any of the usual crap they usually throw at women to raise doubts when a rape has occurred. My only hope is that whatever plans the showrunners have, redeeming Chase and keeping him on canvass is not one of them (yes, as someone who has spoken of her love for Jack and Todd on OLTL, I know how this sounds, but damn it, that's how I feel).

Forgot to add Steve is really a piece of work. First, he does literally nothing to find Kayla before sleeping with SWMNBN in Kayla's house. Then he just lies and lies to cover his ass. She wouldn't even have gotten the 10% of truth she got today if Joey wasn't calling him out on his ish and Kayla wasn't pushing to find out what caused the riff. We all know where the video recording of the act is going with little Ms. Nutterbutter. Steve knows full well his crazy side piece is going to drop the sex bomb on Kayla, but once again, he leaves Kayla to be decimated in an effort to cover his own a**. The "I'm afraid of losing you Sweetness because how could a woman like you love a bum like me" line no longer carries any weight 30 years and two kids later. I know Kayla will not be allowed to whup SWMNBN a** and tell Steve to kick rocks with open toe shoes, but that's what I want to have happen; Kayla has been crapped on enough.

As an aside, they need to hire more people to be cops because we are getting way too much Roman.

Also, Dear Show, if we must get more of a character, rather than giving us JT's painful interpretation of Roman, can we get more of VI's glorious interpretation of Deimos.

Edited February 18, 2016 by Happytobehere

[kristabell]

So this is Josh Griffith's writing? Or are we still going to blame it on Dena Higley? It's going to be kind of difficult since she's officially off the show since Monday's episode, but where there's a will, there's a way, I suppose.

 

Hiring Higley was a stroke of genius by Corday; people despise her so much that she's a shoo-in as the scapegoat for whatever's wrong with the writing. I personally am disinclined to believe she was responsible for a LOT of the crap that went on these past few months. I don't remember her having such a yen for gratuitious violence or a disdain for gays. Those are much more Griffith's speed, leading me to speculate that he was behind the serial killer storyline, the endless violence, and the decision to kill off Will.

 

The actor who plays Chase is the best of the teen set, and I always prefer to root for the underdog - remember when this was a cornerstone of soaps? But the character is irrevocably destroyed now and instead we'll have to put up with months of the terrible actress playing Ciara trying to act traumatized and the equally bad actor playing Theo vow revenge. And I won't be able to look at the Horton living room the same way now.

Having watched One Life to Live when each of the writers were there, I can say with surety that Dena is responsible for the Steve/Ava/Kayla rape situation (it's Todd/Margaret/Blair all over again.) Josh was around for the Todd Manning/ Marty Saybrooke rape storyline, so I'm going to assume this rape story is his.

And I am beyond done with the rape culture on daytime TV. For something that is supposed to be a women's genre, and that at one point actually did have fairly progressive storylines for women, their obsession with sexual violence is disgusting and unconscionable. If they can't think of any other stories to tell, maybe it's time to pack it up.

I'm so glad I stopped watching.

 

 

ETA: Out of curiosity, was there a content warning at the start of the show and/or information for rape crisis lines, etc at the end?

Edited February 18, 2016 by kristabell

[LadyJaney]

Ugh, I would love to know who's "wonderful" idea it was to make Chase a rapist?  Because no!  I liked him, I was rooting for him, but if he goes through with this, there is no turning back.  You can't redeem him and make it OK.

 

That was always a stigma stuck to Jack, and for some (myself included) though I ended up liking the character years later, I never forgot what he did to Kayla.  Same with Luke Spencer and Todd Manning from their soaps, they may have been redeemed and a well-liked staple, but the fact that they committed rape was always there.

 

Chase is too new to fall under such a category.  Either he is a bad guy after this, and they better play him off as such, or he isn't long for the show.  Too bad either way.  I had high hopes for him, more than most of the younger set.  I rather enjoy Jonathan McClendon.

 

I just hope that we see him stop himself in the next episode before he goes though with it.  I want him to be the one who stops himself before he hurts her and realize that he has spun out of control and needs to get his life together.  That is the only way he can be spared in this.  And that would still cause the angst and friction with him and Ciara, it would still make him a character in need of fixing, but if he shows enough control to come to his senses before he goes any further, there is hope for redemption.  

 

Anything else will just suck, and I fear that is where it is heading...

 

Why show, why?  

Edited February 18, 2016 by LadyJaney

[Happytobehere]

 

ETA: Out of curiosity, was there a content warning at the start of the show and/or information for rape crisis lines, etc at the end?

Not that I saw. This is one time, along with the Steve sleeps with SWMNBN crap, where I was glad for spoilers.

[BlackMamba]

So this is Josh Griffith's writing? Or are we still going to blame it on Dena Higley? It's going to be kind of difficult since she's officially off the show since Monday's episode, but where there's a will, there's a way, I suppose.

Griffith is writing this rape plot/story. Vivian Jovanni said so.

http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/story-behind-ciara%E2%80%99s-shocking-days-rape

I don't believe he wrote the Ava coercion sex with Steve. That smelled of Higleyvision. She used her old OLTL plot from Blair/Todd/Margaret.

The writing is way more smoother the last 3 episodes. I think Josh is back in the chair writing while Higley is on leave. And you know what thank god. I have to have some faith hes going to write this well and hit some beats. If it were Higley I would be screaming into my pillow. Griffith has written two rape stories that were critically acclaimed. The Marty Rape OLTL and Eden rape from Santa Barbara. However I still feel this maybe a plot device with Ciara's rape. I got the feeling he will weave these stories into one but he better hurry before Higley returns to bastarize and hack it up by spring.

Edited February 18, 2016 by BlackMamba

[boes]

This is sort of a "Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, did you enjoy the play?" post, because I thought the rest of the episode, up to that point was pretty decent. 

I enjoy the ease of Theo and Ciarra together.  They even disagree, or say the wrong things the way friends do, being calm with each other, as Theo did when Ciarra badmouthed Stefano.  Theo doesn't feel the same way and told her why and yet he didn't say she was wrong for her opinions, either.  Small stuff, but for me the strength of soaps have always been grounded in the little things.  It's those connections between characters, believability of actions and reactions that have kept me connected through some horrendous plotlines and character assassinations.  In a bizarro world way, Chad and Andre have established a similar connection, due mainly IMO to how the actors have used the material given them.  With all that said, though, the jury is out on whether that's going to get me through this terrible rape of Ciarra by Chase.
I'm hoping that at least Theo or Joey or somebody interrupts and stops it.  It pisses me off on many levels, most of which you've all expressed.  But in any case, Chase is irreparably damaged for me.  I know Jack "came back" from it but frankly I was never much of a Jack fan.  I didn't hate him but it was tough to warm up to him for me, too.  Murder bothers me a lot less.

Which is why I'm still fine with Hope and Rafe.  It's a shame Show couldn't have had them defeat Stefano in some other way - murder seems so weak in this instance - but I won't be thinking any less of Hope for this.  Rafe just puts on his smug, as usual. 

Go, Claire!  I know some of you don' think children should ever speak to parents like that and i get it but that's not me.  Belle needs to be laid out flat emotionally and if Claire is the only one to shame her out of her smug self-satisfied mean spiral then she can use both barrels as far as I'm concerned. 
And whats it with Belle using the Dimera money for jewelry and cars and trips and crap?  I know Sami is no Mother Theresa, but come ON, this is pretty self centered.  Shawn needs to wave bye bye to her in his rear view mirror.
BTW, the actress playing Claire continues to be a pleasure to watch.

[Frozendiva]

Are Shawn and Belle well off? If they are just average folks with a mortgage and bills, people like the DiMeras may get wind of Belle's new expensive purchases. As a lawyer, she may have won a case that brought with it millions of dollars for her and her former law firm, but it hasn't been mentioned.

 

Chase just comes across as a smug, entitled young man. Kinda like the dude who asks you out, you say no; comes back again and asks you out again, and you still say no. And doesn't like it. Who then stalks you for almost a year (like what happened to me) or has some other fantasized 'payback' for your 'crime' against him. Ciara has no interest in you as a boyfriend right now, dude. No means 'no'. Maybe he is now remembering that he killed his mother, or maybe his dad really did. He doesn't fit in to his new family all that well, although with the SORAS, they've been together a while. He has no power in his life so he finds some in assaulting his step-sister. I truly hope she can use one of her heels or her boot to give him one.

[Polaris]

Which is why I'm still fine with Hope and Rafe.  It's a shame Show couldn't have had them defeat Stefano in some other way - murder seems so weak in this instance - but I won't be thinking any less of Hope for this.  Rafe just puts on his smug, as usual. 

 

I wanted so much more for Stefano's exit.  How about some different opera music other than Ride of the Valkyries? Maybe a snippet from Lacrimosa, or the Immolation Scene from Götterdämmerung.  And he needed more than just a few minutes as he was dying.  The guy plagued everyone for decades and that was all he got? Bah.  The Bradys all needed to be there to witness it somehow!

 

I will continue to secretly applaud Hope and some of her newfound deceptive behavior.  It's only fair that the DiMeras (well, DiMera since I like Chad) get what's coming to them.  I just wish more of them were around to witness it.  *dodges flying tomatoes*

 

As for today's Chase and Ciara scene, I was disgusted.  This show never builds up to anything.  Jennifer becomes a pill popper overnight and suddenly Chase, after two sessions with Andre, is turned into a bad guy.  Plus, did we really need to see a supposed teen getting raped? It's just as disturbing as Will's final moments and Taniel lurking over Marlena's bed after she was almost strangled.

 

Edited February 18, 2016 by Polaris