Days of Our Lives Just Shot Itself in the Foot — Repeatedly — and We May Have Figured Out Why
Tuesday, January 31st, 2023
Just stop already… before it’s too late!
We seem to be in a bit of a reprieve in Days of Our Lives‘ death/heaven/surprise devil story at the moment, so we thought, while we were, maybe it’s time to have a little talk.
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Last week, we were pretty sure we hit upon the reason for all the loss in Salem. There’s a point, we suppose, to why they killed off (for a couple weeks, at least) Kate, Kayla, Marlena — even Susan. Days of Our Lives is using it as a way to shift around the couples, shake up Salem’s romance department and take love stories in new directions.
And that’s all well and good, we suppose, except… it kind of isn’t.
For one thing, it’s all these deaths. We don’t believe them. It’s a law of diminishing returns and we care about them less and less each time. Heart donated to someone else? Who cares? They’ll be back. Right, Stefan? Cremated? So? They’ll still return. Right, Tony and (we’re positive) Kate?
No body? No problem. Prepare for resurrection in three… two… one…
Credit: Peacock screenshot
Go over a cliff in an exploding car? Ava’s got that covered. And since Susan’s being impersonated in the afterlife, we’re sure she’s next. This problem started a long time ago and all the soaps fall into it, but it’s like Days of Our Lives doesn’t even try to pretend death exists.
As Deidre Hall noted recently, “Keep calm. Carry on.”
If it seems like it’s gotten worse, that’s probably because it has. Because now we’re back to what we noted last year about this story being a vehicle for shifting romance. The show wouldn’t need to do this if it could actually handle telling stories about long-term romance. They don’t commit to romance for romance’s sake.
If someone isn’t being kidnapped (Sarah’s extensive disappearance, Sami’s disappearance, heck, even Bonnie and Stefan…) or killed (see… never mind, there’s too many), it’s snooze city in their minds. In short, the Powers That Be have completely forgotten the supercouple model that made the show a hit in the first place.
Instead of remembering what they did to create the John and Marlenas or Steve and Kaylas, the show’s using our investment in the actual long-term romances to switch around budding love stories before they can even get a foothold. Stephanie’s moving from Alex to Chad? Well, we didn’t really have long enough to get invested so, sure, why not? And we’re sure she’ll be back before get invested in her and Chad.
Even worse? Given what we know, we wouldn’t be surprised if Abigail popped up alive again as soon as Chad and Stephanie hook up!
And don’t even get us started on the show teasing Wendy, Joey and Tripp, only to start getting us excited about her and Johnny, then use the latest deaths to pull them apart and push Tripp back again. What in blazes is going on?
“Thank you Joe — Tri — um, Johnny? Never mind, I’ll just call you Tripp anyway. Not like it matters.”
Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI
More: You guide to Days of Our Lives’ real life loves [PHOTOS]
Obstacles area necessary part of romance to help build a couple. Give them something to overcome and we’ll cheer for them all the more. But don’t just constantly resort to increasingly unbelievable tricks like fake deaths and zero-stakes kidnappings to shift folks around. Those aren’t obstacles. They’re just irrelevant plot points that make the resulting fall-out seem even more pointless the second they’re undone.
And mark our words, they will be undone. In Salem, that’s probably going to happen sooner, rather than later. But if we ever got some actual romance stories, it wouldn’t have to.
Confused about where everyone is? Check out our updated Days of Our Lives couples gallery to keep track!
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Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
1/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> John’s “widowed.” <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Megan! Marlena’s desperate to get free of her clutches, or at the very least let John know that she’s still alive.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
2/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Dating and living together. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> They work so well because they accept each other for who they are. But accepting their worst impulses and making them work together are two very different things!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
3/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Dating. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Stephanie still seems to have lingering feelings for Alex, despite her best judgement. And Chad’s so worried about things not working out, that’s a surefire way to mess it up!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
4/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Splitsville. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> They just never seem to work. And this past attempt lasted about half a second before Nicole stuck her nose in Eric and Jada’s business. An abortion and a furious Eric later, they’ve both moved on with others. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
5/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Divorced. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Xander’s worst impulses constantly get in the way. After his kidnapping stint working for Ava, Sarah divorced him and moved to Chicago while secretly pregnant with his baby! So we’ll just say, To Be Continued…</p>
Image: Jill Jonson/JPI
6/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Married… reluctantly. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Stefan — and the fact that Gabi hates her husband! Li’s got six months to win her back before their contract is up, but one screwup with her ex and Gabi loses everything. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
7/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Broken up. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Just when it seemed Alex had grown up and begun a real, adult relationship with Stephanie, he crossed some major boundaries and cost her her final few moments with Kayla. But Kayla’s not actually dead, so who knows how she’ll feel after reuniting!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
8/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Dating. Ish. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> After teaming up against Li and EJ, these two were well on their way to supercouple status. But Wendy’s not thrilled with Johnny’s less scrupulous side and is still drawn to her roommate, Tripp. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
9/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Friends with benefits. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> They’ve done a ton of bonding, but is Eric <em>really </em>the hookup type? They’ve made it clear there’s no love, only lust, but we can see this getting messy fast. </p>
Image: Peacock screenshot
10/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Roomates. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Despite the clear chemistry between them (and the fact that they’re living together!), Wendy won’t give up on Johnny. But just look at that photo. These two are happening one way or another!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
11/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Split. <strong>Their biggest obstacle: </strong>Kristen, and through her, Rachel. The kid’s been poisoned against Chloe pretty thoroughly and though Brady’s trying to undo that, it may be too late with Chloe’s Lady Whistleblower appearance!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
12/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Hooking Up. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Xander is <em>not </em>happy about these two hopping into bed, no matter how hot they are together. Alex has already gotten a black eye for this affair and we have a feeling it’s far from over! </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
13/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Fizzled out. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Belle’s marriage. She decided that making things work with Shawn was more important than red-hot sex with EJ. We guess she made the right choice?</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
14/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Close coworkers. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> The awkwardness of their situation. Jada wasn’t aware that their little Valentine’s Day date was a, you know, date, and Rafe just isn’t the smoothest guy out there. But it’s hard to deny the bonding that’s been going on! </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
15/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Partners in scheming. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> They’re back in love and trying to reconnect without Li catching on, seeing as how it’ll cost them DiMera shares, while also plotting against EJ and Nicole. It’s… complicated.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
16/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Almost reunited! <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> That darn Megan brainwashed Bo into hating Hope. And Fancy Face doesn’t know he’s back alive — yet. But we have a feeling it’s all going to work out for these two loverbirds!</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
17/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Reunited. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> They hit a bumpy spot thanks to Jan and Shawn’s not-baby, but seem to have worked things out. But since Jan’s still running around out there with said baby, we’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
18/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Over. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Allie cheated on Chanel with Alex and then left for New Zealand with Will and Sonny, so this relationship is officially toast!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
19/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Finally finished? <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Brady hates Kristen with a passion. That’s never stopped him from giving into her seductions before, but for now, he’s intent on reuniting with Chloe. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
20/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Deprogrammed. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Stefan’s feelings for Chloe were finally zapped out of his brain, so he’s moving on with Gabi — whether Li likes it or not!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
21/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Divorced… for now. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Johnny’s still with Wendy, but that’s anything but solid. And it’s clear that Chanel and Johnny are still drawn to each other, so we can’t count them out!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
22/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Married. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> At the moment, nothing, seeing as how they moved to New Zealand together once their marriage hit some bumps. So good for them! </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
23/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Friends with chemistry. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Allie moved to New Zealand after they slept together. That’s a pretty big obstacle. </p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
24/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Chad’s a widower. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> There aren’t many challenges bigger than death, but hey, Abigail’s come back from that before… as has pretty much everyone she knows.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
25/47
<p><strong>Current status: </strong>Done. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Leo started getting uncomfortably close to Sonny, but his own selfishness ended that budding friendship. Oh, and Sonny moved across the globe with Will. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
26/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Divorced. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Nicole wanted Eric and once she (and Rafe) finally admitted it, their sham of a marriage ended. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
27/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Flirtatious friends. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> They <em>seemed </em>set for a romance, until Wendy and Johnny got together. But the feelings are still there and they’re living together, so watch out, Johnny!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
28/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Friends. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> They seemed set for a triangle for Tripp, but Joey’s happily in a relattionship offscreen, so he’s been content to try to get Wendy and Tripp together, instead!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
29/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Married. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Gwen and Xander are still holding Jennifer’s hit and run in their back pocket, but so far, they seem content with swiping <em>The Spectator </em>and letting Jack and Jen run off together. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
30/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Newspaper Partners. <strong>Their biggest obstacle: </strong>Like with Sarah, Xander can’t get out of his own way. He always treats Gwen as his backup and she’s gotten tired of it. So now she’s shacking up with Alex! </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
31/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Fomer hookup buddies. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> They had some fun back when they both showed up, but he moved on with Stephanie (though that isn’t going well) and Sloan’s been giving Eric a taste of the wild side. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
32/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Steve’s “widowed.” <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> He’s intent on making Megan pay for killing Kayla, despite the fact that she’s still alive! For now. Megan still wants to use her kidnapping victims as guinea pigs. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
33/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Married! <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Trust issues. Paulina has a habit of keeping secrets from Abe — ostensibly for good reasons, but that doesn’t make him feel better when they come to light!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
34/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Roman’s “widowed.” <strong>Their biggest problem: </strong>Though she did survive Orpheus’ poisoning, we aren’t quite sure if Kate survived her encounter with Bo yet. She may be gone, after all!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
35/47
<p><strong>Current Status:</strong> Sailing around the world. <strong>Their biggest obstacle: </strong>We assume the couple’s happy as can be with little Bo — and now we get to check in with them and find out what their exciting news is!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
36/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Married <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Prison bars. Lani’s doing time for killing her dad, and while Eli moved the whole family to be near her during her sentence, the jury’s out on how that’s going. </p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
37/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Stronger than ever. <strong>Their biggest problem:</strong> Nothing! Neither Satan nor MarDevil’s drugging could hold them down. They haven’t survived decades by being a flimsy couple!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
38/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Dead in the water. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> They were growing close, but then she killed his beloved Grandma Susan and went completely off the deep end. Now Ava’s been committed and Johnny’s moved on… several times over? </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
39/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Done… forever? <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Oh, we don’t know, maybe that whole Lucas secretly kidnapping Sami for months thing? Now he’s in jail and she’s vowed never to return to Salem again. Even as her mother died? Yeah, that was weird. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
40/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Over and done. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> It turns out EJ was right about Lucas after all. But that didn’t make Sami grateful. She’s declared herself done with him, Salem and pretty much everyone. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
41/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Married. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Mistaken identities. Anna didn’t handle Sarah thinking she was Renée DuMonde very well. Also, there’s always a 50/50 chance Tony could be revealed to be Andre at any given moment.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
42/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Shockingly married. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> She’s not Adrienne. But they do seem to make a good couple, and Bonnie’s clown trauma ordeal has only drawn them closer. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
43/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Nada. <strong>Their biggest problem:</strong> Jan lied about her baby being Shawn’s, but he still bonded with the tot before she ran off with him. So she may still be popping up to try again with her <span style="text-decoration: line-through">beau</span> obsession! </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
44/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Over and done. <strong>Their biggest problem:</strong> It turns out, Clyde’s a murderer. Well, we knew that, but he murdered <em>Abigail</em>! Nancy cut him loose. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
45/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Over and done. <strong>Their biggest obstacle:</strong> Allie’s feelings for Chanel don’t exactly help, but seeing as how she’s in New Zealand and he’s pining for Wendy, we have a feeling these two won’t be getting back together again. </p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
46/47
<p><strong>Current status:</strong> Just friends. T<strong>heir biggest problem:</strong> Craig came out as gay. That’s a pretty definitive marriage-killer right there.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
47/47
