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Days of Our Lives Laid the Groundwork For Their Baddies’ Comeuppance — Plus, Shawn’s Trauma Ignored and the Devil’s Plan Fell Flat
April 11 - 15
Friday, April 15th, 2022

Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI
This week’s Days of Our Lives moved quite a few stories along, setting up a lot of action to come next week. So, let’s get right to it…
What’s Her Plan?
The walls are closing in on a few Salem baddies, just as they some are about to get everything they want. Sonny and Chad are off to find Jackie Cox to ruin Leo’s wedding to Craig. Ava’s been arrested, just as, I don’t know, she’s free and flirting with Jake? And Gwen, well, you just know her wedding to Xander isn’t going to go off without a hitch. Especially after Ava called Abigail. Ava does know a thing or two about Gwen’s misdeeds and she doesn’t exactly appear to feel any loyalty to the woman with whom she helped kidnap Abigail.
What Are the Odds?
As for the double wedding, it’s hilarious that soap characters plan their nuptials in a week. Or in this case, a day. I mean what are the odds that two old friends would run into each other in a small town, both with plans to marry in the very same rushed time frame? I actually didn’t mind the contrivance, as Leo and Gwen could be fun partners in crime. Considering Leo wasn’t his usual lechery self this week, he proved he could be an entertaining character.
Alas, that’s what I thought until Leo, upon discussing his past indiscretions, said something along the lines of, “What I tried to do doesn’t matter because it didn’t work.” To quote the Esurance commercial, “That’s not how it works. That’s now any of any of this works.”
Who Is This Really About?
Belle’s scenes with John were great, but Days is doing exactly what was feared and making Shawn’s rape about her. Of course, she should have feelings about what happened and even that Shawn didn’t tell her right away, but simply throwing out a line acknowledging that Shawn was victimized isn’t enough. Shawn should get time to process that the woman who has repeatedly tried to rape him succeeded and now she’s pregnant with his baby. Otherwise, it becomes as confusing as Sonny who suddenly cries every time he thinks about making Leo pay for what he did to him. Where were these emotions when it was actually happening?
On a side note, did anyone else wish we could have seen Belle actually getting drunk with EJ before she stumbled into John’s place?
What Was the Point?
Like all of the devil’s other plans, the point of his gender reveal cake snafu was unclear and anticlimactic. If he’s going to cause trouble with the cake, why not have it explode or poison it so everyone gets sick? Because a messy filling accomplished nothing. I take that back. It accomplished Ben and Ciara looking silly for creating such build-up to the big reveal only to have AllieDevil basically shrug and say, “It’s a boy.”
Was That It?
Speaking of anticlimactic events, is Sarah just gone now? To Days‘ credit, her leaving to get treatment in Florida is not how I saw this playing out, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. For one thing, her exit was done through dialogue between other characters. For another, the classic drama of her remembering and stopping the wedding to reunite with her true love isn’t going to play out. I suppose she could return upon getting better, but what will become of Xander until that happens? How will he react upon learning the lengths Gwen went to keep him and Sarah apart?
What’s Next?
The other big moment this week was that Eric came home. How great would Friday’s ending have been if it hadn’t already been revealed in a promo? Greg Vaughan teased a change in direction for the character where he’ll be involved with “new people and new faces and new opportunities.” What are your best guesses for what that means?
As I mentioned, the groundwork was laid for a lot of long-awaited fireworks next week. While I will continue to recap it, I will no longer be chiming in with my thoughts here. Instead, my Soaps.com colleague Curtis Harding will be offering up his views and takeaways on the goings-on in Salem.
Thank you all for joining me every week — whether you agreed with me or not!
Join in the fun with our photo gallery below of the ultimate soap opera drinking game.
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<p>We’re not sure why characters spend so much time asking themselves, “What happened on that night that I can’t remember?” instead of just heading directly to their local shrink. One session with <em>General Hospital</em>‘s Kevin, and Liz remembered more about her mysterious past than she had in the previous six months! </p>
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<p>As Nicole Leanne said to us on Twitter, “I’d be one heck of a drunk soap fan if I chugged every time DiMera Enterpreses changed CEOs” on <em>Days of Our Lives. </em>And while Gabi would love to prove her wrong, something tells us there’ll be a new name on her door momentarily! </p>
<p>When <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> had Taylor and Ridge making out during a gorgeous locations shoot — complete with a drone capturing the action from above — we knew this was a moment we’d be reliving… a lot. Hiccup! </p>
<p>When two couples agree to share their wedding day, you can be pretty sure at least one’s ceremony will wind up going south. When <em>Days of Our Lives </em>Leo and Craig hitched their big day to that of Xander and Gwen<em>, </em>we wound up with double the drama as both couples went down in flames! </p>
<p>“If you work at Forrester Creations or Spencer Publications and have gotten sexually involved with a subordinate, raise your hand.” Oh my. Of course, <em>Bold & Beautiful </em>isn’t the only show on which this happens, but to the best of our recollection, Forrester is the only company with a mixed-sex sauna, and that’s just asking for trouble! </p>
<p>That’s right, we’re pointing at you, Diane! Although we’re not sure why <em>Young & Restless</em>’ Jack was so surprised by his ex’s<em> </em>return. He’s attended at least three memorial services for Victor (if only to dance on his proverbial grave).</p>
<p>To be fair, you probably won’t even catch half a buzz via this rule. Heck, <em>Days of Our Lives </em>shows Chad’s children so infrequently that we’re not even sure these are them! Consider this one our gift to the lightweights out there. </p>
<p>Look, we appreciate a little eye candy as much as anyone else. But it’s just weird when someone like, say, Thomas on <em>Bold & Beautiful </em>not only greets you shirtless, but then invites you in, chats you up, maybe even cooks dinner without bothering to slip into something a little less comfortable! Of course, that’s nothing compared to when… </p>
<p>Guys on <em>Bold & Beautiful </em>routinely get undressed in unlocked offices, usually changing to go to the rooftop gym. But you’d think that a building that has both a workout area and a sauna might also have a locker room! </p>
<p>We’ll say this for <em>Young & Restless</em>’ Black Knight: He can make the most innocuous of nicknames sound almost obscene. We’re kinda surprised the rest of Genoa City hasn’t started calling Jack’s brother “Billy Boy,” because it really does roll trippingly off the tongue! </p>
<p>This one’s a classic. In fact, General<em> Hospital </em>doc Monica declaring that the Quartermaine mansion is hers because late husband Alan gave it to her <em>might </em>be where the soap-opera drinking game originated. </p>
<p>As if being dumped by longtime hubby Craig for a younger man wasn’t bad enough, <em>Days of Our Lives</em>‘ Nancy then got engaged to Abigail’s murderer, Clyde. That’s so heartbreaking, we’re tempted to share our booze. But only tempted. Let’s be real.</p>
<p>When you see the Kiriakis patriarch on <em>Days of Our Lives</em>, you can assume someone is about to get a tongue-lashing. The man doesn’t suffer fools gladly, yet in his estimation, he is surrounded by nothing but. Pretty much every word out of his mouth is as sarcastic as it is quotable. </p>
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<p>People on <em>Young & Restless </em>are more likely to be appointed CEO of a company than they are to make out with someone… and that’s a real problem on a soap opera! Adam, Nate, Victor, Victoria, Ashland, Lily, Billy and Sally have all gotten new power positions in the first part of 2022. Heck, we’re just waiting for someone to name Esther CCO (Chief Cleaning Officer) of Chancellor!</p>
<p>Seeing Ava without a cocktail in her hands is just sad. Of course, if we actually had one every time she does, we’d probably wind up in <em>General Hospital</em> with a bad case of alcohol poisoning! </p>
<p>If <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>’s Thomas doesn’t seem to recognize son Douglas, it’s probably because he rarely sees the kid. Liam and Hope might struggle with that one, too, given that Douglas and Beth spend most of their time hanging out with Donna… somewhere off screen. </p>
<p>Sharon should be living high off the proverbial hog, and not just because the <em>Young & Restless </em>beauty has married (and divorced) some of the richest guys in town. But while her coffee shop is <em>the</em> place to be, that’s probably because nobody ever pays for what they ordered! </p>
<p>For people who never lock their front door and have kids who could wander in at any moment, <em>Bold & Beautiful </em>marrieds Liam and Hope spend a lot of time making love in the living room, whether on the couch or in front of the fireplace. That said, do <em>two </em>shots if… </p>
<p>Note to self: Do not touch <em>anything</em> in Adam’s office, because the <em>Young & Restless </em>hunk and girlfriend Sally had sex pretty much <em>everywhere </em>before they broke up. The couch? Check. The desk? Check. The floor? We’re just gonna assume that’s a yes. </p>
<p>Having been married to the <em>Young & Restless</em> Machiavelli long (and often) enough to know him better than anyone else, Mrs. Newman often scoffs at her hubby’s declarations… usually right to his face! </p>
<p>We may not often see the <em>General Hospital </em>tot, but boy, does he get talked about… a lot. Since his birth, he’s had more claims staked on him than the state of California during the gold rush. </p>
<p>If someone in Salem walks up and says, “Guess who?” think twice before answering. Why? Because on <em>Days</em><em> of Our Lives</em>, it might be someone wearing a magic mask that changes everything from the wearer’s voice to their height.</p>
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<p>Why does anyone in Port Charles ever go down to the docks… especially at night? It would be impossible to list the number of awful things that have happened to <em>General Hospital </em>characters in that crime-ridden area, yet residents are drawn there like teens to a 7-11 parking lot!</p>
<p>It seems certain characters — usually villains — must always be referred to by first and last name. <em>General Hospital </em>bad guys Cyrus Renault and Peter August, for example, or <em>Days of Our Lives’ </em>gone-but-never-forgotten Stefano DiMera. </p>
<p>Rarely has so small a creature been the center of so many plot points that are so despised by so many. From kidnappings to medical emergencies, custody battles to literal daddy issues, this kid’s had as many <em>Young & Restless</em> storylines as last names. </p>
<p>Nobody cries as easily or often as <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>‘s Brooke. True story: During an in-person interview, we once asked portrayer Katherine Kelly Lang if she could cry on demand. With a smile, she asked, “From which eye?” before proving she most certainly could. </p>
<p>If we were going to name a drink after <em>General Hospital</em>‘s Esme, it would be Ennui & Bitters, ’cause… well, look at the expression on that puss! And that was probably taken on one of her good days! </p>
<p>Ever since <em>Days of Our Lives </em>Alex hit the sheets with Chanel and Allie (then dreamed of having done so with Chad and Stephanie), it’s been the talk of the town… or at least Twitter. Might the soap give us daytime’s first full-blown throuple? We’ll drink to that! </p>
<p>At least when <em>Young & Restless</em>‘ Tucker decided to literally drop in on Kyle and Summer’s nuptials, the uninvited guest did so in the classiest way possible: He arrived via helicopter, then gave the newlyweds a Bentley! </p>
<p>Soap police are almost always the last to know, especially when it comes to who really committed a crime. While almost nobody arrested by <em>Days of Our Lives’ </em>Rafe is what you’d call innocent, rarely are they guilty of the crime of which they stand accussed. </p>
<p>It was borderline shocking when <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>‘s Sheila was actually apprehended and jailed. Less shocking? When she managed to break out, fake her death (drink!) and return wearing a mask (double-shot!) to hide her identity. </p>
<p>Brooke and Liam have been spending an awful lot of time together. And given that <em>Bold & Beautful </em>loves borderline incestuous relationships — and Brooke has a history of sleeping with her daughters’ beaus — we want to have that shot ready for when these two finally cross the line they’ve been dancing on for some time now.</p>
<p>Every single time a soap character is sent to prison, they wind up bunking with someone they have a previous connection to. If you’re as unlucky as <em>Days of Our Lives</em>‘ EJ, it might even be the guy who “killed” you a few years back. </p>
<p>Alison Groves pointed out on Twitter that soaps love nothing more than to have someone take a long, meaningful pause as they gaze into the distance just before the screen fades to black. Here, we see <em>Days of Our Lives</em>‘ Paulina giving a master class in that skill!</p>
<p>Information is a commodity, so being in the right place at the right time is crucial. <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>‘s Othello just happened to be lurking in the woods when Brooke and Ridge broke up during their time in Aspen. Why? Time will tell… </p>
<p>While our favorite characters often use their computers, they never seem to go to sites like Google, Facebook or Twitter. Instead, they go to Oogle, Facetime and other fake websites. </p>
<p>When not talking to themselves — which they do a lot — soapsters love <span style="text-decoration: line-through">reciting exposition</span> having revealing discussions with portraits of their loved ones, enemies… really, under the right circumstances, any old picture will do. Just ask <em>Days of Our Lives</em>‘ Johnny, who often seeks advice from late grandpa Stefano. </p>
<p>It’s bad enough that characters like <em>Days of Our Lives</em>‘ Gwen tend to talk to themselves endlessly. Worse, they aren’t having innocuous self-chats about their grocery lists or what to wear, but rather incredibly incriminating ones… which are inevitably walked in on by someone else. Every. Single. Time. </p>
<p>Daytime’s richest characters have private jets at their disposal and diamonds for every occasion. But you know what they don’t possess? The ability to lock a door or the good manners to knock before entering! No wonder <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>‘s Ridge gets ticked when he comes home and finds Bill’s just let himself in yet again! </p>
<p>Get ready, folks, because this classic <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> entry has everything. Chug once for a wedding in the Forrester living room. Again because Carter is the officiant. A shot for the ceremony being interrupted and a fourth for a secret coming to light at the worst possible time. If you’re still standing, pat yourself on the back… and drink some water. Hydration is key to surviving the soap-opera drinking game!</p>

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