Days First Quarter Report Card - 2016 (Read 459 times)

[wendylou]

Just a little fun post for the weekend. First three months of 2016 are over. So let's do a first quarter report card. Please grade the show on the subjects below with a letter grade and then add any detail you like.

Writing: the storylines and subject matter as well as the actual execution of the story

Acting: nothing mean but we can't deny that bad or stiff acting detracts from great stories. At the same time, there are actors really knocking it out of the park.

History: How is the show doing on integrating Days' history into the show and staying true to history?

Design: Sets, Wardrobe, Makeup, LIGHTING, even sound.

Overall grade for the show as a whole.

[Kpatch]

Love this thread. I need to give it some thought and will post my grades later after work or tomorrow. Thanks wendylou!

[fluffysmom]

Great thread idea wendylou. I'll give it some thought.

[Kpatch]

Writing: the storylines and subject matter as well as the actual execution of the story

Okay, we'll start with the first one.

I'm giving the writing an F. Yes, I think it's a big fat failure.

Rape, death, murder, mourning, poisonings, supernatural heart transplants, Yo Ling, Ava, Joey, Daniel, Summer, Chase, Belle, Ben. Abigail and Chad got married but it was a weak and weenie wedding during which the bride freaked herself out. The writing is too dark and depressing for a soap.

[doolfan4life]

I agree with Kpatch
Writing f
History big fat f especially if I'm really meant to but this summer nonsense
Acting I will grade a c because some are fantastic and others just don't have it (cough chase and Ciara cough)
Wardrobe a b and lighting a d I haven't seen the retarded light from bens room in a while so i upped the mark to a d but they still need work

[heroicmuse]

I'm going to give the writing an A for emotionalism and a C- for actual content. I think a lot of these stories are really well done and lately I've been enjoying the show more, but I really miss Daniel, Aiden, Paige and other characters I loved who have been killed off. I'll include JJ in the ones I miss too since he's never on and isn't himself when he is. I'm also concerned by the amount of telling they are doing other than showing -- e.g. people saying Jennifer is addicted to pills while we see no behavioral evidence of it, dialogue written to suggest Abby and JJ are close instead of actual scenes showing their closeness. Characters are isolated -- why are Hope and Ciara living at the Horton house if they are never going to interact with Jen/JJ? Why was Eve written out when she could have had a reaction to Eduardo's past also? Why are Brady and Belle ignored when John has an ordeal? I could go on and on but you get the point.

Acting is an A-. With one or two exceptions the acting has been top-notch even if I wish the stories were other than they were.

History is a D. Most of the time it's changed in order to prop characters or storylines. Changing Victor and Maggie's histories is bad enough. JJ's decision to be a cop ignores his history on the show AND his father's history as his personality and interests would have made following Jack's footsteps in the world of investigative reporting a much better fit if he wasn't going to pursue music. Similarly, this stupid way they've changed both Philip and Belle doesn't fit these characters' histories. History of significance such as Jennifer also being a rape survivor is ignored in order to keep characters isolated. The only history that is accurate and makes sense is Julie talking about the past (though I wish she'd mention her children).

Design is a D. Too dark, the Edge set still has that annoying blue light, Hope's set was destroyed for no good reason and still too many people in the park or town square for no reason. I do like Steve and Kayla's house and that we have the docks back (though we rarely see them) as well as the full Brady Pub set back.

[sevenna92]

Writing: I'll give it a C-. Most of the stories are just awful right now with maybe one or two exceptions.

Acting: B+. Most of the actors are doing a good job although some really need some work.

History: D+. I hate how they're basically using history to suit their own agendas. The whole retconning Maggie & Mickey's love story for Summer is the absolute worst.

Design: I'll give it a C+. The sets and designs are somewhat better but the lighting is still terrible. There have been some nice music pieces lately too.

Overall grade for the show: C+

[wendylou]

Writing - C - I think there are some great, exciting ideas but I don't think they are always carried out well and too many things take place off screen leaving me feeling like I've missed something. I also think that while many of the stories are exciting, this is an afternoon soap opera and there are too many dark depressing stories and not enough romance. I also think there used to be a lot more humor. If you're going to have stories about murder and rape there needs to be a better balance with some happiness and light. I'm also frustrated with the separation of characters and storylines that should be intregrated as someone noted above.

Acting - B - I think most of the actors are wonderful but there are a few stiffs that detract from their stories. I keep waiting for Ciara and Lani to find their groove.

History - C - I do think the show is making an obvious effort to incorporate favorite characters and make note of history which I appreciate. However, there is no need to completely re-write history and insult viewers with stories like the one about Maggie and Summer.

Design - C - Again I really appreciate that they've brought back the Brady Pub (although we don't see it enough) and there are some other great sets but the continuing darkness on the show is really bothersome. The other day I tried to watch the show with my bedroom light on and I couldn't see a thing! I have to have all the lights off to watch and even then it's really too dark. I think the makeup and hair are overall good. Nicole isn't dressing like a streetwalker anymore.

Overall - I guess I have to give it a C+

[Kpatch]

Design - I'm going to give this an F too for the lighting alone, or should I call it darkness? I tend to watch the show on my tablet, so it's smaller and that probably doesn't help. I feel like the lighting people got a new toy and they are overusing it. Mood lighting is one thing, but the entire show should not be mood lit. The lighting directors should go work in theater. We'd all be much happier. The darkness has been a great detraction for me the past 6 months. I feel like they don't really want me to see the action. I probably hate this more than anything else on Days.

[tapdancer]

Writing: D
The storylines are weak. Aside from Psycho Ben, who probably won't be around for long, nothing interests me right now. If they would give Hope a vacation for a couple of weeks, I'd raise the grade to a C. My main problem: What's with the dropped scenes? Like, remember when that kid was being picked on for being gay and he ran into Paul at the end of the show? They just left us hanging! Another day, the guy thanked Paul for talking to him, but we never saw the conversation. And how about Eric kissing Jennifer in her living room? A few days passed and then Eric brought up the kiss (which Jennifer denied) in her office at the hospital. It's just lazy and sloppy.

Acting: C
I don't think I need to list all of the people who can't act, but at least some of the cast is on point. I think some actors were hired because they're related to someone at NBC or maybe because no one else showed up for the audition.

History: D
They've been bringing back a few people from the past, which is great, but they could do better. How about showing your granddaughter some love, Hope? Ciara isn't the only child in your life. She doesn't talk to Shawn much these days and Claire is just another one of her daughter's friends. Since Belle is too busy looking for sex, it would be nice for Hope to step in and show an interest in Claire's life. I don't like them rewriting history with Maggie's bastard daughter or Victor's long-lost brother. If they have to rewrite it, at least make it good!

Design: C
It's not great, but it's improving. I'm glad they finally gave Hope and Marlena their homes back, although I liked Marlena's penthouse more than her new apartment. Everything is still very dark. One of the best things about Daniel being gone is that we don't have to see his small, dark apartment almost daily. I'm glad 80% of the show isn't taking place on the park bench anymore. I don't pay much attention to makeup, but I wish they'd get a better hairstylist. Remember when Sami had a great hairdo almost every day? Now the women pretty much just wear their hair down all the time. Abby puts hers up in a bun once in a while. Hope's hair is way too long. Several years ago, I got too thin and I had the same problem with long hair making my face look even longer. Jennifer's hair always looks like straw to me. I hate that the women wear sleeveless dresses year-round. Some of the dresses are cute, but I'm not a fan of the skintight "Kelly Bundy" dresses that Serena lived in, and Nicole and Chloe sometimes still wear. It wouldn't be so bad if they wore them for a night out, but they bop around town all day in them. LOL


Overall grade: C-

[mae00]

I almost didn't respond to this because I don't feel that I would be very objective.  Overall, I feel like the show has been a disappointment with only a few minor bright points to keep me watching.

Writing - I'd give a D
- This one was tough for me because there were actually some plot lines that could have been a huge hit among viewers - new & old alike.  However, the execution of those story lines has been horrible.  I'll expand more on that in the history section as well, but bringing in new people and then dropping them like hot potatoes and forcing vets out with brief here today, gone tomorrow exits is insulting to viewers who have a long standing history with the show, or to new viewers who finally found something in the show that interested them.  Having random people/family just show up now vs when they were really needed doesn't make much sense either.  Flashbacks tho - these need to be used for the older characters who truly have a history on the show - not all these newbies who just experience their flashback 2 days ago.  I also don't need a rehash of previous story lines either (Maggie/Daniel/Summer - John's parenting - etc.).  I also don't like how one story line was started and just dropped.  We don't see Eric remembering what got him to where he is, but we are plagued with endless flashbacks of Ciara and Chase.

Acting - Probably a C
- I don't know where some of these people were found or what the criteria was, but it was obviously low expectations.  Don't get me wrong, there have been some great castings done, and a few of the vets have rocked their scenes, but a few will not carry the show.  I realize that the recasts have some pretty HUGE spots to fill and obstacles/fan loyalty to overcome but that's when they need to bring their absolute best.  If the directors are telling some of these people to behave/act in this fashion then the directors need to be fired.  The vets that were lost and those affected were exceptional during those story lines.


History - hmmm.  Maybe a C-.  This one seems to have gotten somewhat better.  References to former characters and bringing back some vets helped this score.  Steve & Kayla and their love/history together was a big factor, but so was the Maggie and her multiple mystery babies. 


Design - D.  I wanted to go with a F but because we are actually seeing different sets now, I couldn't set it that low.  If they don't do something about that dang lighting tho, I will be forced to lower it.  It doesnt' matter how many different sets you have if you can't see them.  If money is that damn tight, get a bunch of flashlights and set them up.  You can buy those things at the DollarTree.