Fix Days - May contain spoilers (Read 1,056 times)

[wendylou]

Okay, I hadn't really paid much attention lately but I was on another site yesterday (soap she knows) and the ratings for all four soaps were listed. Days is at the BOTTOM ( a 1.9, I believe). I think most of us can agree that Days has made some improvements but there are still so many things to improve. I don't want to see Days cancelled.

So - I know we do this occasionally and I'd like to ask again, what does Days need to do to improve? BE BRUTALLY HONEST.
Who do they need to cut, bring back, show less of more of?

I believe it said we can put spoilers in here so if you want to talk about characters or actors you know to be returning or leaving go ahead.

Thanks.

[wendylou]

Okay, here are a few of my suggestions.

First of all, they need to stop shooting so far in advance. They misjudge storyines and couples and then when they tank they can't respond quickly enough. Also, as Daniel Cosgrove mentioned, they change writing teams too often. They've got to find a team that works and stick with them so people aren't confused by frequent shifts in characters.

I feel like they need to get rid of a lot of characters and actors that just don't work. The teen scene is awful and I think it brings the show down. I'm older but I can't imagine that if I was younger I'd find these people interesting. The actors playing Joey and Ciara are awful and need to be replaced if the characters are going to remain. Ciara and Theo could actually be enjoyable but she brings them down for me.
I also think Blanca and Dario should go or at the very least be MAJOR back burner characters.
Now a big one. I kind of think Rafe needs to go all together. I think Galen must be a very nice guy. A lot of the actors seem to be friends with him so maybe he's kept around b/c of politics but I really don't think he does much for the show. He doesn't seem to have chemistry with anyone they put him with and this whole agenda of forcing Rafe and Hope no matter what has had a major toll.

I'm looking forward to Eric's return and I hope they really do right by the character this time. I know there are some other returns soon so I'm hoping they will also help. This show has a serious lack of interesting younger/middle aged characters so I hope they can fix that.
I'd love to see Philip replaced with a better actor and I'm hoping that happens since JPL is leaving soon. He is another one I think that failed.

Okay, my rant is over. Hope some other people share too.

[Kpatch]

I agree with all your assessments and suggestions wendylou .

I will add the need to cut out the violence. They've turned DAYS into a crime drama instead of a soap opera whose core is family and romance. I know times change and audiences change but romance never goes out of style.

Speaking of romance, create a couple, give us a reason to invest in them and don't immediate introduce a third party or rip them apart. I'm thinking specifically about JJ and Gabi but there are plenty other examples.

Hope and Rafe are a big mismatch. I think the producers really like Rafe and wanted to give him a front-and-center story. He's a good actor and deserves better than to be saddled with Hope.

The show is also way better when there's a balance and an ensemble cast rather than too much focus on individual characters like there used to be with Sami, EJ and Daniel. I feel like the show is working too hard to prop Chad and push Deimos.

This is all just top of mind stuff. There may be more, but that's it for now.

[heroicmuse]

I think the overemphasis on Rafe and Hope, a couple that seems to be extremely unpopular from everything I've seen, is killing the show.

I like Rafe. I like Hope. Put them together and I can't stand either one of them.

Stop twisting characters out of shape to fit the writers' agendas.

Stop rewriting history and thinking viewers won't notice.

And for the love of all that is holy, stop with the telling instead of showing. This must be coming from Corday because all three sets of recent writers have done it. We don't need to hear characters tell us that so-and-so are a great, committed couple -- show us. We don't need to hear that Jennifer is on pills and we should be worried -- show us some scenes so we can figure it out for ourselves. Viewers aren't stupid and we want to SEE things and form our own opinions, not be spoon fed what we should think via the dialogue.

[fluffysmom]

The show has been the lowest rated of the 4 soaps for awhile now.

I agree 100% that they need to shorten the gap between filming and when the show airs. It's a big detriment to the show.

I agree thatWre's too much violence. I'm okay with one side story having a crime element but not the primary storyline month after month.

I agree that the teens aren't interesting. They are more tolerable in scenes with adult family members.

I like the scenes with generations of family members. The scenes with the Kiriakis men have been some of my recent favorites.

I like Hope and Rafe individually but not as a couple.

I could do with less of Dario.

I hope Philip is recast rather than sent out of town when JPL exits the role.

I want to see Kassie DePaiva back in Salem. Hopefully she returns after she finishes her cancer treatments.

I enjoyed seeing a variety of characters interacting during the villains story. I hope they continue to bring different characters together.

It never seems to work when there's a mass exodus of characters and new ones brought in. I'd rather see interesting stories for the characters that we have.

I want to see more of Gabi, JJ, Chad, Sonny, and Paul. I'd like to see more of Eduardo.

I'm wondering who Brady will be paired with after Theresa's upcoming exit. His exes Nicole and Chloe will both be in Salem.

[doolfan4life]

I agree with basically everything said minus the aiden stuff cuz I hated him and I was never invested in him anyways,
big time agree with the violence, it needs to stop
They need to stop being so predictable and no more flashbacks of five minutes ago for the love of god
I am looking forward to Shane and Kim coming even though I'm not thrilled about the nature of there return as it is more violence with the cartel
I think they need to replace Ciara if they are going to give her a story because I like the dynamics of her and Theo and I'm glad her obsession with chad was dismissed before it got out of control
They need to work on pairing because hope and rafe are messed up together on so many levels and lack of chemistry but I also don't understand Deimos and Nicole either
I think Nicole deserves a better love interest
I also think that people need to grieve more, Nicole moved on too fast imo even tho she visits Daniels grave I think they rushed it

I would like to see more of the family dynamics throughout like hope and Jennifer being there for each other, many people found it weird as did I that hope lived in her house and they never spoke or shared a scene and chase managed to rape ciara on the couch.....

Which brings me to my next point, bedrooms people, every time I watch a scene where someone drops in to visit I want to scream "don't sit there, you have no idea who banged whom on that couch" and it's literally everyone's house because no one does the deed or sleeps in a bed anymore....

My hopes are for jay to return as Philip and start his story with Chloe
I hope if Clyde ever does come back he doesn't get away with killing ej, or better yet ej is alive and waiting to get his vengeance on the cocky hillbilly
I understand love triangle and scandal happen on soaps but I don't want to see problems with my classic favourites like Kayla and patch, to me when a younger couple is giving drama the vets should be giving us the romance to provide balance because Kayla got really annoying for a while there and so did John and Marlena with them getting married again for the billionth time, lame

Another big thing STOP KIDNAPPING MARLENA! The viewers are sick of the most recycled story of all time it's not even funny anymore

One thing I know likely will never get settled is many viewers stated that they were tuning out when they brought back bo only to kill him off the next day, I for one was heart broken

I am looking forward to the Abby replacement as I have high hopes that she will have chemistry with chad and also be more tolerable than Kate mansi and less of a winey airhead, I love chad and I loved the original Abby I really want to invest in this couple so I am hoping this won't ruin the couple

I'm sure more will come to me but this is what's on my mind at the moment in terms of where they went wrong and chances to improve

[honeybee]

I'm new but I know heroicmuse on twitter and I have thoughts on how to fix Days:

Go back to the show's progressive roots on rape & sexual assault. It's regressed. Yes, there's a history of rapemance on the show with Ejami & Bill and Laura, but the show needs to get into the twenty first century. The Chase rapes Ciara story was cheap and exploitative, and women turning to violence to punish their attackers has been heavily criticized by female tv critics as a cliche that does a disservice to victims. Not just for days, but many prime time shows as a well have gotten this criticism. Also, the JJ and Lani situation has totally glossed over the very problematic issue that JJ was too drunk to consent, making him a victim. Don't get me started on Ava/Steve.

Let Marlena be the Matriarch of the show, but yes, stop having her be a damsel in distress. Make her the person that gives wise advice - like Alice used to. Marlena's empathy and strength was what made her a loved character.

Bring back Peter Blake and Kristen, too, as the new big bads. Let Stefano rest in peace.

Dario has to go. Rafe should be a supporting player. Gabi is fine, but she's not heroine material but that's just the writing.

Give Abigail something to do besides be a victim. Let her become a journalist like her dad and mom and solve mysteries.

Will needs to come back alive, also be a journalist (maybe with Abigail), and raise his daughter. I don't particularly care if he gets back together with Sonny as I'm not a Sonny fan, but he could provide good antagonism for Paul and Sonny. He was great at that. Also, I hope the rumors about CS being out are untrue, and I would like Paul to get a good story on his own.

Kate needs to find a man that is right for her and settle down. Find her a partner in crime and let them scheme.

If they bring in "new" teens like Allie and Johnny, for the love of everything, give them some light stories about high school trauma rather than rape and vigilantism and murder.

Let Chad and Abigail be together for awhile with her mental issues causing angst and not a third party. Also, don't over use Billy Flynn. He's looking tired.

Give new characters a chance. That goes for the writers & the viewers.

They need some real comic relief characters and some fun plot lines.

They need to remember that this is a women's genre, and female rivalries fuel it but also female friendships and female heroines doing good in the world.

[mae00]

I have to agree with most of what is said. The only thing I can add at this point is the flashbacks. Use flashbacks to give us the TRUE history of a character from years ago. Not some re-written flashback and definitely not a 6 minute flashback of something that happened 2 days ago. That insanity has to stop and is just flat out laziness on the writers' parts.

[honeybee]

Jan 3, 2017 16:10:08 GMT -5 mae00 said:

I have to agree with most of what is said. The only thing I can add at this point is the flashbacks. Use flashbacks to give us the TRUE history of a character from years ago. Not some re-written flashback and definitely not a 6 minute flashback of something that happened 2 days ago. That insanity has to stop and is just flat out laziness on the writers' parts.

Oh yes, yes, yes! The flashbacks are awful and seem to be a cost saving measure above all else. Use the flashbacks to advance the story. 

[heroicmuse]

I third the flashback problem. I feel like the writers use flashbacks from the same episode or the episode before when they have extra space to fill. Some days it feels like they took the day off and turned in a script marked INSERT FLASHBACK HERE on every other page.

[mae00]

Exit storylines for characters need some improvement. Everyone who has even the smallest amount of history on this show knows that the only true way that a character is killed off is if they go up the Horton staircase (how Abigail and Jennifer have survived all those trips I'll never know) or to be hit by a bus. Look at the characters that have been "killed" off, only to return - Marlena, John, Roman, Tony, Andre, Stefano (but that is his MO), Bo, Kristen....the list goes on and on. Heck, it's a long shot, but we could even throw EJ in there. He hasn't technically returned, but him being alive has been hinted at (and is supposedly where Sami ran off too). The sad part is, is that unless that person dies in real life (and even then it's not a guarantee) that character is more than likely to end back up in Salem at some point. The only ones that I know of that haven't returned from their last death were Tom & Alice, Lexie (brain tumor), Madison (explosion), and Tony (impaled at the pier).  Daniel is a fresh death so I'm sure that the writers will find some way to bring him back even tho his heart was donated.

There are ways to write a good exit story and still leave the spot open should that person want to return or the writers feel the need for a recast. If they are truly writing off a character for good, then tie up lose ends and give them a decent send-off - especially if it's a long-time cast member. Viewers have invested years of time and tears in these characters and all of their storylines. While the viewers either love them or hate them, they expect to see the send off that is true to and fitting of that character. Bo is the first one that comes to mind. Stefano was another one I felt was wrong until we learned about his plan to go out in a "blaze of glory"....which is fully Stefano's style and now he may not be dead at all....however, with Joe Mascalo's passing, I hope they do the ending of this storyline with dignity and respect to the character as well to the man that portrayed him.

[fluffysmom]

I agree mae00.

[honeybee]

It's looking grim for Days's future on NBC, but CBS might acquire it with Sony Pictures. If they did, this is what I think could save them:

1) Buy out Corday.
2) Hire a British producer - soaps still thrive in Britain, who can make a lot out of a little. They did this with Y&R.
3) Have CBS air a half hour version of Days with B&B & Y&R.
4) Have a full hour on their streaming service, with a half an hour focusing on younger characters including the gay story. A little more swearing & sex, but not too much.
5) Produce audio plays featuring the old cast as younger versions of themselves in new adventures. The BBC does this with Doctor Who.
6) I would reboot it from before Higley & Griffith took over. Lure back Alison, James, a Will, get Paige back and Aiden back and especially Peter Reckell. Let Lauren Boles be Ciara.

[Ted Bell]

Jan 4, 2017 14:33:14 GMT -5 honeybee said:

It's looking grim for Days's future on NBC, but CBS might acquire it with Sony Pictures. If they did, this is what I think could save them:

1) Buy out Corday.
2) Hire a British producer - soaps still thrive in Britain, who can make a lot out of a little. They did this with Y&R.
3) Have CBS air a half hour version of Days with B&B & Y&R.
4) Have a full hour on their streaming service, with a half an hour focusing on younger characters including the gay story. A little more swearing & sex, but not too much.
5) Produce audio plays featuring the old cast as younger versions of themselves in new adventures. The BBC does this with Doctor Who.
6) I would reboot it from before Higley & Griffith took over. Lure back Alison, James, a Will, get Paige back and Aiden back and especially Peter Reckell. Let Lauren Boles be Ciara.

I had forgotten DooL is facing Pumpkin Hour again. 

Let's hope for the best!

[wendylou]

I don't care if the show is on NBC or CBS (although CBS doesn't have a free app for me to watch) I just want someone in control who actually cares about good writing and who is in touch with the viewers. I feel like KC and the gang are completely off-base in what most people want to see - for example, this horrible Hope mess and the super-boring teens.