SID: Rating the Reboot! (Read 484 times)

[karebr13]

from daytime royalty

daytimeroyaltyonline.com/topic/8594463/1/


SID: Rating the Reboot!

Let's face it: For a while there, Days of Our Lives was incredibly difficult to watch. (One word: RoboRafe.) After months of complains from the show's always-vocal viewers, new headwriters Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas were brought in to right the ship. And on September 26th, we got out first official look at their work as everyone gathered to celebrate the opening of a town square dedicated to beloved Salem residents Tom and Alice Horton.

For longtime viewers -- and, perhaps more importantly, lapsed ones who tuned in to see what all the fuss was about -- the change was immediately noticeable and went far beyond the obvious cosmetic one represented by the beautiful new town square set. And over the next two weeks, things only got better as old favorites returned (John! Marlena! Carrie! Jack!) and exciting new plots were introduced via EJ's attempt to change his image by running for mayor and the introduction of newbie Madison James (soap-hopping vet Sarah Joy Brown).

But let's get to why we're really here: What's working... and what's not?

The Good Stuff

Simply put, Days has, almost overnight, become the most watchable soap on the airwaves. Who could have predicted that Brown's Madison would have off-the-charts chemistry with Eric Martsolf's Brady? Or that a ripped-from-the-headlines story involving John's arrest for supposedly having cheated his investors (a la Bernie Madoff) would ripple across the canvas and impact not only his loved ones but longtime foes the DiMeras? And how brilliant was it to build a new mystery for Bo and Hope to investigated that centers on her beloved "Gran," Alice?

There's also seriously good drama unfolding under the Deveraux roof as Jack's return has thrown a major monkey wrench into Jennifer's romance with Daniel. (An unexpected standout in this story? Kate Mansi, whose Abigail is filled with understandable rage toward her newly returned dad.)

Works In Progress

Of course, we wouldn't be us if we didn't have at least a few complaints. For example, what a horrible time to write off Crystal Chappell's Carly! Hello? Jen needs her best friend more than ever (and Daniel could soon be single again!). And much as we dig the town square, Days needs to be careful not to set every scene in it a la Y&R's "Genoa City Athletic Club." Another problem? Too much info being released! For months before the big reboot, fans knew who'd be back, that EJ would run for mayor, etc. Now that the show has lured folks in, it's time to cut off the flow of information and let us go along for the ride. And from what we've seen so far, it's going to be an E-ticket thrill-a-minute that we wouldn't miss!

[sportsgirl]

A horrible time to write off Carly??? They got this wrong. It was a horrible time to write off Chloe.

[jaysdelina]

Honestly,and don't all throw anything at me,I don't think it was a horrible time to write off Chloe.She needed to be written off.Jay had left and Philip took Parker with him.That was incentive enough for Chloe to try to put her life back together,realize she had a son who needed her,and she needed to do everything she could to get her life together so she could be with him.Yes she swallowed her pride and let Brady help her,which was good,but ultimately Chloe had to decide that she really needed to get out of the rut she was in.I'm glad they wrote her off so soon after Jay left.At least we know that Parker's still a baby,and she can really go raise her child before he's old enough to realize what he'd been through at Mom's hands.

[sportsgirl]

No throwing here... I could have seen Chloe getting a professional singing job here in Salem and getting shared custody of Parker. Perhaps she could have eventually been hooked up again with Brady. It would also open the door for JKJ to possibly come back to Salem. (wishing this for all you Phloe fans) A succesful nightclub with Chloe as the entertainment could be very nice for this Salem crew to hang in. Maybe revive Doug's Place? ;D

[jaysdelina]

The way they've written it though,there's still a chance for JKJ to come back (you hear that soap gods?),and there's a chance for Chloe to come back with him (my hope for the Phloes),which would be nice.I won't lie,I'd love to have my Phelanie back,but that seems highly unlikely,so if I can't have that,Phloe will do nicely

[DancingDays]

I disagree with the article writer that Carly left too soon. She was on too long!!! But, then again, maybe I feel that way because her story (with the old writers) was just sooooo bad.

As for Chloe, other than being with Brady and occasionally singing, what else is there for her to do? I'm happy to think of her in Chicago with Philip and Parker and them raising their family together.

[jaysdelina]

Oct 21, 2011 10:24:34 GMT -5 DancingDays said:

As for Chloe, other than being with Brady and occasionally singing, what else is there for her to do? I'm happy to think of her in Chicago with Philip and Parker and them raising their family together.

And that's exactly it.With her exiting when she did,the Phloes get a little something,even if it is offscreen.

[fluffysmom]

I agree that TPTB need to quit letting out all of the info in advance. Some spoilers are good but not every single thing needs to be known ahead of time.

[jaysdelina]

I can definitely agree with that fluffy.I was afraid the reboot would fall flat with all the info leaked.