Since Ron Carlivati took over the reins at Days of Our Lives, the soap has been operating at peak performance level.
The new head writer has revamped and revitalized the show with compelling plots told at a swifter pace while highlighting key actors who have delivered powerful performances. It’s resulted in a much more dynamic soap.
Here are five reasons Ron Carlivati’s DAYS is better than ever.
Will’s Alive
The first step in the turnaround was bringing back Will, a deeply rooted character who should never have been killed off. Getting three-time Daytime Emmy winner Chandler Massey to resurrect the role was key.
His return has encompassed numerous Salemites from Lucas (Bryan Dattilo) to Sonny (Freddie Smith) to Paul (Christopher Sean) and breathed new life into Marlena (Deidre Hall), who’s reemerged as her grandson’s trusted confidante.
Powerful Plots…
The Will’s alive twist was quickly followed by Theo’s accidental shooting and JJ’s (Casey Moss) emotional downfall and contemplation of suicide. Just as that wrapped, Stefan O. DiMera (Tyler Christopher) appeared on the scene ready to fight for control of his family’s business.
And, of course, there was Eve’s (Kassie DePaiva) return as the surprise new addition to the Kiriakis clan, determined to stake her claim to what she sees as rightfully hers.
Leading to Stellar Performances
The aforementioned storylines have set the stage for stellar performances that should serve DAYS well at Emmy time. Massey could vie for his fourth trophy portraying the confused Will, who’s trying to reacclimate to his old life.
James Reynolds deserves a nomination for his intense depiction of the outraged Abe, a father desperate for justice for his son, while Moss has been spot-on and vulnerable playing a broken young man trying to cope with what he did.
Key Comebacks
Whether longterm or short, Carlivati brought back a slew of favorites to tell his stories, adding to their impact. Alison Sweeney turned up as Sami to drive the search for Will. Eileen Davidson returned as Susan, the force behind Will’s abduction, with some help from Will Utay’s Dr. Rolf.
Matthew Ashford resurfaced as Jack for flashback scenes with the troubled JJ. And, of course, Louise Sorel is back as the outrageous Vivian.
A Blend of Young and Old
While providing ample story for the soap’s youth, Carlivati has also shown great appreciation for its vets. He’s breathed new life into Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) and Doug (Bill Hayes) by reviving Doug’s Place and brought back the mighty Vivian.
Meanwhile, Claire (Olivia Rose Keegan) and Ciara (Victoria Konefal) have emerged as battling teens, while JJ, Lani (Sal Stowers), Eli (Lamon Archey), and Gabi (Camila Banus) have developed into a complicated quartet. It’s a perfect blend of young and old.
Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes.
Video Credit: Chandler Massey 'Fan Channel'
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