A Critic’s Review of Days of our Lives: Nod To The Best Of Times

When it comes to Days of our Lives, every fan has their own opinion – and Soap Hub is no different. For five days during the Olympic break we sat and watched the teaser previews and thought about the good, the bad, and everything in between, and now we offer you a handy review, and a cheeky critique, of the Days of our Lives.

Days of our Lives: A Critic’s Week In Review

Days of our Lives has promised a whole lot of juicy drama upon their return, but what has yours truly the most excited? I’m shocking myself here by saying it’s Sarah Horton’s (Linsey Godfrey) assumption of Renee DuMonde’s identity.

My editors who read this are also going to be surprised because they can tell you I bristled and complained – LOUDLY – when this particular storyline was teased. I immediately declared it an insult to Philece Sampler and told them that I washed my hands of Ron Carlivati. And then I sat and thought about it.

I’ve come around…but only because I’m desperately hoping that this will finally give Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley something to do other than stand in the background of scenes and be their fabulous selves.

The Renee/Tony DiMera/Anna Fredricks DiMera triangle – which was later augmented into the Renee/Tony/Anna/David Banning quadrangle – was Days of our Lives at its very best. Here’s hoping will be privy to flashbacks galore.

All the above being said, I can’t help but think that the better, far funkier take on this storyline would have been for Sarah to take on the personage of Renee’s mother – an actual known diarist unlike Renee – Lee DuMonde (Brenda Benet).

Lee, as a few of you may recall, was the Southern-fried She-Devil who roared into Salem hell-bent on getting her hands on the millions that Doug Williams (Bill Hayes) inherited from his twin brother, Byron. She married her mark, hired an assassin to rid her of the nuisance that was Julie Olson Banning (Susan Seaforth Hayes), and welcomed the equally diabolical Stefano DiMera (Joe Mascolo) into her home when he was in need of lodging.

Surely Sarah as Lee fawning all over 96-year-old silver fox Hayes – and making life a misery for Julie – is no sillier than Sarah as Renee fawning all over still hot to trot, 76-year-old Penghlis.

Further DAYS Musings

* Am I the only one peeved that Jack Deveraux (Matthew Ashford) has to tell Xander Cook (Paul Telfer) that the Sarah that dumped him was really Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) in disguise? Surely Xanimal’s smart enough to figure that one out on his own. Then again, he has had ample opportunity…

* Here’s an idea Gabi Hernandez DiMera (Camila Banus)…why not call Jake DiMera (Brandon Barash) out on his shenanigans and see what he has to say for himself rather than resort to all this subterfuge with Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman)?

* No. No, Paulina Price (Jackée Harry). I do not think that you should believe TR Coates (William Christian) when he says that he’s changed. I do, however, think that vase of flowers shouldn’t have to suffer such an undignified fate.

* Time is wonky construct for soap operas in general, and Days of our Lives in particular, but exactly how far into the future are those scenes featuring Ciara Brady Weston (Victoria Konefal) giving birth?

Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Salem, check out all the latest that’s been posted on DAYS spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.