A Critic’s Review Of Days of our Lives: Origin Story & A Welcome Back

When it comes to Days of our Lives, every fan has their own opinion – and Soap Hub is no different. For five days we sat and watched 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 week that was.

Days of our Lives: The Critic’s POV

I’m thoroughly convinced that only Ron Carlivati — a man whom I frequently find myself defending in this column, much to ya’lls combined chagrin — would find it wholly acceptable to unceremoniously, and without fanfare, kill off a legacy character like Tommy Horton. How utterly disgraceful and what a disservice to one of DAYS’ most catalytic creations.

And why oh why does just about every writer who comes onto this show think that it falls to them to give John Black (Drake Hogestyn) his origin story? Personally, I would have been fine with him remaining an inferior Roman Brady, but I did manage to get behind him being Forrest Alamain. Being Daphne DiMera’s son and then later Colleen Brady’s stretched even absurdity, but the whole “son of a wanna-be-China man who looked suspiciously like the Jigsaw Killer and proved to be far crazier” was just the limit.

Now we’re told that John Black is still John Robicheaux, son of Timothy and Maude Robicheaux of Louisiana but that Timothy Robicheaux AKA Yo-Ling was actually Joseph Bell. Also, I’m still not sure what you would call naming a coward/deserter Joseph Bell [as in William Joseph Bell, former head writer of DAYS and creator of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful] but playful homage certainly ain’t it.

Further DAYS Musings

* Finally, plucking up the courage to pour his heart out to Chanel (Raven Bowens) and then leaving the decision of what to do next in her hands may have been the most adult thing Johnny (Carson Boatman) has done since his arrival.

* I’m sad to say that Victor’s memorial service was a big bust. That’s the best the company could come up with? And I know, I know, “budgetary restrictions” and all that. But this is when supposed show steward Ken Corday should have reached into those overflowing coffers of his and shilled out the bucks to make this a proper shindig worthy of the Kiriakis Titan and the man who so effortlessly brought him to life.

That said, welcome back Madame Alamain! Ms. Sorel, you have been greatly missed! And how gratifying it seems that Vivian will be around for the long haul, what with Vivian inheriting Victor’s millions.

* Now, is it just me or does Brady’s (Eric Martsolf) vehement decrying of Theresa’s (Jen Lilley) attempts to forge a reconciliation not ring true to the relationship we’ve seen the two develop (albeit it mostly offscreen)? Then again, Ron’s writing philosophy has always tended to be more “The story is what I say it is” rather than “Let’s tell a story that’s true to character and keeping with their throughline and easily verifiable history.”

* Oh yay! An on-the-run storyline starring Carly Roberts and Jason Morgan *ahem* Ava Vitali (Tamara Braun) and Harris Michaels (Steve Burton)! — said no one, ever.

* Still harping on the dud that was “Who’s John Doe?” … Why did Tommy Horton ring a bell with Timothy? Were they and Joseph all in the same unit together? Was the bomb that blew Timothy and Joseph out of the foxhole the same one that necessitated Tommy’s plastic surgery? I need answers that I’m fairly certain will never be forthcoming.

The best place for true soap fans to be is our Facebook groups. Have you joined? If you love soap spoilers, gossip, and fans as dedicated as yourself, check out Days of our Lives Fans, General Hospital Exclusive, The Young and the Restless Fans, and The Bold and the Beautiful Fans.