How Days of our Lives Blew a Golden Opportunity To Diversify Salem

When All My Children alum William Christian first appeared on Days of our Lives as TR Coates, Paulina Price’s former lover, and Lani Price Grant’s biological father, we were intrigued. Sure, he was a ruthless businessman with a past that included drug dealing and abuse.

Days of our Lives Blew It

But, hey, that still didn’t make him one of the worst people in Salem. We’ve got serial killers and kidnappers and rapists and blackmailers walking the streets on a regular basis. If they could be reformed, so could TR.

Peaceful Interlude

Especially if, as he kept swearing, he’d reformed. He’d done a lot of soul-searching, gone through a lot of therapy, owned up to his past misdeeds, and now wanted to make amends. Multi-murderer Ben Weston (Robert Scott Wilson) did it. Former sexual assailant Jack Deveraux (Matthew Ashford) did it. Ex-drug dealer Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) did it. So why not TR?

Days of our Lives: Reaching Out

TR seemed to really want to be a father to Lani (Sal Stowers). He wanted to reconcile with Paulina (Jackee Harry). And he was a grandpa to Carver and Jules now! Plus, he looked fabulous in those designer suits, and had a smile and a twinkle in his eye to make a girl melt. What a wonderful opportunity to bring yet another leading man of color to Salem – Abe must be tired of his forty-plus years as the token representative.

Down the Drain

But, no sooner had fans been charmed by TR, than The Powers That Be pulled the rug out from under us. Guess what, TR was still the same slime bucket he’d always been. He was still a drug dealer! He still beat up women! And he shot Eli Grant (Lamon Archey) in cold blood to keep his activities a secret. Now, that his crimes are about to be exposed, TR appears to be on his way out. Which is a terrible waste. And an even worse missed opportunity.

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.

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