Days our Lives New Couples: Who’s Working? Who’s Not?

Days of our Lives has introduced some interesting new couples in 2021. Some caught viewers totally by surprise, while others were somewhat expected.

Days of our Lives: Rating The New Couples

How are the new pairings faring as the show gets ready to set things up for a fun fall season? Here’s an assessment of who’s working…and who’s not.

Abe Carver and Paulina Price
The pairing of by-the-book conservative Abe (James Reynolds) and wildcat Paulina (Jackée Harry) was a tad risky. Aside from being polar opposites, he’d already romanced her sister, Tamara (Marilyn McCoo). Yet, somehow the offbeat duo works.

Abe steadies Paulina and makes her want to be a better woman. Paulina brings out Abe’s playful and fun side. They’re a perfect mismatch. But will they be able to survive, when the truth about Lani’s (Sal Stowers) parentage is finally revealed?

Gwen Rizczech and Xander Cook
After Sarah (Linsey Godfrey) split town (at least he thinks that’s what happened), things looked bleak for Xander (Paul Telfer). She was his true love; the woman who got him to turn his dismal life around. Without her, he was nothing.

Enter Gwen (Emily O’Brien) and everything changed. They started out as contentious roommates at the Horton house until blackmail, drug smuggling, an accidental death, and a cover-up brought them together. How’s that for an aphrodisiac? It’s all made for a very promising and intriguing couple.

Tripp Johnson and Allie Horton
It’s hard to understand the Days of our Lives writers’ vision for this duo. After a twisted start – Allie (Lindsay Arnold) accused Tripp (Lucas Adams) of rape only to find out his brother, Charlie (Mike Manning) was the culprit – Allie and Tripp found themselves smitten with each other.

It had all the makings of a sweet love story, until Chanel (Raven Bowens) kissed Allie, making her question what she really wants. It’s got viewers confused, too. Perhaps it’s time Tripp moves on. The good guy deserves better – namely, a young woman who’s fully committed to him.

Johnny DiMera and Chanel Dupree
An offshoot of the Tripp/Allie/Chanel triangle has been the introduction of Allie’s twin, Johnny (Carson Boatman), to create a new quadrangle. The problem is the whole thing is totally contrived.

Of all the girls in Salem, Johnny just happened to meet and fall for his sister’s bestie and crush (granted, she’s one of the few in town he’s not related to)? It’s too forced and unrealistic, which makes it hard to get on board for the romantic ride — if that’s where the duo is headed.

Rafe Hernandez and Ava Vitali
The cop and the mafia princess were an odd match, but from the moment Ava (Tamara Braun) moved into Rafe’s (Galen Gering) home, the odd coupling has worked. The twosome became friends, first. Along the way, she started cooking him Italian meals, he started enjoying it, and things progressed – naturally.

An actual romance blossomed. Together, Ava and Rafe are real and appealing Bringing Ava’s pal, the soon-to-be single Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker), into the mix is definitely going to challenge the relationship, considering Nicole and Rafe’s unresolved feelings for each other, but that only makes things more interesting.

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.