Rating the Replacement: Cherie Jimenez as Gabi on Days of our Lives

Cherie Jimenez took over the role of Gabi Hernandez DiMera on Days of our Lives on June 27. Now that the summer is over and she’s had time to trade in her prison blues for Gabi Chic duds…or nothing at all, it’s time to rate the replacement!

Down and Out

Jimenez first stepped into Gabi’s shoes from a prison visiting cell, where she was happy to see Stefan (Brandon Barash) but sad to be still serving time for a murder she didn’t commit. In those scenes, we admit it. We didn’t see the spark and passion that Camila Banus brought to the role and grew a little apprehensive about the recast. But then…

READ THIS: Here’s what you need to know about Cherie Jimenez.

Home Again, Home Again

But then, Gabi got home. And found out that Stefan was blackmailing EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) over the paternity of Nicole’s (Arianne Zucker) baby. Gabi exposed EJ’s lies live during his mayoral press conference, and, yes, that’s where we saw flashes of the old Gabi.

Things got even better when Gabi faced her next body blow: Learning that Stefan slept with Ava (Tamara Braun) while Gabi was in jail. Now she was angry. And Jimenez was getting better and better.

Third Act Plot Twist

Gabi #2 really hit her stride; however, when Gabi decided to seduce EJ, she wanted to get back at Stefan. In those scenes, Jimenez truly made Gabi her own. Her chemistry with co-star Dan Feuerriegel was hot, confrontational, scheming…and very different from Banus’s. But just as good.

It got even better the morning after, when Gabi was first defiant with EJ, then mocking, and then somewhat vulnerable. Yes, she’d slept with EJ to stick it to Stefan. But she wasn’t sure if she wanted him to know yet. Gabi claimed it was because she sought the optimal time to make Stefan suffer. EJ suspected she was still in love with her husband. Gabi’s denials were layered and emotional. And Cherie Jimenez has finally made Gabriella Hernandez DiMera her own. Kudos to this recast!