It’s not uncommon for characters to come and go from Salem. A slew of beloved Salemites recently returned to Days of our Lives for John’s memorial, while Emily O’Brien reprised both of her characters this year. Now, DAYS has said goodbye to a recent fan-favorite, and viewers aren’t pleased with the turn of events.
Gone Too Soon
Back in December after Doug’s (the late Bill Hayes) emotional funeral, Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) came face-to-face with a godsend: her husband’s long-lost grandson, Doug III (Peyton Meyer). He charmed his way I to staying with Julie at the Horton House, only for it to be revealed that he stole Julie’s necklace from the time capsule.
Of course, Doug III wasn’t as bad as he seemed. Sure, he spent a night in jail just like his grandfather, and he owed an unknown amount of money to loan sharks, but deep down, he proved to be a good guy. He cared for Julie and her family family, made a pal in Leo (Greg Rikaart), and had true feelings for Holly (Ashley Puzemis). In fact, we were gearing up for a love triangle between Doug III, Holly, and Ari (Marissa Reyes).
So, where did things go wrong? Doug III has officially left Salem, and fans aren’t very happy about the character’s lost potential.
“What a wasted opportunity with @DaysPeacock writing of Doug III. They actually spent time getting us to care about him only to write him off in months. He was the best younger character #DaysofOurLives has had in quite awhile,” one viewer asserted, while another agreed, “Lots of potential with Doug, hope he comes back soon.”
Another viewer complimented Meyer on his portrayal of the short-lived character. “PM did such a great job. He played his scenes with so much sincerity during all his interactions with Julie, even when she kicked him out and was mean to him. I loved all those bonding scenes where Julie talked about his grandfather. I loved his chemistry with Holly.”
How did you like Doug III’s run on DAYS? Let us know in the comments.
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