The Mystery Of a Soap Opera Whodunnit? How Fans Really Feel About Them!

Who killed J.R. was the biggest question ever asked on a primetime soap, and daytime soap operas have never been shy about following suit.

Every show currently on the air (and all the ones we still miss) have run their share of murder mysteries, and Days Of Our Lives appears to be at the end of Who Killed Deimos as we speak.

But do fans actually like these detours from Love In the Afternoon? Almost 10,000 plunged in the knife with their answers.

Who, What, Where, When and Why Matter!
For 40%, it’s not a question of whether or not they like mysteries — it’s how they play out.

For every riveting Who Killed Will on All My Children (Janet from Another Planet, even if she was in jail at the time), there is One Life to Live’s Who Killed Michael (it was Roger, who was in a coma at the time).

General Hospital offloaded Who Killed Silas on Madeline (Donna Mills, who won an Emmy, nonetheless), for the flimsiest of reasons, while DAYS’ Nicole (Arianne Zucker) has a good reason for killing Deimos, but the fact she’s leaving suggests there might not be a satisfying resolution.

Execution is everything.

Love and Death
A murder mystery brings out the best — and worst — in multiple characters. It’s a chance to see them under pressure and to learn all sorts of heretofore unrevealed secrets. That’s why 36% of you can’t get enough!

Besides, looking for a killer is how many a couple fell in love, especially on DAYS. Heck, without a crime wave, everyone might still be single!

Make Love, Not War
Keep your gore in primetime, grouse 24% of the audience. Daytime is for watching love bloom and families snipe. Every moment spent sleuthing is a moment not spent on your favorite couple.

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