It’s Time to Choose Sides as Sarah and Xander Go to War — and Vivian’s Murderous Tendencies Finally Pay Off!
Days of Our Lives hit us with emotion, betrayal, heartbreak and triumph. Plus we got a few doses of revenge, some amazing performances, psychic crumbs and a killer cliffhanger! In short, it was a darn good week! Though those crumbs were a tad much…
Once More, With Feeling
Before we get to that cliffhanger, I’m starting out with the stuff I loved this week. Because there were some powerful scenes that made my daytime heart happy.
Chloe’s revelation to Xander and their subsequent farewell, then his confrontation with Sarah — my God, that’s how you do a soap. The breakup was sad and bittersweet. Nadia Bjorlin and Paul Telfer both did incredible work as Xander and Chloe handled the news with dignity and heartbreak. And Chloe’s tears as Xander finally admits that they can’t go on as if this didn’t happen and runs out to find Sarah felt so earned. Their romance could never work, but they still made me care about it. And that’s kind of amazing.
And then Xander and Sarah’s showdown ratcheted things up even more. I know some (OK, I saw a lot of) folks were annoyed with Sarah, while others cheered her on, but regardless, Linsey Godfrey did great. As did Telfer, especially when Xander pulled out the third person and went off on Perfect Sarah.
“You can list every sin ever committed, right down to my unpaid parking tickets, but that doesn’t give you the right to disqualify me as a father.” I will happily take a knockdown, drag out fight between Xander and Sarah. Let’s get this custody battle going. Maybe with Justin as Xander’s lawyer and poor Maggie caught in between.
But enough, Rex. Enough. Bow out, give it up and just annul the marriage. I rolled my eyes when he told his parents that Sarah wasn’t in a real relationship, but he was. That’s not how relationships work. If one of you isn’t actually in it, the other isn’t either.
And while I thought the Philip and Chloe stuff was well done, I’m not loving how they jammed it in there and undercut what we just saw with Xander. Chloe’s “I realized all this time, I still love you…” Look, I get it. You could tell a part of her was always holding back with Xander and you could probably say the same with how lackluster she and Brady were. But I wished we’d gotten more time to let her sit with her heartbreak instead of rushing her to leave with Philip. Because looking at next week, I’m pretty sure that’s where they’re going.
A Broken Family
Even if Alex turns out to be a misdirection and Xander ends up being the actual son (I will not stop crossing my fingers for that), the performances between Wally Kurth and Robert Scott Wilson this week kind of make it worth it. We’re getting great material as Justin deals with losing a man who was like a father and a son in a short period. When Justin cried as Bonnie held him, just like he did when Victor died, oof. That hurt.
And Alex… I actually felt for him as he had his family turned upside down and his life was a lie spent away from his real father. Yes, his wallowing did get a bit self-indulgent, but that’s why they sent in Sonny. I feel like Alex was speaking for the audience when he was telling Sonny how everyone respects Justin, but not him. Everyone loves Sonny, but not him. Alex was introduced very… strongly, and this, I have a feeling, is a way to reset him, rather than just adjust his trajectory.
Maybe this is the last piece needed to nudge Alex into being a good person (and a decent character)… or tip him the other way and decide to embrace Victor’s darker roots? But seriously, let’s hop on that DNA test, folks.
As for the rest of the will, Maggie’s evicting Vivian was so, so satisfying. And she had some killer lines, like when Vivian tore up the will: “Well that was very dramatic, but extremely useless. Just like you.” Go, Maggie, go!
Sex, Lies and Betrayal
Oddly enough, I found Vivian shooting Dimitri in the back also sublimely satisfying. But Maggie’s the real hero here. She kicked Viv out just in time for her to catch Dimitri trying to shoot Stefan and Gabi.
Gwen’s pie in Leo’s face was a bit on the nose, but I still want to see her unleash on him. Gwen is best when she’s being vicious and her and Kristen’s toying with Dimitri proved that for me. But not too vicious. Honestly, I might not have minded if the ladies did decide to kill Dimitri, but I’m glad they didn’t go through with it.
Vivian is just the right shade of bad to pull the trigger.
I don’t know what’s going to happen to Dimitri. He’s in spoilers for next week, so I don’t think they’re killing him, but attempted murder isn’t something to sneeze at. I’ve got some ideas from the preview about where Dimitri and Gwen will end up, but that’s about it. Even if Dimitri does stay out of jail, he plunged himself right back into villain territory again and if he’s paired with Leo, he’s going to end up pretty isolated and dead end.
We haven’t been getting nearly enough “Stabi,” but that moment that Stefan put himself between the gun and Gabi was such a sweet reminder of why they were popular. They have got to get more story before Camila Banus leaves.
Phenomenal Cosmic Powers?
I don’t know why I enjoyed Rafe’s shrugged, but also snarky, “I lied,” so much as he hung up on Tripp, but I like when he’s got some sass to him. And being with Jada has really helped to bring that out. His police work on the other hand…
“We just assumed [Susan] was incinerated.” Er, I don’t think assumptions are good police procedure, Rafe. I’m also far from an expert, but even I know that the amount of heat needed to burn bones is extreme. That’s not going to happen in a car fire. I’m not even sure it happens during cremation without some extra help. It might’ve been better to just gloss over not finding a body instead of trying to explain it.
Susan’s psychic powers keep growing! Visions, telepathy, astral projection with Ava, telekinesis moving those crumbs around, electro-magnetic pulses disrupting electricity (or causing the accident that knocked out the power, either way) in the DiMera mansion. Soon she’ll be unstoppable and go full Carrie on Edmund! Mwahaha! No but seriously, it’s a lot.
Also: What’s going on here? Bringing Edmund back (with original actor Adam Caine!) to reintroduce Susan 25 years after their romance is kind of a neat call to history. But they were wacky and sweet and their love (offscreen) was one of the most enduring relationships on Days of Our Lives for a time.
And now they’re revisiting it by making Edmund just another jilted ex who’s gone off the deep end? I kind of wish they’d have brought him back as a valid love for her again.
He’s Not Worth It
I was just wondering what happened to Li and Melinda and we finally got back to them! Breaking up. Luckily, Melinda got canned and I have a feeling her morals are going to start eroding, which could make her more of a perfect match for Li. They were both clearly conflicting about playing each other and how it ended.
As for what her and Sloan working together might mean, I had an idea you can read here.
And Eric? Agreeing to move in together is one thing, but just moving out of your place and into Sloan’s without notice and barging into her home with your bags without checking with Sloan is sociopathic behavior. What the hell? “Hi, I’m here with all my things so I can back you into a corner where you’re uncomfortable saying no!” Run away, Sloan. Run. Away. This man is so not worth destroying your life for.
Stray Thoughts…
• I kind of loved Chloe’s reaction to overhearing Rex and Philip. She shook her head in disbelief while at the same time looking like, “Of course that’s what happened…”
• Justin did a good job of putting Maggie at ease about how while her marriage really wasn’t ever legally valid, that doesn’t change the fact that Victor was her husband. But it still does sting a bit.
• Tripp and Wendy declared their love and… we’ve hardly seen them as a couple? I need a little more here, Days.