Days of Our Lives Review for the Week of 10-30-23: Two Weddings, A Halloween Fantasy, and…Murder?

Remember when weddings had been romantic, large-scale cleaning soap occasions?

Days of Our Lives used to go all out. Destination weddings. Romantic speeches. Couples’ love overcoming a disaster at the wedding ceremony itself (I nonetheless shiver each time I recall Kayla getting her voice again at her wedding ceremony to Steve.)

Instead of something like that, on Days of Our Lives throughout the week of 10-30-23, we received two tiny weddings. Did anybody really feel the romance right here?

Days of Our Lives has a smaller price range lately, and in the post-COVID world, the quantity of individuals on set at a time is severely restricted, however that does not imply weddings should be these shoestring affairs.

The rushed, guest-free weddings are purported to counsel that Nicole and Eric are making a mistake and may marry one another. But they had been so last-minute that it was unrealistic.

Putting collectively a marriage in a heartbeat is a foolish cleaning soap opera trope, however these went past that.

EJ and Nicole had few visitors — Tony and Anna had been conveniently out of city, and apparently, Nicole has no mates anymore. (Why did not she no less than invite Abe and Paulina?)

And so as to add insult to harm, they did not have an actual officiant, as a substitute counting on the new DAYS trope of selecting somebody who jumps on-line to get ordained simply in time for the ceremony.

This mess was insulting to EJ/Nicole shippers. The writers solely had these two undergo the motions of a marriage in order that EJ’s world could be turned the other way up when Nicole inevitably dumps him for Eric.

Why are the writers sacrificing this relationship for one more spherical of Eric and Nicole? Nicole hit the nail on the head final time they broke up when she stated that their attraction to one another was based mostly on nostalgia and that they’re too completely different for a relationship to succeed.

That perception ought to make her keep away from Eric completely. Also, that is the twenty first century, the place many divorced individuals co-parent.

Days of Our Lives must dump this antiquated thought that individuals have to be married for the child’s sake and cease utilizing that as an excuse to float again towards somebody whom they do not belong with.

Eric and Sloan’s wedding ceremony was much more ridiculous. At least there was real love between EJ and Nicole, even when it isn’t meant to final.

Eric did exactly what Nicole did with Rafe: get married so he may show to the world he’d moved on. When Nicole tried it, it led to her and Eric having an affair that destroyed her relationship.

Can we please do one thing completely different this time?

Eric and Sloan’s wedding ceremony was so shortly thrown collectively that Brady did not comprehend it was taking place — and if he hadn’t walked in, Eric would have had no finest man.

Sloan had no maid of honor, both. You’d assume her new finest buddy Melinda would no less than be in attendance.

Sloan: Our first time making love as husband and spouse.
Eric: Did it really feel completely different?
Sloan: Oh, I felt… I felt extra linked to you.
Eric: I felt it too.
Sloan: Are you certain?

And if that pathetic excuse for a marriage, full with Roman’s resigned remark that it seems like Eric is married once more, wasn’t dangerous sufficient, the couple adopted it up with honeymoon intercourse on the sofa and Sloan questioning if Eric was certain marrying her was the proper transfer for him.

Even if Eric and Nicole are endgame, why make it so apparent that Eric and Sloan will not final? These lip service weddings are a waste of display time.

EJ and Nicole did not get a lot of a honeymoon both, however no less than Nicole’s hesitation was about the child kicking and never about EJ, and the two are working as a group to defeat Stefan and Gabi’s newest nonsense.

This couple has potential.

I did not like the thought once they first received collectively as a result of of their horrible historical past and the way EJ had not too long ago tried to regulate Sami’s habits. But now, they appear well-matched and have first rate chemistry.

I want they would not throw this away in order that Nicole can return to “true love” Eric.

It additionally irked me that Nicole informed Chad she may relate to his issue getting over Abigail’s dying as a result of she nonetheless had emotions for Eric. What? She misplaced Daniel in a drunk driving accident quickly after they received engaged.

Why is not she speaking about that, which instantly mirrors Chad’s expertise of dropping a accomplice to dying, as a substitute of some nonsense about lacking Eric regardless of shifting on?

Nicole and EJ’s wedding ceremony was additionally intertwined with this foolish Holly story.

Holly is a teen, so it is comprehensible that she would have a crush on Johnny and need she might be with him. But let’s not flip this into an obsessive love story.

Holly is so out of contact with actuality that her Halloween fantasy sequence during which she requested Tate to fake to assault her to get Johnny’s consideration did not appear out of character.

That’s…  not good.

And why is she so determined to maintain her emotions hidden? How does she assume Johnny selecting her over Chanel will work if she would not need anybody to know the way she feels about him?

I get not wanting him to know till she’s certain he feels the similar means (which will likely be by no means), however why is it that Nicole, Eric, and different adults have to assume she’s not into Johnny?

Chad ought to have invited Stephanie to the wedding ceremony as a substitute of assuming it could upset or anger her. Deciding to not solely created additional distance for no cause and opened the door for a battle over Everett.

I have not been proud of Stephanie since this story started.

She supposedly understands that Chad remains to be grieving and informed him once they first received collectively that she could be keen to take it as slowly as he wants. Then, out of nowhere, she determined that it was unfair that she needed to compete with a ghost.

Stephanie’s been coming off as extraordinarily self-centered, and the means she’s dealt with Everett’s re-emergence in her life hasn’t helped. She selected to go to mattress slightly than speak to Chad when he received residence and was busy taking a look at photographs of Everett as a substitute.

So her excuse that she simply hasn’t had an opportunity to inform Chad but is BS, and it seems like she’s drifting from Chad to Everett it doesn’t matter what she says.

Chad bears some duty for this example, too. He hasn’t completed something to work via his emotions of grief, no less than not in current reminiscence, and is giving Stephanie a lot house that there is been a complete communication breakdown.

But Stephanie not solely failed to inform Chad about Everett’s existence but additionally spent half an hour venting to him about the issues in her marriage regardless of saying that it was none of Everett’s enterprise.

Everett: You did not inform your boyfriend ab out operating into me?
Stephanie: It’s not like I saved it from him. I had an early assembly this morning and final night time when he received residence —
Everett: Look, I do know you two are having issues. I noticed you arguing at the Pub, keep in mind?
Stephanie: That was no large deal.
Everett: You ran out in tears.
Stephanie: You actually should not spy on individuals, Everett. It’s creepy and bizarre.

Everett is just not Nick regardless of being performed by Blake Berris. Still, it is onerous to consider he is a superb man with genuinely optimistic intentions when he is been following Stephanie round, spying on her, and now received a job in her hometown so that they’re going to be in shut proximity.

Why would Stephanie, who rejected Alex over his stalker-lite habits, even give this man the time of day? His story about the coma provides up much less and fewer the extra we find out about him — a widely known native reporter lands in a coma, and nobody acknowledges him? Really? — and he is appearing bizarre.

Stephanie must run distant, but it surely looks as if as a substitute, she’s gearing up for an affair. Right now, that hug is harmless, however after the subsequent argument over it, will she flip towards Everett for consolation?

There was additionally some foolish Halloween stuff that wasted an hour. The Halloween fantasies get more and more over the prime yearly; cannot we now have a Halloween episode with individuals going trick-or-treating or to events?

And we lastly received some Abe/Paulina time, solely for it to descend right into a nonsensical dream during which Whitley managed to show Paulina into herself after hitting Abe over the head once more. This was such a waste of Jackee Harry, James Reynolds, and Kim Coles’ abilities.

The largest story of the week, of course, was Li’s homicide.

Murder mysteries are overdone on Days of Our Lives.

Li’s dying was a shock, although. After Gabi blackmailed him out of his shares, he had a knife in his hand and appeared set on killing her. And with Camila Banus exiting Days of Our Lives quickly, many viewers anticipated Gabi would depart in a physique bag.

Instead, Stefan walked in on Gabi holding a bloody knife and Li lifeless on the flooring. This set-up makes it apparent that Gabi killed Li, so she most likely did not.

Still, Gabi may be headed again to jail for some time. If she is harmless, she’ll be cleared finally — however will a brand new actress take over the position, or will Gabi resolve to reside elsewhere since everybody thinks she’s a murderess?

If Gabi did kill Li, it is similar to her homicide of Nick, who she shot in the again after placing up with him stalking and tormenting her for ages.

But there may be one other risk right here.

EJ swore he’d get again on prime of Dimera Enterprises and get revenge on Stefan and Gabi. So, it isn’t past the realm of risk that he had one of his employed goons kill Li and lure Gabi to the house to search out the physique.

EJ: The second I discovered Rolf had you on ice, I ought to have informed him to tear Jake’s coronary heart out of your chest.
Stefan: See, EJ, that is why I’m such a greater chess participant than you’re. While you are sitting right here second-guessing your self, I’m all the time 5 strikes forward.
EJ: This match is much from over.
Stefan: Hmm. The solely factor sadder than a mediocre chess participant is one who would not understand he is been bested.
Gabi: Enjoy your prolonged honeymoon.
EJ: And you two take pleasure in your little victory. as a result of I promise you it will not final. Not solely will I be again on prime at Dimera, however I’ll ensure you pay dearly for what you will have completed.

We know he did not do it himself as a result of he and Nicole had been headed to the secret room for some enjoyable time, however we do not know what he was as much as between leaving Stefan’s bed room and speaking to Nicole in the lounge.

Besides, consistency is not a factor on Days of Our Lives; if the writers need EJ to have made a name, they’re going to shoehorn it in even when it would not make logistical sense.

What do you assume, Days of Our Lives fanatics? Did Gabi kill Li? Were both of the weddings satisfying? And would you like Nicole to be with EJ or with Eric?

Hit the large, blue SHOW COMMENTS button and tell us! And do not forget to test again on Sunday for the newest Days of Our Lives Round Table dialogue.

Days of Our Lives streams solely on Peacock. New episodes drop on weekday mornings at 6/5c.

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