laurisa

A few years ago, there was a crazy serial killer sweeping through Salem. At that time, a staggering seven characters were cut! (And poisoned, and bludgeoned, and mauled, well…you get the idea) They tried to tell me that Marlena was the killer, but I knew better. The real killer was a known nemesis called “Budget Cuts” – an enemy greater than all the DiMeras and Kiriakis combined. However, that same monster isn’t responsible for what lies ahead of DAYS this summer.

In the interview that started it all, we learned that DAYS will see six go and six return between now and September. Yes, you read that right. Unlike 2003/2004’s killer storyline, Corday has come right out and said that this isn’t about budget, but is about getting rid of some characters and replacing them with characters that are, “loved and are dear to the audience.” (His words, not mine)

So, what to make of the announcement? Well, I’m overjoyed to hear the can-do attitude coming from the show’s head master. Proactive is always better than sticking with the same thing that isn’t working. However, in the spirit of fairness (and the Two Scoops mantra!) I came up with two different view points on each of the castings. Please hit me up in the comment section and let me know your thoughts too!

In:

1. Deidre Hall as Marlena Evans


Why: Well aside from the fact that she’s arguably the most recognizable DAYS star in history, there’s been no psychiatrist in town since she left. Marlena’s medical cloaked advice served as the Greek chorus for Salem, and that element has been missing since Doc left for the Swiss Alps.
Why Not: No storyline. I mean, sure, I assume that she’ll come back to wrangle Sami, but Rafe pretty much has that covered. And since she didn’t care enough about Sami to show concern when her mess of a daughter shot E.J. in the head, I have a hard time believing that Marlena cares now.
How She Should Enter: Marlena is at her best when she’s squaring off with Stefano, so I hope that her first scene is getting off the Fancy Face IV (oh yeah, Shawn and Belle picked them up from Switzerland and are giving them a lift to Salem) and saying a smirky, yet classy, hello to Stefano who’s waiting at the docks to oversee a shipment.

2. Drake Hogestyn as John Black
Why: The dude has a plethora of unanswered questions that viewers would like answers to. The least of which is, “Can he walk again?” The most of which is, “How is this DiMera going to interact with his half brother, Stefano and all that entails- including, but not limited to, his sister-in-law/ex-fiancé Kate?” Juicy reveals await!
Why Not: How is John going to share the rebel-with-a-cause storylines with Rafe? They can’t both be head cowboy. Also, John annoys my mom. (She’s an old school Roman/Marlena fan)
How He Should Enter: Of course he’d arrive with Marlena, but I’d like the first time I see him to be split-screen style with Sami. Needing to find someone who they can trust and someone with intel on the DiMera basement, Sami decided to call her ex-ISA/step daddy.

3. Mathew Ashford as Jack Deveraux


Why: While we believe that he cooked up a harebrained scheme to get away from Jennifer, we don’t buy for a hot second that he went incommunicado with his kids- especially Abby. He needs to come back just to defend is “World’s Greatest Dad” mug.
Why Not: Jennifer is in a relationship where she’s an equal partner. She hasn’t been in one like that since Frankie. And, it’s nice to see our favorite Golden Girl be treated like a person and not a fragile toddler who can’t handle any sort of bad news. We don’t know if Jack will do that, but we can bet our life savings that Jennifer will give him the chance.
How He Should Enter: Forgo the dreaded “looking thought a window at Jennifer until he can find the biggest moment to walk in” shtick. Instead, try to undo some of the character damage done in the past few months by first showing Jack being held prisoner by Peter Blake or Nicolas Alamain.

4. Freddy Smith as Sonny Kiriakis

Why:It’s summer and hardly any 20-something live in Salem. The ones that are around haven’t had a real storyline…since…maybe Chad was going to take his friends to Vancouver for the Olympics? Plus, I need to know what was so dang important that he couldn’t make it to his own parents’ wedding!
Why not:He’s the unknown return. We’re losing tenured characters like Carly, Chloe, and Vivian for him, so he better be worth it. But, recent history indicates that characters brought back for a new go-round after virtually no screen time before don’t fare well. (See: Taylor)
How he should enter:How else? On the Titan jet, with full designer duds, and aviators. I want Victor’s nephew to pick up in the Kiriakis swagger where Philip left off. Sonny should be cool, like, The-Fonz-meets-Danny-Ocean cool.

5. Mark Hapka as Nathan Horton (Rumor- Not confirmed by SOC at posting time)

Why:His exit felt rushed and synthetic. It’s not just because he left things undone with Melanie. It’s because he left with Tom Horton’s little black doctor bag. Excuse me please, but that bag needs to stay in Salem, thankyouverymuch!
Why Not:Aside from being bestowed with The Bag, the show never did much to establish him as a Horton. Mainly, we have no idea who his father is, nor did we get a lot of Nathan/(insert Horton of your choice here). He was too busy chasing Melanie and Stephanie around to remember why he was in Salem in the first place- to establish the next gen of Horton men!
How he should enter: He’s showed up at Mel’s door and poured his heart out to her before and it hasn’t worked. So, he should opt for the “A.C. Slater” approach where he just enter, proclaim that Melanie loves him, and just wait for Mel to come around.

6. Wishful Thinking:


Lucas Horton

Why: Because Allie needs to come home and why shouldn’t she travel with her dad? Plus, it would be nice for Will to have a present parent in his life now that Sami and Rafe are a little busy. Finally, it would do my heart good to see Daniel apologize to Lucas’s face rather than Lucas’s sister for being such a he-slut when it came to Chloe.
Why not: There’s no one for him to date, meaning that Kate will have to actually run other aspects of his life. Plus, viewers would start to notice that Rafe is Lucas 2.0, only without the pluck and history with Sami.
How he should enter:Through the kitchen door at Maggie’s house, with Allie, while Maggie, Jen, and Hope are all having tea and cookies at the table. If Doug and Julie happened to be there, well, that wouldn’t be so terrible either.

AND/OR

Ava Vitali

Why: 1) We’d get to keep Tamara Braun
2) Who doesn’t want Ava and a manlier Lucas to hook up and turn Ava into Kate’s daughter-in-law?Something tells me Kate might actually approve of this one and thus a new chapter could begin
3)Ava + Nicole = massive delight
4)John Black really should know about his baby who, if in existence, would be part DiMera, part Vital, and part Brady.I’m dying to see how that combination would work out.
Why Not: Because the soap gods hate me and never give me what I want.
How she should enter: After Nicole gets arrested for assault (Taylor turned her in), Nicole’s one phone call is to the one friend that is just as equal a baddass as Nicole. Since the statute of limitations has run out on her crimes, Ava returns to Salem to help Nicole.



Who's leaving? Check out my thoughts on the ousters right here!