Race Against Time! Will Salem’s Biggest Anti-Hero Save Bo Before It’s Too Late?!

Credit: Peacock screenshot (4), Jill Johnson/JPI

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As EJ’s shooting stalls out with a suspect who almost certainly didn’t do it, Days of Our Lives spent much of the week setting up a race for the cure, as just about everyone wants to get their hands on the miracle drug that will save Bo. Oh, and Stephanie writes erotica now. 

Oh No, Johnny Didn’t

I think we got our answer over whether EJ’s really changed this week. Nope! But he’s trying! It’s like The Good Place. Maybe if he tries long enough, he’ll actually start being a better person for real. But yeah, his borderline threats to Kayla aren’t boding well. And his “It’s so hard to do good! Why isn’t everyone rewarding me?!” griping very much proved he’s missing the point.

More: Alison Sweeney unveils her surprise

I’m a bit more forgiving of his reaction to Johnny, though. Right now, he thinks Johnny flat out tried to murder him, and now his son is just relentlessly laying in about how much he despises him and always will. I’m not saying Johnny’s wrong to be angry, but just walk away rather than try to see how far you can push EJ.

I appreciate ending Friday with Chanel asking Johnny if he shot his dad, but the flashbacks already convinced me he didn’t. I wish they’d either switched the order of how this is happening or sped it up a bit. Because they went through this week acting like we’re supposed to believe Johnny still may have done it. Which I don’t. Unless he went back after that confrontation that EJ did remember.

Again, I wish they’d speed this up a bit — not rushing through suspects, but play your hand and keep it moving.

New Salem, New Day

I’ve been noticing that it’s not just different character interactions that feel new with the new writers, but it feels like the way things are shot have changed a bit, too. And that might be a result of the way the scenes are written.

Like Sarah’s allergic reaction felt much more dynamic and less fixed. Cat and Chad reacted and came over, Felicity and Chanel rushed out of the bakery, Javi and Leo, who had just been established as walking in the area, but weren’t obviously planted in the square, walked by and jumped into action. (Well, Javi did.)

We’re getting new connections, old connections renewed (I swear we’ve gotten more Johnny and Marlena scenes in the past few weeks than we’d had in years) and characters moving and flowing through scenes rather than just being static in little bubbles where they only interact with the same people. Salem feels more… alive to me.

Anyone else feeling the difference?

Who Will Save Your Bo?

That’s the big question the show set up this week. Is Steve and Shawn’s clandestine theft going to pay off? I’m guessing not. Next week’s spoilers have them and Kayla trying to uncover a mystery after the break in. Maybe the drug’s already missing. Maybe it doesn’t even exist! What if Dr. Russell is faking his research?

If he’s not and there’s some other reason the fellas are investigating a mystery, then it becomes a question of whether EJ or Xander buy the hospital and get their hands on the drug. Either one is perfectly capable of strong-arming Dr. Russell into testing its efficacy on Bo.

Then there’s the dark horse: Philip. He’s got some kind of plan next week. One idea could be making sure Xander gets the hospital, both to get back into his brother’s good graces and to help his other brother. And writing that out makes me realize how much I’m still getting used to Philip, Bo and Xander as siblings.

Philip could also have his own plan for getting his hands on the sepsis drug so he can save Bo’s life on his own. I guess I’m just glad we’re not defaulting to Dr. Rolf’s miracles anymore.

If EJ makes the big save, he could win a lot of goodwill in town and either use it to convince people he’s changed, while resorting to his usual shenanigans or actually, you know, being a better person. Ha.

Philip could similarly redeem himself (though I guess Stephanie’s already forgiving and forgetting…), depending on how he goes about getting the drug and saving Bo. And Xander? He could solidify his hold on Titan and DiMera with the success of the drug and end up being the most powerful man in Salem — and beyond. We’d get to see if Sarah’s fears of corrupting power comes true then.

Stray Thoughts

• Javi went from making up every excuse slack off at work to not being sure if he can quiet quit because he’s too responsible? I’m happy with the change. He needs more depth and backstory if he’s sticking around, rather than just being Leo’s fun-loving, irresponsible boyfriend, but yeah, that’s a switch.

• So Rafe is back in the FBI. Dunno where he’s going next, but at least he’s back. Was a little worried when he just dropped out of sight.
• It may be storyline PTSD, but Stephanie’s budding erotica career is giving me Body and Soul vibes.
• Is anyone else finding Sarah more likeable again now that she’s not constantly starting and stopping telling Xander about her role in the coverup?
• So… Abe and Paulina moved. Into Marlena’s building. In between scenes. I’m glad they addressed that with a few lines, but couldn’t they have set it up some more? Wonder what they’re doing with the old — ohhh, maybe Johnny and Chanel will get a new apartment!
• That Stefan reference was weird, right?

• I feel like Marlena finally struck the right balance of therapist supportive with EJ and, “I don’t like you, I don’t trust you and I think you’re going to hurt more people” this week. And I loved it.

Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with our salute to moms in the photo gallery of stars and their real-life mothers below.