DAYS OF OUR LIVES is doing so many things well right now. I have already gone on record saying how lovely the WilSon Wedding was. Salem feels like a town that I want to visit. Every character on the show is connected to each other in some way. Their use of history has never been better.In a recent scene, Julie (the divine Susan Seaforth Hayes) let Sami (Alison Sweeney) have it for not giving "poor Nick" a second chance, considering all of the times the Hortons and Bradys have forgiven Sami. This takes even on more meaning, because how supportive Julie was of Sami, during the Sami & Lucas days.
Hope (Kristian Alfonso) is front and center again and working incredibly well with Daniel Cosgrove as Aidan.
Fireworks will explode when Sami finally finds out about EJ's affair with Abby.
However, there is something that still isn't working for me. That would be Daniel and Jennifer.
Please let me be clear. I don’t have anything against Shawn Christian, who I have enjoyed since his time on AS THE WORLD TURNS as Mike. Melissa Reeves' Jennifer represents a major part of why DAYS OF OUR LIVES has lasted so long. Jennifer is a legacy character, and is someone that keeps the core Horton family front and center. But, even after three years of trying, I do not feel any heat between Daniel or Jennifer, and truly do not understand why they are together.
We are told by various characters that Daniel and Jennifer are perfect for each other. Maggie, Kayla, Maxine, Adrienne and Eric all believe that they are soul mates. For as long as I have been watching soaps, when the audience has to be told by other characters that a couple should be together, that’s when I know something doesn’t feel right.
It certainly doesn’t help that there have been a long list of characters that have been used to come between them, and either written "out of character" (Chloe), or eventually were forced to realize that they were wrong for coming between this “new super couple” (Nicole, JJ).
Now, crazed Liam (who coincidentally also played Mike Kasnoff on ATWT) is the latest person being used to come between them, as the town of Salem rallies around Daniel, trying to protect him from Liam’s plot.As I watch the show, it occurs to me that I am rooting for Liam, and the most entertaining aspects of the story come from the dynamic duo of Meredith Scott Lynn (Anne) and Jen Lilley (Theresa).
Part of the problem with the coupling of Daniel and Jennifer could be the lack of time Jennifer spent mourning her late husband, Jack (Matthew Ashford). Two months hadn’t passed before Jennifer was being encouraged to move on with her life, and to pursue Daniel. I would love to see Matthew Ashford back as Jack (again). He has a son, a daughter, a sister, a nephew, and many other people he is connected to on the canvas. There is a lot of story that could be told if there was a legitimate triangle between these characters. Maybe we could actually find out why Daniel and Jennifer should be together?
But even if Matthew Ashford doesn't return as Jack, I think it’s time for DAYS to cut its losses with Daniel and Jennifer. Christian has proven he has chemistry with many leading ladies, and it would nice to be able to see Jennifer start over again, and maybe even see she doesn't need a man in her life to be happy.
But I am curious what you think. Are Daniel and Jennifer right for each other and I am missing something? Or, are you ready for this paring to call it a day? Sound off in the Comments section below.
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