Post by stargazer1682 on Dec 22, 2017 1:30:58 GMT
I found today's follow-up to yesterday's great episode to be disappointing, but at the same time, not at all surprising; and very much what I would expect from Days.
In typical fashion, the "omniscient protagonist," in this case Gabi, conveniently appears on the doorstep of our troubled character and immediately knows what he's thinking or about to do.
As noted with my impressions from yesterday's episode, and in stark contrast to the effective way yesterday's story was told, the interruptions in the story with semi-related or completely unrelated scenes made today's conclusion with JJ feel more stilted and lacking the momentum or weight it needed. It would have arguably been better to just focus on the Horton gathering and let the audience wait and ponder JJ's fate, and let that tension build, especially in contrast to the relative happiness being shown front and center when the audience knows possible heartbreak may be on its way.
On the other hand, we definitely didn't need the crap with Ciara and Claire. I'm still not digging NuCiara, she can leave and she can take Claire with her.
I wish they had left JJ's room, for several reasons. First, I think a change of setting after yesterday would have better; it changes the convenience factor of Gabi running into him on the street than just happening to come to his door the moment he's about to walk out. I think it would have been better if they crossed paths in the Horton Square. Sure, you don't have his letters out for her to read, but I didn't think that part worked anyway; it felt like we were retreading something that worked really well yesterday, that didn't need to be repeated today, especially with a frantic delivery.
The other reason would be how the episode ended, with Gabi in a t-shirt, in bed with JJ and Lani walks in. It was stupid. What happened to Gabi sleeping in a chair or on the floor? And just the whole idea that she's talked him down, so now we're just going to go to sleep, didn't work for me; call his mom, call Rafe, call anyone to help him. And if he's uncomfortable with that, go that extra step and convince him to let one more person, someone who may be better equipped to help him, come and be there. But then to turn this into a thing where Lani walks in and is now going to think JJ's screwing around with Gabi.... it's just Days of Our Lives level stupid.
I think what they should have done, is do yesterday's episode just the way they did it, then today not even go back to it until the very end; tease it out, having everyone attending the Horton get together, do some feel good stuff with the families. Jennifer tries to call him, he doesn't answer; Abby tries to call him, he doesn't answer; Gabi and Lani try with no luck, but none of them realize the other has tried, so they don't put anything together. Then at the end, Jennifer gets a phone call that leaves her speechless, possibly visibly upset; she might say something simple like, "JJ?" or, "Oh my God..." but doesn't clue anyone in to what the nature of the call was; and that's just right where Thursday's episode ends.
Then Friday, being the last episode before Christmas and the weekend, that episode is entirely what happened between JJ leaving his apartment and Jenifer's phone call. JJ's in the square, and he runs in Gabi there.
Or better yet, a complete stranger, like the guy who was ringing bell Wednesday that JJ gave money to. He recognizes him from earlier, wishes him a merry Christmas, sees the dress uniform and realizes he's a cop and starts chatting him up; asks if he's going somewhere fancy for Christmas, being so dressed up, and JJ plays it off as that being the reason. After they talk a bit, the guy realize why else he looks familiar, because he's seen him on the news as "that white cop who shot the black kid;" which causes some tension, on JJ's part for sure, because this type of notoriety only enforces what he thinks of himself, and the other man may have some strong opinions too and it becomes adversarial at first. JJ explains what happens, even though he's not trying to defend himself and just wants to be left alone; the man leaves JJ alone, and JJ sits on the bench in front of his great-grandparents' memorial, holding his gun and trying find the resolve for the next step, when the man comes back, either because he forgot something, or wanted to say something more to JJ, maybe offer a token holiday gift, and sees JJ with his gun out. Now he knows why JJ's really there, and he talks to him some more. They go back and forth, and tensions build, especially because JJ still has his gun and he's getting closer to using it, and the other man pleads with him not to; and then finally JJ puts down his weapon and just breaks down, as the other man comforts him.
Cut to, later JJ's checking into the hospital and a doctor, maybe Kayla or someone, is calling Jennifer to tell her what happened and where JJ is, but that he's okay.
In typical fashion, the "omniscient protagonist," in this case Gabi, conveniently appears on the doorstep of our troubled character and immediately knows what he's thinking or about to do.
As noted with my impressions from yesterday's episode, and in stark contrast to the effective way yesterday's story was told, the interruptions in the story with semi-related or completely unrelated scenes made today's conclusion with JJ feel more stilted and lacking the momentum or weight it needed. It would have arguably been better to just focus on the Horton gathering and let the audience wait and ponder JJ's fate, and let that tension build, especially in contrast to the relative happiness being shown front and center when the audience knows possible heartbreak may be on its way.
On the other hand, we definitely didn't need the crap with Ciara and Claire. I'm still not digging NuCiara, she can leave and she can take Claire with her.
I wish they had left JJ's room, for several reasons. First, I think a change of setting after yesterday would have better; it changes the convenience factor of Gabi running into him on the street than just happening to come to his door the moment he's about to walk out. I think it would have been better if they crossed paths in the Horton Square. Sure, you don't have his letters out for her to read, but I didn't think that part worked anyway; it felt like we were retreading something that worked really well yesterday, that didn't need to be repeated today, especially with a frantic delivery.
The other reason would be how the episode ended, with Gabi in a t-shirt, in bed with JJ and Lani walks in. It was stupid. What happened to Gabi sleeping in a chair or on the floor? And just the whole idea that she's talked him down, so now we're just going to go to sleep, didn't work for me; call his mom, call Rafe, call anyone to help him. And if he's uncomfortable with that, go that extra step and convince him to let one more person, someone who may be better equipped to help him, come and be there. But then to turn this into a thing where Lani walks in and is now going to think JJ's screwing around with Gabi.... it's just Days of Our Lives level stupid.
I think what they should have done, is do yesterday's episode just the way they did it, then today not even go back to it until the very end; tease it out, having everyone attending the Horton get together, do some feel good stuff with the families. Jennifer tries to call him, he doesn't answer; Abby tries to call him, he doesn't answer; Gabi and Lani try with no luck, but none of them realize the other has tried, so they don't put anything together. Then at the end, Jennifer gets a phone call that leaves her speechless, possibly visibly upset; she might say something simple like, "JJ?" or, "Oh my God..." but doesn't clue anyone in to what the nature of the call was; and that's just right where Thursday's episode ends.
Then Friday, being the last episode before Christmas and the weekend, that episode is entirely what happened between JJ leaving his apartment and Jenifer's phone call. JJ's in the square, and he runs in Gabi there.
Or better yet, a complete stranger, like the guy who was ringing bell Wednesday that JJ gave money to. He recognizes him from earlier, wishes him a merry Christmas, sees the dress uniform and realizes he's a cop and starts chatting him up; asks if he's going somewhere fancy for Christmas, being so dressed up, and JJ plays it off as that being the reason. After they talk a bit, the guy realize why else he looks familiar, because he's seen him on the news as "that white cop who shot the black kid;" which causes some tension, on JJ's part for sure, because this type of notoriety only enforces what he thinks of himself, and the other man may have some strong opinions too and it becomes adversarial at first. JJ explains what happens, even though he's not trying to defend himself and just wants to be left alone; the man leaves JJ alone, and JJ sits on the bench in front of his great-grandparents' memorial, holding his gun and trying find the resolve for the next step, when the man comes back, either because he forgot something, or wanted to say something more to JJ, maybe offer a token holiday gift, and sees JJ with his gun out. Now he knows why JJ's really there, and he talks to him some more. They go back and forth, and tensions build, especially because JJ still has his gun and he's getting closer to using it, and the other man pleads with him not to; and then finally JJ puts down his weapon and just breaks down, as the other man comforts him.
Cut to, later JJ's checking into the hospital and a doctor, maybe Kayla or someone, is calling Jennifer to tell her what happened and where JJ is, but that he's okay.