Days of Our Lives Round Table: Are You Happy To See Hope & Rafe Reunite?

Gabi and Abigail finally had it out about Andre’s murder, Xander brought Theresa back to Salem, just as Brady proposed to Eve, and Hope went crawling back to Rafe on this week’s Days of Our Lives.

Our TV Fanatics Jack Ori and Christine Orlando are joined by Kathy and Dana from MyHourglass a Days of Our Lives fan forum to debate Hope and Rafe’s reunion, if Abigail deserves a second chance, John and Marlena’s next wedding, and if Xander should stick around Salem?

Should Gabi let Abigail off the hook for sending her to prison?

Kathy: I think Gabi should put her friendship with Abigail behind her and move on. She should recognize that Abigail probably didn't mean to hurt her, and forgive her, but keep her distance from Chad and Abby.

Jack: Gabi has a right to her anger over what happened to her, but Abigail was in the throes of mental illness, didn't know what she was doing, and is trying to make it right.

So I do think Gabi should forgive her? Either way, Gabi can stop accusing Abigail of cheating when she was raped any time now, and her jealousy that Chad isn't dumping Abigail for her after this fiasco needs to go.

Dana: Gabi has every right to be angry at what Abigail's alters did to her. I do think that eventually Gabi will probably forgive her but it will take time. Gabi is still in prison recovering from her injuries. It's way too soon to expect forgiveness and understanding.

Christine: It does feel as though Abigail must have had some unresolved issues with Gabi, given that her alters targeted her. Gabi should forgive her, and probably will at some point, but I don’t think I’d ever trust Abigail as a friend ever again.

Are you happy that Hope is giving Rafe a second chance?

Kathy: Not really. I like Hope and Rafe as work partners and friends but not as a romantic couple.

Jack: The whole thing makes me sick. This terrible excuse for a couple does nothing but ruin both characters and make me want to change the channel. Besides, Hope's sudden forgiveness of Rafe was contrived and ridiculous.

Dana: Absolutely not! I can't stand the two of them together. I feel like they bring out the worst in each other. As a Mom, I can't believe that Hope didn't seem bothered by Rafe allowing Ciara to lie for him.

Christine: All of the above! This couple is unwatchable. Rate didn’t even do anything to win Hope back, he simply bullied her and refused to sign the papers, and eventually Hope caved in to what he wanted.

That sums up their entire relationship. Hope had always been one of my favorite characters but I can’t stand her when she’s paired with Rafe.

Rate your level of excitement for John and Marlena’s upcoming wedding, from 1 (I don’t care) to 10 (Best thing to happen in Salem in ages!)

Kathy: My excitement level for the Marlena/John wedding is a -10. I hope the planning and the actual wedding don't eat up too much screen time.

Jack: Meh, I'll give it a 3. The romance is nice but we've seen this a billion times before and on top of the fact that this is the fifth go-around for them, John and Marlena have no story nowadays beyond her constantly getting kidnapped and him saving her. I'd rather see more of Steve and Kayla battling his blindness than another minute of John and Marlena.

Dana: I'll give it an 8. I really like John and Marlena together and I'm hoping that we may see some visiting family members or friends.

Christine: A 2. There was a time I really enjoyed this couple but it is long past. Watching John play the white knight to Marlena’s damsel in distress got old long ago, and I’ve lost track of how many weddings they’ve had. I’ll take Jack’s word for it that this will be the fifth.

The only upside was that I liked the mention of Alice and Tom, but other than that, I don’t really care.

What role should Xander play at Titan, or in the Kiriakis family?

Kathy: I think Xander should be the family bodyguard and enforcer. I like the way he is easing back into the family with a sense of humor.

Jack: I’d prefer he go away altogether. Maybe Victor can give him a job in some overseas division so we can be rid of him.

Dana: I see Xander as the one who doesn't mind making the shady behind the scenes deals that Victor often makes.

Christine: Oddly enough, Xander has grown on me. Salem needs some comic relief that is sarcastic but not too silly. Brady and Sonny have proven themselves so inept that there must be a place for Xander within Titan. This is probably the first time I’m hoping the character sticks around for a while.

Who is more despicable, Stefan or Mateo?

Kathy: Tough choice. Mateo because he physically holds women captive.

Jack: They're about equal. They are both rapists who enjoy using their power to exploit women. They are both violent and stop at nothing to get their way. They both see women as objects to be used for their personal gain.

Mateo selling Theresa to Xander makes him slightly more despicable than Stefan, but not by much. After all, Stefan was willing to use Abby's mental illness against her.

Dana: They are both pretty darn despicable. Stefan took advantage of a mentally ill woman instead of trying to get her the help she desperately needs. Mateo does anything he wants to possess the women he desires.

Christine: Ugh! They’re both horrible, but at least the show seems clear that Mateo is a villain. I fear they will try and “rehabilitate” Stefan after he sexual abused a mentally ill woman for his own personal pleasure.

I just hope they both leave the show soon because I can’t stand either of them.

What, if anything, disappointed you this week in Salem?

Kathy: I was disappointed that Sonny fell into Leo's trap.

Jack: Chad suddenly can't get over Abby sleeping with Stefan. He knows it's rape. He went to jail over beating up Stefan for raping Abby. He nearly killed Stefan during a second altercation over this. But Gabi says that Abby deliberately cheated and all of a sudden he agrees?

It's bad enough that Gabi again doesn't understand the difference between rape and cheating without Chad going there too. Plus it looks like we're setting up for a third round of Chad/Gabi, which is almost as bad an idea as Rafe/Hope, while JJ never gets any scenes with Gabi even though she saved his life and was the only person in Salem who thought Lani lying to him about the paternity of her baby was wrong.

And just when Gabi was becoming likable again, she reverted to the obnoxious, selfish, unfairly judgmental woman who can't get off my screen fast enough. This happens every time the writers try to put her and Chad together, so please stop it.

In other news, we still don't have enough of Steve and Kayla. The best couple on the show with the most compelling storyline is being shoved aside in favor of endless scenes of Chad trying to beat up Stefan and the rift between Abigail and Gabi.

Also, Abby's Dissociative Identity Disorder storyline went into even worse territory this week with the whole magic cure, including her suddenly being able to remember what her alters did. This helps perpetuate the myth that D.I.D. is a made-up illness and stops people from getting help, and is just as bad as JJ magically being cured of suicidal feelings by thinking Lani's baby is his for a few months.

Dana: Hope and Rafe's reunion.

Christine: So much, but Hope going back to Rafe was the worst. He lied, he slept with her niece, he had her daughter lie for him, and then he tried to force her to stay married to him, but of course Hope forgave him because they have such a great love story. Excuse me while I go throw up now.

Also, Chloe having to dress up, sing and dance for that sleaze ball, Mateo, was also pretty bad.

What was your favorite quote, scene or storyline on this week’s Days of Our Lives?

Kathy: My favorite scenes were the return of Theresa and Xander to the Kiriakis mansion. I enjoyed Xander's interaction with Uncle Victor.

Jack: I loved all things Steve and Kayla! So far this storyline is realistic and emotional (even the biorobotics stuff isn't that far-fetched) and I wonder how Dimera Enterprises owning the technology is going to play into the story.

Dana: I enjoyed Theresa and Xander returning to Salem.

Christine: JJ and Eve’s conversation at the hospital. It was wonderful to see these two have a civil, even caring conversation with one another. I like how far they’ve both come and I hope it continues for both of them.