Comments will be withheld until im completely caught up with the s/l, but im about to blow this place up with my opinions. Normally I hold a little back(i bet some of you dont believe me, do you?), but this time i'm going to let it all out. So as John so said and make me laugh "Brace Yourself!"

Since Im currently viewing this week, and it is so filled with sarcasm, this has to be my favorite summary of a day/week ever!

http://serialdrama.typepad.com/serial_dram...of-our-l-3.html

Sadly, they demonstrate a blatent hatred for John and Marlena, as individuals and a couple, in most of their postings, and it still makes me laugh.

I have a special relationship with Jarlena, they make me laugh, they make me cry, and they make me smile. So sue me.

thanks for sharing the link.

I think I've been there before, but not lately

funny stuff

Yeah, they link their posts together sometimes, and I ended up following a chain of like 5, lol. So funny. Almost as bad as Prevuze. Like I said, I don't think most Jarlena fans would like it, but since I can laugh at any character, it doesn't bother me.
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Also, since I seem to have a lot to say on this storyline, I think ill post a few months in each post. I have so much to say already, and Im only through February. Although I started watching in June, so I have voiced my opinions since then. I just feel the need to vent about this storyline. As I know a lot of other people are.

Finally finished off the Februaury episodes. So here are my opinions on Jan. and Feb. Basically, I just wrote down the comments, concerns, etc. that popped into my head as I watched So be prepared for A LOT.

Ill try to keep my comments restricted to the J&M storyline, but I might interject from time to time.

The first thing that jumps out at me like some of you is the whole handcuffing thing. Thing is, that everyone who found John went through what he went through at the hands of Stefano. Stefano brainwashed Bo and Hope and he brainwashed Marlena. And even though we don’t know if he brainwashed Roman, we do know he tortured him. So they know that someone who has been through that is unpredictable. But they also know that someone who has went through that needs someone they can trust. So constantly wanted to tie down and drug John wasn’t the best of moves. And even though Marlena was setting her hopes a little high with him getting back to normal, everyone should have backed her, because if they can all get their memories back and John could once before. Why couldn’t he now? And he has what looks like a mild seizure and they handcuff him back to the bed? That’s ridiculous. I don’t know, I kind of have mixed feelings about the whole thing. He isn’t himself, so he couldn’t be trusted, but until he grabbed Marlena, he didn’t give them any reason not to trust him. I guess it kind of made sense, and it kind of didn’t. I don’t know. They never tied him up when he had an episode before.

In the beginning, I thought that Marlena was going to use her professional expertise as a psychiatrist to help John, but then they dumped that out. That stupid doctor didn’t want conflict of interest. If the Salem PD doesn’t have to worry about conflict of interest, why does the hospital? Plus, im telling you, truth serum must be Salem’s best friend. They are always using it. The people who sell sodium pentothal must make a fortune from University Hospital. And I was so glad when Marlena hung up of Dr. Carrington, I couldn’t stand him.

Also, John has done a lot of things since his return that made me think that he remember some things. He would have a moment like he was remembering Marlena. And I don’t think Stefano got to completely reprogram John before they found him. If he remembered what happened with him and Gina, then I would think he would remember a few other things. If not real parts of his life, but at least parts of his life when he was under Stefano’s control. And since he remembers his training that should also make that more likely. With his little conversation with himself, he would also have to remember what his former self would look like.

Another thing, Stefano told John that they got rid of all concept of cognitive relationships and emotions. But John’s sense of anger seems to be well intact. Because he hates Philip and Stefano. And his sense of love may not be there, but sexual urges and lust sure are. “Ready for round 2 and whatever’s behind that curtain Bob!” He doesn’t remember his family or even his name, but he remembers clichés and cultural references. Did Steffy let him watch television? Then they admit that he has anger, but it “doesn’t match his profile”, so John had no anger before? Pwahaha.


And another thing, if Stefano wanted John’s memories erased and never returned, why would he store them on a disk? Deleting them and leaving it at that would have made a heck of a lot more sense. Sure, I guess the memories might need somewhere to go, but at least destroy the stupid disk.

Drake’s acting in this thing has been incredible. He is acting totally different, and he is doing it very well. The whole time I watched him in the hospital, I had a hard time believing it was the same person. And he made me laugh even though he was a huge jerk, although you cant blame him. But I guess that’s because, I too, am pretty cynical. “I know what he wants me to do. He wants me TO KNIT. Tell me Doc, do they have any knitting classes here in crazyville!?” Haha. Hospital food couldn’t have looked any worse either, haha. Or how about “Aww, the pretty little thing doesn’t want to push my button?” Haha. Him hitting on the nurses in the hospital was killing me. The odd thing is, the more I watch him be a jerk, the more I like New John, haha.

Only once through this whole thing did I notice an old John mannerism. He was talking to Marlena about sending him to the mental hospital.

He may have been faking it again the second time he saw Belle, but there was something in his reactions to Belle. Like he wanted to love her. Or that he did. Something odd. And how Marlena didn’t give into him begging her, I don’t know. Because Marlena may be strong, but there was a point in time when John could have talked her into running naked through a forest of thorns and a ground of broken glass. She kept saying “I have enough feelings/love for both of us.”, well come on Marlena, use it!

I must say, that I was surprised that Roman was so into helping to find Claire, I mean I know he’s her great uncle, but still, he’s normally pretty useless. And letting Marlena in to see Stefano, nice. Oh and the Salem PD lets their prisoners wear their normal clothing? How nice. So John is immune to “truth agents”, and so is Stefano. If they are immune to that, and the gas that was released in the hospital, they must be immune to everything. How nice for them! But if John gets turned over to the good side, that’s a disadvantage for ol’ Steffy.

Although I thought John was playing Sami, but he did recognize her face, since she supposedly looks so much like Colleen.

Oh and of course Marlena giving Stefano the muscle relaxants? Oh how I loved that. I love that she can be so cold. Evil Marlena is definitely a thing to behold. Her being that vindictive, is anything but boring. If she was the villain of the show, that would definitely make for some interesting drama. Sweet little Marlena who no one would suspect. Although that might be too Salem Stalker. But I got so much joy out of her sticking that needle in his neck. Id say I thought I enjoyed it a little too much, but that’s not possible. Oh and her having no hesitation when lying to Roman, gotta love that. She talks about John being a good liar, she’s not too shabby herself.

“Shall I list your virtues?” when Marlena said that, it reminded me of “How do I love thee? Shall I list the ways.”

When they found Colleen, that whole thing drove me crazy! How the heck did she know Marlena wasn’t going to hurt her and who she was? Ambiguous and so annoying! And of course, just saying her name was a trigger for John’s kill mode. And even though Chloe said she believed her, when she was telling the story, she looked unimpressed, haha. “For all the days of his life” they just love saying that on this show as much as they can get away with. And why did Marlena know more about Colleen than her own family did? Colleen knew all about them from her men or at least that seemed to be the excuse. And if they couldn’t tell she was a Brady by being so protective of her family, then I don’t know how they would.

Random thought 1: You know, I always thought Brandon’s Shawn looked more like he could be John and Marlena’s son than Bo and Hope’s. And looking at Martha next to Kristian on the plane, she looked like she could be her daughter. How odd.

And you know, I can understand how your father being a hollow shell of a man could make you hate the woman that made him that way, but to hate her WHOLE family who had nothing to do with it? And spend half of your life trying to turn her son, who knew NOTHING about it, into the same kind of shell? A little overboard if you ask me.

Random thought 2: Why did John have to let all of his hair grow out? When they were in Ireland, it looked like his hair was pretty much the same, just longer in the front. Now he has like a bush on his head.

That reunion was something though. Until Bo had to be a big jerk. I know he had a right to be upset, so did all of them, but sometimes they make Bo into the hothead that he really isn’t anymore. Marlena “We all aren’t Brady’s”, well she didn’t know it at the time, but they kind of all were. She, John and Philip were the only ones who weren’t Brady by blood or marriage. But John is by blood and she is by marriage. So that just leaves Philip, so how odd that she would say that though, since not too long later, Colleen asked John how his life was. And I thought she shouldn’t have had to ask why John wanted to kill her. I knew since she knew about his accident that she had to know about the rest. This story may not have explained the feud well enough for most people, but I like that we finally got to find out who John really is. History may have been rewritten 100 times, but it tied in the Alamains, and his birth, and I liked it. I don’t particularly like him as Stefano’s brother, but believe it or not, he and Stefano do have a good bit of things in common, so I can accept it. John needed a past, and that I can admire I guess. Although considering he wasn’t supposed to have any feelings, it is odd that he couldn’t kill her. But I guess it all goes back to that little piece of the real John that is left. His and Bo’s scene was so heartbreaking. It’s so hard to accept the fact that everyone can remember John’s life but him. “Let’s just hope the Brady genes are stronger”, I think we were all and still are hoping that.

I thought John was going to give poor Shawn a heart attack before Colleen got him to shut up. Her goodbyes were heartbreaking. How ironic that she told Hope to “stand by your man” since Anna said that to Marlena recently. I love her speech to Marlena. Marlena has always tried to be strong, and I know that’s what she is trying to do now, and I know we all like a strong Marlena, but she’s starting to seem downright stubborn.

I’m glad John gave her, her dying wish. He has a little heart in there somewhere. He looked sad that she died. I just wish that the old John could have met Colleen. That would have been the sight to see. It could have been so emotional and beautiful. But he did say goodbye to her, and he cried.  He cared, he just didn’t want to admit it. Just like he hasn’t wanted to admit his feelings about anything until recently. Bo’s speech at Colleen’s funeral kept bringing me back to John and Marlena’s bond. Made me miss Jarlena even more.  I found John seeing the ghosts to be corny though.

Random thought 3: Man was February ever a crazy month on Days! Shawn finds out his sister is alive, Shawn D. and Belle get Clarie back, John finds out that he is not only Shawn’s nephew, but Stefano’s brother, John tries to kill his mother and himself, Bo saves John’s life, Colleen dies, Bo finds out he is sick, Stefanie and Chelsea get out of going to prison, Kayla finds out she is pregnant, they get into a plane crash leaving Ireland, and Grandpa Shawn dies! And not to mention crazy Ava shows up.

Random thought 4: How ironic that Belle and Shawn realized that Belle is more of a Brady than Shawn D is, because I have always thought John was more of a Brady than Fauxman.

John reading Soldiers and Commandos, haha. But once again, he has feelings and doesn’t want to admit it. Drives me insane. That “little bump” on the plane should have freaked everyone out. Turbulence is not normally that bad. And I had to laugh at John knowing what “convergent airmasses” were, and not knowing his own damn name. I had forgotten he was a pilot though. Which goes back to prove that he only remembers things from his training and times when he was brainwashed. “Are you insinuating there is a malfunction with my aircraft?” I always thought it was funny John had this kind of vocabulary, considering he isn’t supposed to be able to think. He does always so giving up isn’t in his vocabulary though. Claire was always so cute. Did John say “know that you have my family back there”? I think he did. 

“Ill be damned if im swimming in the North Atlantic in February”, I wouldn’t have even known what ocean we were over, and a man who cant remember his own name knew, and jokes about relay transmitters, haha. How sad is it, that John can make me laugh, even before a plane crash. But they shouldn’t worry, John’s always been a smart guy, another reason why I like him so much. He may not remember much, but he remembers his training. And when it comes to field knowledge, I don’t think there is anything he doesn’t know. They should always be glad to have him around in crisis situations, even if he does usually go into mercenary mode, which means he’s not so nice. John suggested that he was programmed to be optimistic, haha. I don’t think so. But being sarcastic in bad situations? Now that, I could believe. Him being brutally honest bothers people, but I like it. I don’t believe in sugar coating things. Johnny Robo and I are a good bit alike, and I think that’s why I like him so much. “Hell of a time for a snooze gentlemen,” oh man, he kills me. I feel so bad for laughing through most of this. And what a freakin’ wonderful time for the pilots to be drugged. “Somebody doesn’t like us very much,” that was the understatement of the year.

Must have been one hell of a Valentine’s Day. I just knew John’d figure something out, he’s always been quick under pressure and with Marlena cheering him on, you cant lose. Steve suggested that the women get all the oxygen, and everyone said no, but all the men on that plane are heroes, so they were all practically fighting over who was going to give it up anyway. Marlena’s faith has always been very strong. If they all have that unwavering faith that she seemed to have then when John came back, then they would not have all been giving up. You start really really worrying around the 30 minute mark. I couldn’t have been watching when the crazy was going on. The suspense would have killed me. Shawn was such a good guy. Still hard for me to believe he’s gone, even though it wasn’t hard to believe he’d give his life for the others. Can you imagine having to tell your child that her daughter will just die in her sleep and never know what happened? How horrible! “Thanks to dead eye and his misspent youth,” wow John, you all almost die and you still manage to make me and Marlena laugh. Marlena: “I love you” John:”Good to know!” HAHAHA. Normally, I hate it when he says that, but it cracked me up that time. I had to say it again, I could not have been watching when this was going on. Waiting for the next episode would have killed me. I mean, I think you should know that they can’t kill off almost all of the main characters, and that you pass out before you actually die, but it’s still so nerve wracking!

“Can you guys please get off me?” Claire is too cute. John: “Well she cuts right to the chase…maybe you are my granddaughter.” Haha, those two are cute even when John’s a robot. John telling her not to drink her juicy too fast or itll go straight to her head. Lol.

I must be a horrible person, because even when people could be dead, John makes me laugh. And him calling Belle ‘****’ always makes me laugh.

Random thought 5: You know, I never knew that John’s plane was actually a full size jet. I always thought it was like a 10 passenger or something. But is anyone else going to miss that plane? There were a lot of good memories on that plane. 

Steve “I think I chose the wrong side of the cockpit.” That’s why you have to love Days, even in the worst times, the best parts in all of the characters come out. Like Marlena getting feisty with John for saying he liked him to hurt her. That independent and strong Marlena seems to have made a comeback in all of this, and I for one love it. I think John gained a little respect for Steve then though. Belle: “For some reason, she likes hanging out with you.” Haha. John: “I was saving this for a screwdriver.” He can fly a plane and make mixed drinks, haha. He and Claire are too flippin’ cute! When she said “That’s a fact,” I know he had to remember, that look on his face was priceless.

It always makes me laugh how it goes from the citizens of Salem praying in a church straight into tent sex. And “I would do ANYTHING to help you get your memory back,” doesn’t help either, haha. Im surprised no babies came from that night, because if they don’t have protection in their own homes, they definitely didn’t after a plane crash. Haha. “What happens in Greenland stays in Greenland, right?” Ha. I just keep laughing. And “Brace yourself!” didn’t help me either. I feel so guilty. But I guess I redeemed myself when I laughed harder when Marlena told John he had to keep himself warm, haha.
Poor Marlena always gets stuck telling everyone everything, and ordering everyone around. She was the strong one most of the time though, so I guess that makes sense. She’s always been a good rock. Although im glad she didn’t have to be the one to tell Caroline. When they got back to the hospital, that was so painful. Roman and Bo crying, that’s when you know something serious has happened. Although Josh’s crying wasn’t all that believable. And that’s one helluva way to find out your husband is dead. And what John said to her nearly made me cry. I was just as surprised as Marlena.

And I just love how John is told half of his history by the time he gets back to Salem, haha. He knows about Marlena, Belle, Brady, Claire, the Allamains, Isabella and his history with Caroline. That’s his whole life in a few days recap, haha. “You’re just out for a cheap thrill aren’t you?” and “You show me yours and ill show you mine.” HAHA. Which was only made worse when Marlena agreed. The more I watch New John, the more he grows on me.

John dropping the bombshell that he wanted to live in the DiMera mansion was pretty shocking though. Even after I already knew he was living there. That was the one thing I don’t think I expected him to say. I find it funny that John said that Stefano has good taste, because from what I can tell, he and John have a pretty similar taste in women. John may have never cared about money before, but he could always fork it out for ANYTHING for Marlena. She never asked for those things, but he liked being able to do anything for her. And everyone thinking John was Stefano was pretty funny. “I’m the bastard love child of Santo and Colleen.” Way to tell ‘em Johnny! “You’re a Brady?” “You’re a DiMera.” Haha, out of all the things we ever thought John to be, and that is the most shocking. His chat with Tony did make me laugh though. John is the only one who looks unimpressed by his parentage, haha.

I must agree with what others have pointed out though, that if Santo had a will, it would have to state that any children would be entitled to it, otherwise, if Stefano was the named heir, he is entitled to it all. Unless of course, there wasn’t a will. “Talk about the roots of all evil,” how true. And of course Anna has always liked someone who buys her stuff, so she’d like John’s way of making things better, ha. Anna wasn’t helping Sami any either, ha. John kept his knowledge of feet, PWHAHA. Now everytime he says “Good to know,” I crack up, because when he said it to Marlena on the plane, I laughed until I cried. It was just so funny, she’s pouring out her heart to him, and he’s trying to land a plane so he could care less. John wanting to shove things in Stefano’s face also makes me very, very happy. John telling Abe how it is, also makes me very happy. I must say, he may not make me happy like Old John did, but New John appeals to my not so better half, haha. “Extremely unfortunate biology,” is definitely right. Oh how I enjoyed John telling Stefano about his spoiled plan. It brought such a big smile across my face.

“You’re even prettier when you’re angry,” that’s one thing I love about how they brought John and Steve back. Even though they don’t remember them, John and Steve and inexplicably attracted to Marlena and Kayla. And they have some of those same connections with them. Like John can just sense Marlena in a room.

Marlena was always very close to Shawn, so I can understand why she and Roman would be there so early. “Continue your cuddle party,” for some reason when he said that, I flashed back to when she was tickling him on the couch.  When he said he owed Roman a hug, I could have died. He was obviously trying to impress Marlena. Roman calling him Cousin John gave me chills.

Random thought 5: The Brady siblings’ quarrels at the funeral made me laugh. Steve and Hope didn’t help either. It was so odd seeing Kim. I liked that they showed them as a united front though. Fauxman gave a nice speech, for once I was impressed. Very moving service. I loved the toast at his wake. They did Shawn right I think. How funny is it that Max and Roman were wearing the same shirt? But you have to love all the toasts. Haha.

Random though 6: I’ve always said that when I die, I don’t want everyone to be sad. That Id like them to have a party and remember all the good times, not cry over the end. I guess I should have been born Irish. Lol.

John and Chloe would definitely make very strange friends. I guess the two of them and EJ make up the odd bunch. Lol. Not to mention EJ made Kim look like a midget. At least John knows to be nice to kids. Because even though he was mean to Belle, he’s always great with Claire. Even when he was trying to get rid of her he was being half way patient. And the man remembered the disk in the hospital, but he’s too busy with his money to remember it now, or is it because he’s set on staying new John? So it was left up to the lawyer to decide who was in charge, nice. So Stefano cut out Lexie, EJ and Tony, leaving who? Exactly. “For a shrink, I think you’re workin’ the wrong side of the couch,” nice one John. “Let me think. No.” Haha. Sounds like something I would have said.

So yes, oddly enough, with exception of some complaints, so far I have actually liked it overall. Which I was not expecting. I attribute that mostly to everyone making me laugh the whole time.

I loved reading your thoughts. I had many of the same feelings as you did. After all that I feel I should post something thought provoking and introspective, but you already covered everything I can think of.

I will say I've been discussing this storyline with a friend I met from discussions on these boards about this storyline, and we often bring up them cuffing John to the bed early on. We agree they wouldn't want to just let him roam around since there's no telling what Stefano has done to John, but it just seems really odd to cuff someone to a hospital bed. It actually seems inhumane to me. The man's been tortured by a mad doctor while chained to a chair in a lab, so they cuff him to a bed.

I don't think it would have been quite as big a deal had the storyline not seemed to change so much after they returned and suddenly John was the bad guy, but I don't think you've gotten there yet, so I'll hang on to my thoughts. Love your analysis so far. Thanks!

Thanks. Im glad you enjoyed reading it, I thought it might be torture. Im sure a lot of people feel like I do sometimes, in fact I know they do, because I agree with people on here so much. That's why I felt the need to share, because I like to know if other viewers feel the way I do.

And yes, I am ok with the story now. I may not be later. In fact i know I wont at some point. Im only through February. Right now, Marlena still cares, so that isn't digging at me yet. And most people think John is odd, but they seem to be giving him a chance. Once it gets past that point, im sure I wont be so approving.

love your comments and even before John became NuJohn he always said the oddest stuff and I laughed.

have you looked at J&M stuff from 2007? not much there before the accident. I enjoyed their dream and after he woke up

even now some characters say the oddest things at times. I enjoyed Nicole and Philip on Thurs show

so true

and I still get upset seeing John in the chair...at times, reminds me of going to the dentist

Ive seen a lot of J&M history, but it's scattered about. Ive seen the beginning and various whole storylines in between, but not all of it. I havent seen all of the stuff from '07, but I saw most of the stuff surrounding his coma. Lots of cute stuff there. But yeah, John has always been able to make me laugh. And it is usually at an odd moment.

Tomorrow im going to start watching the March clips, and I may get to April, who knows. If I do, ill post some more.

Thanks for giving feedback on my feedback.

you're welcome

John has said the strangest things at times

Comments on the story in between should be here some time in the next week. But right now, id like to comment on current affairs.

So he tells her that he left the DiMera mansion for her. She is overjoyed, and he eyes and smile were brighter than they have been in awhile. But then he hands her the papers. He was proud, he did everything she's been asking him to do, and now everything is up to her. Him saying that may have made himself clear, but it may not have. He just wanted to do what she wanted, he wanted to make her happy. But when he handed her the papers, she didn't look thrilled.

Im guessing though, that she might understand and simply get rid of the divorce papers. But since John told Stefano he is doing everything for Marlena, and Stefano wants Marlena to suffer, he'll probably get ahold of them.

I must say that I was SO proud of John though! This may not take us where we want to go, or even take us anywhere, but when he told Marlena he just wanted to see that look on her face... .

yes, he did what she wanted...

I don't think it's going to happen as fast as people want, but they are slowly on their way

Good post! ITA! I loved the look on her face as he was telling her all he did for her! Now THAT is the Jarlena we know and love! She looked so taken aback when he told her he loves her. It was just so sweet!


You bet they are! Finally, we are seeing glimpses of the Jarlena we know and love!

I havent been able to do anymore catching up since ive been back. But something did occur to me this morning.


Ok, so I know that John being like this really bugs people. And although the question of why is pretty easy to answer, it also has a lot of layers. And the thing that occured to me this morning, is that John have no emotions what so ever, is far too jarring for a John/Jarlena fan to handle. John has always been one, if not the most, emotional characters on the show. Yes, John could be tough and unsympathetic sometimes, but most of the time, he was loving, caring, and looking out for people. Everyone in the town went to him for help, and when they needed a shoulder to cry on, sometimes whether someone else was around or not, they went to John. In fact, I always found John to be more emotional than Marlena.

Yes, Marlena is definately not without emotions, but John could be more sensitive than her. Take their deaths for instance. When Marlena was "dead" in 04-05, John became addicted to drugs. Yes, they attributed that to his physical pain, but they also showed him seeing Marlena and explaining that he couldnt live with the pain of her not being there. Marlena mourned John, but not to that extreme. Now, that could be attributed to the fact that she was dead longer, or that the writers didnt need another member of the Black family being addicted to drugs, and im not saying she should have took that route either, I just think his emotions were far more intense.

John's emotions have always been very intense. Whether he is sad, happy, angry, in love, whatever, he's always felt those things stronger than other people. Even when he came to Salem as Stefano's pawn way back in the beginning, he had very stong emotions. And the fact that this John had none when he first came back really killed people. Stefano got better at knowing what to get rid of, and we all suffered.

And I think the number one thing that really kills people, is that often emotionless characters in the past, have more emotions than John now. Case and point of this post: Roman. Every since Roman and Marlena split when Belle was born, Roman has been an emotionless, hard headed, work absorbed jerk. John comes back, and he could care less about anyone or anything. Roman is comforting Marlena and all of his family members and even gets really emotional about his father's death(you would expect that, but not that much from Fauxman). John was not impressed by the plane crash, and although he felt for his mother when she died, he seemingly felt nothing when Shawn Sr. died. Roman has also been more concerned for Sami than John, yes, John is concerned for her, but even when Sami couldnt stand John, he would always try and look out for her. Right now, he seems really concerned with her, but im referring to the beginning.

So I really think that part of what gets me and some other people, is that John went from being the most emotional man in Salem(pretty much) to being arguably, the least emotional man in Salem. He went from one extreme to the other very quickly for us and that was hard.

very good observation. this is what happened to him

he speaks the truth the only way he knows how.. and people look at him like huh.. and we laugh

NewDaysFan I enjoy reading your posts, thanks!

I have always loved Drake as John because of how emotional and caring he is. I most definitely miss this about him.

But honestly, I really don't mind him being like this for this story. I loved him thru the plane crash. I liked him better at the first of the year than I do now in that he was, imo, not quite as robotic then as he is now. He was less emotional then, almost blank slate-ish (can't think of a better word atm and it doesn't quite convey what I want). He didn't strike me as bad so much as empty which I attributed to Stefano taking all of his memories and feelings out of him. I really liked him like that because I saw the huge potential of the story.

I don't like John like this, but for a story like this, I more than accept it. As chilling as it was, I loved Stefano saying John couldn't even recognize a headache. Stefano was back, and I hated him. I love hating Stefano. I loved the idea of Marlena, Bo, and Hope finding John a completely changed man due to Stefano. In fact, much as it pains me, I like the idea of Stefano changing him like this, and the gang having to fight to get John back. The fact that there hasn't been much of a fight is what drives me bonkers. I wanted more scenes like Bo stopping John from killing himself. I wanted everyone out to kill Stefano, and everyone trying to get John back.

I can see a lot of story ideas, but I do see that this could be a legitimate way to separate them (temporarily hopefully). John has changed. He's not himself. If he had distanced himself and asked for the divorce because he no longer has feelings and all those people trying to help him made him defensive, I would have bought it. If he had no moral compass at all, and he did bad things that made me and everyone legitimately hate him, I would be cheering on Marlena asking for a divorce. I'd have liked them to make me think, John is totally lost. Then just as I've given up hope, something (like the brain cloud) could have happened that would make John need help. Despite what he's done, Marlena would have to help him even if she despises him. He could start to see her and his friends in a new light. With his brain fixed, he's suddenly able to begin feeling again, and he could start to understand how he'd hurt his friends, feel remorse. Marlena could've moved on with someone else, no John, but a companion to help ease the hurt, and then John starts feeling again, but he realizes he can't make up for what he's done. He grows, she grows, they come into each others circle again, and even though they've moved on and they are not the same people, that bond between them still exists and they start to feel it. They become friends again. It grows slowly into a new love, different but the same, but they both resist it for various reasons, fear, guilt, lost hope.

What really turned me personally off to this story is that at some point, it changed from being a John is not John story to Marlena can't give John a chance without his memories story. That is what turned me off. I love Marlena's warmth and kindness and empathy. She has always been one of the most selfless understanding forgiving people on the show. After Alice, Marlena is the epitomy of caring to me. I cannot imagine John feeling alone and empty like he was, and Marlena not realizing it and reaching out to him on some level. Instead the writers had Ava sympathizing with him, understanding him. There is just no way I think Ava could understand John and Marlena couldn't. She brought up the divorce, and I could see him giving up because he knows he can't be what she wants. I could see him needing someone and reaching out to Ava. But they had to trash a character that I've always loved to do it. Marlena has ALWAYS reached out to others when they needed help and tried to understand them. That she wouldn't for John is unthinkable to me.

Even though they made Marlena ooc to me, if they had gotten divorced during the Ava bit, I could have bought it, and again, some kind of break up, reunion story (long term) could have come of it. But no, again they go the make Marlena someone else mode and now that John is trying to understand his feelings, wants a chance and is open to help, they turn her into an unrecognizable shrew. This ticked me off to know end. She's human. She's got reason to be hurt, but Stefano did this to John, and I can't see her losing sight that John was a victim. He never asked to have his brain scrambled. She has NEVER been a selfish ME person. How much she would do for John and how much he would do for her has NEVER been a consideration to me. Whether friend or spouse, they always do whatever it takes. Till now and suddenly, she's asking her friends (who think she should give John a chance) how much am I supposed to take?????

Plus, when John's brain is about to explode, she's more concerned about a divorce???? The real Marlena would be doing whatever it took to save John whether he liked it or not. Where is that handy hypo? Knock him out, lock him back up in that hospital, and make doctors run tests on him till they figure out what's wrong. She should hold a gun on the hospital staff if she has to.

ARGH!!! I want the real Marlena back.

Now this is just me. I am not necessarily a typical J&M fan though. I have a pretty wide tolerance for stories so long as at some point, even if it takes ages, there is hope for a reunion down the road, and the characters that I love aren't like completely different characters (I don't mind if Stefano changes them to completely different characters so long as the real character comes back reasonably intact).

note: I also do want John to have better hair again and talk a little more normal, at least like he did at the beginning of the year.

Good to know someone actually reads what I say when im actually trying to make a point.

Good post. All of that makes a lot of sense. Kind of hard to address everything, but Ill try.

"The fact that there hasn't been much of a fight is what drives me bonkers." I think pretty much everyone feels that way. And you're right, John was a victim in all of this too, and no one has ever treated him that way. I can understand them not trusting him. But for everyone to be against John all this time just seems wrong. He messed up with the whole Philip thing, but he's been a good boy ever since, give him a break. I think the whole DiMera empire interest is what really made everyone distrust him. But no matter how bad she thought John was, Marlena would have fought for him. And so would all of his friends. They have all been out of character in all of this.

And as for the brain issues, and it being dropped like a hot potato, big mistake. That was yet another great opportunity that they missed out on. They might be able to save themselves with this if they thought about it though.

Like I said, Days is the king of make up to break up, so that part I could have dealt with. But they way they have handled it isnt as easy to accept.

I too can wait for a story if it's good enough to follow, and it's done right but we are all very impatient at this point, because they just keep dropping it and picking it up on us.

she went the opposite of John didn't she

I tend to get wound up about current DOOL, sorry. I try to avoid it, but I keep hoping it will change for the better. There is just a lot that went wrong with this story, imo.



I do love John, so it is hard to see him as an uncaring sob, but for me to believe Marlena and his friends have given up on him, he'd just have to be really terrible or just completely distance himself from them and not give them any choice. I'd hate watching it, but I'd have to have faith they'd change him back to his loveable self some day (full of recriminations). He just seemed so alone during the summer vs. deserving of their hate. The way Roman and Abe threw him in that cell heartlessly after what Stefano had done to him. Abe used to be so close to John, and he was always so understanding and patient, possibly moreso than anyone. A great listener, non-judgemental. Did we get any Abe/John discussion scenes aside from Abe in the background helping Roman looking on with disdain? I'm thinking they were in one scene together, but it was antagonistic, no give and take. Did Abe try to talk to him? Doesn't Abe miss having John as a friend? Doesn't anyone? John died, they got him back, and they treated him like a leper.

No one treated Steve that way after what he did. Everyone stood by him, tried to help. It still just upsets me that no one seemed to care except maybe Belle, and they sent her and Claire away. How could you hate new John when he was soooooo sweet with Claire and kept talking about how she got him? How could a trained psychiatrist not realize that the reason John liked Claire was that she didn't try to make him be 'old' John. Instead Marlena told him often that she loved 'old' John, and he was nothing without his memories. Does this even sound like something a bad psychiatrist would do, much less a great psychiatrist who has proven how good she is?



At this point, I almost would rather Stefano turn John back into his pawn again and see John and Stefano in some evil nefarious plot. John and Stefano working together could be chilling. Maybe then, the gang would at least realize that John was under Stefano's control, and be working to help him vs. basically ignoring him. I'd love to see Bo, Marlena, Steve, Kayla, etc. chasing Stefano all over the world to stop him and reclaim John with John under Stefano's control against them. Would love to see Rolf used again. It could make for some great teamwork, put the characters in dangerous and interesting situations, and provide great angst at the same time.

But we get a dropped Dimera story and a dropped brain story, and a half-baked divorce story.



That's the painful part to me. Stefano changed John. It should have been easy to make this a break up story if that's what they wanted without making Marlena and John's friends ooc. I didn't like John going against Philip. I love Philip. I could see me disliking the new John, but then they have Philip set John up for drugs, and Phil's a true blue good guy with no one knocking him while John is scum of the earth for being a drug dealer when he wasn't. Only Marlena gives John a slight benefit of the doubt, everyone else just believes the worst, even Caroline who used to love him like a son. Did she ever try to talk to him? All I recall is her almost snarling at having to serve him at the pub.



sigh.... Still a lot of potential, but I don't have a lot of hope.

Thanks for the reply. Sorry I tend to write books. The lost potential of this storyline just kills me.

No it's ok, I tend to do the same thing when I have really thought something out. Everyone does. And I like to try and reply to people when they are making an effort to talk to me. I just have a pretty short attention span and tend to forget half of the stuff I was going to say when I read.
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I started catching up again after this conversation, im almost done with March and I might finish that today, and I think April was pretty short, so more ranting from me should come this week, next week or heck even this weekend depending on how busy I get.

I am going back and catching up on the stuff I missed in between October and January, so I may have a summary on that soon. But here are my thoughts on March and April.

When John brought Rolf back, Marlena said that there was "No telling what Stefano programmed him to do to you," but if memory serves right, Rolf usually does the programming. And Rolf and John's conversation about Marlena's cooking, haha. Doc never could cook. The fact that John doesn't suspect him any further, and gives him a job bugs me. He wasn't even doing a good job lying to him. Their little banter about old John did make me laugh though. Those two definitely make a very odd team. It's true, Rolf better be glad John never saw the contents that disc, he would have diced him up and served him to the hogs. "Ill see you in an hour and 37 minutes," what an odd amount of time, haha. So there is a safe behind Stefano's ugly mug, who'd of thunk it? Of course, when John takes it down he probably finds it. Rolf's no fool, he has to stick around to protect his own neck, even if he has to listen to John patronize his accent and order him around, haha.

"She's the only one who doesn't ask me stupid questions or stare at me like im an alien." You would think it would be the opposite.
Rolf: "It's not my area of expertise, after all im a scientist, not Martha Stewart."
John: "Who". Haha. Those two make an odd pair, but with both of their senses of humor, the DiMansion should be a virtual fun house. If he didn't look at that photo album, I would have came through the screen and strangled him! Lol. "What's wrong with my hair?" HAHAHA. Couldn't be much worse than what he has now. Marlena was right, I think he does care more than he lets on. And if everyone had kept this attitude all along, we'd probably have the old John back already. But the writers dashed that all to Hell.

You know, John's so quick to snap at her when she asks if he is remembering, I get the feeling that he is. Throughout this whole thing, ive gotten those feelings. I have since June, and moments in the beginning. He's just too damn stubborn to admit things he wants to ignore. I cant blame Marlena for giving up really, but it's just not in her nature. No matter how hard he pushed her away before, she fought right back in. And now should be no different. So he isn't entirely the same person, people are always changing, she gave him a few chances, but I would have liked to have seen more. What's that saying, a little efforts goes a long way? Well it worked, he was willing to try and now she's not and the reverse, over and over again. John's not a quitter and never has been, and neither has she. So writers, you aren't fooling me.

"I don't think you understand the concept of spying," oh John, haha. John even thinks Rolf is strange. It's bad when John thinks you're strange, haha. John: "Well as Claire would say, that's for me to know.." Claire: "And you to find out." They are SOO ADORABLE! I just can't get over it!

"Keep forgetting about the Brady part," and there was your biggest mistake dummy! His drinking doesn't bother me nearly as much as those stupid cigars! I hate that Victor had to deal with Bo almost dying from the same thing Isabella died of(later turned out it wasn't that), and John practically declaring war on him didn't help. The fact that John is so brazen, and doesn't care if people know what he is up to, is what actually makes him more dangerous than Stefano. He doesn't have to hide. Although next to Stefano, Victor is the last person you want to be messing with.

Oh man, and when poor Miles saw John. Just like seeing a ghost. Of course Marlena couldn't resist listening in, she's got to keep an eye on him. And Marlena was right, the old John was a smart enough business man, that he didn't have to cheat and a good enough man that he wouldn't even consider it. John might be good with bribes, but Marlena is MUCH better, HAHA. I knew he wouldn't be going in there. At least not then. They can't resist each other, no matter how hard they try. Never could, never should to tell the truth.

After Paul mentioned he only does his job to pay child support, I must say, that it reminded me how Morgan's accent always got on my nerves, especially since im from GA. The fact that John wanted to raise up the DiMera name was good at first, until he decided to play dirty, and then all he did was add to the bad name. So Tony and EJ have both of them to thank for their tarnished name. I think the old John would have liked that in a way though. Ruining the DiMeras would have been so much fun for him. Steffy must have replaced John's soul with dollar bills. I know it sure seems that way. And of course Marlena giving Philip the heads up just tore down the little bit of trust she had built up with John.

"This is nothing. My dear brother Stefano erased my memory, packed my skull with twisted ideas, but I haven't acted on any of 'em. He programmed me to be a killer, but I haven't killed anyone. All I want is a nice life and build up a little business. You got a problem with that? Compared to what I could be, I think you're being a little picky." Actually, this is the way I feel now. He could be a heck of a lot worse, and I don't think people really realize that.

"Maybe I was out drinking when I said that." Haha, John, haha. Not! At least he didn't make me laugh this time. Not a good time. I guess it proves im not as cold hearted as he makes me think I am, lol. And after that front, he makes that comment about Bo? Kinda caught me off guard. Him not wanting anyone to know he's at the hospital, just like him, always denying his feelings! Had he just sucked it up all along and admitted he's not as cold hearted as he thought he should be, we'd have something more! I cant say this enough! The first time I watched this, this didn't make me laugh, but it did the second: Philip "So what do you think of the new John?" Roman: "Not a whole Hell of a lot."

Marlena was right, pushing John to remember stuff is what she does, so do it now Blondie! "Nothing you want to hear and nothing I should suggest in front of Isabella." Well, we all know the man isn't lacking any hormones. HAHA. And Marlena tells him: "We were better than you could even imagine", and they were. You can't make chemistry like that up, they had it from the first time we saw them together.

John wanting control of something makes sense actually. He has no control over others around him, or his own life. So finding that substitute in business worked for him. I still can't believe no one else was a match for Bo, but I guess we should be glad John wasn't. Haha. He was just kind of following Marlena around like a lost puppy after she said having him around was a comfort to her. Yet another reason I think if he cared for no one, he did for her. And their little talk about he and Bo wanting everything to be right was kind of odd, since John doesn't really know right from wrong.

"Is it just me, or does this whole family seem cursed?" I have to agree with John, it appears that way sometimes. "All of a sudden, I think ill keep my distance. They way things are going, one of them could be struck by lightning," and of course there's "Aren't you just a ball of sunshine!" That remains one of my favorite new John lines. Haha. I swear, he just kills me. The way Hope looked at John after Marlena was telling Bo they were all there for him and he said “Hang tough” was just priceless. Kate says "Im Kate, im your ex fiance"and John laughs says " wow". HAHA. Then when he says times change, she says maybe they should continue to. It's a miracle, Kate and I actually agree on something!

How the heck is Marlena going to inform Roman and Hope if anything changes, if she's at the pier with John? "He's really lost without his Bunson burner," HAHA . Only John could take Marlena through so many emotions in a span of about 5 minutes. Morbid curiosity my a**! He cared about Bo just like he did for Colleen.

This conversation was kind of cute but sad:
John: Did you always analyze my motives?
Marlena: No. I always knew exactly what you were thinking.
John: Ah, a psychiatrist and a psychic.
Marlena: John, this pier has a very special meaning for us.
John: Did we get mugged here? *laughs*
Marlena: No we didn't. We had actually been separated for a number of years and we reunited right here at this spot. We had such a wonderful life together. Years of it. We had amazing adventures, we traveled the world, you wouldn't even believe the stories.
John: You really miss your life with the old me, don't you?
Marlena: *nods* I cant even say how much.

She should just keep telling him he's at the hospital for her. It gives him a way to cover up that he cares and she has him to lean on. Win, win.

Rolf: "This is too difficult, I will never get this!"
John: "You bring people back from the dead, you can bury that lousy accent" HAHA.
John offering to buy Shawn and Belle a boat was a bit odd. I don't know if he felt the need to because they were so disappointed in him or if he just felt as if he had the money, why not. And his face when Shawn said "like Hell you will!" was priceless. And the conversation about naming the boat was funny. I think if I had no memory of anything, that Fancy Face IV would sound like a strange name to me. And if he couldn't remember Tink, he should have just called her Belle. Haha. After she gave him that hug, he did get a little emotional and her tearing up didn't help. I hate that they left, because Belle and Claire were the only ones who were REALLY willing to give him a chance. You know he really wanted that post card.

He's such a smart*** with Belle, but John and Claire are soo cute! She was copying his walk and I was just laughing. Claire and her juice, haha. And when she said goodbye to him. John: "Im gonna miss you, you're the only one in this whole town that really got me." Claire: "Im gonna miss you too." John: "I think I've got something in my eye". I was almost crying along with him.

He's talking to Philip and the doorbell rings, and what does he say, but "Did you call the feds?...Worse, my conscience." That made me laugh, but it showed how he was really starting to feel about Marlena. And he expressed it even more when she said she was disappointed, and he didn't care. And did anyone notice that Philip knocked over the pawn on the chess board? I do think he was upset with Belle leaving and upset with Philip, and he took it out on her though because he wouldn't have sent her the roses. Smelling her gloves seemed a little odd, but he remember her perfume from when he saw her at the mansion before she found him.

I know Sami is always the last to know everything, but for once, Marlena was right there with her when Shawn and Belle were leaving. Sami got the heck out of there quick when Belle told Marlena that John bought her the boat, haha. I understand that he isn't the best guy, but Belle and Shawn picked out the boat, he just paid for it. Everytime Marlena told Belle that John wasn't her father nearly killed me. She might as well have said that she lied her whole life and Roman really was her father by the pain in her eyes. And Belle was right the old John would have bought her a boat in a heartbeat. He would do ANYTHING for Marlena or Belle. Although like I said, I'm still not entirely sure why he did it either. "I will never, I will never give up on him," if only she had kept that promise, because I feel like she did at more than one point in all of this. John bonded with Claire, because he is like a child, learning his emotions and how to interact with people as he met them. They realized that he bonded with her and that should have been a reason for them not to go. And they all should have realized that. They mentioned flying out to meet them when the real John comes back, and that would be great if they did that if and when he is back to himself, whether partially or fully. Girls' night and groups hugs, we don't get moments like that anymore. Gotta miss it.

John surprising Marlena with dinner, nice. Maggie looked as surprised as her. "Besides being a huge presumption, what is this," haha, Marlena, get him girl! And she got him to admit that he cares what she thinks. She wasn't as hot headed as she could have been. That was the real Marlena then. Strong willed, but willing to listen. Then he messes up by buying her a present. John may have taken Marlena all over the world, and he bought her nice gifts on great occasions, but he would never try to buy her. "Just open the damn box will you," yeah, that's really going to get her to be nice to you, haha. I just kept saying "She isn't going to like it!" And lying to her again. He better learn quick. Although we know he doesn't when it comes to her. She suggested doing what the old John would have done, and give his money to charity, and he just kept digging that grave. Marlena gave his necklace to Maggie but of course she wouldn't have it either. Maggie's little talk with John was kind of cute. He looked like a scolded child. Marlena too high maintenance!? HAHA.

Rolf trying to get rid of his accent. Haha. I always wondered why you would sell seashells at the beach too. Haha. John deserves to make Rolf's world turn upside down like he helped Stefano do to John as far as I'm concerned. "Rolf, why don't you go butle something?" John invented a word, haha. "She invited you over to my house? You know, I've killed people for less." I think John's been watching too much TV. Those scenes just killed me, especially when the words "look how I turned out" came out of John's mouth. Haha. He's actually still kind of generous with his money though, because he doesn't mind offering out to whoever. The shocked faces every time he says something makes some strange situations pretty funny. And EJ and Sami live with Marlena!? HAHA. And I always wondered how John got stuck running the DiMera Hotel, and now I know. Another one of Marlena's crazy schemes. Ha. John didn't even have to object, EJ and Sami did enough for him. And there was NO denying it was weird. And Marlena's face when Sami asked her to move in too. Im telling you, the whole thing was gold. Haha. Let me say it again, Sami and Marlena scheming together is a very dangerous thing. It cracks me up that Rolf is afraid of Marlena. Although, she's the best hope of bringing the old John back, so he should be. John admits that Marlena with the gun was hot, and then comes one of the best lines from this year. "You mean like the average American family: Brainwashed dad, gun touting mom, married couple who hate each other, mismatched set of twins, and an evil scientist butler? Hmm, Id have to think about it." HAHA. Drake had two sets of lines in that episode that I know I couldn't have read.

"Those high pitched squeals could resonate 10 inches of concrete". *Shakes head* He just makes me laugh ALL the time! I shouldn't have caught up, now I'm really gonna miss him if they ever change him back. And his hair actually went well with his smugness and sense of humor before it got spiky all over instead of just in the front. In fact, it was kind of cute with his childlike demeanor.

Nicole and Chloe in Victor's house, nice. "With any luck, it's just a matter of time before they kill each other." Love that line. I found Victor confiding in Marlena about Chloe funny, since she recently confided in Marlena over Lucas. Too bad Marlena follows her oath so well, because she could really tear the town apart if she wanted. Too bad Victor couldn't confide in Marlena about John, because I got the feeling she would have told him what Victor said. Oath or not.

Hypnotizing John like she did when he first came to Salem? Funny how they tried to make the situations similar, but at the same time, SO different. And it's essential that this new John understand Marlena like the old John did, and im not sure he has reached that level yet and I don't think he will. Which is one of the major blocks in this whole thing for them. The new John may be immune to hypnosis anyway, so the assumption that if he could have his memories recovered, overlooks that whole thing. Plus, it's obvious it wouldn't work, since his memories were erased or extracted rather, and not just hidden in his subconscious. And those flashbacks she had were great. They make you very sad, but they were the best memories. Every time he comes in with that tray in Hawaii, a big grin comes across my face. It was sad that he didn't remember, but at least he admits that not remembering does bother him. Which you could tell all along really. I was not willing to accept that she was going to leave it alone. But it appears she really was after all. He said that he knew she'd accept him, and even though I was with him then, I don't think I am anymore. She cant let got of 20 years with John for this new guy, who has practically nothing but looks in common with him.

John wanted Marlena out of his business, and then when she stays out of it, he gets suspicious. Poor boy really doesn't know what he wants, does he? He suggests they start over, and of course she doesn't want to start over. She promised not to compare him to the old John, and she didn't. She just made it clear that she wants that guy and not him. But it doesn't matter, because as much as she'd like to think he doesn't, he has control over her. Because John will always have that power over Marlena. Jerk or not, she'll still be enveloped in him. She just needs to admit it. "Why don't you try and turn me into exactly who you want me to be?" Did he seriously just suggest that? And she knows she liked the idea. "Yes, but he didn't look half as good in a dress." And "You could roll out of bed in house coat and curlers and you would knock my socks off!" HAHA. I know he was just trying to be like he thought old John would be, and the man might have lost his memories, but if he wanted to, I think he could flatter just about any woman in Salem. He's such a good liar, he could do it. Did you see the way Anna reacted to him when she first found out he was a DiMera? And "she who shall not be named" too? Even this John is ladies man. And he definitely knows it. Haha.

"Because if I can't show you there is something to like about the new me, you're gonna lose interest." At first I thought there was no way that was true. But he still hadn't proved that when she kept pushing the divorce, and from what I hear, now that he has, it doesn't matter either. So the poor guy can't win. 4.0 John. Is that the number we are at now? Let's see, there's RoJohn, the real John, merc John and this John. I guess it is. Haha. I don't think Marlena will ever like the new John as much as she liked the old one, that seems impossible, but it doesn't surprise me if Anna really did, haha. I love that she always knows exactly how to push Tony's buttons and even John knew better. HAHA. I think Anna was right though, John is crazy about Marlena. He can't help it. Marlena is a wonderful and beautiful woman. And I think that those feelings for her are hardwired for John. That's something that can't be taken away. He might find other women attractive, but he's not drawn to anyone like he's drawn to her.

Having the same one be their song would just be too weird. I don't know what their official song was, but im guessing it was "Unchained Melody". Marlena "My feelings for you are all tangled up in memories about the way we were." John: "Is that the name of our song?" Oh the sarcasm. At least she told him the truth. She will always be looking for her John. Not knowing who you are is a scary thing, and this new John makes her feel that way. And that, I think I can understand. Living in a world that is parallel to yours is unthinkable, and when she's with him, that's how she feels.

But I think John made a good point that night. She let the old John go. Not completely, because you can't let go of someone you lose in a few months, it's not possible to completely let them go, but you cant get to the closest step to that in a few months, but letting the old John go and moving on would be possible. Within a year of his death seems totally unreasonable and I must admit that doing it with a man who looks just like the one you have to let go would just slow down the process.

Marlena could always tell what John is thinking, and he could always tell what she was thinking. And she doesn't know what she is thinking now, rather on what he is thinking, and not knowing that, is far too hard for her. But her leaving hurt both of them the same, and I don't know if she could really see that. She hurt him, and that's what caused the rest of this downward spiral. The one person he cared about decided she didn't care about him. And even this John knew how hurtful that was. It kills me every time she leaves him after that dinner. You can just see the hurt in his eyes. And I think that was the catalyst for all of his behavior after that. She kept rejecting him, and he kept getting worse.

John without a shirt on making Sami uncomfortable cracks me up. Come on Sami, it's just his chest! You cant tell me she has never seen John without a shirt on. At least he had pants on. Haha. "And people think I have a bizarre marriage." Haha. Sami and EJ's marriage is kind of weird, but I don't think John would know what a normal one was if it slapped him in the face. And there he goes once again, sticking his damn foot in his mouth! It might help if he doesn't open his mouth except when he has to. Maybe he should just not talk to Marlena and just look at her. That was a bit of an awkward moment in the foyer.

Side note: I think I finally know why Drake looks so different to me! His hair isn't that much different, so it wasn't that. But it was driving me crazy, because I couldn't figure out why he looked so different to me, but I think it's his tan. New John seems more tan in the face than the old John, and I think that's why he seems to look so different to me.

Rolf admits he doesn't like the new John so much. Does that mean he wants old John back? Don't we wish. Him talking to that portrait is pretty creepy though. And EJ may have helped to bring John back, but right about now, I'm thinking that was a bad thing. I'd rather see him giving being the Pawn a go than what they gave us right about now. Marlena turning John down really burst his bubble. He was in a good mood until she got there. Marlena can tell Sami she can't run away from her problems all she wants, but that is all she's doing. You can't tell your daughter not to do something if you are doing it and expect her to listen. Marlena of all people should know that.

I hate that during this whole Paul thing that John was made out to be the bad guy. John paid a customs agent and delayed Philip's shipments. Philip paid the same man to plant drugs on John's ship. Yes, John locked Paul up, but he also saved his life when Philip had his men try and kill him. So as far as I'm concerned, they were both guilty, and John just got the brunt of everything. Had Stefano not stepped in, I'm sure only John would have been held responsible. Totally not fair.

John: "Maybe you wouldn't be so disappointed if you would stop comparing me to the old John. Otherwise known as Superman, Captain Marvel and Gandhi all rolled up into one." Marlena: "And now he's just the Phantom." HAHA. Superman yes, but Gandhi? Definitely not. And him knowing about pop culture and nothing much else just kills me. He knows his comic books and how to run a business, but not how to keep his mouth shut. Then she's totally throwing herself all over him, and he just blows her off. Amazing. I personally think they are both crazy for turning each other down all the time. Any man would be lucky to have her, and he' willing to change for her and that should be worth something.

"If you want me to start acting like your husband, perhaps you should start acting like my wife." As usual, he makes a good point Blondie, not in the way that he meant it, but in the general statement. Let it be known that Nicole flirting with John makes me sick to my stomach. Although if sex is all John cares about, and he knows that women love diamonds, then his money alone should help him out just fine in that area. Although, I honestly believe that Nicole went there to be with John, because he's rich and handsome, and she's a golddigger, not because she was spying for Victor. Because after all, she and Victor cant stand one another. "You two deserve each other; you're just as crazy as he is." Haha, no, Marlena just knows that if John keeps thinking Nicole is a spy, he'll stay away from her. Marlena isn't stupid. "You would have had better luck convincing me that you were a virgin." I knew Nicole was a bad liar, but I didn't think she was that bad. I just love the way that Marlena and John talk to each other though. Neither one is afraid to be completely honest with the other one, and that I like. But they also aren't afraid to lie, and they are both great liars. John wasn't upset by the notion that someone kept Brady hidden from everyone, because he could really care less about his children, he was just mad that it was Victor that did it.

And I still say that John has been remembering for awhile now. First there was in the police station when he saw Roman's name on the door and on his desk. So he remembered being Commissioner of the police department in the 80s and early 90s when they thought he was Roman. And then came the whole Hope submarine thing. Which arguably both came from times when he was brainwashed. So he could only be remembering those things. Which still bugs me, because if he remembers those times, he should remember all of the times he was brainwashed, so he should remember a lot more about everyone.

So Brady knew that John died, and that John came back, but not much else. So at least those are two things that he won't have to contend with. Although I'm not sure how much he knows about the circumstances of his death and return though. I'm sure that he told John he loved him when he said "That's good to know." I would like to live in dream land and think that Brady coming back will bring John's memories back, but since the phone call did nothing, I won't get my hopes up on that either.

In April, John still looked like John. Towards the end there, it stared to move towards what it is now though. So I guess it was closer to the time that Ava was in his life that his hair got so out of control. Go figure. The crazier his life gets, the crazier his hair gets. Good thing that cloud isn't affecting him anymore, or he would look like he had a porcupine on his head.

10 was just too small of a limit for me. Just so you know, HAHA= and haha= and if there is a box, it's most likely an apostrophe or a quotation mark.

Thank you! I loved your thoughts. I couldn't agree more with everything you've said.

You make many good points, and hit so many points that have driven me crazy with this storyline. John was still feeling things, he was made defensive by comparisons with old John and rejection. I loved how childlike he was relearning about life, and his adorable relationship with Claire.

It made sense that he would latch on to something like business that gave him a feeling of control given how out of control he's been. He was almost ready to end it all because he felt so lost. I still hate how John was made the total bad guy for what he did with Paul, while little was made of Phillip doing far worse. John really was blamed for what Phillip did and they never resolved that. I'd suspect people still think John did the drugs and just got off by making a deal with Stefano... Did you notice Caroline's hateful attitude with him after the drug thing went down? Do you suppose she still thinks he did it? So much unresolved and confusing story with all of this.

I've been meaning to go back and look at this again, but it wouldn't surprise me if Stefano left some memories of John like the sub sex. Those would aid Stefano's cause of making him his merc again. But if he did, you'd think John would have had more interaction with Hope, trying to pursue one of the few things he did remember, so I'm not sure if maybe Stefano just wasn't as thorough with those areas. I definitely felt like John was curious about himself, but trying to appear not to be because of all the pressure to find 'old' John in there somewhere.

I'm looking forward to more of your analysis. Thanks again!

Well, ive got May and the little bit of June before I started watching. Im also in the middle of going back and looking at the period between John's death and new John's arrival. Ive also come to a final analysis today. Dont want to say much else, since im saving it until the end, as it's my final analysis.

Ive got a lot to do this weekend, but you may get the rest by the end of next week.

Thanks for letting me know what you think. At least I dont feel like im talking to myself.

Im finishing off the rest of this year's stuff that I missed, and the stuff between John's funeral and when they found him. So you guys might get my opinions on that eventually. Finals are coming up soon, so who knows.

But, now for the reason im here. And that is to point out one little mistake.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5RNo5QB1jo

Pay close attention to John and Anna's conversation about Stefano. John says "My little brother and I". Not only is Stefano older than John, but since he found out he was his brother, John has been saying "my big brother". So I thought it was kind of funny that John would call him that.

After recent events, ive decided just to go ahead and post summary parts that I have typed up already and end it there. This will include my final analysis as well, that I was originally hesitant to post.

I was going back and watching the stuff in between John's death and his return and I have yet to get around to watching November and December. But here are my thoughts on October

While catching up, I also went back and watched the Marlena stuff between John’s death and his return, because all I had seen were parts of the funeral. And in a way, I’m glad I did, but then again, watching the funeral all over again nearly killed me.

I didn’t know that Vivian paid for John’s funeral. That was very nice of her. From what I remember, John took the Alamain fortune from her. She was a very greedy woman. I don’t remember them ever reconciling. And she did say she wasn’t welcome back in Salem, so I’m sure they never did. And like Hope said, how could anyone forget John? The real John is not only unforgettable, but he’s irreplaceable. And I think we and all the other characters on the show feel that way. That’s why new John is so hard for us. Not too long ago, I started catching up on John’s whole life in Salem. I never got really far, since I was catching up with this, but I did get past Steve bringing John to Salem. I also didn’t know where he got his name from. I always thought it was from Stefano. Its little facts like those that you tend to forget, but that make this show’s history so colorful. Makes me want to watch every episode sometimes.

I hate that Brady never got to say goodbye to John too. He got to say goodbye to all of his friends, and I loved that. But it has always bugged me that he never got to say goodbye to his son. Carrie not getting to say goodbye either REALLY bugged me. John WAS Carrie’s father. He raised Eric and Brady when Marlena wasn’t around, and he came in and raised Carrie and both of them at times when her or Roman weren’t around. John was the best father, and not being able to say goodbye to Eric, Brady, and Carrie, all of whom were raised by him, was sad. No matter how rocky their pasts, they all knew that they couldn’t have asked for a better man than John in their lives.

Victor showing up at the funeral almost makes me tear up every time too. And if that one doesn’t get you, Caroline does. And when you thought they’d broken your heart, you get a procession of his friends, and then they let Marlena talk. John’s death was controversial, but I always thought it was done right for the most part. A moving death and funeral. One I know most of us will never forget. John was the shoulder that everyone always leaned on, and when he was gone, everything fell apart. The immortal John Black, who came back more times than you can count on your fingers was gone. John was like a brother to everyone in Salem. Everyone’s brother was gone. Everyone broke down at the funeral, but Marlena was a pillar of strength even at the love of her life’s funeral, and that’s another thing that really resonates with this whole storyline.
One thing that I can laugh about though, is that I always said that John was a better cop than the rest of the Salem PD, so he deserved those honors! The mistake Abe made was also kind of funny. He said that for his duty as Captain of the SPD, he got those honors. But with John as Roman, Roman was promoted all the way up to Commander, Roman’s current rank. So John was in fact higher than a Captain. It’s also pretty funny that the flashback they showed of John and Roman was when Roman came back in 1997, because when he came back in the 90s, he looked totally different. I laughed at the end of Roman’s speech though, because I thought about his chat with “cousin John” in the church when John gives him the hug.

What killed me the most though, was that I was always so sad that Claire would never get to really know John. And now John is there, but not the John we’d all like her to know. That’s one good reason I can think of to bring the old John back. I hate that it took John’s coma and his death later on for Sami to realize that she’d taken John for granted all those years. Because she always drove me crazy with her disapproval of John, and having more nice scenes with her and the old John would have been great. Marlena didn’t lie when she said Stefano could never change how she felt about John either. Because she still holds that love for John and she always will.

So when John died, Tony still thought John was his brother. Interesting. I thought they cleared that one up. But I guess there was no heritage switch between then and when he found out Colleen was his real mother. And I still don’t understand why Stefano would show up at John’s memorial at the church. That is just proof that they weren’t planning on bringing John back. Because typically, when someone is not really killed, they take the body before the coffin is buried, like they did with Steve. Stefano showed up after John was dead, and would have had to dig his body up, which everyone would have known about. Then there was a flashback to how John got his name, which like I said before, I never knew. Days will get you will those flashbacks. If the actual deaths don’t kill you, the flashbacks will.

John did love to go into that bakery. Remember the emergency Danish run? And you know, I think Marlena was able to break her oath and drug Stefano, because she lost faith in psychiatry. When John died, she realized that she told people how to live their lives without knowing the real answers, and that killed her inside. Marlena’s strength left with John, but he’s back now, he might be different, but he’s back, and I think she needs her strength back, and we need them back! Marlena of all people should have known that being in THEIR house, surrounded by their things; pictures of them, and all those memories, smells, etc. of John were the worst thing for her. She needs to move out.

Side note 1: You know, before, I said that Martha looked more like Kristian’s onscreen daughter, but seeing her on that bed with Deidre after John’s death really made me see that Belle does look like Marlena’s daughter.

At least Sami’s bs with EJ got Marlena’s mind off of John for a little while. And when Marlena told them they were both crazy, I could have died. John would do anything for family, he always did, and no, Sami and Belle are not John, far from it, but it makes a great argument. And she went into labor like right after John died, wow. And I cant believe she had the babies in John and Marlena’s bed and on John’s side too. No wonder they named him after John. But having twins with no epidural? So he was supposed to be Roman Thomas, after both of their dads, but then John died, so they named him after John. Very sweet actually. And John is a very big name to live up to. Why couldn’t Marlena have taken her anger out on Kate? EJ works just as good though. And you should never underestimate Marlena. Stefano learned that the hard way. And I do find it so crazy that Marlena was a twin, who had twins, and one in turn also had twins.

The scrapbook that Marlena made with all the pictures wouldn’t be the same one that she made for John, because she and Belle made it. So she must have tons of pictures, like you would expect them all too. I always thought it was strange that they never had tapes of family events, since they always had such big events with everyone you could imagine there. Marlena needed to pack up his things, or even move out, but a couple of days or even a week later was far too soon. I have to agree though; I think that had John not died, Sami would have NEVER married EJ. And that is the number one reason why I KNOW that he had John killed. Hope looked really scared when Marlena told her she thought about killing EJ. And with good reason. Marlena was not shy about telling her everything, and I was loving it. I cant say I blame Marlena for not trusting Roman anymore, heck, ive never trusted him. Her husband was ran over by a car and no one was arrested. You cant blame her for trusting no one.
_____________________________
I still havent finished May and the beginning of June, but this is some commentary on May

“You kids should know better than to ever interrupt me when im making out with my wife.” There he goes again. Then he calls her Doc and all Hell breaks loose. Haha. Thinking John wouldn’t know how to open a safe seems ludicrous, since he can do just about anything else imaginable. When John said roof, he pronounced it “ruff”. Even as a mindless robot, I still find Drake to be adorable. He’ just has that charm that follows him around. John talking to an immigration agent on behalf of EJ and Sami did sound pretty scary. But he’s a good liar, so I’m sure he pulled it off just fine.

You know, I’m sure Sami telling John that even though she and EJ were married, he wasn’t her husband, because they were together or a couple didn’t help his indiscretions later. Maybe it even influenced them. And admitting that he remembered the disc from the lab just put a huge monkey on his back. He broke the disc because people wouldn’t leave him alone about it, but had he not said that, and told them that the disc had useless files on it, he could have saved himself the trouble. Sami telling him about his past was definitely interesting or odd, I’m not sure which word describes the situation best. So Sami brought up the sub thing first? How messed up is that? And that’s how he remembers? That’s nuts. She didn’t even have to tell him what happened, he knew. And she didn’t find it odd that he said Princess Gina and she never mentioned the name? So my question is, were those first set of flashbacks his as well?

John lived his whole life for other people. It was always for Marlena or for other women in his life, and when it wasn’t for them, it was for Stefano under his control. Stefano always wanted his pawn back and Marlena always wanted her John back. I think it’s time he and Marlena both start living for themselves. And he was right, pretty much his whole life, he was the victim, and I think he deserves more vengeance than they have given him over the years.

John proves isn’t all coldness. He doesn’t want anyone else to suffer from what he is, and that’s very good. He has a conscience, it’s just sad that Sami was the only one to see it in all of this. Her and Nicole, and in a tiny way, Ava. All of the people I would think most John and Marlena fans wouldn’t want him to open up to. Haha. How could his memories possibly be project on a computer!? They aren’t pictures, they’re brainwave patterns. But I guess if you live in a world where you can fit a person’s whole life on a single disc, then anything might be possible. Although half of John’s life wouldn’t be on it, since he didn’t remember it before. Sami said he wasn’t so bad after you get past his weird behavior and he said he felt the same way about her. Haha. I like how they keep going back to how he got his name, because I always wondered. Because in an old flashback scene, I think it was during the possession, Stefano has a man giving John the tattoo, and he’s calling him John. So I always thought Stefano gave him the name. Sami definitely went over some important things in his past, but with her twist on them, you see them in a whole new light. And no wonder John picked Sami as a friend, after those stories, he probably thought she was as messed up as he was.
John: “So the blonde is more messed up than I realized.”
Sami: “John you cant tell my mom I told you any of this, she’d kill me.”
John: “No I cant, it’s too good.”

And Sami figured John out as quick as Marlena did, nice. Then she tells him Marlena was the most important thing in the world to him, and he says goodnight. Once again, trying to hide the fact that he cares about Blondie. And now maybe he knows that she was once as important to him as she keeps telling him that the old John is to her.
____________________________________
And for my final analysis. Just remember that I typed this up a couple of weeks ago:

I have come to what may be some shocking conclusions for some of you. I have decided that I don’t want the old John back.

I loved John to death, but he’s gone now, and now I have come to love John. Awhile back, I started a thread about “the end of John and Marlena”. I really loved John and Marlena together, but I like the way they ended. John died by the hands of Stefano, which I always thought he would. Most of his friends and family got to say goodbye to him, and he had a very moving funeral. And even though it didn’t last, Marlena got her revenge on Stefano like she should have. John died as a hero. And his good name shouldn’t be tarnished. Stefano put John through Hell in his life, but he had a good one with his family and friends, and I think that was good enough.

Jon should be a whole new character. As he is. John the hero and all around good guy is gone, and this new guy is here. I think he should stay the way he is. I would only change a few things. Put him with Marlena, fine, I could take it or leave it. Just don’t make him too sappy. He’s Jon, not John, let him act like it. Let him and Marlena go through all the stuff they went through, but I could have lived without him giving up the fortune. Marlena should have divorced him and grieved her husband longer. Her husband died, and she needed more time to grieve him. They should get the divorce, he should continue to be himself and go after the DiMera fortune, and if they can start over, then they can do that. But if she isn’t willing to start over, or accept Jon, then let her be the widow and the pillar of support for everyone like Alice.

Jon was supposed to be a blank slate. His memories were taken away from him, not just suppressed, and the disk was destroyed, so I think they should be unrecoverable. Yes, Marlena saved his life, and that would explain his feelings for her. When she turned him down so many times and asked for the divorce, he lost interest and they should have left it at that. I would have liked John to stay the same and still go after the DiMansion. But since they have taken this direction that he is starting to feel again, then I can accept Combo John. But not completely John. Half John and half Jon. Or even better, if we cant keep him the way he is, just be Jon with his memories back. Because even though I think he shouldn’t be able to get his memory back, it does seem cruel not to remember his own children. Even though John didn’t remember most of his life either. But don’t dull him down. Make him getting his memories back make him want to destroy Stefano and take his empire back.

One other thing I would really had to of changed was the original way they brought John back. I understand that Stefano did things to Jon and they didn’t know how he was going to react. And I also understand that he passed out, and they had to bring him to the hospital. I don’t deny that John probably would have ran off and tried to do his mission. So keeping watch on him made sense. But when he made it clear that the hospital made him uncomfortable, they should have got him out of there. If they didn’t ever want Jon to trust anyone in Salem again, that would make sense. But I don’t think that that is what they wanted. They seem to be slowly connecting Jon with the people in his old life. And chaining him up like an animal was not the proper first step. They had a guard watching him anyway, and Marlena is a doctor. Send him and the guard home with her and monitor him there. He trusted Marlena, because he saw her point the gun at Stefano and Rolf, and she saved his life. I just don’t think chaining someone to a hospital bed is the best way to build up a friendship.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love to have that kind of magic on the show, and I’m going to miss their chemistry. And this montage of Hartleyfan’s almost made me change my mind. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTk3YN-e4w8 . But I just think they should leave John the way he was before another writer comes along and ruins him. Or ruins Jarlena. Because this version of Jarlena, with Jon and Marlena tarnishes everything else. Let them exist separately. John and Jon. I prefer it that way.

I can also see why the two of them aren’t on lately. Because they were on almost everyday at the first half of the year. People were starting to think it was all about them, much like they think it is about Nicole or Sami now. Balance is something that really needs to be addressed.

Thanks for your comments. It's hard for me to even think about Days right now, but I did read it all and really liked your comments and agree with most of your assessments. I'd like to comment more, but with the heartbreaking news, I can't.

I loved this story early on and grew to dislike it, but always had some hope that things would work out in the end. We lost John's special heart, and I always thought we'd see it come back. How do you really kill something that strong an central to your being? Now, I just feel bereft that we went thru all of this pain and suffering and never got to see his true core re-emerge. I didn't want old John to come back exactly as he was, but that amazing feeling caring soul still had to be there somewhere.

J&M has always been the epitome of true and selfless love. They've had some of the worst things you can imagine thrown at them, and no matter how ugly things got, their amazing love always triumphed. I just hate that the last story we get of them is an ugly story destroying that magical unbreakable bond with no redeeming factor whatsoever.

I know it's hard to comment on it now. I just wanted to push it all out there since there may not be much more to the story.

I feel sorry for all the John and Marlena fans, the John fans, and most of all, the Drake fans. First they had to sit through this year, and now Drake's departure. Had this thing been written the right way, with Marlena being in character, and the story hashing out the way it would, if she showed have the caring she did for John before, the viewers would be tuning in in drones to see her fight to have him back. But that isn't what they are showing us. Had they done that, they wouldn't even be considering letting him go again. This, much as the writing, probably has Higley to blame. She doesn't like Marlena or her with John. Although I guess if Drake didn't want the old John back, and what the actor wants should count for something, then the fans weren't going to get him back anyway. But I really do feel sorry that they dragged everyone along and made them think this was going to be another great John and Marlena love story.

Thanks for always commenting back.

I don't blame Drake for liking new John. I like him too. I wonder if he's explained exactly what he means when he says he wants to stay new John. There are two new John's imo, if not more. Early on, Drake was trying to get rid of the old mannerisms that some people ridiculed him for, and he was a blank slate 'say it like it is' kinda guy. If anything, I thought his acting was better than ever this year, and he seemed to get new fans. Even though I missed old John's emotion, I liked new John. I had loved old John, but in recent years, he had gotten a little too sappy for my taste. I liked the new John we first saw. He just needed his heart back. It seemed to be happening when you look at him with scenes with Colleen, Claire, even the hospital scenes with Bo and Caroline. But then everything seemed to change with him becoming harsher vs. just emotionless. Marlena changed into a pressuring person, he resisted, and it became a circle of both becoming less and less likeable. Things just went downhill. He seemed to be becoming more dark Dimera-ish to me. I like him smart and calculating, but I don't like John as a Stefano wannabe.

Then the hospital scenes changed him back to likeable, but then he almost was dumbed down imo. My question would be which new John did Drake want to be? I liked the one we saw January thru the plane crash. He lacked emotion, but I rooted for any sign of it. Marlena stuck by him. I was rooting for every nuance of emotion they brought out. They are wonderful at eeking out that emotion when they are given anything to work with. But things changed after they got back. While there have been scenes I've liked, they have often been followed by scenes I've hated. The awful writing really just killed this story, and it SHOULD have been wonderful...

I guess it doesn't matter now. The writing shot everything to heck. I was just curious when you mention this being about him not wanting to go back to old John and the fans wanting him to. I'm a fan and I didn't want pure old John. I wanted a blend with him still being loving and caring wonderful empathetic heart deep down, but with a bit of a protective shield on and him being smart and capable. If they had just finished letting him grow back to his loved ones, I think he'd have been a perfect John.

I enjoyed reading your long comment.

I enjoyed nuJohn a lot when he first came on, and hiring Rolf.. I mentioned at that time maybe John hired him because he was suppose to.

and nuJohn was fun before that Ava person came along... she changed things with John

I just love John. NuJohn OldJohn. I just love John.

Exactly!

That's how I feel, and I think a lot of other people do too. I like John as Roman, old John, mercenary John, new John, all of 'em. I just like John. Drake could pull anything off, and I am so upset that he wasn't given a fair chance to prove it this time around.

So today, John said something along the lines of "So tell me, how is getting rid of the only person that I am actually capable of caring for going to help me?"

I think that's what we have all been thinking all along. When she blackmails him, it always seems to work. But in a way it seems like her and not like her at the same time. She's fighting for him(barely) which is in character yet giving up at the same time which is out of character.

So now "the ball is in John's court". This is all so messed up. Maybe I should be glad it will all be over soon.

Although I like "deliberately dense" John. He makes me laugh.

Glade my videos are affecting people.

I thought Monday's show was a good one with J&M.. he tried to save her and look what he got ..great John lines..

and what is wrong with Bo and Hope ...

You know, yesterday, Marlena said that she would always be grateful that John saved her life. But she was referring to the Mayor's killer. John has already saved her life once this year. And he saved half of Salem. And no one seemed to stay grateful for either of those very long. John saved half the town, and a few days later, it was like it never happened. As usual, he just cant catch a break. No matter how much good he does, it always seems to be overshadowed by the bad. I guess that's one thing that is consistently written.

I wish JM would be written like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz1lEUu_60s


I live in heaven when I watch clips like that.

Now that I have no school, ill have more time to catch up on this storyline. I watched every episode from May in the last two days. Which means the only part of the story from this year that I have left is whatever I missed in June. I also finished watching November's episodes from last year. So I have only December left from last year. Not that that was hard to finish, since it was only three months.

And here I thought I would never completely catch up with this story. Too bad it's when it's ending.

Ive actually enjoyed it so far. Although I may not like it as much when Ava enters the picture.

Coming into this, I thought I wasnt going to like this story all that much. Because I love John and Marlena. But I like the new John, and that makes it easy for me to like this story. He has kept me laughing through this whole thing. And I'm going to miss that the most.

You know, I like to think as the two Johns as seperate people, so I think if they came out and said that this John was another Stefano creation, and that he wasn't actually the new John, then I would love it. A sort of clone, like Andre. Stefano and Rolf have both been very vague about exactly what went on in that lab, and I think with a little work, they could spin it that way. Stefano would be the ultimate evil genius again, Marlena wouldn't have to feel any guilt about not accepting the new John, and John could continue to stay the way he is, which is how he likes it. And the old John's image remains untarnished. Who knows, it could work.

Although I could have gone without being reminded that John didn't get to walk Belle down the aisle.

Although I've watched the scenes where Marlena goes to visit Stefano multiple times, it never ceases to amaze me. You just know she isn't going to concede by the look in her eyes.

Although it did kind bug me that she missed Belle's reception to go see Stefano of all people. lol. Gotta love Doug's speech though.

She was SO strong after John's death. She was kicking some major @ss. then. I just wish they would have kept writing her tha way this year. She's always been both strong and unending in her loyalty to John. And they just went completely the opposite of both so many times this year. One minute she was, one minute she wasn't. So frustrating.

I want strong Marlena back.

3 comments in a row, haha. I should have just wait. But no more for tonight, I mean it.

sad how John is still being treated by people in Salem.. it was funny at first especially with Caroline, but since then everyone has basically changed in town.

I think if any of us visit Salem now, we would all have to take a shower when we got home.. especially now with icky Daniel

just remember, not all women/girls have their dads walk them down the aisle.. it's an odd tradition anyway.. dad takes care/provides for the girl.. he hands her off to the groom like a football.. ok now it's your turn

I think it's interesting that both dads weren't at the wedding

Yes, it is kind of an odd tradition. But I always pictured Belle getting Married to Shawn and John giving her away.

And yes, it was interesting that neither Bo or John were at the wedding.

I'm just especially glad that Fauxman didn't walk her down the aisle though. Id have to strangle him. Sometimes when he helps Marlena, I want to take it as a kind gesture and nothing else. And other times, it's so obvious that he's trying to win her back. When he was trying to keep Marlena from getting arrested for shooting EJ, I could deal with that. It was the right thing to do, and it wasn't overly "I helped you, and now I have brownie points!", but then when he helped her with the boxes for the mission, he was like that. The man just drives me nuts.

I watched the clips from December and a couple of things I missed from January, and so much popped into my head and I learned a lot that I didnt know, that I decided to do another post:

You know, watching the clips from Christmas and January, I can totally tell that Stefano's "houseguest" is John from those clips. It might be because I already knew that it was John, but I really don't think so. When they showed his eyes on Christmas, I knew it was him. His hands, his walk, and the way he grabbed Rolf, and that yell from the mansion EJ heard, I could tell it was him. Maybe I just pay WAY too much attention to Drake when he's on screen.

And you know, it used to confuse me when everyone would call Marlena's house "the townhouse". I kept thinking "When did Marlena move out of the penthouse?" But in January, Roman called the penthouse the townhouse. So I guess they just call the penthouse that sometimes. That one had me scratching my head for the longest time. And im still not sure, because I dont think the door was the same. A definate answer would be nice. It probably shouldn't be all that important, but it is to me. The penthouse is an important part of JM history, and I think it's important to know what happened to it. I always figured Marlena moved out because it held too many memories, but they never showed her doing that. Is anyone else wondering about this or am I just confusing myself?

Another thing. Marlena was the only other person besides Rolf or Stefano that John had any interaction with before they discovered him in the lab. So I can understand that from that, John would take an interest in Marlena. But he had thoughts that she might be working with Stefano, and he not only saw her pull a gun on Rolf, but she pulled one on him too. So I really just find it amazing that he felt that he could trust her. It's just one of those things that I kind of overlooked. But it just seems so significant.

The more I watch these clips, the more I want the strong Marlena back! She stood up to Crystal, who she thought was a threat to her family, she stood up to Stefano, EJ and half the Salem PD. She held Rolf, Stefano and John at gun point. And she was not taking Chloe's crap about Brady. I have not enjoyed a scene so thoroughly in a long time as Marlena telling Abe, Roman and Bo how it is while Sami and Belle watched with complete shock. Give us that Marlena back!

With all this repeated history already, John's mission having to do with Marlena would be too much. But they made it seem like it was her in the beginning. And Stefano could have turned everything upside down with John working as a man on the inside for him. I think it could have worked if it wasn't written exactly the same and they really mixed it up.

Im glad I went back and watched the stuff from January. I totally glazed over the reason that Stefano was able to keep John inside. He told him he was a wanted fugitive, and if anyone saw his face, he would be arrested. And then when John kept getting arrested, he kept saying he wasn't a fugitive. He had his doubts originally when Stefano was telling him that, but I think it also proves that he trusted Marlena enough to believe her when she told him that Stefano had lied to him about that. And although he did overhear Marlena saying that Stefano killed John(even though he couldnt have known she was talking about him), and it may not be hard to believe that a man like Stefano would lie, but I still think it was very important that although John didn't appear to trust anyone, he really did trust Marlena. So I think it's safe to say, that even though John flip flopped back and forth when it came to trusting her sometimes, that him trusting her initially was done right.

And if John and Marlena ever come back, I hope they get some new pictures of them as props! If I have to see that picture of John in the white swearter, or the picture of them together where she is wearing the yellow, white and black sweater one more time, Im gonna lose it!

Although it did bug me that Marlena didn't feel that John was alive until the psychic told her he was. But I guess it could be interpret it using the fact that Stefano hadn't officially brought him back to life until that point, then she felt that he was alive when he was, and when he wasn't, she didn't. So it could fit in that respect I suppose.

The other thing about the whole instinct thing that bugs me, and Marlena pretty much made the same point, is that everyone thinks she's crazy for believing that he could be alive. So they watched him die, and he had a funeral. In Salem, that happens and people come back from the dead all the time! So stuff like that should be an ordinary thing for them. Not treat her like a nutcase.

And only a couple of months after his death, people are telling Marlena to let go!? That would never happen. She was in love with him for over 20 years. You can't let go of someone that you have known that long or felt so passionately for in such a short period of time. I dont care if it's a soap opera. It's simply impossible. Makes we just want to yell at the screen!

Marlena having John's body cremated without anyone knowing was pretty smart. I dont think body switching in Salem is uncommon either. But it's a good thing no one knew really, because if she they knew that and she thought John was alive, they would really think she was crazy. It really bugged me that she never visited his grave, but now i know why. So i'm glad that one was cleared up.

Poor Marlena. Her life couldn't be crazier, and people are judging her for simply following her heart. Psycho psychiatrist? Puh-lease! I could have just kissed Nick when he said the ashes defiantely werent John's and when EJ confirmed that Stefano had John, I should wanted to scream "Who's crazy now!?" at everyone.

And then after the big revelation comes out, Bo actually comes up with a good plan to get John!? Talk about a plot twist.

And how about- Stefano: "What is the nature of your mission?" John: "To get the Hell out of here." Making me laugh even in the beginning. "It would be a pretty good trick for a dead man to come out of a casket surrounded by police." And apparently Stefano can make me laugh too.

I especially love it when Marlena finds him in the lab and John says "You're the one who shot up the livingroom." and they both laugh. Weird and adorable at the same time. I think that pretty much sums up new John and Marlena.

Although I wonder whatever became of that tracking device. You'd think Stefano or even Rolf would have had at least a little more interest in that.

The writers do a lot of things I hate. And I didnt like the way that John was treated when he was found, and I havent really decided how I feel about the vendetta explanation, but Ive seen some of those clips from January two or three times already, and I could watch them over and over. And because of that, I think I could give most of the January part of this storyline to them.

Roman is sad to me.. why can't the writer find him someone new. I think Roman knows that Marlena belongs to John. I can understand why they talk about the kids, but he's still too attached to her. (read interesting "Dear Abby" this week about someone with a sort of same problem)

one reason, I did banners of the one pic. you can see the unhappiness.

Since Kate has gotten new bone marrow, will she and Roman get back together? would he want her?

Turns out that I got so busy playing catch up, that I hadn't realized that I have already caught up to the point where I started watching the show on a daily basis.

And other than the complaints that I have already voiced, I don't think I have any ohters at this point. Amazing. I really thought I was going to hate this storyline thoroughly, but overall, if I had to guess, it would only carry about a 30% disapproval rating. Which is suprising, because I was expecting closer to 80-90%.

Now there have been things that really bugged me, and somethings that bugged me initially that don't really now. Plus the way they end things might jack that 30% up pretty far. But so far, it hasn't been so horrible for me.

You know, I haven't read Dee or Drake's responses to the way this is ending, or a lot about how they felt about the story as a whole. But I think they enjoyed doing this story. Or at least from what I can tell, they did. Ive been told that at one point, Drake said that he didn't want the old John back. And if he did, I think it was because he had so much fun being this new John. Sometimes i'll catch Drake grinning that things Deidre says. Or Deidre grinning things Drake says, or even grinning before he gets a chance to say anything. And because of that, I think they had fun doing this storyline.

Or at least I hope they did, since this could their last.

maybe we're hear from them after the last episode is shown..

I think they enjoyed doing the s/l at the first of year.. Drake was suppose to be so serious when John said those funny lines