Days of Our Lives Just Gave Doug an Out — Unless Jennifer Takes Him Down First! Plus, Tate and Sophia’s Shocking Decision

Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI (5)

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Most of the week went about as expected, without any real surprises — at least until Friday’s episode! And Sophia and Tate’s frank talk about the realities of teen pregnancy and their decision was definitely not the surprise I was expecting on Days of Our Lives. Whether or not they go through with it, at least for now, the show’s offered up one twist I didn’t see coming. 

A Surprising Turn

I had an entire section ready to go about how much I hated Sophia getting pregnant, saddling the teens with a kid, dreading the idea of a miscarriage and disliking the thought of her lying about the whole thing and just scheming to get Tate or getting pregnant by Aaron and claiming it’s Tate’s. And then… Friday happened.

The show took off in a totally different direction than I expected and ended up being a painfully honest discussion about teen pregnancy and abortion. Tate, of course, was all too eager to not be a father and find a way out, but Sophia told him it wasn’t that easy. The state they live in doesn’t give her that kind of say and her parents would never agree to an abortion.

It’s drama without melodrama. Sophia may have schemed to get Tate, but she’s still a teenager who’s not ready to be a mom. She doesn’t seem like a conniver. She just seems like a scared teen. I hope they don’t just drop it with a miscarriage or lie or any easy way out. This is a reality worth talking about, agree or disagree. And it’s not like an abortion would get them off without consequences. Holly will find out. Sophia’s parents will find out. Everyone will find out, there’s no way around it.

Swing for the Fence

Not everything surprised me this week, though. Doug’s story went pretty much where I thought it would. (Despite briefly wondering if he was a fake.) He’s Doug’s grandson, he likes his new family and feels bad, but owes someone scary money and it’s time to collect. He stole the necklace out of need and when all is said and done, he’ll be forgiven.

It will, though, go a lot easier for him if he fesses up than if Jennifer digs into what’s really going on and turns Julie on him. Thank God Jen got there finally. Someone had to!

But like I said before, the show’s going to have to figure out a way to get folks to truly care about him. Right now, from what I’m seeing, viewers aren’t exactly excited to have a new Doug, legacy character or not.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

OK, yeah, they really are just wrapping up the Catharina story offscreen, aren’t they? Her trial and all are up in Vancouver, the Greenes are leaving to visit her and that’s that. No explanations for anything. So far, no tie back into John. Again, like I said last week, no one really wanted Catharina’s story to keep going after Konstantin was gone, but if the show was going to do it, at least give us some payoff. This was not it.

But man, they really hit us over the head this week with the whole “Abigail is truly dead and gone,” thing. Not just with the “funeral” — which would have been touching if we believed it — but even just every sentence they uttered about her and being in heaven and all that gooey stuff. It could not be more obvious now that she’s still alive if they cut to her living her best life off in some mysterious city.

Half and Half

That judge might want to brush up on the story of the Judgement of Solomon. The Biblical king suggested splitting the baby in half to see which woman would get upset and prove herself the true mother. He didn’t actually split the baby and give both halves to the fighting mom like the judge did with Titan. But sure. Were any of us really surprised at the outcome?

I’m going to guess Philip and Xander running Titan together is going to go about as well as last time, with Xander being the last man standing once again. Seeing as how Philip doesn’t actually have a legal claim to it. Still, maybe the show will surprise us and the two will actually learn to get along and run the company in tandem, becoming true brothers, despite their misgivings.

I’d laugh at the thought, but it would be the way I’d go. It would mean that Philip’s deception being eventually exposed stings all the more for Xander. He finally starts trusting and relying on his half-brother only to learn he’s a liar and con who just wanted to steal Xander’s rightful birthright. That would be especially cruel after what Fiona did in winning him over then breaking his heart, but it would carry that theme right along. Xander’s family just keeps betraying him over and over.

Stray Thoughts…

• Ava and Brady are cute. I said it. My first date ended with a kiss on the cheek, talking about food we liked, things we dreamed of as kids and felt easy and natural like theirs, so the whole thing felt remarkably real. Mystery stalker who may or may not be Kristen, aside.
• I am disappointed we didn’t get to see the extravagant-sounding Salem Opera House (it’s where Brady pointed out to Kristen the Nutcracker was), but honestly, it was a long shot anyway.
• I kind of enjoyed how no one wanted anything to do with Philip and Xander’s legal fight. Because I get the feeling that’s how a good chunk of the audience felt, too.
• I never thought I’d be on Alex’s side, but stop covering for Johnny! Tell Stephanie, tell everyone, get your life back and let Johnny face his own consequences.
• I loved every one of Jennifer’s looks she was throwing when Doug showed up.