Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Emily O’Brien Delivers The ‘Power Performance of the Week’
She has been a polarizing character since her arrival in Salem, with some fans screaming Gwen is sucking up too much airtime. HOWEVER, the performances by Emily O’Brien (Gwen) show an actress on top of her craft who can play, as Gwen called herself, “A miserable, vindictive bitch”, or a young woman so deeply-emotionally wounded that you might just come around and eventually feel some empathy for her.
Last week, while the soaps were pre-empted for most of the week due to the senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, DAYS posted all of its weekly episodes online on NBC.com, the NBC app, or on the Peacock streaming platform, and O’Brien’s work was a standout.
Photo: JPI
It all came to a boiling point when Laura (Jaime Lyn Bauer) and Gwen have the long-awaited confrontation in Gwen’s room at the Salem Inn, where O’Brien goes from Gwen baiting Laura to tell her dirty secret of her long-ago affair with Jack (Matthew Ashford), to her utter anger at how because of it, Laura trashed Gwen’s entire life.
Laura reveals the guilt she felt for sleeping with Jack, so much so, that she would do anything to save Jennifer (Cady McClain) and Jack’s marriage. In delight at getting to the root of the truth, Gwen responds: “You slept with Jack? That is just perfect! My father slept with his mother-in-law!”
Then, Laura shares how it happened. They were both at the “Meadows” finding their ‘truest selves’ and they were both using other names – she, Monica and he, Clark, and Laura had never seen a photo of Jack before to know it was him! Gwen wants to burst out in hysterical laughter, but then she becomes filled with rage knowing that if Laura hadn’t bought off her birth mother, Tiffany, her own life would have been very different. She goes on to say that she and Abigail (Marci Miller) might even be close as sisters, but instead of “borrowing her clothes, she borrowed her husband” alluding to sleeping with Chad (Billy Flynn). Next, Gwen wants to make Laura pay and lets Laura know that, “All the damage that you did, can’t be undone.” When Laura tries to leave, Gwen stops her and says in no uncertain terms, “I want revenge, because you ruined my life and you’re not going to get away with it!”
Photo: JPI
Next, we see that there had been a struggle with Laura dead on the floor bleeding out of her head. A freaked-out Gwen does not know what to do. She realizes she will be accused of murder. With no one in town to call, she decides to call her father, Jack. When he shows up at the Salem Inn, Jack is shocked, and grief-stricken to see his mother-in-law, dead. Gwen swears to Jack this was an accident and that she did not kill Laura, and that he has to believe her. Jack decides he will stand by his daughter. Gwen wants to get rid of the body, Jack says he can’t be involved in a cover-up, so he calls Rafe (Galen Gering). When Rafe arrives at the crime scene he is very suspicious of Gwen, and takes her down to the station.
Scene after scene, O’Brien layered her performances with venomous and ominous undertones, illustrating a woman with so much emotional baggage who becomes desperate to save herself. For all these reasons, Michael Fairman TV names Emily’s work, The Power Performance of the Week.
What did you think of Emily O’Brien’s key scenes? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
oh, most definitely, even i backtracked.. and kept thinking… she turned me ?!?! how about it
two quotes from @Writer :
1. a young woman so deeply-emotionally wounded that you might just come around and eventually feel some empathy for her
2. Scene after scene, O’Brien layered her performances with venomous and ominous undertones, illustrating a woman with so much emotional baggage who becomes desperate to save herself.
YOUR #2 is “chilling” in and of itself.. stupendous .. another emmy worthy submit people
hence it’s #1.. alas the big reveal, she did all on her own. it was at ‘SOME’ points farcical… getting us to believe that Chad and Abs wouldn’t not believe each other. otherwise.. she delivered en masse i’m certain.
I say this genuinely, because i was caught up in watching Cady McClain act her arse off.. and being impressed by NEW things on the canvas about and with Jack Deveraux .. and you find yourself keeping up with Gwen… TADA she made both apples and oranges
I like Gwen and O’Brien is a powerhouse! Well worth the recognition here!
I think she and Marci Miller are at the top of their games. Emily is a powerhouse, making you hate her one minute and feel sorry for her the next. I am hoping to see her nominated for Best Lead Actress at the 2021 Emmys.
I hated to see a legacy character killed off with Laura’s death. I think she had more that should have been said and done before her death. More scenes with Jennifer, Jack, Abigail, Gwen and Kate.
Powerful performance or not, TPTB have ruined this character. I doubt any viewer likes her—-unless for her acting skills.
As a character, Gwen is shot!! Now, it seems, that the writers are trying to play with the viewer’s emotions—-giving a pity-party to a poor, poor, abandoned, helpless child. Perhaps, it works for others—not for me.
I am not buying it. Too much evil in one human being and not enough humility for having survived her devastating childhood.
It’s a soap; so I get it. Melodrama is a necessary tool. However, this character will never have redemption for me.
Will Gwen be a permanent fixture? If so, I understand the turnabout. I think, the character was to have had a short ‘interlude’ on the show—-I guess, somewhere along the line, ye gods changed their minds?
Celia – “not enough humility for having survived her devastating childhood”? An abused and neglected child should grow up to be a humble adult grateful for the crumbs given to her by Laura? Have YOU lost your mind!?Just what kind of humility would you have Gwen show to the world? You obviously has NO UNDERSTANDING AND NO EMPATHY for children who have been abandoned and told they are unwanted.
Gwen has EVERY right to be angry and resentful. Self entitled Laura decided, without consulting Jack, that the child Gwen did not have the right to a father. And Jack, according to self entitled Laura, was not allowed to be a father to a second daughter. Laura KNEW Gwen’s mother had died but did absolutely NOTHING to make sure Gwen was placed in a secure loving home. No, Laura sat back and allowed Gwen to be tossed into the Foster Care System that even social workers know is broken. God forbid Laura actually come clean and tell Jack that he had a child with no mother being thrown into a broken system.
I wanted Gwen to tell self entitled Laura how many foster homes she was placed in and what was done to her by some of those foster parents. I wanted self entitled Laura to publicly apologize to Jack and Gwen while begging forgiveness. I am sorry Laura is dead because she got off easy. I am more than happy Gwen is staying on Days so Jack can have the relationship with the daughter Laura denied him. Since Gwen’s presence on Days upsets YOU I hope she stays for the next two years.
Gee, that’s a lot of hate. It’s a TV show, right?
Hi, Moto62
Tell me about it. Thank you. We are talking about a character here, not the actress.
There”s a pandemic going on and in the midst of this, people are flipping out over a soap. We come here to exchange views, not cut each other up. I’m off school this week, therefore, I have a little time to spare to chat and catch up.
Nonetheless, I have loved Emily since her short stint on Y&R, as Jana.
There’s no dispute to her talent.
Be safe!!
LOL. It’s a soap, ma’am. You need help.
As do you! Suggesting that Gwen has not shown enough humility for having survived as an unwanted and abandoned child. Seriously!
On the other horn, if Gwen had been with her father when he came to Salem, she might have got killed by his adoptive father or beaten and/or raped by his biological father. So it’s not like life in the Deveraux/Johnson family was all that great back then.
No question that Laura did the wrong thing by never telling Jack & Jennifer the truth. But it wasn’t worth killing her over, and seriously, Gwen’s thirty something now…. is she really holding on to childhood grudges. When she voluntarily checked herself into the nuthouse to hide from Jake, she should have taken advantages of the services provided by that facility.
Anne
So sorry, but I absolutely hate Gwen. Many people have grown up under same or worse circumstances and have turned out to be happy, loving and worthwhile people. It was actually noted recently on Y&R when talking about that monster Adam, that while he didn’t have his father in his life, he had everything else and certainly no excuse for his sociapathic treatment of everyone else in his life, especially his own family. Gwen is finally showing a little guilt, but it’s too little too late especially after the damage she’s done, especially her horrible hate and jealousy of Abigail who didn’t even know she existed as did anyone else. If she wanted a family so badly, why did she set out to destroy them all, doesn’t make sense to me. I also agree with Celia, she’s right on all points!
I hope she’s not jacks daughter in the long run
DNA has proved that Gwen is Jack’s daughter
I agree with her being the power performer. I am loving the character of Gwen and Emily as an actress. Her chemistry with Marci Miller and Billy Flynn is amazing. When all 3 are in a scene it’s fire. I have to blame RON on killing Laura, not Gwen. RON has made some big mistakes with killing Adrienne and now Laura. Hopefully Dr. Rolf will bring her back.
I honestly can’t stand her from her accent to her crooked smirk of a smile. I think it’s horrible that Carlivati killed off Laura Horton for this character’s storyline but I don’t think Ron cares about characters that he didn’t invent. His interest is not in the history of Days of Our Lives, in my opinion.
So, if the character of Gwen ever leaves, I’ll be happy to see her go but something tells me she’ll be around for some time me to come.
When this character first merged into our screens, I immediately liked this actress. Her nail biting, which grossed out viewers, only added to the more than real character. Not everyone is perfect in real life, everyone has their own bad habits, and I think this little addition showed me just how great Emily was going to be.
Hi Carlos : Yeah, I readily admit… when she was doing these ??? nail biting, her crooked smirks ; and her full on large teeth… she was off putting… even knowing her stellar work @Y&R. 3 out of 4 years emmy nominated. What really took me… if she is staying longer… she has to change her look…. “look” more amenable, up to date, rambunctious, so she has daddy around the corner. I LOVED HER RED WIG when she, abs and jennifer did that FLASHBACK…. that hairstyle gave her younger, panache, attitude and when she wants a fun lot to dole out.
ie: the date of her DNA TEST w/JACK. WOW these scenes are emmy worthy for both actors… Emily O’brien AND Matthew Ashford… it’s been startling , FUN , and just joy to watch MA comeback and LIVE !!! he’s been jaw dropping what should have been all this time. Whew
another hoot : that same day @ hospital… @Julie is waiting for Doug to be released… as “luck” would have it… Julie decides to give Gwen a piece of her mind. “put her in her place” not so quickly Gwen SNARLS rears her head, tells this “hag” BITCH back off ! it was so loud even Julie… NEVER,one, to let go … you could tell she with full on eyebrow arched high and tight, so subtly released an eyebrow, just a touch, of acknowledgement… oh it was classy and eye to eye . Gwen has comedy
@DAYS Needs to get with it.. and full plate this full lot of talent… of the older lot… MY LOT.. they rely heavily on , and should, Kayla and Steve… but now.. when it’s time for Cady McClain to return… we have another family ringing in.
“I have to still celebrate @Ron, @Ryan, @TPTB” TADA
These accolades for Emily O’Brien are well deserved! Her acting is terrific, which is why some viewers “love” to “hate” her… As a fan of her work on Y&R, I am eagerly hoping for a DOOL episode when Leo (Greg Rikaart) returns to town and runs into Gwen.
Oh Jamesj75, how perfect would that be? Kevin & Jana were my favorite soap couple for years! Two odd, loopy people who fit like a glove. And two of daytime’s best performers ever. I like Chloe and Kevin but Jana made Greg Rikaart even sexier.
Hey Soaphound! I just noticed your response — I miss the old days when we were notified when someone replied to a post. Glad to learn that Kevin and Jana were your favorite soap couple for years. I can see that! Both appealing characters and actors. Take care, Friend!
Soaphound
I agree with you and James. I also loved Jana and Kevin. Could never really take to Chloe. She just annoys me somehow.
I think GWEN is mentally ill. But she sure can act enough to hate her. Cady has done an excellent job doing the JENNIFER role.
We have no DOOL site, so thought I’d write a few comments here about our poor mistreated Gwen. How stupid of Abby and Gaby to put Gwen in the wine room where everyone comes and goes for wine. They should have locked her up in the other one they used before, even had a bed. Gabi has no conscience but I don’t think this will make Abby happy when she actually starts thinking about what she’s doing. Jack won’t be too happy when Gwen goes running to daddy about what big sis did to her.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast
After languishing on the bubble for months, on Friday, NBC handed down the decision and canceled the medical drama Brilliant Minds after two seasons.
Brilliant Minds stars Zachary Quinto as neurology physician Oliver Wolf, who’s character and the series is inspired by the life and books of neurologist. Oliver Sacks. The series focuses on the medical mysteries of the mind, as Wolf a larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns explore the last great frontier, the human mind, while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
The final six episodes of what will now be the end of its second and final season were already set to air beginning on May 27, after being pulled off the network schedule in February as viewership saw a steep decline. Brilliant Minds second season became the lowest-rated drama on linear TV viewing, which didn’t bode well fo a network renewal, although it had its hard core fan base.
Photo: NBC
There are some exceptional notables in the cast along with the talented Quinto that includes Days of Our Lives alum, Al Calderon (ex-Javi Hernandez) who joined the series in its second season as Nurse Nico Silva, and One Life to Live alum, Teddy Sears (ex-Chad Bennett) who plays Wolf’s love interest and fellow physician, Dr. Josh Nichols.
The rest of the talented cast includes: Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Donna Murphy, John Clarence Stewart, and Brian Altemus.
In an ironic twist of fate on Thursday, April 30, Days of Our Lives finally revealed the actor who was Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Javi, when they announced that actor Jacob Martinez had now stepped into the role. Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming new episode, Calderon left in the spring of 2025, but will be seen in the part for the final part this month, and then on June 20, Martinez debuts as Salem’s new Javi.
Taking to his Instagram with a sorrowful and heartfelt post on the Brilliant Minds cancellation was Teddy Sears who wrote, “Thank you, Brilliant Minds. I got the call today and I didn’t want to hear, but I knew that it would come, You have to be a particular vintage to quote Don Henley from memory, but that’s the line that came to mind earlier today after I got off the phone with our inimitable showrunner Michael Grassi who delivered the news that NBC has cancelled the series”.
Photo: NBC
Sears continued, “To say that I feel sad to be moving on from these stories, this character, and this cast and crew just doesn’t paint the entire picture. I’m sad, sure. But I’m also deeply grateful that I got hired to play this part, so proud of the stories we told, and the other actors I got to play alongside. I’m excited to see what comes next, what adventures await, and terrified to be without a professional home. A quick and heartfelt thank you to everyone, all over the globe, who found us and found themselves in us, in our characters and in our stories. We wouldn’t have been able to tell them without you. And we still have 6 fresh episodes yet to air, and I do hope you tune in enjoy the remainder of the series. They’re the best we’ve done.”
As he wrapped up his sentiments, Sears signed off with, “The more I know, the less I understand. All the things I figured out I have to learn again. I’ve been trying to get down to the heart of the matter. But everything changes…Thank you, Brilliant Minds.”
The medical drama was created and executive produced by Michael Grassi alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Jasmine Russ, Henrik Bastin, Jonathan Cavendish, Andy Serkis and Shefali Malhoutra.
So, what do you think of NBC’s decision to cancel Brilliant Minds after two seasons? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside
The final few moments of the Thursday, April 30 episode of Days of our Lives, will pave the way, to what just may be the end of Sophia Choi’s (Rachel Boyd) life, but not as you may think!
After an unhinged Sophia paid a visit to Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman), maced him in the eyes, knocked him out and then tied up to a chair, now conscious, she lets him know that she holds him responsible for all the trouble and trauma she has gone through from adopting her child, and her being sent to a mental institution.
So instead of the unregistered gun Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) gave her to finish off Johnny, Sophia sets up a plan to light candle, use nail polish remover and turn on the gas on the stove to ultimately create a mass explosion, which although Johnny pleaded to her not to that to all the innocent people inside his apartment building, she doesn’t seem to care.
Photo: JPI
FIERY FACE OFF
The plan was supposed to be, after she takes care of Johnny she will toss the gun in the Salem River, then focus on payback to Holly Jonas before leaving town to start a new life.
Now, Sophia makes her exit, leaving Johnny to be a few moments away from an explosion or gas inhalation, when Chanel (Raven Bowens) comes home after awaiting the results of her mammogram. She sees Johnny tied up, as he panics and tells her to put out the flame on the candle, things go awry, and a fire has begun and everything may go up in flames with Johnny and Chanel inside.
Photo: JPI
A BROKEN SOPHIA
Back in her room, Sophia breaks down after reading the social media comments about her, she planted, and then starts writing a suicide or farewell note which says. “I’m tired of begging for forgiveness for my mistakes. All I wanted was to move forward, to be loved and understood. But it’s clear that I was never going to get that. Holly Jonas said that I was dead to her. So, as her former BFF, I’m going to make her dream a reality.”
Photo: JPI
A DEADLY TRAP
Now, the fate of Johnny, Chanel and Sophia will be revealed on tomorrow’s May 1st cliffhanger, which may be the end of Sophia when she crosses paths with Kirsten at the bridge near the river. We do know Rachel Boyd is no longer appearing in the show credits section and is now off contract with the soap.
So, what did you think of the climatic final moments of DAYS? What did you think of the performance of Rachel Boyd as Sophia Choi? Let us know via the comment section.
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.
Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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