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.
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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’… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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
Daytime Stars Attend the ‘Hollywood Christmas Parade’ 2021 (PHOTOS)
Sunday night after a year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Hollywood Christmas Parade returned for its 89th edition to mark the tinseltown start to the holiday season.
Several stars of your favorite soaps were participating and riding down in cars on the parade route in front of the crowd on Hollywood Boulevard.
General Hospital’s Laura Wright (Carly) and Wes Ramsey (Peter), Tristan Rogers (Scorpio) appeared along with former cast member, Ian Buchanan (Ex-Duke).
The Bold and the Beautiful was represented by Kimberlin Brown (Sheila), Sean Kanan (Deacon), and former B&B star, Andrea Evans (Ex-Tawny). Days of our Lives was represented by Deidre Hall (Marlena) and Judi Evans (Bonnie) on the parade route. The Young and the Restless’ Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) and Kate Linder (Esther) also attended, as did Patrika Darbo (Ex-Days, Ex- B&B).
Photo: JPI
The Talk’s Sheryl Underwood served as grand marshal of the parade, and her co-host from the daytime talk show, Jerry O’Connell, also made an appearance.
The parade will be broadcast as a two-hour special on The CW December 17th at 8 p.m. EST.
Check out some photos from the Hollywood Christmas Parade 2021 below.
Then, let us know, who were you most happy to see getting the chance to hang out with Santa? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Julie Stands Up to MarDevil; Susan Seaforth Hayes Reminds Us Why She is Soap Royalty
Friday’s episode of Days of our Lives brought with it, let’s just say, not your typical Turkey Day episode in Salem. It also moved the story along with MarDevil being exposed!
At Julie’s (Susan Seaforth Hayes) Thanksgiving, Doug (Bill Hayes) shouts that Marlena (Deidre Hall) is the devil. However, Marlena still insists that Doug is delusional and needs to be locked back up. It is then that Julie stands by her husband. Julie is on to Marlena and wonders if she should call “Marlena,” who she truly is at the moment, “Satan”.
Courtesy/NBC
Shawn (Brandon Beemer) and Belle (Martha Madison) also believe something is terribly wrong. Marlena tells them this is ridiculous, but Belle wants to hear what else Doug has to say. Then, Shawn handcuffs Marlena to take her down to the station for questioning. Julie doesn’t believe for one second that handcuffs will restrain the devil, and she was right! MarDevil breaks the cuffs and flings Shawn across the Thanksgiving dinner table complete with food-a-flying, leaving him unconscious.
Now with yellow eyes and lights flickering, MarDevil goes after Doug and Julie, but Julie stops Satan in his tracks professing “Not today, Satan!” Just then, MarDevil grabs a knife and in a counter move, Julie holds out her rosary saying love is the power and that the God of love is stronger than the devil! Julie defiantly tells MarDevil that the truth is out and Satan’s reign of terror is over! But MarDevil turns the tables and sneers, “It will never be over!”
It was in these scenes opposite Deidre Hall, that Susan Seaforth Hayes shined as she has done for decades given the material, as Julie went the toe-to-toe with the devil and Susan made us believe that love can win out over everything, especially the love of Doug and Julie.
Photo: JPI
In another touching moment in the episode, Susan Banks (Stacy Haiduk) tells EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) from her hospital bed, how she used herself as a human sacrifice for the devil to keep John alive and to protect her son. An emotional EJ can’t believe that Susan was willing to die for him. However, Susan explains that a mother always protects their child and she would do it all over again when faced with that decision. Haiduk and Feurriegel also delivered in these scenes.
Photo: JPI
With John (Drake Hogestyn) freed by Anna (Leann Hunley) and Tony (Thaao Penghlis), he eventually makes his way into the Horton house to confront MarDevil, but Satan is gone. Instead, John finds Shawn with Doug and Julie and they inform him that MarDevil had left to fulfill her true purpose. Just then, Marlena arrives at Ben (Rob Scott Wilson) and Ciara’s (Victoria Konefal). We fade to black.
Now below, check out Susan Seaforth Hayes in a scene from Friday’s episode as Julie fends off the devil.
Then, let us know, what did you think of Susan’s performance? What do you think MarDevil will do next to Ben and Ciara and “their” baby? Did you enjoy the Susan and EJ scenes? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Love wins…@DaysHayes are just fabulous.#Days #Mardevil #Vets pic.twitter.com/bH4UIb6yXv
— Jan (@shyone269) November 27, 2021
Days Of Our Lives
(WATCH) Days of our Lives Extended Winter Preview Promo
OLTL Alum Arlene Dahl Dead At 96, Son Lorenzo Lamas Shares: “She Was The Most Positive Influence In My Life”
Daytime Stars Attend the ‘Hollywood Christmas Parade’ 2021 (PHOTOS)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: What Will Happen When Port Charles Finds Out What Happened to Jason? (PROMO)
Guiding Light’s Robert Newman Pays Tribute to the Brilliance of Lisa Brown
Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson Share Disagreement with Each Other Over Vaccine Mandate; Will Continue ‘Stone Cold and the Jackal’ Shows In 2022
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Julie Stands Up to MarDevil; Susan Seaforth Hayes Reminds Us Why She is Soap Royalty
Christian LeBlanc Marks 30 Years as Y&R’s Michael Baldwin; Soap Plans Special Episode to Air in January
As the World Turns and Guiding Light Favorite, Lisa Brown, Passes Away at 67
TONIGHT: ‘The Magic’ Holiday Movie Featuring Kristos Andrews, Katherine Kelly Lang, Charles Shaughnessy, and More
AW Alum Anne Heche to Star with The Weeknd and Troye Sivan in HBO Series ‘The Idol’
As the World Turns and Guiding Light Favorite, Lisa Brown, Passes Away at 67
Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson Share Disagreement with Each Other Over Vaccine Mandate; Will Continue ‘Stone Cold and the Jackal’ Shows In 2022
(WATCH) Days of our Lives Extended Winter Preview Promo
Steve Burton Confirms His Exit From General Hospital
Ingo Rademacher Wraps His Run as General Hospital’s Jax
Days of our Lives Writer, Elizabeth Snyder, Passes Away
Cast Revealed for Peacock’s ‘Days of our Lives: A Very Special Christmas’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: What Will Happen When Port Charles Finds Out What Happened to Jason? (PROMO)
Guiding Light’s Robert Newman Pays Tribute to the Brilliance of Lisa Brown
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Julie Stands Up to MarDevil; Susan Seaforth Hayes Reminds Us Why She is Soap Royalty
OLTL Alum Arlene Dahl Dead At 96, Son Lorenzo Lamas Shares: “She Was The Most Positive Influence In My Life”
GENERAL HOSPITAL: What Will Happen When Port Charles Finds Out What Happened to Jason? (PROMO)
Christian LeBlanc Marks 30 Years as Y&R’s Michael Baldwin; Soap Plans Special Episode to Air in January
As the World Turns and Guiding Light Favorite, Lisa Brown, Passes Away at 67
TONIGHT: ‘The Magic’ Holiday Movie Featuring Kristos Andrews, Katherine Kelly Lang, Charles Shaughnessy, and More
THIS IS US Releases Sixth and Final Season Teaser Trailer
(WATCH) Days of our Lives Extended Winter Preview Promo
GH’s Steve Burton Becomes Emotional Remembering Stuart Damon
SATURDAY: Cameron Mathison and Jennie Garth in ‘A Kindhearted Christmas’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Jack Admits to Li He’s Finn’s Biological Father in Standout Moments From Ted King
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As The World TurnsNovember 26, 2021As the World Turns and Guiding Light Favorite, Lisa Brown, Passes Away at 67
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General HospitalNovember 28, 2021Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson Share Disagreement with Each Other Over Vaccine Mandate; Will Continue ‘Stone Cold and the Jackal’ Shows In 2022
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Days Of Our LivesNovember 22, 2021(WATCH) Days of our Lives Extended Winter Preview Promo
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Breaking NewsNovember 23, 2021Steve Burton Confirms His Exit From General Hospital
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General HospitalNovember 22, 2021Ingo Rademacher Wraps His Run as General Hospital’s Jax
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Breaking NewsNovember 20, 2021Days of our Lives Writer, Elizabeth Snyder, Passes Away
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Days Of Our LivesNovember 22, 2021Cast Revealed for Peacock’s ‘Days of our Lives: A Very Special Christmas’
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General HospitalNovember 29, 2021GENERAL HOSPITAL: What Will Happen When Port Charles Finds Out What Happened to Jason? (PROMO)