Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Wally Kurth Delivers ‘The Power Performance of the Week’
Mark our words! Next year, Days of our Lives Wally Kurth (Justin Kiriakis) will once again be nominated for a Daytime Emmy for this week’s emotional and deeply-touching work on key episodes of the NBC daytime drama series.
As viewers saw, this was to be the happy nuptials of Justin and Kayla (Mary Beth Evans), who found love again after losing the previous loves of their lives. They were dear friends to begin with, who through a set of horrific circumstances, found comfort with one another which eventually turned to love.
Photo: JPi
Problem was; Justin overheard Jennifer (Melissa Reeves) and Hope (Kristian Alfonso) before the ceremony discussing Steve’s (Stephen Nichols) feelings for Kayla and that he wants her back; something Kayla is unaware of. So what will he do? The noble thing and tell her the truth, or keep it to himself and marry her anyway?
As the Intel of what he learned weighed heavier and heavier on Justin, in the most dramatic of moments (when he was to say his “I do’s”), Justin stopped the ceremony and bared all to Kayla: that Steve wants her back and how Steve saw him propose to her and that is why he backed off. Armed with the knowledge and that her friends and family kept it from her, Kayla does not know what to do. Justin helps made it easy and clear for her when he questions her … if they would be standing here getting married, if Steve had told her his true feelings before Justin proposed to her?
Justin goes on to say to Kayla that maybe she has been avoiding her true feelings for Steve, because she did not want to hurt him. Then Justin tells Kayla that he visited his late wife Adrienne’s (Judi Evans) grave, and told her that if things were different, and if she was alive they would still be married, and Kayla would be their dear, dear friend.
Photo: JPI
With seeing the look on Kayla’s eyes, Justin knows she loves Steve. Heartbroken, but caught in an untenable situation, Justin tells Kayla he is happy for her. Kayla wraps her arms around Justin as they both cry. Kayla says she never wanted to hurt him, and when Wally as Justin says, “I know, honey,” it was one of the most honest and ten-hankie moments of the entire scenario. Justin kisses her, tells the guests there will be no wedding today, and exits the Kiriakis mansion.
The emotional drama continues in the aftermath as Justin is at Kayla’s apartment boxing up all of his belongings and tears up recalling their nights together listening to jazz and cooking dinner. Sonny (Freddie Smith) finds his dad, and tells him he did the noble thing and that time will heal all wounds, but after Sonny leaves, Justin breaks down a bit further before exiting Kayla’s for good.
And if that was not enough, Justin goes back to Adrienne’s gravesite to update her on the wedding that did not happen. He talks to her that he understands Kayla and Steve’s deep and enduring love, which was just like theirs was. Next, Justin thinks he is seeing Adrienne, when none other than Bonnie Lockhart (Judi Evans) reveals she is back in Salem – talk about kicking a guy when he is down!
Photo: JPI
Throughout this entire saga, moment to moment, Kurth delivered raw, genuine, adult emotions, in a very complex adult story and relationship. In fact, the cast and crew thought so, too! When Wally as Justin told Kayla that he can’t marry her and the speech that followed and his exit from the mansion that followed, all those on set applauded for him. His work was that moving. Wally was ably assisted throughout by the outstanding work of Mary Beth Evans in these scenes.
2020, while a difficult year for everyone thus far, has been a particular great year for Kurth on Days; as over the last six months he has really had a chance to shine in this story. So for all of these reasons and more, Michael Fairman TV gives the “Power Performance of the Week” kudos to Wally Kurth.
Did you love Wally’s performance this week on Days? Did you reach for the hankies? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
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This is in Wallys acting wheelhouse; he’s good but range limited. So glad story that should have ended when Steve woke up is over. Tired of the crying at Adrienne’s grave over the woman he moved on with within 3 months. Let Adrienne Rest In Peace.
These were good episodes, so glad Steve and Kayla reunited. I like Wally but, he is a one dimensional actor and this area is where he is his strongest, but he isn’t consistent on a routine basis I think that’s why he has been a supporting actor for so long. Ned is a better role for him and hope GH will give him and Olivia this type of story arc.
I disagree! I prefer Justin over Ned any day!
I enjoy him on both soaps.
I always preferred him as Ned over Justin.
He was simply phenomenal as always. I think he is greatly under appreciated and I definitely prefer him as Justin on Days over Ned on GH!
Wally Kurth is a very talented actor. I believe he may be the only actor who plays different character roles on two high profile soap dramas over many years. His performance was spot on with sensitivity and humor. Currently, I prefer his role as Justin because raw emotion, real integrity and love was portrayed toward Kayla. Sadly, GH has marginalized Ned’s role for awhile. Yet, I would like to see the storyline flushed out between Brooklyn and Ned. Since most of the Quartmaine clan was killed off or left, the writers have placed his character on the shelf. Also, I… Read more »
Nothing against Wally, he truly seems like a nice guy, but his acting stands out on Days because the majority of the acting is cartoonish at times. For every episode like this one from him, you can point out 2-3 not so good ones.
Wally Kurth is an awesome actor. Hope he’s back on GH soon!!
So glad that painful arc is over! When you have to rewrite history and characters so out of the normal to work, add in teenage dribble for dialogue it probably shouldn’t be done. Actors saved it; though was so over the living out the relationship at the hospital..WK average actor that like any other actor is given the right material for their strengths they will succeed.
I watch Wally on both Days and General Hospital, he is awesome in both soaps.
Mary Beth, always outshines!
And yes I cried and cried!
All the vets shined in those episodes…RC, head writer, deserves huge kudos for giving Wally material in an area he excels. Steve and Kayla belong together so I’m glad Justin did the right thing. Of course, he knew writing was on wall when he heard Kayla laying into Jake about losing live of her life & no one could replace him.
He was absolutely brilliant!
The acting at times on this show is often so bad all you can do is laugh because you’re not sure if it is written that way or not. So, when you get decent scenes it’s easy to think someone is the next Emmy winner. The scenes with Jack on Monday shined light on a once again average actor.
Nice guy and dimples doesn’t make a person an automatic Emmy winner…watch his performance on a daily basis..
Days Of Our Lives
Mike Manning On His DAYS Departure: “Thank You to NBC, to Everyone Involved, and Most of All to the Fans That Were Along for the Ride With This Crazy Character.”
Now it’s the end of the line for Charlie on Days of our Lives, his portrayer Mike Manning took to his Instagram for some parting words of his time in Salem playing this very bad dude.
As Days fans know, many people wanted Charlie dead, and now he is! Thus begins a good old fashioned soap murder mystery on the long-running NBC soap opera, the question now is, who ultimately did the deed?
Photo: JPI
After getting a copy of the latest Soap Opera Digest on newsstand now, which features, “Who Killed Charlie?” on the cover, Manning shared in a post on Friday: Everybody has a motive to want this guy dead.” 😂 Not exactly how I pictured my first soap magazine cover, but at least we’re having a good time with it. It’s been fun Salem. I’ll love you all forever. ✌🏼💙. Thank you to NBC, to everyone involved, and most of all to the fans that were along for the ride w/ this crazy character. You’re amazing. I’ll always be grateful for you. Excited to share what’s next as soon as I can. Arrivederci. -Charlie/Mike”
So place your bets on who will turn out to be the murderer via the comment section below and let us know what you thoughts on Mike’s run on DAYS!
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