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.
I am mesmerized ; smitten ; in love ; taken ; IN LOVE @Days of OUR Lives with Chad and Abs the vibe and chemistry with this winsome twosome is their own show they smolder me out… and yes… i’m in love with Billy Flynn acting… and this enchanting newbie Marcie Miller. My heart is real this couple is all the hoopla they deserve God I couldn’t be more excited that it’s still in the DiMera arena… and it’s so much FUN to see how Marcie Miller plays ABS… these two acting gems… dang if it isn’t made better that… Read more »
@DOOL I welcome Ron Carlivati…. you are my vengeance is mine saith the lord… behead Frank / Jean / Shelley NOW let’s take 3rd… and pull out all the stops OK FIRST and foremost; I’d like to acknowledge Ryan Quan… because; his tenure with Dena Higley… WORKED… not all #1 but rising to the occasion… DAYS is it’s own ship ; unique and definitely a huge production team… that is LIVE i’d like to know what he contributed … it’s nice to say that his work… delivered. when do we ever read of newbie headwriters ? few and far between… Read more »
I’m extremely elated about Ron, too!
quote; ”Overall, all for soaps were down significantly from this same time last year.” IMO- the writers are too old and not writing for younger people, seems they are writing for retired peoples. ALL the soaps are dull/lackluster, empty of intense and intriguing drama. The writers are Not enthusiastic they seem to be just writing anything that doesn’t require imagination, new ideas, and energy. The writers, all of them, seem to be suffering from fatigue and recycling old scripts that we all having lived through for many years.. )ie.. they simply don’t give a hot damn outside of a paycheck.… Read more »
I don’t know why you continue to offend. What do you get out of it? You make the same complaint over and over…soaps and soap writers are “too old.” Why watch? Soaps have been around for fifty years. Many of their viewers ARE older! And yes, they are and should be written for. This is not a new genre. Seventy year olds aren’t complaining that MTV is written for young people. That The Flash is written for comic book fans. That BET is geared toward a black demographic. If and when a new daytime soap is born they and if… Read more »
I agree, Rebecca. I don’t buy that the problem is the age of the writers. Sometimes age is just a state of mind. Look at Bernie Sanders–he has the energy, intellectual curiosity and passion of a thirty year old. Alas, the soaps are not affording me much delightful escapism from this dystopian universe we have suddenly been thrust into. GH’s Lulu falling through the ceiling only to land on the wedding cake seemed stupid, pointless and destructive. In fact, that scene was cringe worthy. And yesterday Victoria from Y&R came home only to discover her teenage son making out with… Read more »
Ummmm…I only watch Y&R sporadically. Ms. Maples Trump wasn’t REALLY on, was she? LOL…you WERE making a funny, right?
Actually, I thought Lulu’s fall was a wee tad amusing. Well, funnier than Michael calling Sonny dad again…
The young girl who was discovered making out with Reed looked a lot like Tiffany Trump–so yes, I was kidding.
I feel that Tiffany is the Jan Brady of the Trump Bunch.
Instead of it always being “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” It’s always, “Ivanka, Ivanka, Ivanka!”
Thank you rebecca
Ditto ur sentiments about the above
trolls continued offensive comments…i constantly cringe when i scroll past its comments….theirs a constructive way to post negative comments
@GH I’m thankful for what few posts… acknowledge and with heart… LOVE Valentin / Nina / Charlotte it’s with wonderment that so few are not in the moment, caught this cohesive knit. of Cassadine is stirring that GH simply has something to focus on because of how complete this family ??? did Anna lose her principles because she shunned this grotesque this is the haunt that Anna beguiled us with ? dag… bring on Seth Baker to heal all wounds and physically charge her let bygones be bygone… and that includes the dearly ( always loved ) Duke. Griffin needs… Read more »
I’m not sure how politics, inaugurals and press conferences can affect ratings when they bump the soaps from their regular schedules. But things seemed so predictable in the soap stories…Devon/crash/Hillary/etc, Quinn/Ridge, Liam being Liam, Steffy being Steffy, same old Sonny/Carly makeup, prolonging the Nelle reveal with Sonny always glaring at her. At least we were primed for Dylan/ Steve Burton’s exit, but am still waiting for the evil Valentin, in the true tradition of the Cassadines, and the promise to be the scariest of the family to make an appearance. And to not just settle into Port Charles as if… Read more »
I’ve watch yr from day 1 always love it ,but wear is all of the other children? Jacks son Paul’s girl .i would like to see nickie become a strong business woman again ,like having Jill back ,really tired of Hilary story line,please don’t let Sharon and nick back together again it’s so old ,
GH had a great demo week in the Jan 3rd ratings report. Biggest gains in over nine months in all the key areas. I didn’t see any news items posted on this site about it. Y&R is boring as hell under SSM no surprise they are way down. B&B never does anything but recycle the same garbage so no surprise there either. GH is getting hit hard by preemptions lately so at least they have excuse but the Franco show needs to be stopped ASAP. DOOL is the worst soap left on the air and only reason they aren’t down… Read more »
sad but realistic picture . the soap that is the worst is the bold and the beautiful with the silly and never ending triangles that have been done and overdone , the same stories over and over again on bold and beautiful have made this soap boring and torture to watch ! young and the restless has been boring and frankly not that interesting , sally’s writing has been so disappointing . General hospital is a bit better , Days is not all that bad . conclusion : Days of our lives is the soap to watch . but i… Read more »
with all the inaugural bs last week, these numbers are not surprising. Expect more as Trump doesn’t like to share airtime!
Neither did Obama!
You can’t blame Obama or even Trump for these interruptions. The president has no authority to interrupt regular scheduled programing. This directive comes from the networks.
Since the days of Eisenhower, the “stories” have been interrupted by presidential addresses. I believe that even FDR interrupted the stories on the radio to talk to the American people.
True, Timmm.
And it’s a turn-off to pop in here and see Trump bashing
from people on a soap board. Guess it doesn’t matter that
this is about soaps…they just gotta get those politucal digs in.
Nanci, REALLY?
You see Trump bashing here? Most of us are holding back BIG time considering the shit storm he has unleashed on us.
Yes but ahem, Addison…we can blame Trump for how many times he intends to
“address us.” It’s going to be an ad nauseum all Trump, all the time. Which means I’ll be saving a lot on electricity as the TV shuts downnnnnn…
Rebecca, I beyond depressed about the horror which has transpired these last five days. However, there is some good news here which has something to do with the power of the people.
Did you know the number one book being ordered right now is George Orwell’s “1984”? There are many Americans who are re affirming my belief that Americans are essentially good and thoughtful people. The marches which transpired last Saturday and which I participated in, reaffirmed my belief that American people are inherently good. Power to the people, indeed. Let’s keep fighting.
Addison, you just did it again.
Soap lovers come in all shapes and sizes, etc
And they also come in each political party or
preference by individual candidate. But none
of those things matter when people just want to
come here to read or post about soaps.
There are Trump voters here.
There are Hilary voters here.
There are Dems who voted Trump who want
to give him a chance.
And people who just hope for unity, etc etc etc.
If you and others feel strongly against our President,
why post digs here?
All soaps are down?? At the same time??
That seems crazy.
I watch only Y and R, and am loving it…
will never stop watching.
Hey Nanci, “Lets make Soaps Great Again!”
Lol, Tim. Yes, all things are possible now, finally!
@Timmm…..That’s some lofty goal there…although it’s wonderful to realize we won’t be needing the escapism of soaps quite like we did for the past eight years now that there’s (finally) a resolute new sheriff in Americaville who’s bound and determined to fix what ails this country come h#!!, high water and yes, radical rent-a-mobs!
Since I cannot remember what the stories were that week for any of the soaps I think the numbers seem fair. I know in general Jan is never the best month for the soaps, and I think next week with the holiday and inauguration numbers might be even lower. I do know overall I do not mind bad story lines, but dull ones that is something else. Every soap right now is dull beyond belief— I am hoping that is because when soaps were planning their episodes they knew there would be disruptions in mid Jan so they were stretching… Read more »
I can only speak for two of the shows. I LOVE “The Bold and the Beautiful,” but it has turned into the Quinn show. Rena Sofer is amazing, but too many characters are not getting scene time because she is on every day, going from screen time with Eric,now to Ridge. I think Thomas, Caroline, Rick, Bill, Ivy and Katie need a new storyline that does not involve Ridge, Steffy, Brooke and Forrester Creations. I think the Ridge/Quinn pariring feels fake and forced. Are they playing each other? Are we supposed to believe that as soon as Brooke leaves town,… Read more »
My two soaps were OLTL and GH. Then, just GH. Recently, I’d say in the last six months, I started watching B&B and I love it! Being new to the show I’m not fed up with the triangles (though I understand how it’d be repetitive and lackluster if it’s been done over and over again). I’m probably not alone in this but I knew Quinn and Ridge would have a love/hate relationship from the minute they held hands at the fashion show and Ridge said, “I hate you,” and Quinn answered, “I know.” And, actually, I think they’re hot together!… Read more »
Nice, read especially para 2 I don’t know enough about Thorston Kaye… outside of his work @AMC. when he was married to Kendell… dang… I thought he ignited so much passion… that every woman and man sought . I love the idea that this is passion unrequited and if the writing goes their… that it lives outside of that… why end this unique and camera loves this pairing… so soon? I do not… watch B&B but have always loved…Eric.. as played by the pendulum swing my way I want him… John McCook. look at him… happy … finally a woman… Read more »
Ray, ICAM with every single word of your post. I’m very excited at the hiring of Ron Carlivati on DOOL and hope that he will write stories that interest me. I’ve been ready, willing and able to watch DOOL, but I’ve found little to no reason to watch thanks to Dena Higley’s writing. I’m a TK fan from way back, but I’m not buying why he would find Quinn to be so “amazing” after her vulnerable moment with Ridge in the hotel room. I’m pretty sure we just saw this story with Ridge and Caroline and the whole lust/forbidden love… Read more »
I am hoping this ratings turn is just a seasonal slump because I am liking the new and improved Y&R very much! Would love to see a consistent climb for the drama as the writing, characters, and production values continue to improve.
I am also enjoying Y&R since Sally and Kay have return…Some people are saying it’s boring but I find that it’s good character writing. Remember it’s just been a little over a month and give Sally and Kay a chance…
But again, we cannot make everyone happy.
The shows are sooo dark with little romance and lightness, too much preaching, too many stories around product placement, and constant preemption. And what I believe to be the number one reason soap fans are dwindling: Soap Opera magazines. In my day we were on the edge of our seats when an episode ended. And a Friday cliffhanger, forget about it, could barely wait to see what was going to happen. With the introduction of these magazines there is no more reason to tune in everyday and there’s no more surprises! You already know weeks in advance what’s going to… Read more »
I buy soap mag ; however, to be honest , I forget that surprises are coming. For example, I read that Tonya Walker was coming to General Hospital ; yet, when I heard them talking about the boss is a woman, I totally forgot that the woman boss was Tonya. I was telling my friends ,”I wonder who that woman is!”
Perhaps the Spoilers are spoiling the soaps..
Ironic, yes ……………………….lol
Why watch if you know who and what will happen..
Or– read spoilers and pick a certain day to watch, that might interest a fan ..
We know so&so won’t die because we know the actor is not leaving the soap.
Actually, we are told most everything before it happened .
That is one reason I miss RC ..
He actually delivered shockers and surprises.
He held scripts close to the vest, didn’t let stuff out to spoil it.
He gave WOW moments and intriguing mysteries ..
((he will Days well))
GH has not been too bad. Valentin, Nina, Anna and that sweet sweet little girl Charlotte are dynamic. Also, I like Julian, Alexis and Liv. Once Olivia and Ava square off, it should be grand! Duke will probably turn up alive. Y&R is horrible! I will give Sally some time but not all we see now is a clean up from Pratt. Here is my issues right now with this soap: 1: When Brass and Sassy were thrown out, why not set up shop in the basement of the Chancelor Mansion? There is a ton of space there! Ashley did… Read more »
Makes me wanna puke.
ABC is about to bust in on GH a second time this week.
Trump is going live at 2:30 on the east.
Agree. Wanna know why leadership was down? Constant presumptions. Or they would roll the episode to a companion local station and the DVR wouldn’t record it because it moved.
Sometimes the episode is still up on ABC.com or Hulu the same day if it’s pre-empted in just one time zone. That won’t change live Nielsen ratings. But, Hulu and ABC’s website records all views of an episode. So, the network will still know if people are watching.
terrible numbers for the soaps and i’m not surprised,the creative isn’t their. Y&R continues to lose the most viewers,Sally is probably boring a lot of people. i had high hopes for Y&R,but so far the new writing has been a disappointment. everything is moving very slow,sub-par stories,no compelling stories. the numbers could be even worse next week with the inauguration pre-emptions. looking forward to seeing if Ron can make DAYS better