Valentine’s Day is *finally* ending on #Days! But after a week of romance and teases, which potential new pairings are sizzling and which are fizzling?
It looks like Valentine’s Day might finally be over on Days of Our Lives, and boy did the show pack a lot of pairings into the past week! We got Galentine’s Day, longtime couples and flashbacks, Alex and Stephanie’s wedding and a whole bunch of first steps and potential pairings to dive into. Some are new, some are a return and others… Well, we’ll just have to wait and see!
So what better way to wrap it all up than with some completely arbitrary couple grades? I’m working off of how I feel and how much potential they could have for either fun or something lasting. It’s far from a science, so by all means, feel free to jump into the comments and sound off on your own feelings about the pairs below!
Gwen and Xander
I’m starting with these two because I’ve just got one word for them: Fun. Breaking DiMera beds, stealing EJ’s wine, working on *cough* shaft grips on the golf course — what’s not to enjoy? Do I think they have a chance? Probably not… But it’s not impossible! Plus, I think they can spice up the screen for a bit and enjoy their time together without hurting each other this time. Well, perhaps not hurting intentionally. They’re communicating and Xander’s done some growing. If one or the other gets attached, there’s going to be pain, but it feels like they’re past scheming and plotting. (Well, OK, outside of Gwen’s scheme with EJ.) Grade: A-
Sarah and Brady
I’m of two minds with them. Sarah makes Brady feel lighter than he has in a bit. And they mesh well as parents and with Sarah’s bond (albeit troubled as it is) with Rachel. But when I put them next to the other half of this equation — Xander and Gwen — having Valentine’s Day talks instead of just enjoying themselves and having fun is a bit of a snoozefest. Sure, sure, it’s the mature thing to do, but let’s get a bit more of a spark in there. With Kristen watching Brady like a hawk now, though, I’m not sure how quickly they’ll move forward. Grade: C
Theo and Jada
Yeah, these two are going nowhere real fast. I’m not even sure we’ll get a chance to enjoy them. That’s my biggest problem. They could be decent, but Theo’s seriously hung up on Gabi and when he does snap back to paying attention to Jada, he feels like he’s overcompensating to prove that he is interested. And I’d feel bad for Jada, because she seems genuinely, sweetly excited about Theo, but we already got the tease for 2026 that she and Shawn are getting the green light! There’s not even really any uncertainty here to enjoy. This feels like a “Let’s just part and be friends before it goes anywhere” type of deal. Grade: D+
Gabi and Philip
I like them together. I think they’re also fun and their personalities mesh well. But there’s just such a sense of impending doom hanging over them, it’s tough to root for them. Philip bringing up how close Titan is to collapsing on Valentine’s Day seems like the show’s way of warning us something has to give soon. I hope that something is Gabi owning up to corporate espionage, instead of someone else ratting her out, because that may be their only way forward. Philip forgave Xander for almost killing him. Maybe he can be kind to Gabi. But… yeah, probably not. Still, there’s at least some ambiguity. Grade: B
Cat and EJ
Are they heading to coupledom? And if they do, how much of it is Cat playing him? EJ certainly seems determined to not-so-subtly woo her. “Oh, come let’s have that business meeting in my living room on Valentine’s Day. Will you read to me, my fair maiden?” And that has me worried about his judgement, because he’s caught her so many times clearly being a bad spy. Then again, maybe Cat thinks she’s playing him, but he’s playing her, trying to find out what she’s up to! Double played! And if they fall for each other regardless, there’s some killer tension. Grade: C+ (If anything happens, it could be a messy good time.)
Dimitri and Leo
Oh, Leo, Leo, Leo. You had a good thing with Javi. But I suppose this is where we’re heading since Javi’s just cut him out. Leo and Dimitri definitely have chemistry and the actors clearly enjoy working together, which adds to it. Push, Dimitri keeps things spicy and interesting. But he’s been such a pushy heel since he returned, I’ve been struggling to warm up to him this time around. The show has started letting Dimitri show vulnerability and admit to how much he’s been hurt by everything, so if they let Dimitri be more human and less caricature, I could warm up more. Grade: C- (Yes, I’m still salty over Javi’s behavior.)
Chad and Belle
I’ve got no idea what to say about these two, but I guess it doesn’t matter a whole lot. Chad won’t be back until April, and by then Conner Floyd will have stepped into the role. So while Chad promised Belle a date when he gets back, if they follow through, it’ll be a whole different ballgame. And maybe Floyd stepping in can give Chad more of a chance to date other people, since we won’t be as reminded of Abigail anymore. I’ll admit, though, the idea of EJ and Cat and Chad and Belle is one heck of a tease. If anything could drive a wedge between the DiMera brothers, a romance flip could! Grade: NA… For now
So? What are your feelings? Anyone you’re particularly excited about? Anyone you’re annoyed with? Sound off!