My name is Eric …

“… and I have a problem. Rushed stories and underdeveloped character motivation .” (Breaks down sobbing.)

“Hi, Eric.”

Poor guy. Jen and Lucas drag him to a meeting, tell him he can sit in the back, and then the first thing Lucas does is point him out to everyone and ask him to say a few words.

Why is everyone sure that Eric is an alcoholic anyway? People drive drunk who aren’t necessarily alcoholics. Nicole and Daniel had reason to believe he had a problem, but everyone else seems to just be assuming he is. This might seem like nitpicking, given the many other plot and motivation holes I could complain about, but mostly I am begging someone, anyone, to ask Eric what it was he was so upset about — for months! — that was making him drink heavily. (IT WAS NICOLE.)

That said, I enjoyed these scenes. Lucas has been used really well here. And they mitigated (a little) the silliness of Jen’s immediate addiction by having Eric’s suspicion be based on the fact that she was concealing taking the pills, not just that she was taking them.

And even though the show has been practically screaming at us that Jen is an ADDICT ADDICT ADDICT, she sounded quite reasonable when she pushed back, saying he couldn’t equate his drinking with her taking a prescribed medication for an injury. And then a great line: that it was an injury from an accident that he caused.

I enjoyed very much seeing Jennifer be a little feisty. I like that she is eager and willing to help Eric, but she isn’t going to take anything lying down. And I love seeing Eric be wrong, to struggle a little bit, to be too proud and stubborn to accept her help. We can see the underlying desperation, too, how much he wants to grab onto the lifeline she’s offering. Greg is doing such a great job with this.

I continue to be seriously underwhelmed by anything involving Hope, Rafe, Ciara, or Chase. But Kyler Pettis was terrific showing Theo’s hurt and anger. He managed to give the storyline a little emotional resonance, which I didn’t get from any of the other players. (Hope, especially, was mildly concerned about the whole situation for about two seconds, then put the whole thing out of her mind in order to exchange flirty banter with Rafe.)

I can’t get too excited about the “Chabby move into the Dimera mansion” plot either, though I do think it has potential. Kate and Billy were as cute as could be today, in these proposal scenes:

Aww.

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Maggie’s choice

I enjoyed today quite a bit more than yesterday, even though it broke no new ground (except John’s absurd suggestion that he donate his heart to Brady). It felt less rushed, as we lingered over the painful reactions and repercussions of the accident. I still wish we had a little more buildup, everyone worrying about the health crises for the two men — and the cause of the accident — before moving on to the drama of the organ donation.

I thought Suzanne Rogers and John Aniston knocked it out of the park.

It was obvious Victor was angry on her behalf, that she was put in this position, so much so he wouldn’t even press her for Brady’s sake. I loved her dialogue about whichever one she chooses, she is condemning the other to death. How can she do that to Victor’s grandson — but how could she do that to Eric, either, and be able to look Marlena, and Caroline, and Roman in the eye afterwards? Great stuff for two old pros.

I’m guessing the antibiotic course of treatment for Eric, risky and experimental as it supposedly is (of course — what other kind of treatment is there on soaps?), will give Maggie her out.

I really liked the little moment with JJ overhearing the news about Daniel, and going to tell Jennifer. I think this should be some good drama for her. And JJ is being so sweet and supportive. I love him.

As far as Chabby goes, the less said, the better. This is pretty much how I feel about how this paternity reveal is playing out:

It’s so anticlimactic.

Kate and Billy have such a great rapport, that even in this dopey story it comes through. But I can’t take much more of asshole Chad. Please let this end.

Finally, the teens were a good distraction from the doom and gloom at the hospital. This is what passes for “light” material these days: “My parents are getting divorced.” “Well, my dad just died and my mom got arrested for murder.”

When they moved on to talking about bullying, it felt happy in comparison.