The Days

This summer series from ABC focuses on the melodramas of the Day family. In Episode 1, the mother and daughter learn that they are both pregnant. Meanwhile, the dad quits his job as a corporate lawyer and the youngest son suffers from panic attacks. Sarcastic, observant middle son Cooper narrates his family's soap opera travails.

It is this wry observation that saves the show, often an incredibly trite scene is saved by a quick one-liner from the characters. These people may be stereotypical television characters (how many times have we seen a pregnant teenage girl on television? We get it- sex has consequences. Bizarrely, STDs which are actually on the rise among teenagers as opposed to pregnancy which is in decline among teenagers is rarely dealt with seriously on any network show.) but the writers are smart enough to know that and have the characters skewer their own archetypes. And as the series progresses, these characters become somewhat endearing and real.

Still, the show often fails to maintain the delicate balance between drama and comedy as well as the balance between family fare and edgy topical material. The parents were surprisingly accepting about Natalie's pregnancy, even seemed kind of glad about it, eventually- which in t.v. land means 2 episodes. In the most recent episode, daughter Natalie decides to get an abortion. She'll probably change her mind in the last minute as these writers or the network probably isn't brave enough to actually have a main character have an abortion. It may be a choice but not one that can depicted without being seen as shameful by many viewers, which is unfortunate since this is a real decision many people make.

The acting is mostly marginal, they actors mostly don't know how to infuse there characters with pathos and overplay the comedic scenes. Evan Peters is pretty good as middle son Cooper, but his voice is sometimes monotonous- whether he's trying to intentionally depict his character's weariness with conventional standards I'm not sure. The Days are witty enough to keep one entertained but despite the melodrama and middle son Cooper's belief that his family is crazy, they aren't that unique. Still, for a network summer series it's pretty good and the series gets better with each episode- there's a chance it could become truly compelling in the future, if only it would become more daring. Better than a lot of the junk on network TV but hasn't quite found its footing yet.

The Days has just been aired in South Africa and I was shocked when it stopped just after six episodes! It is such an amazing story. I watch the story and i find myself WISHING i had a family like that. I absolutely adored all the characters and empathised with Nat because i also had a teen pregnancy and although my Mom was there for me, the rest of my family deserted me.

Television is really spoiled by a lot of rotten shows and the Days was like a fresh breeze. Excellent story line and it had a very witty script that made me laugh and cry all at the same time and i could really live myself into the story.

I am so disappointed that there is no mention on here of a second series, because i think it would have carried on very successfully.

Please could someone tell me that it is not over??

i enjoyed this show, i watched it with my teenage daughter- i would gladly buy the DVD if they were to release the episodes they made- for us this show was right up there with Buffy, Angel, Roswell, Do Over, Wonderfalls, Tru Calling, Touching Evil, Once and Again- there are so many shows that the networks just don't give a chance to shine. we are inundated with reality TV, and shows i often wonder what the appeal is while there are shows that have redeeming value that are canceled (like now- Joan of Arcadia is not picked up again, why because there is a lesson in each episode)~ in the meantime we have the recorded copies so we can enjoy the shows, thank goodness for those since they have not released them yet on DVD. Once more, my 14 yr old daughter and i enjoyed the show, and we both recommend it to those who are not sure what side of the fence they should be on.

With all of the twisted warped reality shows and sitcoms that are on television, there are few that I deem worthy to watch. The Days just happens to be one of the select few. Even though the plot may be a little over-crowded, it's a breath of fresh air, as opposed to the stupid reality television that everyone obsesses about. The Days has easily relatable characters and elements for everyone to enjoy, and the story plot is easily understood. many teenagers and adults will find themselves having something in common with at least one of the characters, and for those with short attention spans, the show breaks into sub-plots for each character. I would give this show an excellent rating were I a professional, but i think that you'll just have to watch it and rate it for yourself.

It's a rather quirky show, interested in trying a new approach to a dramatic/comedy type of family storyline that wants to talk about the dynamics of a family as a unit and as individuals. Think "My So Called Life" meets "Joan of Arcadia" type of vibe, with a bit of Disney type humor, ie "Even Stevens." The acting is sometimes awkward, but it works, as the family is a little awkward in its dynamic. It is almost a personality quirk of the show itself. The hour is narrated by 15 year old defunct Cooper Day, the floppy haired, indie music listening middle son who wants to be a writer. He does a good job of injecting humor and irony into the rhythm. It's worth a watch. I enjoyed it's offbeat storytelling.