06 Sep, 2010
The Darker Side of DOOL: EJ DiMera and the EJAMI Relationship
Posted by: admin In: Uncategorized
by Hannah
video by Maej26
DOOL is getting dark – and it appears that the writers are focusing on the character psyche and internal struggle. I don’t think I remember a storyline and its theme being this intense since Marlena’s possession – and in my opinion (and from others I’ve had the chance to solicit) the Marlena possession storyline is a “drop in the bucket” in intensity compared to the current EJAMI storyline.
EJ’s character by definition is dark, multi-dimensional, and intense. Rooted in DiMera values and culture, EJ has been raised to be loyal to the family at all costs, at all lengths. As revealed to the audience this summer via an EJAMI conversation, EJ entered Salem with the sole purpose to invoke and develop the Brady-DiMera vendetta (and don’t you remember how many times the word “vendetta” was stated during that year or so in dialogue?). It was during this EJAMI conversation we realized that upon first meeting Sami, EJ’s internal struggle began: the fight to stay true to his family or to stay true to his heart, meaning his love and devotion for his Samantha. This forces him out of the atypical, soap opera mold for villain.
As time progressed, there were situations when EJ’s devotion for his family won, and there were times when his love for Samantha won. When we as the audience understand this is the root of EJ’s internal battle, perhaps most of his decisions and actions are more understandable – maybe justifiable. But one thing is for sure: his love for Sami is the bulwark of his soul.
At this time it is important to note that EJ and Sami are mirrors for each other. When they look at each other (in a metaphorical sense of course) they see their own personal imperfections and flaws, but they also see what could be – in a redeeming sense. Therefore, EJ and Sami have taken turns wounding and saving each other – it is the very nature of their relationship – it’s how they’re defined, thus making them hard to analyze. Their decisions encourage a divide in those who ardently support EJAMI from those who ardently do not. Individually, Sami and EJ are both gray characters; thus, their relationship is gray in nature. They’re not the typical “soap couple”, which is a reason why some viewers can never “root” for them.
As also shared with Sami this summer, when EJ looks at her, he sees the man he could be – and so desperately wants to be. It wasn’t until this summer that we began to see the process of EJ’s redemption – he has yielded and allowed his love for Sami to take over, and in a sense, “cleanse” him from his struggle. It has been argued that this “redemption” was a scam in order to “own” Sami. However, I disagree, as we can clearly see how deeply Sami’s rejection of him as a partner in life – as a father to her children – has affected him.
EJ’s epiphany and decision to become the man Sami deserves occurred, however, under the shadow of his vengeful decision to take Sydney. As my mom brilliantly stated, (we have our “DOOL Debrief” Daily) EJ didn’t come “clean” with Sami because he was hoping to make a wrong right by doing yet another wrong, which is slipping back into his “default mode”. In his ideal mindset (in case you haven’t noticed, both he and Sami are idealists), he was hoping that by consciously changing for the better, the “Sydnapping” consequence would just disappear. He had faith that Sami would understand his motives, just like he understood hers when she decided to conceal her pregnancy in the first place.
Now that the truth is revealed, EJ must go through the “cleansing process” on his own, without his Samantha. We saw yet another layer in EJ’s dynamic character revealed to us this past week, as he drowned himself in alcohol and contemplated suicide. Everything has been stripped from him – the love of his life, his children, his dreams – and what has ultimately caused him to drown in his sorrows? The fact that he KNOWS he brought it on himself.
Like it or not, EJ’s character is being crafted as more of the victim in the storyline, which is a “twist” in and of itself. His path toward redemption and forgiveness came too late, in that it did not produce the result for which he had hoped. The fact that Sami has not experienced a similar epiphany in coming to full and complete terms with her love for EJ (she did state to EJ that she loved him) and is now on her own pursuit for revenge and retaliation makes EJ more of the victim instead of the villain in this storyline, as revealed in a recent interview with James Scott. But in my opinion, she will be forced to look in the mirror and face her true self, just as EJ did in the late Spring/early Summer. I think it is NO MISTAKE that the EJ shooting scenes were shot through the perspective of the mirror, as it seems to be an image that symbolizes the very nature of their characters.
So, where does the storyline go from here? In my opinion, EJ is at rock bottom, and things can only improve from this point on. I speculate that EJ’s character will take a new direction. I also predict that in the coming weeks, Sami will have to come to a place where she once and for all deals with her internal struggle considering EJ in order for the EJAMI storyline to take on a new form. Therefore, it’s always darkest before dawn, as the cliché states – and as far as it affects EJAMI, only time will tell how long the darkness lasts.