Although Shane (Charles Shaughnessy) engaged in behavior that made him less likable during his visit, Days of Our Lives redeemed him at Andrew’s wedding. Shane has long been established as a James Bond-like superspy who is associated with Salem’s fictional International Spy Agency, often referred to as the ISA.
Now that he’s a grandfather, Shane is mostly an administrator who hires other spies, while Andrew (Colton Little) appears as an ISA spy whenever the story requires it. After John’s funeral, Shane stuck around for the favorite soap trope of a hastily put-together wedding. Shane displayed a softer side at the wedding than he had the day before when he pressured Cat into returning to work for him.
Shane’s Treatment of Cat Ruined His Character
He Seemed Like A Quasi-Villain As He Pressured Her To Return to Work
Days of Our Lives set up a new mystery when Cat saw Shane at John’s funeral and greeted him as “Director.” Since the ISA is a secret organization, it was clear that Cat had worked for him before, but it was still unknown what she had done for the ISA.
Unfortunately, this mystery didn’t have a happy resolution. Shane followed Cat to the park despite it being clear she wanted nothing to do with him. He wanted her to come back to work and pressured her to reconsider when she tried to walk away. These behaviors made Shane seem more like a stalker than a boss.
The ISA is not always an upstanding organization — a former director wanted John to poison Steve because Steve knew too much, and Cat is far from the first person to be forced into service. However, in the past, Shane has strongly disapproved of such tactics. It was disappointing and jarring for him to be the one engaging in them.
Shane’s Behavior With His Family Redeems Him Just Before He Leaves Again
At The Wedding, He Displayed A Much Softer Side
Shane was only in Salem temporarily. He had arrived for John’s funeral, and it wasn’t clear how long he would be in Salem. Had Days of Our Lives not included Andrew and Paul’s wedding in the story of the funeral’s aftermath, Shane likely would have left soon after pressuring Cat to work for him.
Fortunately, that negative scene was not the last time Shane appeared, and his behavior during the wedding redeemed him. Shane was thrilled for his son and son-in-law while regretting that Kim and Theresa had to stay in California. He also gave a beautiful toast in which he acknowledged that his job duties had caused him to be absent for most of Andrew’s childhood and that he was not open enough about his love for Andrew.
Shane made it clear that his tendency to be distant was part of his British upbringing and not due to a lack of empathy.
These behaviors were more in line with Shane’s original character. Additionally, Shane made it clear that his tendency to be distant was part of his British upbringing and not due to a lack of empathy. He also followed the toast up with a suggestion that Paul join the ISA to be near Andrew that seemed far more sensitive than the way he’d approached the issue with Cat.
Prior to the wedding, Shane also spoke honestly with Tate about Tate’s baby situation, and the two of them had a heart-to-heart about how Eve being abandoned to the foster care system had hurt her. These scenes connected Shane’s history to Tate’s present circumstances and allowed Shane to be the empathetic grandfather he is expected to be.
Shane Is A Legacy Character Whose Occasional Appearances Require Better Storylines
He is Married to A Brady and His Kids Are Also Recurring Characters
Although Shane rarely appears in Days of Our Lives anymore, he was a popular character during the 1980s and one half of a supercouple. Theresa and Andrew’s reappearance as adults is meant to carry on Shane’s legacy as well as give him a reason to be in Salem occasionally, so it is important that his original character be respected.
Since Shane’s appearances are so rare, it is even more vital that he be given storylines worthy of his character during his visits.
The real-life deaths of several veteran Days of Our Lives actors in the past several years demonstrate that it’s important to give legacy characters the respect they deserve while they are still able to appear. Since Shane’s appearances are so rare, it is even more vital that he be given storylines worthy of his character during his visits.
