The problem, as usual, is that Belle & Shawn were brought back with NO story, just a flimsy, unbelievable excuse. Belle & Shawn were sweethearts from HighSchool, fought to be together, sailed around the world together for a few years, and suddenly, they had settled in Maine, went back to college, got degrees, (BOTH!) only Belle suddenly decided to cheat, have an affair with some married neighbor? Then returns to Salem, claims to be starting up a law practice with no office, mooches off her parents as to living arrangements, has her daughter come, as well, but ignores her, and says nothing to anyone when her sister, with whom she never got along, suddenly splits the money she stole from the DiMeras with her?
Ridiculous. and then she hits the sheets with Philip, after nearly doing so with Chad and we have Shawn coming back, never interacting with HIS family, but into forensics and easily obtaining a job. In both cases, they wander aimlessly around town, like the other Salemites who never go to work either.
Lani can leave town tomorrow and return to Miami, move to Chicago, don't care. Summer is the worst scenario, poorly constructed story, and I am guessing that being so poorly received from Day l, that story was the first one to go on the chopping block. Unfortunately, we will be seeing Summer, & whatever the story is, until mid-summer anyway.
By the way, I think Lani was done filming a few months ago. Guess the suits were saving news of her departure for sometime closer to last air date.