Sad Passing, Intriguing Mysteries On “Days Of Our Lives”

HOLLYWOOD—It is just sad news on the Peacock soap, “Days of Our Lives.” Yes, the late great Doug Williams has passed away on the soap. Julie’s hubby died in his sleep, and it has brought a plethora of faces back to Salem. I mean Shawn, Jennifer, Lucas, Marie, Liz, Steven, Belle and Hope have all come home. Hope’s return is one of the big ones considering that Doug was her father, and she has been MIA on the soap opera since her character was slightly written off the soap after that entire debacle with Bo Brady.

Yes, Bo gripped her hand, but he is still in that coma, which Shawn is grappling with major guilt over. That guilt is so bad that it has led to his marriage falling apart with Belle. Yes, Shawn and Belle have called it quits on their marriage, which has raised eyebrows for Phillip. A former friend and foe to Shawn. Remember these two are related, yeah, only in Salem can you have so many characters connected in a twisted way.

Shawn and Belle are looking to stay in Salem for a while, as Shawn has been offered a position with the Salem Police Department by Jada. Yes, Jada is the Police Commissioner, which has Rafe looking at a career change as he focuses on being a Private Investigator and one of his first cases involves discovering who spilled the tea about “Body and Soul.” Yes, Leo is hoping that Rafe can crack the case, and as I predicted Hattie could be the culprit, but if she is, that’s just way too easy right? Javi is over Leo and is spending time with a former hookup of Leo, much to his surprise.

Jennifer delivered the slap heard around the country after learning that Chad was still spending time with Cat. Cat is a town pariah after taking on the identity of ‘Abigail.’ However, we all know why as she is hoping to rescue her mother Catharina who Clyde is ‘apparently’ holding hostage. The audience doesn’t know because we haven’t seen a face just yet, but that changed this week.

Cat and Chad’s latest plan has Gabi and JJ acting as decoys so they can get the upper hand on Clyde. Yes, Gabi and JJ, who were once a strong item might be rekindling things with this plot point. JJ was once a cop, but remember after he shot that kid it changed things for him. Gabi and JJ’s relationship only fell apart because of a misunderstanding. I want to see these two back together, now that Stefan DiMera is out of the picture for the time being thanks to Vivian. Not to mention viewers might FINALLY and I mean FINALLY see the end of Clyde Weston as we know it, but Gabi and JJ found themselves staring at the barrel of a Clyde’s gun, just as Cat and Chad came face-to-face with Catharina. Yes, “DOOL” fans, Cat’s mom is indeed alive!

Julie was rocked to see Doug’s grandson, Doug Williams III back in Salem with sticky fingers along the way. Yes, Alice’s diamond necklace from the time capsule has disappeared and guess who has that necklace, Doug’s grandson. Hope doesn’t trust him and her instinct is right, as she has asked Jennifer to watch him as she returns back to be with Bo. I’m glad to see Melissa Reeves back in the role of Jennifer Horton. Sorry, she is the one and only Jennifer that I’ve known.

I’m hoping with all these iconic characters back in Salem the writers actually utilize them for storylines moving forward for the sake of the soap opera. We must point out the other juicy storyline involving Chanel, Joy and Johnny. EJ decided to pay off Joy to get her out of Salem and to prevent Johnny and Joy’s secret hookup from coming to light. Joy was ready to take the check and flee, but Kate talked her out of it, but I think it was actually Alex.

Joy and Alex are spending plenty of time together and it feels like those two will ultimately become an item, as it feels like Stephanie is leering more into the direction of her former fiancé Philip. Yes, Philip has this war impending with Xander, but he’s lying to his former flame about the forged letter. So that could cause some serious tension and chaos when it comes out. Stephanie is about to be hoodwinked yet again by a lover, and I don’t know how she will react.

Chanel is just blind to all the clues of this tension between Johnny and Joy. It is so obvious, but the subtle clues I think Chanel is turning a blind eye to. Hell, she even mention to Lani and Paulina that Johnny cheating on her is a dealbreaker for their marriage, and those walls are rapidly closing in.