Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Necktie Serial Killer Ben To His Next Victim: "You Should Have Just Stayed Away!"
Courtesy/NBC
Next week on NBC Days of our Lives the red necktie serial killler claims his next victim, which is set to send the citizens of Salem reeling!
In the latest promo, the network teases: “The red necktie serial killer will strike again with a twisted shocking murder that will rock Salem to it’s core. Ben (Rob Soott Wilson) also says to his victim: “You should have just stayed away” and we later hear a female scream.
Watch the latest promo from DAYS after the jump! Then, let us know if you are ready for next week’s emotional episodes of shows and the reveal of the victim, and if you are getting creeped out by Ben!
The June 22 episode of Days of Our Lives reminded us all of why Deidre Hall is iconic in the role of Dr. Marlena Evans. Here we are 50 years later, and Marlena is still the heroine of the long-running soap opera, and Deidre remains one of the most most recognizable names in the history of soaps.
To pay tribute, and to look back at the life and times of Marlena, the story starts with Marlena flipping through a photo album of her with John (the late Drake Hogestyn) over the years. As she misses him dearly, she gets a knock on the door and its none other than John’s son, Paul Narita (Christopher Sean).
With Andrew (Colton Little) in Salem working on a case, he sits down with Marlena, who says she can’t believe its been fifty years since she first arrived in Salem! Cue: Deidre’s first scenes on DAYS when she finds Mickey Horton (the late John Clarke) playing chess against himself inside the mental institution she worked.
Courtesy/Peacock
THE FLASHBACKS OF MARLENA’S LIFE
From there, viewers definitely got the cliff notes version of the history of Marlena and entrenched within them, some of the biggest moments in Deidre’s enduring run.
Paul thinks he is looking at 70s, and early 80s Marlena while going through her scrapbook, but he is actually looking at her twin, Samantha (Andrea Hall). Cue: when Marlena confronted Samantha about impersonating her, and then later getting a call on her radio show from the Salem Strangler (Jack Coleman as Jake Kostichek) who killed Samantha thinking it was Marlena.
In the present, Belle (Martha Madison) has arrived at this time to meet up with Paul, unaware of this trip down memory lane. She wants to go over the findings in the chess board mystery Stefano willed to Marlena and John, in private with him, since Marlena previously said she wanted nothing to do with it.
Back to the history lesson, Marlena speaks highly of Don Craig and even though their marriage didn’t work out, she could find a path forward with the new love her life, Roman Brady. (Wayne Northrop however is never shown, possibly to keep the story focused on John as Roman for confusion sakes?)
Paul sees a photo of a young Carrie (Christie Clark) in the album and Marlena says she was such a godsend after losing her baby. In fact, Marlena says caring for Carrie prepared her for her having and raising her own twins, Eric and Sami. Cue: The twin visiting Marlena in the hospital.
JOHN AND MARLENA’S LOVE CONQUERED ALL
Then, in a way to get through and incorporate the wild storylines only Marlena could have been in, she tells Belle and Paul, she has been through so much in her life, how lucky she was to find John, and some of the most unbelievable experiences no one could imagine. Cue: Marlena possessed by the devil and levitating from the bed. Next, John confronting Marlena being the Salem Stalker, where she admits she killed Alice Horton, pretends she needs help, then pulls a gun on her beloved John!
The comment is made by Paul and Marlena, that she literally has been to hell and back and she could not have survived were it not for her beloved John. Cue the big emotional highpoint clips; The Pier Scene! Marlena steps out of the fog when John sees her from a distance. After believing she was dead for four years, here she was before him in one of the greatest reunions in a soap opera love story in history. What followed were other times of the life of times of Jarlena.
Courtesy/Peacock
MARLENA’S ‘GIFT’ FROM STEFANO HAS A NEW CLUE
When Marlena makes a brief exit to the other room, Belle fills in Paul on the chess set Stefano left her mother and the photo of the Lire. Paul said he will investigate. Marlena comes back into the room and overhears, and says to promise her if things get dangerous he will back off, she does not want anyone hurt by Stefano’s games.
As the episode comes to a conclusion, it’s just Belle and Marlena going through the photo album giggling about 70s hairstyles and all the memories. Belle speaks on the impact Marlena has had in everyone’s lives, and that she is both the heart of their family and the heart of Salem.
An end card comes up acknowledging Deidre Hall’s 50th anniversary as Marlena, and we fade to black.
So, what did you think of Marlena’s walk down memory lane? Were you happy to see the flashback clips utilized throughout? Were you touched by the scenes and the performance of Deidre Hall? Let us know what you thought of Deidre’s 50th anniversary episode via the comment section below.
If you have ever tuned-in to the soap opera genre over the last 50 years, and witnessed some of the greatest romances, drama, classic and outlandish storylines of all-time, you would have seen Deidre Hall smack dab in the middle of it as longtime Salem heroine, Dr. Marlena Evans.
It was 50 years on this date, June 21, 1976 that Hall first appeared on DAYS on NBC which was its home for 57 years before it moved to its current streaming platform on Peacock in September of 2022.
In Hall’s first episode she was introduced as a psychiatrist treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at Bayview Sanitarium after he suffered a complete mental breakdown. Mickey learned that his brother Bill Horton (Edward Mallory) was the biological son of Mike Horton (Wesley Eure) with his wife Laura (Susan Flannery) and that he had been lied to for years and years. From that moment on, the rest is television and soap opera history. Days of Our Lives put Hall front and center.
Photo: NBC
There were so many heartbreaking and shocking story twists involving the beloved Marlena. One of the first was the historic crib death of baby DJ (Don Jr.) in 1980, Marlena’s infant son with Don Craig (Jed Allan). The story had never been told on daytime television and Hall’s performances received accolades from TV critics to fans when Deidre received thousands of letters from grieving mothers who had gone through the same thing in their own lives.
DAYS also brought Deidre’s twin sister, Andrea Hall Lovell to the show as her on-screen sister Samantha, who had a grudge and even locked Marlena up in a sanitarium and took her place! Fast-forward and in 1982, DAYS launched the Salem Strangler story where everyone believed Marlena was his next victim, only it turned out to be Samatha. Jake Kositchek (played by Jack Coleman) was revealed to be the actual serial killer.
Later, Deidre would assume the role of Marlena’s look-alike, Hattie Adams in 2004, once played by her sister, Andrea. Over the years, Hattie has come back to Salem and caused trouble giving Hall a chance to play a different type of character, then the always upstanding Marlena.
Photo: JPI
THE LOVES OF MARLENA
Deidre Hall struck gold with all her leading men: from the late Jed Allan, to Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady, and of course, her enduring love story with the late John Black played by the iconic Drake Hogestyn. In fact, Marlena’s 1986 wedding to John (who was believed to be Roman at the time) remains a favorite of fans to this day.
TOP MARLENA STORYLINES OF ALL-TIME
While the list is long, here are several that were some of the memorable during Deidre’s five decades in Salem!
The Possession (1994- 1995)
Considered one of the most ambiguous, outlandish and unforgettable story arcs in soap opera history, then Days of Our Lives head writer, James Reilly went there! Marlena was possessed by the devil! That included; the demonic eyes, hissing at father John (Black) the priest, morphing into creatures, and the classic levitating in her bed! It became a cultural phenomenon and cemented Deidre Hall’s status as a daytime television legend. Just ask Ryan Gosling!
Photo:JPI
The Affair with John Black (1993)
John and Marlena’s forbidden love could not be denied and they had passionate affair, while she was still married to the real Roman. Problem was her daughter, Sami (Alison Sweeney) caught her mother having sex with John on a desk that changed Sami forever.
The Salem Stalker Mystery (2003-2004)
In a shocker, Marlena was revealed to be a serial killer who bumped off several Salem favorites residents who were all alive on the island of Melaswen (spelled “New Salem” backward). Turns out, she was manipulated and gaslighted by Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) to do the “killings” and had no memory of her actions.
The Pier Scene (1991)
This remains Michael Fairman TV’s all-time favorite Deidre Hall moment, which featured some of the best acting in the storied careers of both Hall and Drake Hogestyn.
In the story, a presumed-dead Marlena returns after four years. One foggy night on the pier, John is alone, and Marlena steps out of the fog to reveal herself, and is reunited with the love of her life. You can watch it any year, any decade, and in any moment, and it will have you reaching for the hankies again and again. (best music score fo a soap scene of all-time too!)
Photo: NBC
Kristen’s Secret Room Reveal (1997)
Marlena was caught in Kristen Blake’s (Eileen Davidson) elaborate web of lies, when she was held hostage in a secret wine cellar/room until John managed to track her down, leading to an iconic on-screen reunion. The classic catfight between Hall and Eileen Davidson was one for the ages.
It should be noted that Maison Blanche, Queen of the Night, Possession, Aremid and Lady in a Cage were all a part of classic DAYS storyline and all featured Hall at the epicenter of it from 1993-1996.
THE RECENT YEARS OF MARLENA
In recent years, DAYS brought back the possession 2.0 storyline under then head writer Ron Carlivati in 2021 where the devil leapt back in Marlena after taking advantage of a frail Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes)
In 2025, viewers watched the end of the love story of John and Marlena, as John succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion saving a vial of medication needed to bring Bo (Peter Reckell) back to life. Marlena has been a widow on-screen since June of 2025 as Hall as portrayed the good doctor struggling with her grief and to move on with her life since his death.
Photo: JPI
One story that never goes away is Stefano DiMera’s (the late Joe Mascolo) obsession with Marlena, his “Queen of the Night.” Even in death, Stefano is toying with her from the great beyond with the mysterious chess set and the missing “pawn,” that he had gifted John and Marlena in his will. The mystery is currently unfolding on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives.
Tune-in to Days of our Lives on the Monday, June 22 episode as Marlena looks back at her 50 years in Salem.
Share your congratulations to Deidre Hall for this incredible 50-year milestone as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives in the comment section. Then let us know, what is your all-time favorite storyline or moment in the life of Marlena over the past 5 decades? And, just for kicks, and to celebrate this amazing milestone, here is Marlena levitating below circa Christmas Eve 1994.
Days Of Our Lives
Al Calderon Reflects on ‘Major Chapters’ Coming to an End on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Brilliant Minds’
It’s been a bittersweet time for Al Calderon. The talented actor/singer/songwriter has watched from his vantage point to roles he loved so much come to their conclusion for different reasons.
In a heartfelt message posted to his Instagram story on Saturday, Calderon took a moment to share how grateful he was for the opportunity to play Javi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives, and nurse Nico Silva this year on NBC’s second season of Brilliant Minds. Currently, Brilliant Minds has two more episodes that will air on June 24 and the series finale on July 1.
Calderon expressed, “As I sit here reflecting on this lovely Saturday afternoon over the last two years of my life, I have two major chapters closing that have been part of my life every day for the last two years. We have Brilliant Minds. Our last episodes are wrapping up, and then my last scenes aired yesterday as me as Javi on Days of Our Lives.
Photo: JPI
“I’m just unbelievably grateful for the chance and the opportunity to be a part of something so much larger than me,” continued Al. “I (will) love Days of Our Lives forever, my family. Thank you for supporting me and supporting my decision to take the leap of faith and believe in myself and, and tell other stories. You know, it’s never goodbye. It’s always ‘see you later’ to me and just leaving with love and leading with love.”
Al concluded with a special mention to some very important people, the fans: “Thank you to the fans and the support from everyone, the lovely messages. So this next chapter, hopefully it’s not a dragon, hopefully it’s a gold coin.”
Photo: NBC
Calderon’s journey on-screen on Days of Our Lives began in October of 2024 and concluded this month. In one of his last appearances Javi was asking a favor from Gabi (Cherie Jimenez) before bumping into his ex, Leo (Greg Rikaart). In story, Javi has a new romance with Gus (Michael Ocampo), while fighting his feelings for Leo. The role of Javi will be played starting on June 30 by Jacob Martinez who takes over the role.
NBC decided to cancel the Brilliant Minds, after it split up the airing of its second season which began in the fall of September of 2025 and the back-half started airing after a long break this past May. Calderon joined the medical drama staring Zachary Quinto for the new season, which sadly was its last.
So, will you miss Al on Days of Our Lives and Brilliant Minds as his time on-screen has come to an end? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
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RIP William Robert Horton
RIP Days for me. If Will’s done, I’m done!
Then I guess you are done because the rumour is that the next victim is Will. Which would explain why Sami is coming back.
He goes to Genoa City for his next victim….Summer Newman
Don’t I wish. If ever a show needed a serial killer it’s Y&R.
THANK YOU!
LOL. Please swing by Port Charles and have tea with Sonny…
Yes!!!! Would you like a necktie with your tea, Mr. Corinthos?
I believe the next victim will be Sonny! Not really in the mood for a horror story.
If I were writing the script and wanted to kill Will then I would have had Ben say Why couldn’t you leave well enough alone. I would use You should have just stayed away for Sonny. Sonny is away in Paris, but needs to come back to manage TBD while Chad is in hiding. Will is in Salem the whole time. He’s not away anywhere. But Will is investigating something that he should leave to the police.
Of course who knows what these writers are thinking as they write.
I mentioned a few days ago that I thought the script writing is better, but they’re not telling any stories that interest me. If they really kill off Will then they’ve lost another viewer.
I agree and they’ve let the gay characters just fall by the sidelines in favor of drudging up old characters from 1968. That’s their choice, I’m sure it will please some viewers and displease the ones (like me) who started tuning in to view the problems faced by Sonny and Will, complicated by the presence of baseball player Paul and the hotel clerk Derrick. What is the purpose now for Paul to be in town?
So, the writers have chosen to concentrate on “Patch” with the outdated Pirates patch over his eye, and Kayla talking to her rebellious teen son (gee how different) and Caroline seeing things that aren’t there.
For a while, in the summer months, the show was being, I thought, very modern and innovative but that soon changed it seemed when the new writing team took over.
Sonny or Gabi….
Will!
Aaaaand there goes Will
And here goes me as a long-time viewer!!!
Me too Matthew, Days will be cancelled next year. The ratings were suppose to rise way up. Days is on life support. I will stick to the number 1 soap, young and The Restless. Killing Will Horton, is the biggest mistake Days has made in a long time.
Ridiculous writing.
Yes Cynthia, I agree with you. Deidre Hall I love her, but her character is so boring now. I would rather watch my dog do tricks, than watch Days now.
Yes her character is a real snooze, there isn’t anything interesting about her to me.
I too would rather watch your dog do tricks, can I come over there.
If they kill off Will Horton in this way I believe the show is going to have huge backlash and neg press. Not only is he a legacy character, but he’s a historic character on Days (with his coming out etc.). While Tomsell writing regime mishandled the entire show this year, it wasn’t the actor’s fault. Both Guy and Freddie were given way too much material which imbalanced the show. To violently murder a gay character, on a soap with such a conservative history, sends a validating signal to all those homophobic fans that their twisted, angry, bigoted feedback was heard by Corday. Hugely disappointing if it happens! I hope not.
Unfortunately, we cannot escape it, Tony. When the rumors of Will’s murder first started, I, among many others, was floored. I never liked this Will….he just never did it for me as the Will character. But, that’s neither here nor there. The issue is killing off a core character…a HORTON to boot. We have had this discussion before. I loved Will and Sonny, as a married couple ( except the cheating part)…. If Guy was not well-received as Will, then TPTB could have recast….it does seem that ‘they’ are trying to get rid of the ‘gay scene’, which is ridiculous….part of society and life. It’s like burying our heads in the sand, actually. Nonetheless, I am just assuming here,….perhaps Sonny will be back and be coupled with Paul….so gorgeous.
I AGREE it is so obvious that they don’t care about the gay characters now on the show, it was like – wha—–? All of a sudden, practically in mid-sentence, Sonny was gone, Will has nothing to do except occasionally listen to someone’s problem, Derrick is gone (did he leave town? did he get a new hotel clerk job?) and Paul has virtually nothing to do (except to smile and say he is glad John is his dad).
The writing has shifted to older characters, in honor of the show’s 50th anniversary, which, is fine but they are no longer giving any air time to Will, Sonny, Paul or Derrick. This may make the homophobic viewers happy, but will displease the considerable amount of gay viewers.
Thank you Tony and let the backlash begin! Sends a bad message and there were so many ways to remove Will from the canvas. Would this type of exit been given to Rafe, Daniel or Brady? I think not – They are considered manly men – TOTAL BS! It is a shame that Corday and his writing team are lost in the 80’s and incapable of representing a world/town/city/state that consists of Gays, more than two or three African-Americans & Asians. Don’t get me started on the firing of Kassie DePaiva, who has given powerhouse performances, since Paige’s death. So sad!
All interesting points. However, If the next victim is Will it won’t be because he is gay. His death will take place because Will has discovered some information about the neck tie killer that leads to Ben.
Of course, Kelly. TPTB are not going to come out and say it’s because Will is gay. ‘They’ have to come up with a reason. But, in essence, if Will is killed off, it will definitely be because ‘they’ do not want to pursue gay storylines. Why else would any writer want to be rid of a core character? The only Horton male left is Lucas, right, I think. The idea of killing of a member of legacy family is ludicrous….almost obscene to me. Wouldn’t ‘they’ want to keep such legacy characters intact? Just makes no sense.
The killer could care less if his victim is gay or straight. That is not the point of the killings. He is not on a gay killing spree. We know better. However, the writers are taking advantage of the storyline to ‘fumigate’ the gays out of Salem. I feel sorry for those people who are so imprisoned within their bigoted brains that there’s no way out. I hope I am wrong.
Will murdered…Abigail finds the body…thats her scream…Ben isnt there when she finds Will ! The promo teases making us think its a woman he kills because of the scream but those scenes when Ben kills Will was edited together to include Abs scream when she finds Wills body…cant fool me…lol
Is it will or is it Daniel?
wish it wew both…lol
lol – i was thinking the same thing………………….
Hate to burst your bubble: If the victim is Will, the writers haven’t fooled anyone.
lol
I thought the same thing!!! I was like that’s Abby’s scream….
I’ve seen opinions where people hate this storyline and who the next victim is, and where people are ok with it and applaud the show for being brave enough to make the victim someone we’ve watched for awhile. I certainly don’t hate the storyline and I think that Rob Wilson is doing a very good job as a killer. But I’m not a huge fan of seeing my favorite soap characters grieve for a loved one, especially at this time of year as the holidays approach. I know I should be comforted by the thought that few characters stay dead on a soap, especially DOOL, but this is going to be rough to watch. I think I would have preferred it if some of the newbies who weren’t working out on the show, like Paige and Serena, left Salem after explosive scenes or arguments or shocking twists, and if the next victim took a trip out of town, rather than die. Serial killer stories seem like a cop out, like the writers didn’t know what to do so this is how they cut costs quickly and trim the cast. Soaps should be more creative than this. The story is just getting started from what I’ve read and I have no idea what that means, but I’m not sure that this is the best way to kick off a big umbrella story. I’d also add that if a soap feels this is the best way to go, then it has an obligation to show the reactions from the rest of the cast at the news. It shouldn’t be all about the police or the prime suspect or the D.A., and it shouldn’t be all about the grieving mom of one of the victims, played by Kassie De Paiva. She’s doing a terrific job, but it’s too many days of watching her reaction, and not enough time watching the reactions of other characters who knew and loved Paige, like JJ, Kayla, Jennifer, and Daniel (I can’t believe I want to see more Daniel, but I do in this one case). And for pity’s sake, you have to bring Kim and Shane back for the funeral of their granddaughter!! What’s the point of having shown us how much they both loved Paige if they can’t come to the funeral? Saying that Grandpa Shane collapsed when he heard the news is another cop out.
There also hasn’t been enough follow up with Marlena’s attack and how she’s doing, and what her loved ones are feeling about her almost dying.
I guess to sum up, something’s off with this story. It won’t stop me from watching but I do wish it were better.
Its really getting boring again when true and all the other young people were getting the lines it was refreshing and exciting.i stopped watching this show because the writers are too predictable and only leave suspence hanging only for a few then the writers show their hands .its like someone telling the ending before you see it.
ITA. I’m having the same experience.
@ Beth
I agree Days should have brought back both Shane and Kimberly for Paige’s funeral. And to support Eve. I’m guessing that Charles Shaughnessy and Patsy Pease were not available to return to Days when needed. Either that or neither Charles nor Patsy were asked to return.
I guess Will is killed. I liked the character of Will until Guy took over. Have mixed feelings about this victim. Will be glad to see Guy off screen, but sad to see Will go.
My feelings, exactly, Mo. I love Will, not Guy.
I am ready to see who Ben kills next.I knew he was trouble from the start and who the heck should have stayed away.How much longer will Abby be so stupid and not knowing there is something seriously wrong with the man she is suppose to marry?I never did like Ben he is creep,I just wonder how his sister will react when she hears of her brother being a serial killer.He certainly does have a lot of demons in him doesn’t he.
Hi, Carol.
I have been blaming Clyde and Ben’s upbringing for his criminal mind. But, I realize that there are many ruthless people with devastatingly horrid upbringing out there who do not become murderers. So, he could just be mentally ill. All violent criminals have some kind of mental disorder. Oh, and Abby is an airhead who brings destruction wherever she goes. I would go as far as calling her a floozy. I will keep saying it……the re-introduction, by the writers, of the good little girl, is not working for me. I can still see her legs wrapped around EJ in that infamous shower. SHE went looking for HIM. I just can’t get over that hump….so, she’s cooked for me.
I loved Jordan. I wish she would come back.
Sonny
It looks like Will’s DAYS are numbered!
Don’t be so gleeful. The same thing can be said for the show!
I’m nervously excited, not gleeful, Matthew.
DAYS has been must see TV for me since the new writers started! I don’t like every single thing about DAYS right now, but I do look forward to each and every episode.
I’m having fun with all the twists and turns!!!!!
Twists and turns. I’m not sure what those are in this writing, but OK. Most people I know, myself included, guessed Ben was the killer. And Will as a victim is hardly a secret. Glad you’re enjoying it, tho. Me, not so much. I’m going to be streaming a new Days replacement the next week if Will is killed off Friday!
If the next victim is not Will, that’ll be a twist! Glad you’re enjoying the show.
Sonny of course
It’s Will! – It will be either Abigail or Gabi that’s discovers Will’s body!
I was more than just creeped out by Ben. The scene where he’s about to strangle his latest victim, I found it very disturbing, because the look on Ben’s face (when he has the necktie in his hand) was a cool and clam expression about strangling someone to death (a person who is his friend). Then the next expression on his face (while he’s doing it) is “I have to do this, because you made me do this”! Then after the murder, Ben’s now in panic mode to get rid of the body (before Abigail get home) and clean up.
It will rock Salem to it’s core, because I believe the murder will happen on Thursday or Friday, but then on Monday – Sami returns!
Ready? No. Because it’s the death of Will and that means I will stop watching. Just don’t have the heart to do it. Stupid, shortsighted move by the writers.
I agree with you completely.
Me too. I’ll be done with Days if Will is killed off.
I won’t ditch the show but I agree it’s a very bad move on the writers part.
Omg is it sami
No, it’s EJ, come out of hiding.
@Dylan.
Hi, Dylan.
You are probably right. I suppose it is much more compelling to follow Ben, the killer systematically and methodically as he goes about his killing spree as if it were the most ordinary routine. It is disturbing to watch him experience his sadistic flashbacks….as in in a trance. This is why it makes me wonder if he is aware of what he is doing. There’s such a disconnect with his actions. Psychologically speaking, such killing are normally personal. The killer becomes one with the victim. But, Ben acts as if his flashbacks were committed by someone else. Rob, I belatedly realize, is doing a damn good job acting the still unquenched killer.
Yes, you do make a great point. The writers tend to fill in the blanks as they go along. But, this story’s twist gave us Ben; making us wonder WHY?
Good post, Dylan.
So much for Ben being the red herring huh?
It would be stupid for the show to kill off Will. Maybe they are doing it because they think it’s not likely Sami will return for good. But all Will needed was a good recast. I am glad that Guy Wilson is gone from the show now.
I wanted to wait to see what other people thought the next victim would be, it seems the majority think it will be Will– my first thought was Julie Williams—but last week when I saw Ann at the bar where Ben was working I thought it was going be her, but her death wouldn’t rock Salem to their core—but honestly I don’t want to be guessing who is going to be next, I wanted a real murder mystery were the identity of the killer was in question. Guessing who is next to die is morbid, not fun in a soapy way at all.
I thought it maybe Ann to.Actually I was so surprised that the showed who the killer was in the first place,but I cannot help but wonder about Rafe he seems to be hiding something ,just look at him sometimes like he is the killer .who knows who it will be,I dont think Will will be killed.
I hope Will won’t be killed, Carol. But, I do wish he would be recast. Hmmmm, Rafe, as the killer, you say? At this point, it could be anyone if he or she has flipped his/her lid……even Caroline…LOL.
There certainly could be a last minute surprise twist and the killer not be Ben, at all. I said this before, and I know it sounds stupid and amateurish, but what if it has been Clyde all along and Ben witnessed the murders? In his disturbed mind Ben is reliving the murders in his head and has taken the events as his own. He tracked down all the paraphernalia and threw it in the water…..I know, I know, this makes me sound like I’m the crazy one. It would be a lot more interesting and impressive instead of having taken the element of surprise away, no?
Cee I love your posts but wouldn’t that be awfully similar to when Marlene believed she was a killer thanks to Andre? I think this is much more interesting….it shows that for once….a soap writer KNEW who the killer was ahead of time…which rarely happens. They usually make it up as they go. There are so many levels to this story that’s why it’s fascinating. I think the way this story is being told…we NEEDED to know it was Ben. The viewer needs to be in on how dark and twisted he is to go along for the ride. It’s sort of like Dexter. Ben, in his mind, it doing what he thinks needs to be done for love! He doesn’t see what he is doing as wrong…that’s why the story is so good! It’s a departure from Days other killer storyline. ..which were about masks and camp and not really rooted in character.
I’m not even going to try guessing, Mary. I don’t follow Twitter, or Facebook or any other info which may be out there. So, I don’t know who’s leaving, other than Kassie and Will. I doubt she is next in line to die?
My brain is fried trying to guess who’s next. Lol.
I Hope it’s not Gabi.
Eh, Will needed to go. I’m glad the show had the guts to do this. Sonny would finally be rid of useless husband too.
Gee, Alex. Sonny could have gotten a divorce if he did not want Will’s cheating self in his life any more. Will wouldn’t have to die in order to be rid of him. You make it sound like death is the only alternative to ending a marriage? LOL and Oy Vey, Mamma Mia, Sacrebleu; Alex….I suppose you’re single? Just teasin’.
“please” don’t let it be Will
I’ve wanted, Guy Wilson, to go, for the longest time… and it’s not so much that Chandler Massey is missing.. just that the epic flatlined and waned
my interest rose
my life streamlined
my life is
my life begets
just like
i’ll cry to this
i’ll cry for this dream
they made it
I recognize love.. it permeates
Huh?!!
Don’t you get the beautiful poetry, Matthew? Patrick has a poet’s heart and mind.
Patrick was not into Guy…he wanted him gone. But, not to kill the character. Will’s presence will be missed, not because we miss Massey, but because a legacy character…epic, within the core of Salem will be no more.
So, even though Patrick prayed, dreamed of a farewell to Guy, he regrets his feelings because he realizes and recognizes the love he now feels for both actor and character.
I hope I have interpreted your writing correctly, Patrick….did I do it justice?
You and I must be descendants of Willy, Patrick.
LoL I was thinking the same thing, but I know Patrick has a poetic way of phrasing things….
I won’t miss Will, that’s why Sami will return to Salem. I am just waiting for Bo’s homecoming so that we can be rid of Aiden. Clyde needs to be carted off to prison as soon as possible!!!!!!
I have a feeling Clyde will be carted off in a bodybag on a stretcher, Virginia! If not, prisoners beware!!!!!
I’ve BEeN… wanting to say this… for, quite, some…; while
he reminds me of a younger Dave Duchovney
wow… acts are going to walk through those studio doors and realize some thing
it’s not my dream : it’s theirs
but i’t s all caught
good for him for getting an opportunity to film big act
it is
with relief… I posted.. as long as it’s not Justin
the firing of Eve
the letting go… finally… of Dr. Jonas (Daniel)
the splitting up… of Sonny and Will.. with the audience
i’ts all cyclical.. endearment followed
pulls at the same heart
my show is on and gangbusters!
DAYS reigns!
YES!
I think it’s going to be Chad and abigail finds him
Chad??? You think Ben’s going to kill Chad this coming week and Abby’s going to find him and scream? No, it’s Will because spoilers indicate that Will finds evidence and the Chad/Ben fight is yet to happen and Chad being in the hospital with his eye bandaged up saying “I didn’t kill anyone, you have to believe me ” from the first 50th anniversary promo released on 8/27/15. I know this s/l is moving at a steady pace right now but I don’t think all these scenes that I just mentioned are going to happen the week of 10/5 – 10/9 and Chad be the victim. That sounds like Gabi screaming to me not Abby. Abby has a health scare this coming week and her and Chad share a fraught moment on 10/8 and there’s more spoilers containing Chad for the week of 10/12 – 10/16 so it’s not Chad who is killed.
I watch Days for the Chad /Abby characters and the Chabby love story but I really hate that they’re going to kill Will, I was watching Days when Will was born. I’ve watched him be born, be kidnapped, come and go over the years, come out as a gay person, become a father and now I have to watch the Lumi Baby be killed, it’s just not right. I really thought when it was announced that a core character would be killed I really thought it would be Bo because Peter Reckell doesn’t want to return full time and I read he only came back for the 50th anniversary and the writers are going to have him die a hero to give the Bope fans closure so it wouldn’t look like Bo deserted his family. Remember Ken Corday did say that after 8/31/15 if a character died they were staying dead and if Peter Reckell is really done with Days after this last return then Bo being the core character killed would make more sense to me. Who knows what these writers are going to do, guess we’ll just have to watch and see what happens.
No, no, no. Please !!!!! I love Chad…do not let it be Chad. I don’t want Will killed off either. Shame on the writers, Ally, for doing this.
It certainly seems like Will is going to be the next victim (unless it’s a red herring and Sonny does pop back into town at the last minute just to get bumped off – but so far, this storyline seems to be going just as all the spoilers and guesses suggested it would). And I have two major problems with this move.
First, Will is why I’m watching Days of Our Lives everyday. For well over two decades, I was an occasional Days watcher – coming on for certain characters or story lines, but eventually getting bored within a couple of months or just feeling like the show was too much (I was never a super couple concept fan – and for a while, Days was nothing but super couples). But Will – Will’s coming out brought me back to Days and Will is what kept me around. The way the show has handled the gay characters has been far and away the most consistently enjoyable and responsible handling of characters on daytime (and the awards they show has earned during that time supper that). They have been more than bit players or supporting characters, more than just ‘issue’ stock characters, and they have been allowed to be imperfect. And even though I wasn’t fond of Guy’s portrayal of Will, I was still invested in the character because the character HAS so much potential. He’s connected to so many people, and he had years and years of story left to tell. And it was through Will, that I became invested in Paul and Sonny and several other characters. So to lose him to murder is extremely short sighted.
And it’s more. It was made very clear by tptb that Days was no longer Days to them and changes needed to happen. And the mention of the show winning awards during this Days-no-longer-Days period by the same executive naturally led to the supposition that beyond many new characters, that the gay storyline on Days was part of that new identity that apparently needed to change. For some reason, the audience that came with the last few years, the audience that tuned in and enjoyed Will, Sonny, Paul oould not co-exist with the attempt to re-capture ‘classic’ Days viewers. For some reason, the ‘new’ audience was no longer wanted, no longer desirable and was clearly expendable. And the first day of the new writing team’s stories clearly proved that as the front burner story featuring Sonny/Will/Paul was dropped like a cold stone and the remaining characters on the canvas (Will/Paul) went from three days play to maybe once a week.
And now this. Will’s death. Will’s savage murder. I don’t care how the show is going to try and sell this but every fiber of my being says, if Will Horton had actually been straight female Willow Horton, then this would not be happening. We’ve had two newcomers killed, and now Day’s first gay core character that drove story (Sonny for the first couple of years was kind of supporting to Will) is getting offed. The message – as implied by tptb before all these changes started to happen, as the writing evidenced over 24 hour period from old regime’s writing to new, couldn’t be more clear. What better way to show to their ‘classic’ audience that ‘we’re done with this not-classic Days’ than to murder the gay character from which all the gay-related stories sprung.
I’ve never quite felt like this about a show and it’s disconcerting to me. This is, after all, just a tv show. It isn’t a public message show, I in fact, never wanted to gay characters to be those pristine unmuddied perfect characters who stand in for the gay community but don’t actually reflect anything about the gay community. But I did want their stories to continue to be told. I didn’t want the main guy to be bumped off. And the feeling the show is telling me, as a gay viewer, that the period of the show that brought me to them on a daily basis was in fact, in their eyes, a wrong move and they are doing their damnedest to correct that course – by killing Will – it feels insulting to me. It saddens me. It angers me.
Jennifer. Abigail. JJ. Nope. Will. Some characters that never really worked and Will. That’s who gets bumped off.
Message received Days. Message received.
Even if Will were Willow it would still happen. (Look at GH when they killed off core characters) There’s no homophobia happening here.
Well said. It hurts for all of us who fondly watched Will. But I can imagine for gay men and women, it feels even worse. With all the horrible violence directed against gay youth, this just feels so … wrong. And to have a major legacy character bumped off by a flash-in-the-pan character whose name will be forgotten 10 minutes after he leaves the canvas is ridiculous. (No offense meant to the actor, who is doing a good job, just the pointless character.) The whole thing is not entertaining — which is why I watch soaps — it’s disturbing and I can’t be part of it.
You did not HONESTLY use the phrase “with every fiber of my being” in a serious conversation, did you?! No offense bro……lol….you’ve watched one too many badly written soap opera!! Every time I hear that phrase on a soap I burst out laughing. GH is the worst offender for using it over the years. Really who talks like that?! With every fiber of my being? With all the oat bran in me…..
If Will is the next victim, I will NEVER watch Days again.
Yes you “will”. You’re being all threatening and drama queenish. But of course you’ll watch. You’ll tune in for the funeral. ..and the sad baby Ariana scenes…and the grief scenes and by that time you’ll probably be over it.
Because this ONE character is leaving? So you only saw Days for just Will?
That’s the problem only seeing soaps for ONE character or ONE couple. It’s no wonder these soaps do horrible because certain people in the fanbase complain when things don’t go their way.
Wouldn’t it be great if the Necktie Killer “killed off” Guy Wilson’s Will- and then he came back to life as
Chandler Massey’s Will. They could even have a Dallas type shower scene with Sonny telling the real Will all about his lousey dream- and we could all forget about the last three years without Massey in the role.
Chandler has not even been gone for 2 years.
Oh please. C’mon, people. I’m gay, too, but everything isn’t political or about being gay or a color or a religion. Why does everyone have to look for a reason to be offended. It’s a TV show, for Pete’s sake, and the classic DAYS serial killer stories from the early 80’s did not spare frontburner characters from meeting their demises. If anyone should gripe, they were all women who were killed because they were women. Only Marlena received that reprieve, and Will’s portrayer does not have an ounce of the star power of Deidre Hall. Did anyone complain about how violently Serena and Paige were killed or how brutally Marlena was attacked?
If it is Will, it’s shocking, and it will have greater story impact as the killer will affect the lives of both of Salem’s two core families, the Horton’s and the Brady’s. It’ll have far-reaching impact, and if you ask me, the characters will be honoring and grieving the loss of a gay character. How could that be offensive and make someone stop watching? I stop watching when Deidre goes. That makes sense. It’s like AMC without Erica or OLTL without Viki. Stop watching over this? No way.
And finally, if Ben is really the killer, then DAYS has lost its sense of history. That’d be sad since Corday is still the name on the show. For those of us who understand what I’m talking about, recall Eugene had visions and thought HE was the killer, so much he confessed and was placed in an institution. I don’t know what’s going on, but we’ve only seen “visions” that appear Ben is “seeing” the murders or thinks he is the murderer. This is DAYS Big 50 story. Don’t think it’s so simple. If it is, then I’ll stop watching, because it’ll prove to me the genre is a shell of its former self, not even deserving of Deidre’s talents. I don’t think I’m wrong. If I am, I’ll admit it on this forum.
Question for those above 40 and for Michael about John Black and Don Craig: I’ve been re-watching the original strangler story on youtube. I can’t help but be affected by Don and Marlena’s love story that gave way to Roman and Marlena’s, who became DAYS’ premier 80’s supercouple (Doug and Julie ruled the 70’s). Don and Marlena had such a beautiful love story that became tortured and interfered with, and it seems so similar to John and Marlena’s connection. I then read up on Don Craig because I forgot what happened to him. He went to the freakin’ mailbox in 1985 and was never seen again. The the same year, didn’t the Pawn/John Black appear? I’d have to review the chronology to make sure it makes sense, but has anyone ever considered that John Black is Don Craig? Has it been mentioned as a possibility anywhere or on the show itself? I would think this would be such an awesome development to finally wrap up the John Black mystery. If anyone already knows the chronology, would you correct me if I’m wrong? I just think that would be so awesome and yet another nod to DAYS golden era. p.s. I know Jed Allan is 16 years older than Drake Hogestyn, but it’s a soap, and plastic surgery makes people look younger, right? Anyone else think that’d be a great resolution to the mystery of the Pawn?
Politics? This isn’t about politics at all. BTW Unless I missed it, I don’t recall anyone saying it was in any post until I read yours. It’s about a Horton we saw grow up being killed off for “shock and awe” and eventually nothing that impactful, certainly nothing worth what will eventually be a needless killing of a young person with tons of potential for being a part of the future of Days and the 50th. A 50th Celebration without Will Horton, how can they even consider that? The Days 50th looks more like a wake than a celebration. JMO
I see the post you referred to, but it’s still not politics for me. Lots of younger viewers like Will Horton the character and Guy Wilson does have a fanbase.
I agree with paragraphs 1, 2, and 4 wholeheartedly. 3 you kinda lost me. Lol. About Will….if he is the victim it has absolutely nothing to do with his sexuality. I am a straight male and the killing of Will doesn’t bother me for many reasons. 1 it will affect the entire canvas of Veterans. 2) it will bring in some phenomenal performances. 3) Soaps shelf life. People are talking like these shows have another 50 years in them. Lol. Soaps are gasping their last and temporary ratings surges mean nothing! Does it really matter if legacy characters are killed at this point? Will, a gay man, has already procreate. ..so another generation is already in place. The next teenage set who will be driving story is already cast and in place. Sami has 3 other kids. Not being cavalier about Will but it will make for good story!! 4) For all of you crying that Will is gay so he should not die….that’s absurd. Gay people die too…they dont flutter around on unicorns and rainbows like Chandler Massey and Freddy Smith in the fairy tale incarnation of Wilson. I don’t hear such vocal complaints about the continued violence against women…..check out the graphic murders of Frankie on Another World or Emily on GH or Nadine on GL. This is not gay targeting. I believe Will served his purpose on the show. They did their thing…they won their awards and media praise and critical acclaim. Now….any further storyline would mean Sonny and Will getting a divorce. Then the gay audience would be screaming that they doing an unflattering portrayal of gay marriage. Then, if Will or Sonny were to start dating and sleeping around, people would be mad that it shows gay people as flighty or promiscuous. See where I am going?? It would be never ending.
About the Don Craig thing I don’t think they ever did overlap with the Pawn. Don was not even mentioned hardly at all until he did disappear. If after all this time, John was Pawn as Don… (they all rhyme) that would be possibly the best soap twist of all time!! He was a lawyer…Stefano would have wanted someone smart. However it has been implied that John was with Stefano for YEARS. HOWEVER all those memories could have happened before Don came to Salem and Stefano actually brought him there! About the chronology or timeline who cares? Lol. Abigail was born 5 years before EJ on screen. And EJ was the older man in that story. I just don’t know if Don is relevant enough at this point. But it would give John a whole new identity…not really related to anyone. So his kids could know if who they sleep with are relatives or not!!!
At this point…soaps have NOTHING TO LOSE except viewers. They might as well take risks with the stories and not worry if a popular performer wants to come back in 3 years. Young soap stars don’t have that same star quality or the writing investment in their characters to inspire that kind of fan loyalty anymore! Back in the day returns of people like Reckell, Alfonso, Hall, etc were major headline news in the industry. Nowadays very few stars have made that big of an impact of daytime that their return would be heralded!! It will also be nice to see dead characters stay dead. Back from the dead plots became ridiculous decades ago!! There was actually a time when these were suspenseful or mildly interesting. Now all they do is strain credibility.
Dylan, I am usually very stubborn when it comes to my convictions and my feelings. But, you, my friend, have a way about you that is so convincing…..I agree with everything you said. Are you an attorney? My father is, and he has your style, that finesse which can skillfully transform something white into black and vice versa. He’s amazing to watch. Your writing is impressive , making me believe that which is not in my head to be my truth, against my will, if that makes any sense…LOL.
I know some people are upset that Will is going while others are thrilled. Remember, this is a soap opera. In order for a soap to survive nowadays they need to take risks. This is a risk. This will bring so much story to the other characters, Sami, Rafe, Marlena, Kate, and so on…. Though I thought Chandler Massey did an excellent job as Will, I felt Guy was not right for the part. He tried his best, but it didn’t work. I wonder if Chandler was still playing the part if they would have killed the character ?? Look at Game of Thrones and Walking Dead, they kill main characters left and right and their ratings are high as hell! So for those people who say they’ll stop watching the show, shame on you. If you were a true fan, you would continue watching!
So true, Mark!
I don’t like the idea of Will dying, but I know I will be enthralled with all the drama!
If I were to absolutely hate the murder of any character, I would still have to watch to see how the other characters deal with the realization. Just look at how beautiful the drama surrounding Paige’s murder has been!
I’ll be there for the survivors…4ever.
Sorry, guilt-tripping doesn’t work with me. There’s no shame in giving up a show that no longer interests me because the new SLs are not holding my attention — and killing Will is the final straw. BTW I don’t watch any of the shows you mentioned, so I could care less who they kill off. JMHO
After a decade of loyal viewing, I will NOT watch Days again if Will Horton is killed off. If they kill Sonny or someone else, I’ll continue watching. Otherwise, I stand by my original post and I will no longer watch Days without Will Horton being a part of Salem’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.
I’m not a young man but the younger characters brought me to this show. I’m sure the show will survive with me as it did for the first 45 years, but when they say good-bye to Will, say good-bye to me too. And good luck with the relics from other decades that are popping up now.
If this is what Ben does to his best man, he’s going to have trouble replacing Will.
LMAO!! I guess ol Clyde will have to step up to the plate.
I think that this story will probably culminate with Ben killing Clyde. ..as probably all of Clyde’s abuse is probably what made him snap. I like that this is not another Andre murder story. It is more gritty and real. Just a question…..not that it really concerns me 30 years later…now they’re saying Andre is biological child of Stefano. And Tony was too? So that means that Renee…also Stefano’s biological child…slept with both of her brothers. Ewww. But I am sure it’s happened on Bold and Beautiful at some people the way those people cross pollinate.
I too am confused about Andre’s parentage. They didn’t really explain it. Just kinda glossed over it. A fuller explanation, family tree, would help.
Ben is coming unhinged. This is not love he feels for Abigail but obsession. Poor Abigail has now become Ben’s possession. So what will happen to her if she Ben wakes up and finds her lacking somehow.
I wonder to myself if Ben saw who the real killer was and is reliving it in his head.However how does that explain why he had the red ties,unless of course Days is trying to throw us way off.I still say something smells about Rafe.
That is exactly what I said, Carol. This happened to us before, where we had exactly the same idea. LOL. I said that Ben witnessed his father commit the killings and then took the events as his own due to a disturbed mind. ….followed his father and then got rid of the evidence. Wow!
Hi, Mo.
I am not too familiar with the soap’s history either. I started watching during my first pregnancy, seven years ago. But, I did a little research….that’s what I do when I’m confused about a character. I believe Andre was supposedly Stefano’s brother’s son, ergo Stefano’s nephew. After Andre’s parents died, Stefano reared him as his own, but then it was revealed that Andre was in fact Stefano’s biological firstborn. I guess Andre’s mother cheated on her husband, by doing the hanky-panky with Stefano. So, what else is new…..WOW!! Between, Stefano, Victor K, Victor N and Sonny C, they could start an entire new cult…..they must have powerful little swimmers.
OMG a sad sad day in Salem feel so bad great acting today brought me to tears can’t wait to see Kate’s reaction and I really can’t wait to see Ben get his I wish they would have let will get in a few punches on Ben
I hope that Ben gets his sorry ass caught and Abby what a dope,she actually believes Ben what does she have schit for brains???