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DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Lives Are Forever Changed When Kristen and Xander’s Plans Blow Up In Pivotal Episode

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: JPI Studios

In an explosive and can’t miss episode of Days of our Lives, all roads lead to a warehouse that appears to be filled with presumed dead bodies of former Salemites!  Behind the experiments and illegal activities going on in this creepy place are Xander (Paul Telfer) and Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk)!  This takes us to the action where Nicole (Arianne Zucker), who has been forced under Xander’s thumb, knocks him out and takes the recording of her confession to murdering Deimos, as she desperately tries to find Eric (Greg Vaughan), who has been tied up to a chair in another part of the warehouse thanks to Kristen!

Nicole is traumatized with baby Holly in tow as she comes upon a confusing maze of locked door with the initials VA, AD, AV, SD, ED, JD, and WR on them.  Had you figured out who they all stand for???   Brady (Eric Martsolf) hears Nicole calling out for Eric and is now locked in the E.D. marked room thanks to Sami (Alison Sweeney), who is searching for EJ!  Brady asks Nicole to let him out, she says “no” and not until she finds Eric!

Photo Credit; JPI Studios

Kristen, who has Eric hostage, tells him that she and Xander need to move precious cargo in the warehouse and the building has been compromised! Sami finds her brother with Kristen! She demands to know where EJ is and attacks Kristen.  Cut to another shocker! Dr. Rolf (William Utay) is alive and prepares a large syringe for his mystery patient.  He explains to the man that the formula was far from perfected back then when they tried to use it, so he understands how apprehensive the patient would be trying it again. After injecting the patient, who we believe could be EJ, Rolf tells him Samantha Brady is here in the warehouse!  The man jumps up on the hearing of Sami’s name and grabs Rolf, but then a Bunsen burner is knocked over by accident and Rolf yells, “Fire!”  Then, the burner explodes in the man’s face like a fireball!

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Elsewhere, Xander comes in and finds the Sami/Eric/Kristen situation as sounds of explosions rock the warehouse and everyone starts screaming. Xander and Kristen run out, Sami frees Eric, then rushes out to mind the man she believes is EJ.  But then, rubble falls upon Nicole and she is separated from Eric and Brady.  She fits Holly fits through a hole and Brady runs out of the building with the little girl leaving star-crossed loves Eric and Nicole holding hands through the rubble.

Kristen finds Brady outside with Holly and begs him to come with her.  She wants him back and he tells her no way, and she tells him he will be sorry for this! She runs back inside the burning building.  Sami goes into the lab and calls EJ’s name, but she sees Dr. Rolf and he runs out.  Sami gets the burned man out of the blazing inferno!

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Back inside, Nicole begs Eric to watch over Holly, as she is not going to make it out of the fire.  Brady runs back in to save his brother, and hits him with a crowbar, when he won’t leave Nicole and could die himself. A gut-wrenched Nicole knows she is left to die with no way out!  Outside the warehouse, Eric comes to and loses it when he realizes Brady saved him and left Nicole inside!  Next, the warehouse door explodes!  Brady and Eric can’t get back in to save Nicole.

Inside, as the warehouse burns around her, Kristen says she is not afraid, and turns and reveals the Phoenix tattoo on her back! Looks like she is burning herself in the fire only to rise again!

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

But that’s not all! Rex has returned to Salem in the form of Kyle Lowder making his debut as Kate and Roman’s son. You remember the Gemini Twins???  During Lowder’s first scenes back in Salem (he previously played Brady Black), Ron Carlivati and the DAYS writing team took the opportunity to give us some quickie Rex history including that: sister Cassie was stuck in a piñata and left for dead once, and how he and Cassie fell out of the sky!  Now in present day, Rex tells Roman (Josh Taylor) he is engaged and before he can tell his dad her name, Lucas (Bryan Dattilo) walks in with Baby Bonnie.  Rex holds the baby, not knowing that elsewhere Mimi Lockhart (Farah Fath) is confessing to Belle (Martha Madison) that Rex is the true bio-dad of Baby Bonnie!

What did you think of DAYS’ jam-packed, pivotal episode? Share your thoughts via the comment section below, and let us know what was your favorite moment in it?

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I haven’t watched in years-way too cartoonish for my taste. Although, it would be nice to have an explosion in Port Charles to get rid of the dead weight! – Parking Lot Peter, Insipid Lulu, Dumb Dawson, Dull Kim, One-Note Oscar, Petulant Kristina, etc.

GH isnt too great but they do need to clean house-rarely able to watch daily anymore

Think you are on the wrong site. This is about DOOL, so take your grievances to the one about GH. Oh, and why do you even bother visiting this one, if you don’t even watch it and consider it cartoonish?
BTW, there was an earthquake in P.C a while back. Was that not devastating enough for you?

Let me see: AV= Ava Vitale? SD= Stefano DiMera? AD = Andre DiMera? JD = Jack Devereaux? And ED =EJ (Elvis) DiMera, of course. The rest I have no clue.

VA = Vivian Alamain. WR = Wilhelm Rolf.

I wasnt watching then but I think that WR turned out to be Will Roberts and VA was Vivian Alamain (if she was dead which I think she might of been)

Illness keeps me from watching daily…

I am going to be pissed if Nicole was brought back to kill her off. After what she went through, she deserves to be free even if she did things in the past that would make me mad at her. As for the initials, I have tried to figure out who they relate to. Could SD be Stefano Dimera? Would be the most likely guess.

hi, was at the grocery store… break time… air conditioning… large open seating area… People watch… grab that SOD issue… savor

argh! I immediately started tearing up… upon seeing Nicole pic on front page… Nicole dies… my immediate thought then went to Holly

I likened Nicole as a stand alone act… how is it possible she could be on @DAYS for year after year… with no family and no children… marriage… no foundation to speak…till her last year… when she at last, THANKS to Chloe, w/Daniel, gave birth to Holly, how is that for YES YES YES something so heartfelt just for Nicole… who would love her unconditionally.. and she could in her walk about, in her face… return LOVE. you see.. how tearful it is to see our Nicole walk in to the sunset. even knowing at that time @DAYS writing team couldn’t if they tried … WRITE . sounds, so familiar, right ? @GH shelley and Chris couldn’t even write for themselves, i’m certain.

it was pretty clear this was done to give Greg Vaughan’ Eric, closure. WOW isn’t all the acting plus scripture… so hand in hand. i’m still beside myself.. that still… @DAYS is giving so much

it’s fine by me … that perhaps Nicole… AND Xander… hopefully got out of that fire/explosion… that will be right with me… after all … with two such enigmatic SENSATION (s) are Ari and Paul. Xander must be kept alive… all his return visits… complete my mindset at all that daytime is.

will Nicole return with her heart mind and soul over Holly be … a surefire MUST SEE. no doubt.. so with that card just waiting for top shelf.. in the wings… you know.. i’m tearing up over Nicole… hoping

HAVE to PROP : Kyle Lowder ex-Brady now Rex : son of Kate – AND – GET THIS… LOL YES YES YES i’m through the roof ecstatic… son of Roman… MORE admiration and love for Josh Taylor. Yikes this is that much more stimuli just watching Kate and Roman together… Magic.

Kyle Lowder: gave one of the best interview.. I’ve read in EON. just so refreshing, honest, endearing… heart tug damned happy for him… more or less saying he’s come full circle and he’s at home… again… and from what I’ve seen in preview … he’s looking the part… acting as natural as… and is fully on board contributing WITH – all – the troupe. Days staggers me on the complete richness the cast REEL

LOL.. this SOD threw me… on the very next page… YES… my lady love from Genoa City… Amelia Heinle… Victoria Newman… love her to bits… she’s thee only Newman I have interest in… sorry MTS.. Nikki. when and if you ever get out of the entrapment and wings of Victor… let me know

I tip my hat to Ari Zucker
I tip my hat to Eileen Davidson
I tip my hat to Doug Davidson
I tip my hat to Stephen Nichols
I tip my hat to Dominic Zamprogna, yes even Dante… @GH Frank Valentini execution of GH must not go unnoticed … FIRE

Need to clarify : 3rd para : “I likened Nicole as a stand alone act… ”

ie: i’m certain Ariz Zucker had already signed out of the show… so Ron Carlivati really had no “time” to give her a deserved send off… which is really disappointing for a qualified success AND to laud an actress who carried this show w/Ali Sweeney… for what seems like decades… I will always give these two STAR Watt. these two gals… respectfully carried @DAYS with more lean years than Wattage surplus. I have always wanted Ari’ Nicole to have more of a foundation… @DAYS faulted big time by having Rafe alter kill Fay Walker.

ANYWAY : it’s still a shock to the system… knowing Nicole DIED !!!! ???? ugh who can stand for this

here’s – hoping – Ari will return to get her heart mind and soul back intact with a mother / daughter reunion with Holly. she may not have had longevity with men… kinda of a bummer twist to see she never may have had that walk in the sunset w/ Xander… even if I will LOVE Paul Telfer forever

I still feel stilted knowing that Nicole was supposed to at the very least loving her life outside of Salem with HER daughter… so its a let down.

Cheers and Love to you Ms. Ari Zucker

VA (Vivian Alamain)
AD (Either Andre DiMera or Anjelica Deveraux)
AV (Ava Vitali)
SD (Stefano DiMera)
ED (EJ DiMera)
JD (Jack Deveraux)
WR (Wilhelm Rolf)

The AD could also be Anthony DiMera, Dianna.

That is who was in the fire Sami thought was EJ…Kate having Tony alive will make her realize Abbi did not kill him so Kate will finally confess to Chad Gabi set Abbi up and why she went with it

Its a tad ridiculous that they would have Stefano presumably alive when Joe Mascolo is deceased. It would be way more believable that Bo would be in there, than Stefano! Good grief why dont they bring back Peter Blake Dimera and let him head up the family!? And for God sakes RECAST EJ WITH PAUL LEYDEN(ex-Simon, ATWT) He would be the PERFECT EJ!! James Scott is NOT coming back!

I like the Paul Leyden idea!

Sure love your idea of Paul Leyden playing E.J. Instead they have cast this twenty-five year old to play opposite a forty-plus Sammy.

Oh my god, Ron Carlivati is doing an excellent job, but too bad there wasn’t two more doors, one with O.M.G. and the other with R.C.

That had to be one of the stupidest and unbelievable shows I’ve ever seen. I know they can only do so much with sets and props, but those “rocks” for one thing looked about as heavy as a paper box, and they could have pulled Nicole out of the hole the baby was pulled from. Also, there should have more found than just the little necklace. Of course Zandor and Kristen escaped, to terrorize another day.

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53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Presenters Announced

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Daytime Emmy Presenters

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) revealed on Thursday, the lineup of presenters for 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards taking place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.

The ceremony will stream live on the NATAS YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@theemmys and watch.TheEmmys.tv.

Scheduled to present from the current soaps are: Katelyn MacMullen (Willow, General Hospital), Delon de Metz (Zende, The Bold and the Beautiful), James Preston (Nick, The Bay), Paul Telfer (Xander, Days of our Lives), Tamara Tunie (Anita, Beyond the Gates) and Susan Walters (Diane, The Young and the Restless).

Genie Francis

Photo: NATAS

In addition soap alums, Crystal Chappell, Lesli Kay, Joe Lando, Eva LaRue, who is also a nominee this year,  A Martinez, Juliet Mills, and Alicia Leigh Willis, will also be on hand to present.

The ceremony which celebrates nominated lifestyle programs and dramas will also include presenters: Eva zu Beck (Superskilled with Eva zu Beck), Danielle Chang (Lucky Chow), Sunny Hostin (The View), Derek Hough (Extra), Pati Jinich (Pati’s Mexican Table), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Michael Jr. (Stand Up and Do Something), Judge Greg Mathis (Mathis Court with Judge Mathis), Keke Palmer (Glam Through the Ages), Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight), and Andrew Zimmern (Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen).

The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards will bring together an exciting mix of presenters representing the full spectrum of daytime television,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO of NATAS. “From familiar faces in daytime drama to the personalities and creative voices behind talk shows and lifestyle programming, this year’s lineup reflects the breadth of talent that makes daytime so special. We look forward to celebrating the people who continue to shape the genre.”

Matthew Hoffman (Love Island USA, Cheap A$$ Beach Houses) will serve as the ceremony’s Voice of God, bringing his signature comedic narration to the evening’s celebrations. As previously announced, Lifetime Achievement honoree Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her husband, Jonathan Frakes.

So, what do you think about the list of presenters for the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know who you are looking forward to seeing via the comment section below.

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Days Of Our Lives

‘Days of our Lives’ Reveals Kyle Pryor Cast as Dominic Marino

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Kyle Pryor

For months now, Days of our Lives has teased the character of Dominic Marino. In recent weeks, viewers learned that Marino is on the down low working with Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) apparent fiancé ‘Dante Vitali (Franco LoPresti), and that he is the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall)!

Up until now, the Peacock streaming soap opera has never revealed his face, but that all seemed to change on the Tuesday, October 2o episode of DAYS. In story, Dante met Sami’s parents for the first time, Roman (Josh Taylor) and Marlena.

He shows them a photo of Dominic, which he happened to have on his own phone and even commented he kind of looked like he could be Marlena’s son. The photo, which has quickly made it around Soap Twitter/X, revealed that British-born actor Kyle Pryor is the man in the photo and eagle-eyed viewers actually located said photo on Pryor’s Instagram.

Dominix

Photo: Peacock

Deadline revealed Pryor started taping at the end of 2025 and will first be seen in the role, on air Monday, November 2.  In addition, Days will celebrate its 61st Anniversary with two special episodes featuring Dominic’s arrival, as well the returns of Tony and Anna DiMera, played respectively by Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley, on Friday, November 6 and Monday, November 9.

Those in the know, are are that Pryor previously held series regular roles on Australia’s Home and Away, and the UK’s Hollyoaks and guest starred on Emmerdale. In an ironic twist, Pryor appeared in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand which is the same action series his apparent TV brother, Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera), once appeared in before coming to DAYS.

So excited to see Kyle Pryor take on the role of Dominic Marino as Days of our Lives sets its anniversary story to kick-off with is arrival in Salem? Share your thoughts in the comment section. And in case you missed our latest conversation with Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera) he weighs-in on how Dominic’s appearance will shake things up in Salem. You can check that out below.

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Days Of Our Lives

Days of our Lives’ Conner Floyd Talks Dominic Marino Mystery, Chad and Belle, and Susan Seaforth Hayes (Exclusive)

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Conner Floyd

Fasten your seat belts Days of our Lives fans, as the mystery of Dominic Marino continues to unravel on all-new episodes of the Peacock streaming soap opera. Last week, Chad DiMera (Conner Floyd) learned that he may have a half-brother, who may be the biological child of his father, the late Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), giving him great pause, because he knows Stefano had kidnapped Marlena for four years back in the late 80s and early 90s.

Chad has already been hunting down clues with his current girlfriend Belle Black (Martha Madison) in Italy and Salem, which revealed a photo of a young boy with Stefano with the date 1992 on the back of it, hidden inside Stefano’s chess set. So, what’s next?

Conner Floyd chatted on the Michael Fairman Channel in a new virtual interview released on Sunday, October 18, where he spoke on what the new addition to the DiMera family could do to the already dangerous sibling rivalries, the state of Chad’s relationship with Belle and much more.

EJ and Chad

Photo: JPI

DIMERA RIVALRY

After finding out from EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) that Dominic Marino could be the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano and Marlena, Conner Floyd explained, “I think it blows Chad’s mind a little bit. I think there’s a lot of things working there with old Chad. Obviously, bringing in another DiMera could cause some noise and the whole situation with Marlena’s a little awkward as well because he’s dating Belle, so this could cause a little tiff there. I think his head’s spinning and he does not know what to expect, but I also think he kind of expects that from Stefano, for sure.”

As to how this will change and color Chad’s relationship with EJ, Floyd responded, “Chad knows EJ’s not happy about it and I think he’s going to be real upset if this gets in his way of doing what he wants to do with the DiMera legacy and all that. However, for Chad, I think he’s just going to keep a sharp eye, see what this guy’s about, see if he’s here to cause some trouble or here to be a friend and kinda play it by ear.”

Belle and Chad

Photo: JPI

BELLE OF MY HEART

With Chad and Belle already being sleuths, Floyd says, you can look for the duo to continue getting to the truth. “I think Chad and Belle are committed to this. They’re going full National Treasure, Nicolas Cage,” says Conner. “They’re going to follow the clues. They’re going to get some answers.”

Since beginning in the role of Chad in June of 2025 and debuting on-screen back in April of 2026, the former Y&R star (where he played Chance Chancellor), says it was Madison who helped him get comfortable in his new surroundings.

“Martha is phenomenal. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to get tagged up with when I started here, just because she knows everybody,” shares Floyd. “She knows where to go, who to talk to. She’ll get the tea if you want, and so it was kind of cool. Martha took me under her wing, showed me the ropes. She’s a sweetheart.  I love working with her too. She’s a great actress.”

But, is Chad in love with Belle after such a tortured past with his beloved Abigail Deveraux DiMera? Floyd thinks so! “I think he’s into it. They’re such good friends and they have such a rich history. I think he’s in for the ride. You know, it’s one of those things you probably overlook at first and then they reconnected, and it feels easy and they’re going on these fun adventures.”

MAKING CHAD HIS OWN

Conner had the arduous task of being the successor to Billy Flynn in the role of Chad.. Flynn had played the part for 12 years before deciding to exit and head to Y&R. So, how did Conner approach learning the ins and out of Chad? Floyd shared, “I really dove into Chad when I first got this job. I liked that he kind of walks this tightrope of DiMera and not DiMera, you know. He want to so honor his family roots and really do something for the DiMera family, but he doesn’t want to fall into that trap that all the other DiMera have found themselves in. Chad is a DiMera at heart. He’s got those demons, but he’s just trying to keep them contained.”

Susan Seaforth Hayes

Photo: JPI

ICONIC

When Floyd got to DAYS, it was none other than Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams) who most surprised him in the most delightful way, given that he knew Hayes was a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and the current longest-running cast member on the canvas.

“I love working with Susan Hayes! I love her. She’s a sweetheart. Susan is one of the nicest people there. I just thought she was cool and it’s Susan Hayes, you know?  We’ve had a lot of scenes together, which is nice,” explained Conner.

“We’ll go to her dressing room, we’ll run our scenes, and then we’ll spend about an hour just talking about life and she’ll tell me about a book she’s reading. She’s such a history buff, which blows my mind. She’ll start dropping all these historical facts on me. I learn something new by the time I walk out of her dressing room every time!”

Now below, check out the full conversation with Conner Floyd via the Michael Fairman Channel.

Weigh-in: Do you like Chad and Belle as couple? Do you think Chad will get to the bottom of the Dominic Marino mystery? If so, do you think Dominic is truly Stefano and Marlena’s son … and what about Rita (Maggie Carney) in all this? Let us know your theories in the comment section.

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