Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: John Does His Final Act of Heroism to Give Bo a Chance at Life; Stephen Nichols & Mary Beth Evans Break Our Hearts
In one of the finest episodes of Days of our Lives in a long time, the series legacy heroes, John Black and Bo Brady, are both at a crossroads.
By the end of the Friday May 23rd cliffhanger, their two lives hang in the balance, and in what had been promised by head writers, Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford, and executive producer, Ken Corday, the soap opera would craft an exit befitting the legacy of John and its portrayer the late Drake Hogestyn. The story perfectly intersects the lives of Bo (Peter Reckell) and John and their best friend, Steve, played heartbreakingly by Stephen Nichols.
As it begins, Hope (Kristian Alfonso) is at Bo’s bedside wishing him happy 40th wedding anniversary as this was the date that they got married in 1985, and we flashback to their London wedding ceremony. In the present, Bo has been given his last rites. Ciara (the returning Victoria Konefal) arrives to be with her mother and father, and sits at Bo’s bedside remembering special moments with her dad when she was growing up (which included flashbacks of a young Ciara played by Lauren Bowles).
Courtesy/Peacock
KAYLA INFORMS MARLENA OF JOHN’S NEW MISSION TO SAVE BO
Meanwhile, Marlena (Deidre Hall) visits Kayla’s (Mary Beth Evans) office at the hospital and Kayla learns that John didn’t return home and go directly to see Marlena. He made a pit stop to help Steve in their quest to get the drug to save Bo. Kayla explains the situation to Marlena and how they just need a single dose of the medication and all they went through, and then Kayla says to Marlena that they both know how Bo is like a brother to both men. Next, we get a flashback of Bo telling his sister, that she can always count on him.
In the present, with tears in her eyes, Kayla recalls the countless times that Bo, John and Steve have stepped up and saved them. Kayla worries this time Bo won’t be able to be saved in time and she will lose her brother. Kayla reassures Marlena that John will finish his mission with Steve and be back to her in no time.
Photo: JPI
BO TRAVELS TO SALEM IN HIS MIND
Back in Bo’s hospital room (which is unclear where he is exactly), while Ciara remembers moments in her life with her dad, Bo is transported to Horton Town Square and eventually to the Brady Pub, where he sees Steve and Kayla holding hands and talking, but he is locked out of the pub and can’t get to them – which is the analogy that Bo is trying to get home to those he loved, but he’s still unable to wake up out of his coma as death looms.
Photo: NBC
DISABLING THE SECURITY SYSTEM
Now outside in an alley, Dr. Russell (Michael Dietz) meets John who begins to help Steve and Shawn (Brandon Beemer) to try to trick the security system of the meth lab so they can get inside and look for a vial of Versavix. Suddenly, Hope (Kristian Alfonso) has joined them just in time when they learn that there is a two-part security system. Hope cuts the wires and disables one system and John disables the other. Next, John, Hope and Dr. Russell enter the lab. Hope asked Dr. Russell to come with them to identify and locate the drug.
Photo: JPI
IN THE WAREHOUSE LAB
There is a person in an unresponsive state on the floor which could be Asher. Hope, John and Dr. Russell try to get in and get out but no such luck. Russell spots the Versavix, but Asher jumps up and attacks Dr. Russell from behind. Hope grabs the drugs as Asher gets into a fight with the doctor and suddenly smoke is filling up the lab. As Asher pulls a knife to kill Russell, John saves the day as he get into a fight with Asher, as Hope gets Dr. Russell out. When she tries to go back, the warehouse is now engulfed in flames.
Later, the firefighters arrive and say they found one survivor and wheel out a badly burned John, who has in his hand the vial of Versavix to save Bo! Shawn gives it to Hope to hurry and rescue his dad.
Photo: JPI
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL LIVES ON THE LINE
At University Hospital, Kayla tells Marlena that there was an explosion and John has been seriously injured. Hope and Shawn arrive in Bo’s room and tell Ciara they have secured the drug, Hope tells Bo to fight, and how fitting would it be for him to awake with this being their 40th wedding anniversary? Next, Hope, Ciara and Shawn recite the Lord’s prayer as Bo is being administered the sepsis drug as one last ditch effort to save his life.
Courtesy/Peacock
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL WAITING AREA
In the moment of the episode, Steve tells Dr Russell the man who attacked him is dead and shared that John not only saved Dr Russell’s life but also his life’s work. In a surprise move, Steve hands the doctor all of the vials of the drug. An emotional Steve says, John protected them with his body. Steve tells Dr. Russell that he must continue his life-saving work, especially because John put his life on the line for it. Once alone, Steve breaks down in tears. He is wracked with guilt over John’s condition and the thought of losing his best friend.
Courtesy/Peacock
Marlena is now John’s beside. Steve enters the room and stands by Marlena’s side. Then, in a perfect moment, Steve says that Stefano DiMera may have called himself the Phoenix, but he had nothing on John Black. Then, DAYS flashes back to John’s origin story, his many identities, the moment he looks at himself in the mirror and calls himself “John Black” – all from the decades of scenes featuring Drake Hogestyn.
Back in the present, John whispers, “I love you, Doc.” First, Marlena is overjoyed to hear his voice, but it soon becomes life-altering as John’s heart monitor flatlines. Kayla runs in and says he’s coding. Steve tries to get Marlena out of the room, but she calls out to her husband that she is right here with him.
While everyone was excellent in the episode, nothing was more gut-wrenching than Stephen Nichols performance as Steve breaks down after John saved the day for Bo, as well as Mary Beth Evans remembering what the love of her brother Bo means to her. It looks like in the coming two weeks viewers will be reaching for the hankies more often than not. Stay tuned.
So, what did you think of how John was a hero one last time in order to save Bo and others with a life-saving drug? What was your favorite moment from the episode? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
I didn’t love it. I would’ve preferred a stand alone story for Drake. Something focused on John and his family instead of another couple’s return.
Your reply is the first, and it’s negative. Congratulations.
Loved it all except the meth lab scenes, which seemed rushed with bad direction and editing.
I like how Bo’s return and John’s departure are intertwined, it’s true to character and soap opera.
I’m looking forward to all the returns focusing on John. And hopefully, I see less ship wars. Days is an ensemble. No character and couple should be isolated. Hand over your soap fan card if you think otherwise.
Stop the jealousy.
I agree with much of what you’ve stated. But I’m not understanding the “jealousy.”
And for the record, you started off with a “negative” comment yourself.
Many John and Jarlena fans are upset that Bo has returned and John is departing, that their storylines are intertwined.
My previous post was positive followed by a negative, and is positive overall.
Days did a good job, but it could’ve been better. The heart of the story excelled and will be a must to watch this week.
Most ridiculous part of the episode?
Hope somehow being able to get from Bo’s hospital facility “somewhere in Europe” to a meth lab in Salem within minutes. And then back again, with Shawn along for the ride.
When did Salem get Starfleet transporter beams??
I started watching Days back in 1975 and watched it faithfully until it switched to peacock station. My husband and I are on social security now and we are lucky to be able to afford just the basic cable stations we are offered. It’s really hard for me to hear all the things that are happening to the Horton’s,the Black’s and everyone else and not being able to watch it. They all became my family for an hour each day Monday through Friday,at 12:30 to 1:30 each day. I wish it never moved to peacock at all.
Streaming is cheaper than cable. You don’t need cable to stream, you only need internet service. If you don’t fully understand streaming, reach out to someone who can help you.
True on the low cost of streaming but my internet connection is 100 a month
Alana Larson must have internet service to be able to log on to Michael Fairman’s site.
Or at least a data plan on her smartphone.
If it didn’t move to Peacock, it would’ve been cancelled outright.
I understand fixed incomes aren’t easy, but there’s usually a promo out there to get the commercial version for a reasonable rate. Someone can gift it to you as well for a birthday or Christmas.
I am a longbtome viewer and this was an incredible episode of Days. The actors were extraordinary and the way they intertwined John and Bo’s storyline and making John the ultimate hero one last time was so meaningful and appreciated. This honored the legacy of Johm always being the hero and helping others. All these Days legends uniting to save Bo was brilliant.
I agree 100%. All these negative comments are making me sick
How long are they gonna drag John’s death out
Well they tape about 9 months in advance ; and also changed a couple of the head writers since Drake’s death in real life!! So there were alot of time related delays!! I think they did justice to the character and now comes “tearful” good-bye scenes with close friends and family members!! I’ve stocked up on my Kleenex supply !!!
I really agree with you! Well said! I love Days and think the new writers are doing a great job! It’s good to see the past characters again. I will really miss John as he was one of my favorites. I’m anxious to see what happens in Salem in the future. ❤️
I realize that Days is taped a year in advance, however with the death of Drake l did not feel it was respectful to Drake and his family for it to take so long to honor his memory. I feel one special episode could have been taped and inserted dedicated to his memory instead of a long drawn out storyline.
BS!
That couldn’t work. Say that you rush one episode within a month. Then, do you suddenly go back to having everyone think John is alive for the next 8 months?
I’ve been watching days of our lives since I was in hight school in the 70. I would come home and watch it with my grandmother and mom. Once I got married I got my husband hooked. We got peacock station just to watch Days of Our Lives. My children make fun of us say we talk about the characters like if they were people we know. Lol
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Star Emily O’Brien Ties the Knot With Longtime Love Ken Barnett
Congratulations are in order for Days of Our Lives schemer, Emily O’Brien (Gwen Rizchech). The actress said “I do,” over the weekend in a wedding ceremony on Saturday, August 1 at the CaliPaso Winery in Paso Robles, California.
Emily married her longtime boyfriend, Ken Burnett. The couple have been together for 12 years before the big day. Taking to her Instagram with some exquisite photos which includes a look at Emily’s spectacular wedding dress, O’Brien announced the couple’s union.
As it turns out, the dress was worn by Burnett’s grandmother in 1956! Making the whole feel of the nuptials so special. Emily expressed, “I married my best friend this weekend… Ken, this life is more colorful, more adventurous & so much more beautiful with you in it. You make every dream a reality. Wearing your grandmothers heirloom wedding dress from 1956 was just the cherry… Cheers to Pickles & Neens”
Photo: EOBrienIG
DAYS AND Y&R STARS SHARE EXCITEMENT FOR EMILY
The comment thread quickly filled up with congratulations from many of Emily’s present Days of our Lives co-stars and those from her former soap, The Young and the Restless where she played Jana Hawkes.
Tamara Braun (ex-Ava, Days and ex-Sienna, Y&R) shared, “The day was everything you two embody. Absolutely beautiful.” Greg Rikaart, who played Emily’s on-screen husband, Kevin Fisher on Y&R, and is now her bff Leo on DAYS shared, “Spectacular and beautiful. Zero notes. Congrats you two!!”Al Calderon (ex-Javi, DAYS) chimed in with “perfection,” while current DAYS co-star Linsey Godfrey (Sarah) added, “Perfect perfect perfect. Both of you.” Abigail Klein (Stephanie, DAYS) shared, “Storybook!” Y&R’s Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) expressed, “Gorgeous!!!!!”
It was back in March of this year that Barnett made his own tribute to the love of his life via his Instagram with a series of photos of the couple adding, “12 years later and we’re still up to our same shenanigans 😜 joyeux anniversaire, ma chérie.”
Share your congratulations for Emily and Ken via the comment section below, and wish the newlyweds all the best on their union!
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Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Favorites Making Returns: Alison Sweeney, Christie Clark, Chandler Massey and Bryan Dattilo
Great news for Days of Our Lives fans, now that Ryan Quan is co-head writer of the long-running soap opera. Coming in June of 2027 (since DAYS tapes ten or so months ahead), you can look forward to the returns of Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady), Christie Clark (Carrie Brady), Chandler Massey (Will Horton) and Bryan Dattilo (Lucas Horton).
The foursome is back on set and began last week to tape their upcoming story arc, according to TV Insider. As to what exactly is going on that brings sister Sami and Carrie’s history back up, as well as Will and Lucas’ is only being teased at this time, but suffice to say, it should be intriguing.
Alison Sweeney explained on being back on set, “It was a lot of dialogue and emotion, but with all the best actors to work opposite, we fell into it as if no time had passed. It was really wonderful.”
Photo: JPI
As to working with the longstanding rivalry of Sami and Carrie, Alison added on working with Clark, “So, it really does feel like we’re sisters. It’s so fun, and she’s such a good actor that she makes everything so natural that you can really disappear into those stories.”
JUST LIKE OLD TIMES
It also seems like the deep-history, which often had the sister fighting for the love of Austin Reed, but that might not figure into the equation this time, or will it?
Alison indicated what she thought of the scripts she was given. “I felt like when I read it, it was a page-turner. I was very excited. There’s a lot of history here, and a lot of things that haven’t been said. So, it’s really not like, ‘Oh, rehashing stuff.’ And now having played some of the scenes, I’m psyched.” Sweeney added, as for the men, working again with her on-screen son, Chandler Massey and Will’s on-screen father Bryan Dattilo, was also extra special.
The last time DAYS viewers saw Sami on the canvas was back in November of 2025, when she revealed she has gotten engaged to never-before-seen Dante Vitali. As for Clark, she last visited Salem for the episodes surrounding John Black’s memorial in June of 2025.
Chandler Massey’s Will Horton last made a visit to Salem in November of 2025 when he attended the gala for the Tom Horton Free Clinic as part of the soap opera’s 60th anniversary celebration. Bryan Dattilo was last seen in December of 2025. So, by the time we see all four again it will be close to two years since they were on new episodes of the series. Time to look forward to June of 2027.
So, excited by the news of Alison, Christie, Chandler and Lucas making a return to Days of Our Lives? What do you think the story will be involving, Sami, Carrie, Lucas and Will? Let us know via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Alum Al Calderon Talks On His Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes as Javi Hernandez (Exclusive)
Last Tuesday, Al Calderon scored the first Emmy nomination of his career for his role as Javi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives.
Calderon name was announced as one of the performers competing for gold in the Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category at the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards on October 30.
This week, Calderon chatted live on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel for a one-on-one conversation where he discussed: his nominated scenes and time on the Peacock streaming soap opera, his decision to leave DAYS, his role of Nico Silva on Brilliant Minds and its sad cancellation, plus his passing the torch of Javi to Jacob Martinez, who took over the role on-screen on the June 30, 2026 episode of Days of Our Lives.
Photo: JPI
JAVI REVEALS TO LEO THAT HE HAD A DAUGHTER WHO DIED
Al revealed the scenes that comprise his now Emmy-nominated reel have at its epicenter the heartbreaking moments from the September 12, 2025 episode. In it, Javi shares for the first time to Leo (Greg Rikaart) that he had a daughter named Solana, with a woman he was seeing named Sylvia. One fateful day, Sylvia left their child in a car when she went to work and the little girl died. Javi had blamed himself for not being the parent to take his daughter to school that day since he was hungover the night before, therefore it opened up the opportunity for something to happen to the his child, and it did.
The multi-talented actor/singer explained his reel: “It was the scene where he is talking about his daughter to Leo. I also included the scene where Javi goes to talk to Melinda (Tina Huang) and to see if it would be a viable option to adopt, because I wanted to introduce the subtlety and nuance of why Javi kind of has this whole connection to Tesoro, in a way.”
It is true that Al can bring the tears and make us cry right along with him during his run as Javi. To that, Calderon added, “I’ve read the comments that I’m a little bit of a crybaby, so I didn’t want the entire reel to be of me crying, but I wanted it to show a little bit of an emotional range of the restraint that Javi was feeling so I included that scene
In addition Calderon shared, “I also included a really beautiful scene with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez, DAYS) where I’m looking at photos of Tesoro, and of course, Javi is crying. I just wanted to show the relationship between Javi and his family as well, and as I mentioned the reveal of the child that he lost.”
Photo: JPI
ALUMS AL CALDERON AND ALICE HALSEY REPRESENT DAYS OF OUR LIVES IN EMERGING TALENT CATEGORY
In a twist of fate, Calderon is also nominated in the Emerging Talent category with Alice Halsey who played Rachel Black. Halsey is currently starring in the reboot of Little House on the Prairie in the lead role of Laura Ingalls on Netflix.
As to his hope on Emmy night, Al expressed, “Of course, I want to win, but Alice Halsey is going to give me a run for the money. And if’s not me (who wins the award), it better be her!”
You can check out the full interview with Al below.
Now let us know, do you remember Al’s emotional scenes when he explained to Leo he had a daughter who died, which made it all the more heartbreaking to not end up with permanent custody of Tesoro? What do you think of Al’s chances to win the gold based on his Emmy scene selection? Do you miss him as Javi? Weigh-in via the comment section.
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