Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Reveals The Identify Of The Necktie Killer!
Courtesy/NBC
In a major moment on Thursday’s Days of our Lives, the NBC soap opera kicked it up even another notch with the reveal of who is the latest serial murdered on the Salem canvasĀ … the necktie killer!
SPOILER ALERT: Do not read any further if you have not seen today’s airshow.
In a key scenes, Abigail (Kate Mansi) tries to tell Ben (Rob Scott Wilson) that she wants to be with him, even though he broke off their engagement, and that Chad (Billy Flynn) is not the problem in their relationship.Ā After giving it some thought, he tells Abigail that he wants them to leave Salem tonight to start a new life together.Ā Abigail says she has to first say goodbye to her family, but she will go tomorrow.Ā Ā Later, Clyde (James Read) comes to visit Ben.Ā Ā That is when Ben tells his father that he won’t be needing the house he got for him and Abigail as they are leaving town. Ben gives Clyde back the keys to their new home.
However, Clyde tells Ben there is no reason he should leave. There is an APB out for the arrest of Chad DiMera for the murders of Serena Mason (Melissa Archer), Paige Larson (True O’Brien), and the attempted murder of Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall).Ā Chad will no longer be a problem for Ben and Abigail’s relationship.Ā Upon hearing this news, Ben’s demeanor changes.Ā He gloats and decides that he and Abigail will indeed stay put in Salem.
Later alone in a spine-chilling moment, Ben takes out a blue container from under the bed.Ā He opens it up, revealing the neckties and all the paraphernalia he used to murder Serena and Paige!Ā Indeed, Ben is the necktie killer!Ā Later, he gathers up the incriminating evidence puts it in a trash bag and throws it into the deep waters of Salem!
Watch today’s “killer” scenes featuring Rob Scott Wilson below!Ā Let us know what you thought of the reveal! Did you think the killer would turn out to be Ben?Ā Are you enjoying Rob’s heel turn as a creepy Ben?Ā Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
This serial killer story is an obvious device to reconstitute the cast. Best wishes on your career Rob!
All I can say is if Ben is the killer I will rethink watching the show. Ben has been a good guy for years and now to make room for Chad they have to make him crazy. If they didn’t viewers may not understand why Abby would choose Chad over Ben. They are doing the same thing with Aiden and I hate it.
Mom3, I told my husband and friend long before they showed Ben as the murderer, that he was weird and something odd in his eyes. Then he started tracking Abby with that ap on her phone! My hubby said, “You are ALWAYS right!” Then when the murders started, I thought, “Yeah their going to try to make us believe it’s hillbilly Clyde.” I knew it wasn’t. Even when he ran th rough the park and was out of breath, I knew it wasnt him. He may have “seen” Ben but it wasnt Clyde. I’ve always wanted Abby to be with Chad. She loves him, he loves her and that’s his baby. Sorry that you wanted it to go the opposite direction, but I’ll admit that I’m happy it is going, although slowly, in the right direction.
I am not surprised at all, I knew Ben was the killer. Days is getting good now. Its the soap to watch right now.
It will become even better because viewers have dropped their guard…Ben isn’t the killer.
Except Corday said the killer would be revealed on Sept 24. And Ben is apparently being written off the canvas. Ben does have motive to kill and have Chad blamed.
I 100% agree. I think it is Daniel. He had that menacing look on his face when he walked into Marlena’s room. He was looking at her as how did you survive and what do you remember!
Oh, Wow, 4ever! Ben, isn’t the killer? I trust whatever you say. So, do you think this is to side-track us? Is he covering for his father? OOOOOH… Days is getting really good.
I agree. Days is the soap to watch right now! And I think the suspense, the pacing, the mood–I listened to the music closely on the clip–add to that “must watch” element. And, I’ll say again, I think James Read as Clyde is terrific. I also think the young actors playing Chad and Abigail are simply great. Their scenes play like the great film “noir” of the 40s. Bravo. Give me more!
And, I loved “Stephen Earl” Patch yesterday and all the flashbacks as he and Kayla thought about the past. The relating of the Patch and Kayla love story by Patch to his son Joey was totally disarming. And I was so happy to hear Patch play that harmonica! Brought back such sweet memories for me. Can you tell I am loving Days?
Nancy, only watched the last few episodes sporadically, but I would say you are spot on right here.
This is really good day time drama going on here.
Nancy, glad to see you and Harry on board for Days of Our Lives! I think it is going to be quite a ride…
I agree with you. I told my friends 2 weeks ago the killer was Ben……..love it, love it and Steve & Bo are back too, Days is “heating” up. I’m in heaven. I love the ‘old’ Days stuff.
Yes, DAYS is turning into must-see-tv. I have loved the shows that have been airing lately because it reminds me of the DAYS from the mid-80s when everything was going on and all the characters were so appealing whether they were good or evil. I do have to say that I had the finger pointed at Andre but having Ben turn out to be the killer was a nice surprise for me!!!
Ricardo, I totally agree! As I stated to “Mom3” above, I have known for a long time that Ben was creepy! He is insecure, controlling and just gives off that fake ass kissing vibe. Hate to say it and am sure some folks are going to disagree, but he is also sooo not attractive either. Chad loves her, she loves him and that’s his baby. Plus he is better looking. Team “Chabby” all the way!
heh..
I only watched off & on when I had empty time to it slip it into my soap viewing schedule lol.
And– I knew it was Ben because he is a jerk and jerks are always the guys the audience want to see hung or they simply get hung because they are jerks….
I believe there’s a hell of a lot more than meets the eye!
Ben is not the murderer. He’s a copycat.
Hey , if Ben is a copycat he’s good. His dad should be put away. I can’t stand him, he is the best Bad Guy ever !!!!
He’s a good actor. But this means the end of stint doesn’t it.
No surprise for me. I have been saying for a while that Ben and Clyde have worked together to frame Chad.
Doesn’t that dummy know that the evidence will be found one day, it’s just going to float in that plastic bag til a fisherman finds it.
HAHA! I wondered why he left all that air in the bag too. What a genius!
He put that hook pulley in the bag as a weight
One or two can kill and frame others for the murder, but some can be innocent of murder and still frame others for murder!
Just because Ben had the murder paraphernalia doesn’t make him a murderer. He may have attacked Marlena with no intention of killing her, but to only frame Chad.
That’s why I said ben and Clyde worked together,
Predictable, once they decided they were going to get rid of so many cast members. Was either going to be him or Aiden. The two actors they should be keeping they’re getting rid of to accommodate all the “stars” coming back that won’t stay long anyway.
The only thing predictable is several viewers drawing conclusions without hard evidence.
BTW, some of the returning stars are longterm returns!
I hope you are right, I love Rob, just not with Abigail. As far as the others staying, I’ll wait and see. They have come and gone so many times it’s a revolving door.
Yeah! Not just a day’s job of making a guest appearance and fading from view–like another not-so-memorable anniversary show that was a big bust.
Yes, it was obvious about 2 weeks after I started watching. I used to watch when Vivian was on and Marlena was possessed, so I decided to check it out now for the 50th. I usually only watch GH which has turned into a snore fest. Originally, I thought he creepy dad who was on North and South did it, but it became obvious in the past 2 weeks that it was the son. The last time I was surprised by a storyline on a soap was when Iva turned out to be Lily’s mother and not Shannon on As The World Turns. May Douglas Marland rest in peace. There are just no surprises anymore, because nobody can weave a good story without it being too obvious to even someone like me, who sped through half of the hour most days and still figured it out. I hope there’s something more interesting to come. This was a yawn-fest. I miss the days of good soaps like “The Edge Of Night”, 30 minutes of high drama. Now it’s 30 minutes of being high and having 10 minutes of sex.
Oh, Douglas Marland and As the World Turns. He was the best at shocking surprises and fantastic revelation scenes. James is alive and the mysterious monk at Castle McKechnie? Iva is Lily’s mother? Duncan is Beatrice’s father, not her brother? And Lily finding out Josh was her dad? Lily sleeping with Dusty after finding out Holden knew the truth? Doug is Kim’s stalker? Sabrina is Kim and John’s daughter???
Those were the days!
Doug Marland knew how to tell a story for sure. We need someone else like him at each of the 4 soaps. That would save all 4 soaps forever!
The only thing obvious to me is it doesn’t take much for people to believe what they are being led to believe…Smoke and mirrors.
Enjoy your show. I’m going back to GH. I need a nap. Yawn.
I was more shocked when they showed the killer in Marlena’s room and then cut to Daniel. THAT made my heart pound!! To learn 5 minutes later it was Ben was more of a let down if I’m being honest, especially after how my whole body reacted thinking it was Dr. Love. I know Ben makes more sense given then current plot, but to have someone like Daniel (who’s motive would be hard to explain, but his relationship with the women wouldn’t have been) turn up to be a killer made my skin jump at what a surprise that would have been.
(***Secretly still hoping it’s EJ though. Again, wouldn’t make sense that he’d kill these women or be a killer, but I just am hoping that JS is a return no one has spoiled yet…like Trevor St John on OLTL 1.0 and 2.0***)
I just keep thinking, that set up for Daniel was so much better. Just scarier and edgier- dark room, guy in a mask slides in, Marlena can’t scream….bam! Dr. Daniel! All that was missing was the thunder and lightning effects!
Also, Daniel’s new face hair definitely upped the creepy factor lol.
ToDAYS episode only proves that Ben may have attacked Marlena…and if he did, it doesn’t mean he’s the actual murderer!
We didn’t see who attacked Marlena. Ben does have the murder paraphernalia, but that could be because he is a copycat, which would mean the real killer is still unknown.
I believe Dr. Daniel Jonas is the Necktie Killer!!! I refuse to believe Ben is the killer just because he had and disregarded those items!
Show me something more concrete and I’ll believe it…The Show Me State is where I was born and raised!!!!!
Many fans and soap reporters have been tricked with nothing but circumstantial evidence.
I believe Ben is involved in framing Chad, but not the killer. I hope Daniel is the killer too.
I can agree with you to a point. I don’t think it’s really Ben either. But, I don’t think it’s Daniel. I could see Daniel killing Serena. I think he still blamed her for what Xander did to Nicole. I can’t see him killing Paige. Daniel liked her and supported her dream of being a physician. But, rumor has it that Shawn Christian is leaving. So, you could be right.
My money is on Clyde. He’s a slime ball and I don’t think anything is past him.
I can accept Dr Jonas as Serena’s killer because what happened to Nichole and Eric started with her. But I just can’t accept that Dr Jonas would kill Paige. And, he certainly wouldn’t attack Marlena.
Yep…i agree Ben isnt the killer but Rafe will shoot him dead and Hope will be there to comfort him…so the real killer Aiden will target Rafe as his next victim…meanwhile, a grieving Abby will sing the theme from ‘Ben’ as her Ben lays dieing in the Salem Square…lol
Well, this all sounds good, but I don’t know if Abby has the chops to pull off singing the classic “Ben”.
Jimh, are you saying Abby’s Ben is a rat? lol
I’m still confused over the details in today’s episode. So, Ben and Abigail had a fight at the hospital. Ben goes and ā¦ changes clothes at home to come back to attack Marlena? Or, like Spider-Man, has his killer costume stashed in different places around Salem so it’s always a convenient change? Meanwhile, Abigail goes back home and is obviously there while Marlena is being attacked, but Ben comes home, having changed again – but later, when she leaves, he pulls out his box of red ties (so glad he thought about theme colors before embarking on his new serial killer career) and mask and gloves. So ā¦ how did they get in the box? Cause he never had an opportunity to put the mask and gloves in the box. Unless, of course, he truly does have various costumes stashed around Salem.
I agree Mike – that’s what makes me think Ben is a red herring and the identity of the killer is yet to be revealed.
Nope don’t believe it was Ben. I believe Ben got some red ties and such, because he was planning to use them to get the police more evidence toward Chad, but once Chad was being sought he decided to ditch his plan. Ben being the killer is way to obvious. This is supposed to be a long and layered murder mystery– the killer being revealed on a Thurs. and not in sweeps– sorry folks, not falling for it– Ben is not killer.
Now that makes sense, good catch there!
I believe you are 100% correct!
Good logic, Mary.
Mary, I do so hope you’re right. I only just started watching Days but recognize the actor who plays Ben as Petey Courtlandt from Prospect Park’s AMC–he’s a really magnetic actor and I would rather not see him go. I think he’s a terrific and interesting actor.
I also do not want it to be Chad because I think the actor who plays him is going to be a big star–there is something very unique about that young man.
Now why did Dr Dumbass (the doctor who looks just like Will Ferrell) creep into Marlena’s dark hospital room wearing monochromatic black thereby scaring her half to death while knowing full well she was almost murdered by a man wearing all black?
Either Dr Dumbass is the killer or he is the dumbest doctor in Salem’s history. Either way, I would not want him as my doctor.
I hope it’s Dr. Dumbass because I could not stand the years of tongue-bathing St. Daniel received from everyone in Salem. I don’t even dislike Shawn Christian so much as the character Daniel. He started out as a creeper, maybe he’ll end that way too.
Don’t know why he would suddenly turn into a killer, especially toward innocent Paige, but I hope it is a great story no matter how it unfolds. I just love a great soapy murder mystery. So happy that viewers are interested and excited in DOOL again.
I’m thanking the soap gods for you chiming in, Mary SF!
I’m happy I’m not alone!!!!!
Ken Corday did say that the neck tie killer would be revealed to the viewing audience BUT NOT TO THE OTHER CHARACTERS on September 24. Which means that while we may know what the killer is Rafe, Marlena, Hope, John, Roman etc do not. Ben has every reason to frame Chad for murder. Abigail loves Chad and Ben knows that. Ben killed Serena because she was last seen with Chad. Ben killed Paige because she recognized him from Florida and was going to tell JJ. Ben tried to kill Marlena because she was helping Chad remember. Once Ben saw on the television that Chad was wanted for the murders of Paige and Serena and also the attempted murder of Marlena he decided to get rid of all the evidence pointing to him. Also, I will bet that Jordan is not the one who killed her mother; Chad is.
I been watching Days serial killers stories since the Salem Strangler, and if they are crafting an epic murder mystery in honor of that history, revealing Ben as the real killer this soon, to viewers, out of Sweeps, makes no sense to their bottom line.
The actor who plays Rafe said whenever you think you know what is going on then something else happens– If Corday said the killer will be revealed on the 24th, then I am going to assume there was a clue in the episode that if viewers caught it they might know who the real killer is—so he be telling the truth, but misdirecting us with Ben all at the same time.
Days are masters at murder mysteries– there is no fun in a mystery if we know who the killer is– so you can believe Ben did it, but I have faith that Days has something far more elaborate in mind– I don’t think the real killer will be reveal until maybe Feb Sweeps.
Perhaps there is more than one killer, in that case I could agree Ben might be one of them, but not the only one– but I still think it is way too soon for a reveal that big, out of Sweeps on a Thursday– the neck ties aren’t the only thing red– so is the herring.
Well, Robert Scott Wilson was asked by Janet Di Lauro -Days of our Lives Fan expert how he felt about playing the Days Neck tie Killer. Robert told her “I got what I wanted”.
Ken Corday made it clear in interviews that the killer would be revealed to the viewing audience on September 24, 2015. And Corday has said that the next tie killer will be revealed to the other characters during the week of the 50th anniversary show; that is unless he has changed his mind. He is the man who knows what is going to happen and when. What more is there to say?
As for Daniel (Shawn Christian) there is a rumour that he will be one the victims of the neck tie killer.
Kelly — Why would Chad kill Jordan’s mother?
Good-bye to Daniel, he is such a bore.
My feeling on Friday was, just because Ben grabbed some red neckties that doesn’t necessarily make him the killer. Doesn’t anyone watch 48 Hours – LoL – well maybe his plan was to use the red neck ties to further incriminate Chad, and once he heard the TV News report that Chad was in deep enough water, maybe Ben didn’t feel he needed them anymore.
Or maybe the whole thing was a dream.
Or….maybe the killer is JJ….or Hope’s bratty daughter…..or Jennifer…
Best daytime soap right now. Hope folks tune in for the anniversary and stick around.
Everyone is missing one important scene from today’s episode that makes me think that Ben is not the killer. Right after Marlena was attacked by a man dressed in all black, with the mask, they cut to Jennifer Horton in the park. Who came up to her all out of breath and still dressed in all black? Clyde Weston! I personally think it’s him. He was around when Sabrina was killed and he was also around when Paige was killed and for the last few weeks Marlena has had that look of dread every time she runs into Clyde. To take Ben and turn him into a serial killer without any motivation other than jealousy is bad writing. Clyde makes more sense. It also makes more sense since there are rumors that Will will be the next victim. Clyde doesn’t like Will. This is just to throw the viewers off the track and to keep them watching till the killer strikes again at the Bicentennial for Salem. Oh what a tangled web the writers weave when first they practice to deceive.
I agree with you that was my first thought
Ben should ditch abigail. She is not trustworthy. Chad needs to leave salem. He’s creepy looking and does’nt respect women. Hope ben is not the serial killer and that chad is.
Yes, I thought it was Ben (after guessing a whole slew of others including Clyde, Rafe, Kristen, Sami and Andre). The episode the day before the big reveal clinched it for me. Ben finding Abigail with Chad and reacting the way he did gave it away.
Looking back now, it should have been obvious (hindsight is 20/20). A lot of focus has been placed on the Chad-Abigail-Ben triangle with Ben becoming a less likable character by the episode. I attributed that to the writers’ desire to change viewers minds about Ben and Abigail as a couple. (Something I didn’t appreciate them doing because I liked “nice” Ben and wanted him with Abigail. I did not appreciate the manipulation!) But I didn’t think Ben was the killer at first. I thought it would be sad for him when he found out it was Clyde.
But with the frame target being Chad, the door was open for it to be Ben or Clyde. I did not settle on it until the day before. There was something about how Ben was behaving that made me think he was the killer.
Congratulations to Robert Scott Wilson on his performance. He deserves an Emmy for the way he slowly turned the character of Ben. Too bad they can only submit clips for Emmy consideration. To fully appreciate what Robert Scott Wilson did, one one would have to string several clips together to show the gradual change.
Needless to say, I no longer want Abigail with Ben. The writers won that battle. I don’t know if Abigail is safe ANYWHERE in Salem. They might need to send her to London to have her baby!
That final scene with Ben standing on the dock after throwing the evidence into the Salem River was scary! I don’t know how much of the coming episodes I will be able to watch. That last shot was down right creepy!
Another clue should have been Robert Scott Wilson’s participation in the project produced by Melissa Archer! When did he get time to do it unless he was already off Days?
Love this show. Glad Ben is the killer maybe Chad and Abby can finally get together.
You know you might be a red neck tie strangler if … you have a box of red neck ties under your bed.
But there is one element missing from Ben’s box of evidence. I think that Chad has been drugged during the two murders. It’s too coincidental that he had passed out drunk during these times. Ben couldn’t have risked Chad having an alibi for Paige’s murder, so he would have had to have drugged Chad. There was no trace of those drugs in that box. I think that Ben might have attacked Marlena to frame Chad because he knew that Chad was seeing her that day. And I don’t think he meant to kill her. I think he wanted her alive to point the finger at Chad.
Some of the sites (only a few) that have teased Will’s death hinted that it would happen when he came to Marlena’s rescue during an attack. If they were wrong about this then I hope they are wrong about the death.
I would much rather see Will go to Europe with Sonny, so that 3, 4, 5 yrs down the road the characters could be recast & come back to Salem for a new story line.
I wish Abby had stood up to Ben and not begged him to take her back and certainly not agreed to leave Salem with him. Jen is wrong. Abby doesn’t have a spine.
Did Abby take Chad to the same cabin where she had sex with his brother?
Was a little surprised about the reveal, but I thought Ben was on his way out anyway with the new writers.
The cabin where Abby & EJ met is out on the island. Chad is hiding in an abandoned warehouse along the docks.
Thanks Eddie. I wasn’t sure where they were.
He’s lucky he is pretty, all I’m saying….
You are so right. That being said, I actually found myself intrigued by his performance the last couple of eps.
I think the killer is little Ciara. She’s mad she doesn’t get to wear the earrings Sami bought her every day!
so, little Ciara plans to take out Will…as she’s not old enough, YET to travel to L.A. to off Sami!
hahahaha
I am hoping that Abby and Chad get together i don,t like her and Ben they are not suited for each other and i think that him and claude are both doing the the killing and pinning it on Chad
If you read what the actor who plays Ben says in this weeks new SOD Magazine. The actor is already done filming so he like some of the others who have been let go is still on for some time since they are so far ahead-He said he IS the killer and was told after the 1st 2 murders happened. If you look at Shawn Christian’s FB page he talks about his NEW work. WHO knows what to think-I think he DID kill the 1st two but I also think another killer is still out there.
Why is the actor playing Andre look as old as his dad Stefano I think Daniel is the killer Ben has a small frame the killer is about Daniel’s size
The killer could very well be Daniel and in a strange way it could make sense. The first to die was Serena whose involvement with Xander led to Nicole being placed in harm’s way. So Daniel’s killing of Serena was payback. He killed Paige because she saw something. It’s obvious why Daniel would have gone after Marlena. Yes, I know my theory is unbelievable but it’s all I’ve got so far. However, Robert Scott Wilson is said to have left Days with the last time we will see him will be sometime in January 2016.
Hi. May I chime in? This story, unless I am wrong, and I could be wrong, seems to be a nod to the Salem Strangler story that shocked daytime viewers and kept them guessing and nervously watching the horror unfold for months back in the early 80’s. It took a long while for the shocking reveal that it was Jake. Before we knew it was Jake, everyone thought it was “crazy” Eugene Bradford, who confessed to the killings and was even placed in a mental institution, until the murders resumed, even with Eugene in custody.
Only a couple years later, the “sequel” story of the Salem Slasher terrified viewers even more (a knife was the weapon and the calling card was the black raven’s feather), keeping them guessing again and again, as a madman stalked and butchered the women of Salem for months. I recall that it seemed to be a looooong time and red herring after red herring before the true killer was revealed. Admittedly, the Roman reveal was much more shocking than the eventual reveal that the real killer was psychopathic Tony’s look-alike cousin (at the time) Andre DiMera, so for me, it was a letdown compared to the Jake Kositchek shocker a couple years before.
10 and 20 years later, respectively, Marlena was shockingly revealed to be the Salem Desecrator and the Salem Stalker, respectively, but, again, only after months of mystery and horror and “clues” cleverly placed to keep the audience guessing and second guessing. Both, again, were shocking horror stories that only DAYS seems to successfully pull off. These two stories were over-the-top and larger than life, unlike the Salem Strangler and Slasher stories, both of which were gritty and unnerving. Undoing the Stalker story, making Andre the villain and transporting the “not so dead” to Melaswen changed shocking and horrific to simply ludicrous; but what a fun ride up to that point!
The Stalker story may have overshot and jarringly killed off too many core and legacy characters. Undoing it was necessary to save the show and its veteran cast, but Melaswen made me feel manipulated, so I tuned out for a while anyway.
With DAYS’ history of running serial killer stories for many, many months and not revealing the killer until mid-point of the story arc, I’m not so confident that it’s Ben. Multiple potentially guilty faces were shown in that episode, and I can’t help but wonder about Daniel now, but we’re supposed to wonder. Then Ben? Too soon and too obvious. He may have wanted to frame Chad with a copycat attack, but now he doesn’t have to because he believes that Chad IS the killer and that he will soon be out of the way since the police are pursuing him.
If this is the Salem Strangler redux, then this is far from over, and there will be a lot of twist and turns before the real killer(s) is revealed, and we’ll probably be tricked at least a couple more times along the way.
These stories are a lot of fun, but they’re hard to pull off without looking like a contrived plot device. However, DAYS does them very well. So far, Salem Stranger 2015 is successfully following the DAYS tradition of putting on a fun, suspenseful horror story. Was anyone not taken aback by the graphic attack on Marlena? Did anyone not shiver with terror when Daniel’s face came into focus as he stood above Marlena’s hospital bed? Creepy!
If I’m this creeped out, that means DAYS is looking like itself again and is putting on quite a show. Happy Anniversary, DAYS!
That’s what I’ve been saying, this is a long story with legs, it won’t be solved in the middle of September on a Thursday– if Ben is the killer than Days has really lost it’s mojo.
I went back to some websites that were revealing this spoiler and a number of them said the face of the killer will be revealed on Sept. 24– so I think someone in that episode is the killer, but everyone is jumping to the conclusion that it was Ben because he threw out some neckties that he was probably planning on planting in Chad’s room to frame him, when he realized he didn’t need to. Also, just because the actor said he was told he was the killer, doesn’t mean he wasn’t lied to by the writers– they will want to keep the real identity hush hush, which is hard to do in this day an age.
Personally, I think the face of the killer was revealed in Marlena’s hospital room when the room was dark and before it focus into Daniel—but that doesn’t mean it was Daniel, either, but in the split section there was a major clue for viewers who were paying attention for it.
Yes, Mary SF! I too have seen many people at various sites condemn DAYS for being unoriginal for revealing Ben as the killer…a person they suspected for a long time. I hope those same people step up and say how fooled they were and hope they don’t somehow turn against the outcome…some viewers get angry when the storyline doesn’t match the spoilers…as if the spoilers are a blueprint to the storylines!
And if Ben somehow turns out to be the actual killer (I still say no), I’m still having fun!
I hope you chime in more often, Josh!
Great take on everything!!!!!
You are very convincing , 4ever. I’ll bite. Whoever the killer is, I hope Chad ( love him….so sexy to me) will be the one to get to him first and be the hero. Perhaps Chad will rescue Abby from the killer’s clutches. The only negative here is Chad with Abby. Yes, she’s been the loyal, good girl. But, she rubs me the wrong way. I find her to be neither pretty, fetching, winsome (lol) nor appealing or entertaining. She’s all over the place. Theresa, the tigress, will give Abby a run for her money any day of the week. LOL. Later, 4ever.
I’m a little disconcerted and disjointed… over Kate Mansi
so much time is spent on the new heralded supercouple… whilst melding the days of Ole”
John and Marlena
Kayla and Patch
Hope and BO
the eternally indomitable… spirited.. and much lauded.. Kassie DePaiva
by me.. so what?
I love this woman
that being said…
as posted… Billy Flynn has ever right to be featured… I’m so tired of watching the acting Kate Mansi vacillate her acting choices… perhaps the energies she readies between Ben and Chad are too vast… I certainly see the waste of time… of Ben… and the unrelatable to Chad
I hear you. Kate Mansi gets waaaaaay too much air time. She needs to spend that time in acting class. Her craft needs a lot of work. Love Billy Flynn as Chad.
I want Abigail to kick Ben to the curb asap. His jealous tantrums are bordering on something dangerous. And I like Chad.
@ Patrick, loving loving loving Billy Flynn as Chad. He’ll be either be submitted for Lead or Supporting Actor work come spring. He’s so brilliant, and surprise, surprise, Rob Scott Wilson is absolutely growing into such a fine and specific actor, it took some time but he’s got it going on. And, I love Kate Mansi, she’s got that great communion with Billy Flynn, terrific unity between those to fine younger actors.
As for Kassie DePaiva, I’m so disappointed with DAYS for letting her go. She’s finally got worthy storyline going on with the murder of dear Paigey. What a loss, what stupid thing for DAYS to do, Kassie carried DAYS, sure the writing for Eve often times was not good, especially with the infatuation with JJ. I hope GH, will find a role for her, we can’t lose Kassie, she’s definitely revelant in daytime!!!
I hope Dr. Dan isn’t the killer! That scene where we saw him in Marlena’s room sure was scary though!
And please no more interrupting my soaps! I had the Pope for two days and then Boehner yesterday. š
I don’t want Dr Dan to be the killer either. But isn’t he leaving Days. This could be the writers way of dealing with the problem.
I hate interruptions too, Mo, especially when the show is on fire!
Pop TV airs same day episodes at night. It’s the former TV guide channel.
Also, nbc.com shows the episodes the following day.
cant believe im doing a 180 on the chad/ abigail/ ben triangle
at first i wasnt sold but im loving a torn, teary abigail! kate mansi s been killing her desperation over staying with the supposed father of her baby and sacrificing her real love for chad di mera!
also loving the sub plot with jennifer crept out over clyde who im also crazy about right now!
throw in the new and returned salem docks set where chad s been hiding and ben tossed the neck ties and im addicted to this storyline on days!!!
My stomach is “tie”d in knots, Damien!
Yeah, I know what you mean, 4ever. I just had a thought….will Ben try to kill Abby?
Is it really Ben, or are the flashbacks of the murders something he witness his father do? Has he blocked that part out and places himself as the killer? One way or another, Ben is mentally ill. I am loving Days, right now.
Have been watching since the very beginning, yes 50 years…My vote goes to Ben NOT being killer
Ben did not stand a chance with Clyde as a father can’t believe he kept it together for so long
I read that we were going to find out who the killer was in November well we know that isn’t true and also that Ben may not be working alone,I think when Ben is strangling someone he is thinking of someone else for instance somebody he hates so he takes it out on the innocent people of Salem.I just wonder how much longer that dummy Abby will stay with Ben until she finally sees that there is something seriously wrong with him,Will did but look where it got him as if we didn’t see that one coming,I must say though sometimes I wonder if Ben is the killer well we know he is now,only because I suspect someone else.Rafe that is right because sometimes he looks like he is hiding something,hey there have been plenty of dirty cops before,but then again with Days who knows .I just wish that Abby would wise up and go back to Chad,,
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).Ā 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 Hallās 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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