In a very touching episode of Days of our Lives, Tuesday brought with it an emotional goodbye from exiting fan favorite Bryan Dattilo (Lucas), and the soap paying homage to Susan Seaforth Hayes’ 50th anniversary to the day as Julie.

It begins in Horton Town Square where Julie next to the plaque dedicated to her grandparents, Tom and Alice Horton, has a flash back to phone call with Tom five decades ago.

Meanwhile, now broken up with Chloe, and ready to leave Salem to be with his daughter, Allie, Lucas tells Will he is leaving and that he is happy Will and Sonny found their way back to each other.  The two hug it out, and tell each other how proud they are of one another.  Next, Lucas goes to visit his mother, Kate.  In a touching exchange played by Dattilo and Lauren Koslow, viewers were treated to Kate’s pain of the mistakes she made as a mother, and Lucas being forgiving of her.

At Doug’s Place, Julie and Abigail try to figure out how to bring down Stefan and Gabi.  Julie promises to not tell anyone that Abigail is not mentally ill saying. “Your secret is safe with me.”  Next, Chloe happens upon the scene and Julie quickly sees Chloe break down in tears.  She then reveals to Julie, that she and Lucas broke up.  Julie gives Chloe a tissue and some words of advice – the gospel according to Julie – that they were not meant to be, and that Chloe will find true love. After all, after Julie’s other failed relationships, once she was with Doug she found her soulmate, so she knows it can happen.

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Julie flashes back to speaking with Alice when she worries that Tom would not want her to return to Salem.  For Julie had been in San Francisco, and where she brings up putting her son up for adoption, but how she later raised him and how happy that Eli is her grandson.  She even recalls when JJ got her and other ladies in Salem accidentally high on pot-filled donuts!

When Lucas turns up at the Horton’s everyone is saddened and shocked that he has decided to depart Salem   Julie says Salem will always be his home.  JJ hands Lucas his ornament now, breaking the Christmas tradition early.  Lucas hangs his ornament in another emotional moment.

Next, we see Lucas waiting for a taxi, with his suitcases at Horton Town Square,  He gazes at the Tom and Alice dedication plaque and says, “I’ll be back. someday.” Hankies!

Alone now with Julie, Doug brings out a cake celebrating how it is 50 years since Julie returned to Salem permanently.  Cue the montage … as Doug’s voice is heard singing “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”, one of the duo’s signature songs, as clips of their love affair played throughout.  We fade to black.

DAYS honored Susan Hayes and gave Brytan Dattilo some heart-tugging moments as he left the canvas as the beloved Lucas.  So what did you think of the episode?  Sad to see Bryan exit?  Happy to see the show wrote in a way to honor Susan’s 50th as Julie? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

If you caught this week’s episodes of Days of our Lives, you know that Ted Laurent (Gilles Marini) has resurfaced in Salem and had asked Hope (Kristian Alfonso) for protection from Stefan DiMera, who was responsible for his disappearance in exchange for information on Ben Weston (Rob Scott Wilson).

Now in the latest episode of Inside Salem: Days of our Lives Podcast, actor Gilles Marini chats it up with host, Michael Fairman on what to expect as Ted’s story brings with it many twists and turns; including a potential love triangle.

Marini reveals what he thinks Ted’s weakness ia when the guy has not previously been on the up and up, plus his thoughts on working with three of his co-stars and their characters: Lauren Koslow’s Kate, Kristian Alfonso’s Hope, and Greg Rikaart’s Leo, whom he has shared up to now most of his screen-time.

The talented actor who hails from France, also talks on some other highlights in his career, including one of his big breaks on the beloved ABC drama,  Brothers & Sisters working opposite Rachel Griffiths, and a host of award-winning actors, including Sally Field, and of course, his time on Dancing with the Stars where he became one of the most popular celebrity contestants on the series of all-time.

Later, in the podcast’s dressing room segment, Eric Martsolf (Brady) welcomes Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe) into his digs at DAYS, and then two tease some upcoming #Broe moments.

Check out this excerpt from NBC of Gilles interview below.  Then, make sure to head over to NBC.com to listen to the episode currently streaming there, and on Monday, looks for this episode to be available on all pod platforms, including iTunes for download.

.@GillesMarini reveals his character’s weakness. Plus, @ericmartsolf and @RealNadiaB take us on a set tour! Listen to the full podcast now on https://t.co/5puWd28reS & the NBC app: https://t.co/G1aBQxE7TS pic.twitter.com/sjqR87u33U

— Days of our Lives (@nbcdays) December 8, 2018

Now, let us know what you think about Ted’s return to DAYS … and if you want him to romance Hope … become a good guy … or get his comeuppance … or all of the above …via the comment section below!

The nominations have been announced for the 2019 Writer’s Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in television, new media, news, radio/audio, and promotional writing during 2018.

Winners will be honored at the 2019 Writers Guild Awards on Sunday, February 17, 2019, at concurrent ceremonies in New York City and Los Angeles.

In the Daytime Drama category for writing, two soaps will face-off for the prize; NBC’s Days of our Livers and ABC’s General Hospital.  Here are the official nominated head writers and their teams.

Days of Our Lives, Head Writer: Ron Carlivati; Writers: Sheri Anderson, Lorraine Broderick, David Cherrill, Joanna Cohen, Lisa Connor, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Rick Draughon,  Cydney Kelley, David Kreizman, David A. Levinson, Rebecca McCarty, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Katherine Schock, Elizabeth Snyder, Tyler Topits.

General Hospital, Head Writers: Shelly Altman, Christopher Van Etten; Writers:Barbara Bloom, Anna Theresa Cascio, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Elizabeth Korte, Daniel James O’Connor, Donny Sheldon, Scott Sickles.

To check out all the nominations click here.

So, who are you rooting for to take the WGA Award; Days or GH? Comment below.