Days Of Our Lives
Galen Gering Reprises the Role of Arnold “Faux Rafe” Feniger in Days of our Lives Story Twist
In a surprise story move kept under wraps, Days of our Lives is resurrecting a doppelgänger story from the past. This time, involving longtime vet, Galen Gering (Rafe Hernandez). On the Tuesday, December 24th episode of the Peacock streaming soap opera, EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) received a knock on the door and opened it to see what appeared to be Rafe.
However, EJ soon found out it was none other than criminal Arnold Feniger, the man that EJ and Stefano hired back in 2011 to impersonate Rafe (after undergoing extensive plastic surgery that is).
In story, the initial switcheroo happened when Rafe was trying to help his then wife, Sami (Alison Sweeney) gain custody of her children Johnny and Sydney. That made EJ (then played by James Scott) go ballistic. So with the assistance of his father, Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo), they plotted a car accident that left Rafe severely injured.

Photo: JPI
While Rafe was recuperating from his injuries, Stefano and EJ kidnapped him and threw him in the DiMera basement and Arnold “Faux Rafe” took over his life. EJ and Stefano even injected drugs to erase Rafe’s memories. Eventually, Sami figured out there were two Rafe’s in a major showdown. Arnold was sent to prison, and had been believed to be beaten to death in the slammer. However, as we found out on today’s episode, EJ actually shipped Arnold out of the country.
Speaking with Soap Opera Digest on Arnold’s return, Gering revealed he found out he would be playing dual roles again only about a week before he was set to tape his first episode of Feniger’s return from DAYS co-executive producer, Janet Drucker.
“The guy had died. So they had to go back and recreate what had happened and how he managed to live, that it was all a hoax and he was whisked away and had been holed up (somewhere). So this caught me by surprise, but I loved it,” shared Galen. “Playing the guy was great. For me it was a thrill to hear that we were going to revisit it. Then, obviously, I wanted to know how it was going to affect the canvas, what was happening (in the storyline).”

Courtesy/Peacock
Gering shared he went back and looked at old episodes of “Faux Rafe” and decided for the 2024/2025 version that he would amp up his personality a bit. “I was like, ‘You know what? I think we’re going to take a few more liberties this time. I think we were going to make him more ridiculous and extreme.”’
As viewers saw, Arnold wants to extort money from EJ to keep quiet, and by the end of the episode threatened that he is planning on sticking around Salem for quite some time to come.
So, are you ready for a Faux Rafe/Rafe storyline with Galen at its epicenter causing havoc for EJ and trouble in the relationship of Jada and Rafe? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Where did ReRon ever get the idea that doppelgangers are entertaining?
It’s bad enough that they killed off Adrienne Kiriakis and replaced her with the far inferior trailer trash Lockhart person. And he continues to torture us with the sick joke Hattie Adams.
Now they bring back Fafe, for Hell’s sake??
The good news is that this weak assed writiing already got ReRon fired, and deservedly so. The bad news is that ridiculous 9 months ahead taping schedule makes it impossible to get rid of the steaming pile of dragonshit he’s already written.
If it was up to this Devil, I would do some heavy editing with the 9 months of Days episodes already in the can. Cut out all of the doppelgangers and the “Body & Soul” dragonshit, and compile some coherent episodes out of what’s left. I’m guessing they would still have at least 3 months of useable material ready to go after that. And then go with a more reasonable taping schedule from here forward.
Agree 100% this is sooooo bad but I’m a loyal fan so continue to watch but honestly I can’t wait for the credits to come on lately so I can watch something else WHO CARES and that was the Friday cliffhanger really?????
I agree his writing totally sucks and I don’t know why (except maybe a budget thing) you can’t do what you suggested and not use the crap stories. Assuming it costs money to get those actors back and filiming new stuff on an earlier schedule. But the whole thing has me thinking this: Doesn’t an executive producer and in this case Ken Corday have to approve the writers directions? They just let a writer go rogue?? Seems as if that should be fixed on many shows, that those things need to be approved by a producer/network executive who can look at ratings, etc.
I’m not really happy about a bad Rafe again. I vaguely remember the past storyline. I thought it was ridiculous then and equally ridiculous now! Even though I don’t especially care fir Jada, I hate to see Rafe unhappy. Rafe is my favorite male chon DOOL. Galen Gerling sounds happy to play the role once again, so I’m okay with it.
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside
The final few moments of the Thursday, April 30 episode of Days of our Lives, will pave the way, to what just may be the end of Sophia Choi’s (Rachel Boyd) life, but not as you may think!
After an unhinged Sophia paid a visit to Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman), maced him in the eyes, knocked him out and then tied up to a chair, now conscious, she lets him know that she holds him responsible for all the trouble and trauma she has gone through from adopting her child, and her being sent to a mental institution.
So instead of the unregistered gun Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) gave her to finish off Johnny, Sophia sets up a plan to light candle, use nail polish remover and turn on the gas on the stove to ultimately create a mass explosion, which although Johnny pleaded to her not to that to all the innocent people inside his apartment building, she doesn’t seem to care.

Photo: JPI
FIERY FACE OFF
The plan was supposed to be, after she takes care of Johnny she will toss the gun in the Salem River, then focus on payback to Holly Jonas before leaving town to start a new life.
Now, Sophia makes her exit, leaving Johnny to be a few moments away from an explosion or gas inhalation, when Chanel (Raven Bowens) comes home after awaiting the results of her mammogram. She sees Johnny tied up, as he panics and tells her to put out the flame on the candle, things go awry, and a fire has begun and everything may go up in flames with Johnny and Chanel inside.

Photo: JPI
A BROKEN SOPHIA
Back in her room, Sophia breaks down after reading the social media comments about her, she planted, and then starts writing a suicide or farewell note which says. “I’m tired of begging for forgiveness for my mistakes. All I wanted was to move forward, to be loved and understood. But it’s clear that I was never going to get that. Holly Jonas said that I was dead to her. So, as her former BFF, I’m going to make her dream a reality.”

Photo: JPI
A DEADLY TRAP
Now, the fate of Johnny, Chanel and Sophia will be revealed on tomorrow’s May 1st cliffhanger, which may be the end of Sophia when she crosses paths with Kirsten at the bridge near the river. We do know Rachel Boyd is no longer appearing in the show credits section and is now off contract with the soap.
So, what did you think of the climatic final moments of DAYS? What did you think of the performance of Rachel Boyd as Sophia Choi? Let us know via the comment section.
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.

Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Conner Floyd on Chad’s Quest For Abigail’s Resurrection; But Who Should Be Cast as NuAbby?
Former Y&R favorite, Conner Floyd made his debut as the recast Chad DiMera on Days of our Lives last week on the April 21 episode of the Peacock streaming soap opera
Floyd replaced Billy Flynn in the role who is firmly cemented in his old stomping grounds of Genoa City and The Young and the Restless as Chad DiMera. For the last year or two of Chad’s story, he believed his wife, Abigail Devereaux DiMera could be alive, he even thought Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) was Abigail until the story turned.
Now with Floyd taking over the role and Lexie coming back to life after years of being dead, and Chad noting how Dr. Rolf (Richard Wharton) and his brother, EJ (Dan Feuerriegel), could resurrect somehow they all love, he thinks, how about Abigail? The part of Abigail was played by Kate Mansi and then Marci Miller.

Photo: JPI
Speaking with Stephanie Sloane for her new Daytime Dish Newsletter on the matter, Conner shared, “Any kind of idea that she could possibly be coming back, as farfetched as that may seem, he’s stuck on it. The idea gets in his head, and he’s locked in on it.”
CHAD WRESTLES WITH THE FATE OF ABIGAIL
Floyd added that Chad, “He’s asking Theo (Joseph Tyler Andrews) about it. He’s asking EJ about it. It’s one of those things where he loves her so much that the peace in his mind that he’s made with this kind of comes unbroken. So the fact that that she might be able to come back, he’s so bent on it, he thinks it’s going to happen and he kind of spirals away.”
A NEW ABIGAIL ON THE HORIZON?

Photo: ABC
That begs the question, with Days of Our Lives taping ten months in advance, which is already taking them into the beginning of 2027, is it possible that the soap has already recast Abigail and its being kept top secret?
Recently, it was revealed that former General Hospital favorite, Sofia Mattsson (ex-Sasha) has joined Days of our Lives. Back on March 30 it was reported that Mattsson is now taping all-new episodes that will be seen in 2027, but her role was being hush-hush! Could she the new Abby?
If not, the question is, since it seems that Kate Mansi is not coming back as she is firmly entrenched in her role as Kristina Corinthos-Davis on General Hospital and other outside projects, and Marci Miller has also been away from soaps for awhile working on other TV and film roles and indie motion pictures, who should play nuAbby?
Now below, let us know, who do you think would make the perfect leading lady opposite Conner Floyd as a recast Abigail Deveraux DiMera? Be our armchair quarterback casting director and drop your pick in the comment section.
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