On Friday, NBC’s Days of our Lives delivered quite the cliffhanger as fans go into the Memorial Day Weekend.  There had been plenty of speculation that something just wasn’t quite right with Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker) since her “return from the dead” to Salem.  Leave it to head writer, Ron Carlivati to come up with an exciting twist …  and he did!

As it turns out, that isn’t Nicole after all, but Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) wearing a very convincing Nicole mask and weaving her plot while under wraps; chief among those plots is to nab Brady (Eric Martsolf) as her man; once and for all.

In story, at the Salem Inn, “Nicole” kisses Brady.  At first he responds, but then backs off, until “Nicole” yelps, “Damn it, Brady! Why are you fighting me on this? Just forget about Holly.”  Brady is stunned! “Nicole” says she wants to escape the pain of losing her daughter, but Brady leaves and “Nicole” smashes a vase.

Later at the Inn, Xander (Paul Telfer) hands over Holly’s hospital records.  Meanwhile, “Nicole” tells her accomplice all about the memorial service and how devastated Eric (Greg Vaughn ) was, and how bad she wants to be with Brady.  Admitting Brady currently rejected her, she says it’s only a matter of time before he gives in to her seductions.

Courtesy/NBC

Next, we see “Nicole” ripping a mask from her face, just as Xander announces that Nicole is being played by “Kristen DiMera” and smirks.  Meanwhile, Kristen emerges from under the mask, free at last as her wig comes off as she lets down her hair.   Thus, the pieces all are starting to fit together.

Kudos to Arianne Zucker for playing Nicole and Kristen as Nicole, and we can’t wait to see Stacy Haiduk as the conniving Kristen as this story unfolds.

Watch a promo for next week’s DAYS below.  Then let us know, what you thought of the twist: that Kristen is pretending to be Nicole, via the comment section below..

Kristen goes to extreme lengths to win Brady back. Watch #DAYS, weekdays on NBC. pic.twitter.com/qQkvUyJ3QH

— Days of our Lives (@nbcdays) May 24, 2019

Mark your calendars for a very special segment on the soaps, when E! News delivers their Daytime Drama deep dive on Thursday, May 23 hosted by Giuliana Rancic and Jason Kennedy at 7pm-8pm ET/PT on cable’s E!

Look for set visits, interviews, retro clips, and more with some of the most famous and enduring characters in the genre.  Here’s just a sample of what to watch for:

When E! News visit the set of Y&R, Eric Braeden recounts the time Victor was feeding his wife Julia’s lover trapped in the basement dead rat; while Tracey Bregman (Lauren) reflects on why the viewers love the relationships and families in Genoa City.

In Salem and Days of our Lives, E! chats with series staples: Kristian Alfonso (Hope), then Deidre Hall (Marlena) and Drake Hogestyn (John).  Deidre reveals “possession will be on my tombstone” in terms of Marlena’s most infamous story of all-time when the good doc was possessed by Satan, while the beloved duo discuss why daytime is the best job to have.  Alfonso talks on the history of her character sharing: “I am going to hold near and dear to my heart the beginnings of Hope. And the adventure and the romance of Bo and Hope”.

Courtesy/E!

From the set of General Hospital new interviews are featured with: Laura Wright (Carly), Steve Burton (Jason) and Kristina Wagner (Felicia), plus Casting Director Mark Teschner remembers Meghan Markle’s acting debut on the ABC daytime drama series.

Teschner remembers: “Meghan Markle actually had her first speaking role in television on General Hospital.  She worked on the show in the background as a nurse, and we brought her up to read her to see if there was something there.”

Steve Burton chats on the craziest story he has ever played as Jason Morgan, revealing, “The one that always pops into my head is we had to go catch a monkey that had a virus, and I said to Laura (Wright) I think this is probably the end of my career today.”

The E! News special segment will show nostalgic clips from all the daytime dramas, including Luke and Laura’s wedding on GH, Marlena’s possession from DAYS, and some of Victor’s nefarious schemes from Y&R.

Check out the promo below.  Then, let us know if you will be checking out the ‘deep dive’ this Thursday via the comment section below.

On an all-new episode of the Inside Salem: Days of our Lives Podcast,  Arianne Zucker talks about her exciting return to the show, and once again being in front and center story following Nicole seeing the love of her life, Eric (Greg Vaughan) had attempted to move on in the love life department with Sarah (Linsey Godfrey), and then the shocking devastation at the death of her daughter, Holly.

Photo: NBC

On the podcast with host Michael Fairman, Ari weighs-in on her most recently aired scenes, and talks about some of Nicole’s past wild storylines including; the infamous flesh eating bacteria storyline and when Nicole attempted to raise Sami’s (Alison Sweeney) baby as her own until the truth finally, finally came to light!

Then, Fairman takes you to the red carpet at the just completed 46th annual Daytime Emmys where he chats with some of the most notable residents of Salem including actors: Galen Gering (Rafe), Rob Scott Wilson (Ben), Lauren Koslow (Kate), Victoria Konefal (Ciara), Martha Madison (Belle), Mary Beth Evans (Kayla) and more.

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Make sure to check out the podcast one of two ways: 1) Go directly to iTunes here, or you can hear it on NBC.com/Inside Salem.

Let us know what you think of Nicole’s return and Days’ night at the Daytime Emmys via the comment section below.