MURDER, HOOKUPS & A NEW STEFANO?! DAYS OF OUR LIVES JUST WENT FULL SOAP INSANITY!

Credit: Peacock screenshot

In this week’s Days of Our Lives Soapbox column, we’re taking a closer look at the summer (and fall!) preview the show just put out — because there was a helluva lot in it that left us psyched about what’s to come.

First and foremost, we’re always here for a visit from Alison Sweeney’s Sami. But this one promises to be more intense than usual as the Salem pot-stirrer gets to grieve John with mom Marlena. The actress herself told Soaps.com that the way Sami pays her respects felt very real, and though we’ll probably be watching through red-rimmed eyes, we still can’t wait to see Sweeney and Deidre Hall dig into what’s sure to be extremely rich material.

‘Xarah’ Plays Mixed Doubles 

Secondly, though we’re not crazy about what’s been done to “Xarah” — we loved the change that she made in him once upon a time — it does look like it will be a blast watching the two of them hook up with different partners for a while. Xander and Gabi? Color us intrigued. 

How Will Days of Our Lives Resurrect Stefano?

We’re also stoked about the prospect of The Phoenix rising from the ashes. It’s a tricky proposition, what with the passing of Joseph Mascolo. But we’re guardedly optimistic that the show will find the right recast. (Maybe one of these actors could be the new Stefano.)

On top of that, we’re beyond interested in finding out what the supervillain’s latest incarnation has to do with Marlena’s dreams of her time as his Queen of the Night. Or are they nightmares? Prophecies? TBD!

Sophia Takes Her ‘Shot’

When Soaps.com recently spoke with Rachel Boyd, she warned that just because Sophia had been radically altered by the birth of her son, that didn’t mean that she was going to lose her survivor’s edge. “If people are going to push her to the point where she has to fight back,” the actress said, “she’s going to fight back.” Maybe that’s, at least in Sophia’s mind, what she’s doing sneaking a risqué photo of former friend Holly in the video?

A Party to Murder?

Finally, it looks like someone in Salem is getting, ahem, cut. Scenes that appear to be from Halloween episodes this fall show a knife-wielding assailant stalking the guests at a costume party. Maybe that’s when we’ll learn who really shot EJ, and the culprit will pull a knife in hopes of escaping from the authorities?

What did you think of the trailer? Hit the comments with your reactions, then check out the expanded photo gallery below of the best and worst of 2025. Believe it or not, the year’s half over!