What once seemed like an extended disappearance arc has now detonated into one of Salem’s most dangerous and psychologically charged storylines in years. Families are vanishing,

alliances are fracturing, moral lines are being crossed, and secrets are being weaponized with ruthless precision. This is not simply a day of plot movement—it is a day

when every character is forced to choose sides, compromise values, or risk losing everything.

The DiMera Disappearances: A Dynasty Under Siege

At the heart of Tuesday’s episode lies the alarming realization that the DiMera family is being systematically erased. EJ DiMera is now officially missing, joining a growing list that includes Tony, Kristen, Chad, and Theo. This is no random spree—it feels calculated, surgical, and deeply personal.

What makes EJ’s disappearance especially chilling is the unsettling possibility that he may not be a helpless victim. In classic Salem fashion, the question is not if EJ is involved, but how. Signs suggest that loyal DiMera staff are still acting on EJ’s “instructions,” raising eyebrows about whether he has staged his own vanishing act. If so, this would be a bold strategic move—removing himself from danger while observing enemies from the shadows.

Adding fuel to this theory is the return of Rita, a long-time DiMera loyalist. In Salem, domestic staff are rarely just background players—they are keepers of secrets, witnesses to crimes, and silent enforcers of family power. Rita’s presence suggests EJ’s influence may still loom large within the mansion walls. Her interactions with Gwen Rizczech, in particular, signal a brewing clash between old-school DiMera loyalty and the newer, more unpredictable power players.

Dr. Rolf and Mark Greene: A Deal That Will Cost Everything

While the DiMera mystery dominates the headlines, the most emotionally devastating storyline may belong to Mark Greene. Once introduced as a healer and moral compass, Mark now finds himself stepping into the darkest corner of Salem—Dr. Rolf’s lab.

Spoilers reveal Mark working closely with Rolf, a partnership that never ends well. Rolf doesn’t simply recruit assistants; he ensnares them. Whether through coercion, blackmail, or emotional manipulation, anyone who enters his orbit is forever changed.

Mark’s haunted demeanor suggests he knows exactly what he’s doing—and what it will cost him. The prevailing theory is that Rolf holds leverage over the Greene family, possibly involving a medical condition or buried secret that only Rolf can exploit. What begins as a desperate attempt to save someone he loves may spiral into moral ruin, echoing a classic “one bad choice leads to another” tragedy.

This storyline becomes even more explosive with the looming betrayal of Cat Greene. She trusts Mark implicitly, confiding in him about her concerns over Rolf’s experiments. When the truth comes out—and it will—the fallout promises to be seismic. The emotional damage may rival the physical consequences of Rolf’s latest mad-scientist scheme.

Johnny and Chanel: Paranoia Takes Hold

As the pillars of Salem’s power crumble, paranoia spreads—even to those who may not be logical targets. Johnny DiMera and Chanel Dupree begin to fear they could be next, a reaction that underscores how destabilizing EJ’s disappearance truly is.

On the surface, their panic seems misplaced. Johnny is a filmmaker, Chanel a baker—hardly the power brokers vanishing left and right. But emotionally, their fear makes sense. When the untouchable fall, no one feels safe.

Paulina Price steps in to comfort the couple, an unusual move for someone known for tough love. Her softer approach hints that she may know more than she’s saying. Is her concern purely maternal, or is guilt driving her compassion? Some signs suggest the Price family’s past decisions may be connected to the current crisis, with the DiMeras serving as collateral damage in a much larger reckoning.

Gabi vs. Javi: Power, Betrayal, and Boardroom Warfare

Corporate warfare collides with personal betrayal as Javi Hernandez begins to suspect Gabi DiMera’s involvement in the DiMera takeover of Titan. Given Gabi’s history, his suspicions are far from unfounded. She has never shied away from ambition, and Tony’s broken promise of the CEO position left scars that never truly healed.

Gabi fiercely denies orchestrating the disappearances—but in Salem, denials are rarely the full truth. Even if she didn’t act directly, questions linger about what she may have allowed to happen. Javi’s refusal to blindly trust her strikes at Gabi’s core, threatening not just business alliances but any chance of romantic reconciliation.

This conflict brilliantly bridges corporate intrigue and emotional stakes, reminding viewers that in Days of Our Lives, love and power are inseparable—and equally dangerous.

Gwen’s Darkest Turn Yet

The most chilling moment of the episode belongs to Gwen Rizczech. When Leo Stark prepares to publish explosive news about EJ’s disappearance, Gwen intervenes—not with charm or manipulation, but with a threat.

Her warning is brutally simple: Leo’s fiancé, Javi, could be hurt.

This marks a shocking escalation for Gwen, crossing a line from schemer to something far more dangerous. Her willingness to endanger an innocent life suggests desperation—and possibly knowledge no one else has. The prevailing theory? Gwen knows EJ is alive and hiding, and she is protecting the plan at all costs.

By threatening Leo’s one true vulnerability, Gwen ensures his silence—for now. But she also creates a powerful enemy. Leo Stark never forgets a betrayal, and this ultimatum may ultimately seal Gwen’s downfall.

Cat and Rafe: Back to Square One

On the law enforcement front, Cat Greene and Rafe Hernandez face professional frustration as their prime suspect—EJ—vanishes. Weeks of investigation crumble overnight, forcing them to start from scratch.

Their differing styles clash under pressure. Rafe relies on procedure; Cat trusts instinct. With no clear suspect, Cat may begin to entertain radical possibilities, from inside jobs to Salem’s infamous supernatural explanations—ideas Rafe is sure to resist.

As always in Salem, professional tension risks spilling into something more personal. High-stress investigations have a habit of blurring boundaries, and sparks may fly where they shouldn’t.

A Town on the Brink

The December 16 episode of Days of Our Lives sets the stage for a week of reckoning. Rita guards DiMera secrets, Mark sinks deeper into moral darkness, Gwen embraces ruthless self-preservation, and investigators scramble in the dark. Every character is cornered, every relationship tested.

Salem is holding its breath—and when it exhales, nothing will be the same.