Salem is heading into one of its most emotionally volatile weeks in recent memory. The January 19–23 preview for Days of Our Lives promises arrests

that shake legacy families, explosive confrontations at Bayview, deeply personal reckonings for grieving children, and romantic crossroads that may permanently alter several relationships.

This is not just a week of plot twists—it is a week where long-simmering tensions boil over, masks slip, and painful truths finally demand to be heard.

At the center of the chaos is an arrest that no one saw coming, a shocking loss of control from a character long playing the victim, and a father forced to confront the devastating impact of adult conflict on an innocent child. As Salem braces itself, the ripple effects of these events will be felt far beyond a single episode.

The Horton House Shock: Jeremy Arrested as Julie Goes to War

The emotional epicenter of the week unfolds at the Horton house, a place traditionally associated with comfort, family, and moral grounding. That sense of safety is shattered when Detective Jada Hunter arrives with news that turns the Williams-Horton clan upside down.

Jada, usually the calm voice of reason in Salem’s law enforcement, comes armed with evidence in the ongoing stalker case involving Stephanie Johnson. Her revelation is chilling: someone has been watching and threatening Stephanie—and all signs point to Jeremy Horton.

The choice to confront Jeremy in front of Julie Williams is seismic. Julie is fiercely protective of her family, and the accusation ignites her instant fury. She leaps to Jeremy’s defense, refusing to believe that her grandson could be capable of such calculated cruelty. Yet Jada’s resolve suggests the evidence is compelling—perhaps disturbingly so.

Still, nothing about this accusation feels simple. Jeremy’s history is messy and impulsive, but stalking requires patience, strategy, and a level of cold calculation that doesn’t align with his emotional volatility. That discrepancy fuels speculation that Jeremy is being framed, possibly by someone with access to his personal belongings or digital footprint.

If Jeremy is arrested—and all signs suggest he will be—the psychological damage may be irreversible. Being led away in handcuffs from his childhood home, under Julie’s watchful and horrified gaze, is the kind of trauma that reshapes a person. Worse still, it may conveniently redirect police attention away from the real culprit, allowing the true stalker to remain hidden in plain sight.

Bayview Erupts: Sophia’s Carefully Crafted Persona Crumbles

Meanwhile, trouble erupts at Bayview, where tension has been quietly simmering beneath the surface. Sophia Choi, who has been presenting herself as fragile and mute—communicating only through handwritten notes—finally snaps when confronted by Holly Jonas.

What follows is a startling exposure of Sophia’s true nature. The supposedly helpless patient explodes in rage, scribbling hateful messages and even attempting to strike Holly. The moment is only stopped when Dr. Gregory intervenes, preventing the confrontation from turning physical.

The incident raises immediate questions about Sophia’s alleged condition. Silence, in this case, appears to have been a weapon—a way to control the narrative, command sympathy, and force others to revolve around her. Holly’s presence shatters that illusion. She represents everything Sophia envies: confidence, attention, and emotional security.

Dr. Gregory’s involvement may prove pivotal. Witnessing Sophia’s outburst makes it nearly impossible for her to maintain the image of a powerless victim. The stage is set for her deception to be exposed, potentially unraveling her entire storyline.

For Holly, this confrontation may mark the beginning of a defining rivalry. Like her mother Nicole before her, Holly is not one to back down quietly. What begins as a hospital altercation could evolve into a long-term feud with echoes of Salem’s most iconic rivalries.

A Holy Day, Heavy Hearts: Leo, Javi, and an Unavoidable Truth

Amid the turmoil, Salem pauses for a moment of celebration with the christening of baby Dimitri, a milestone for Chanel and Johnny. Yet even this sacred event is shadowed by emotional uncertainty—particularly for Leo Stark and Javi Hernandez, who serve as godparents.

Javi is preparing to leave Salem immediately after the ceremony to be with his father in Texas, who is undergoing heart surgery. Leo insists it’s only a temporary goodbye, but the tension between them is unmistakable. Leo wants to go with Javi, to be supportive and present, but Javi gently shuts him down.

The reason cuts deep. Javi realizes he may be Leo’s safe choice—not his true one. Leo’s unresolved feelings for Dmitri von Leuschner continue to haunt their relationship, and Javi refuses to be a placeholder while Leo avoids confronting his heart.

As if on cue, Dmitri’s presence looms large. Gwen Rizczech makes her feelings known by dumping a drink on Dmitri at the pub, a moment played for humor but heavy with implication. Dmitri remains chaos incarnate, the embodiment of everything Leo claims he wants to leave behind—and yet can’t resist.

As Javi boards a plane for Texas, Leo is left alone with his choices. Whether he clings to stability or surrenders to temptation may define his future.

A Child’s Confession Changes Everything for Chad

The most emotionally devastating storyline of the week belongs to Thomas DiMera. In a quiet, heartbreaking moment, Thomas confides in Jeremy that he believes the ongoing war between Chad, Jack, and Jennifer is his fault. He carries the crushing belief that if he were different—or gone—the fighting would stop.

This is the brutal reality of childhood trauma laid bare. Thomas has already lost his mother, Abigail, and now internalizes the adult conflict surrounding custody as a personal failure. Jeremy urges him to speak to Chad, unknowingly setting off a crucial turning point.

When Chad realizes the toll his anger has taken on his son, it forces a reckoning. The custody battle, fueled by grief and fear of loss, suddenly becomes intolerable when weighed against Thomas’s emotional well-being. In mediation, Chad finally chooses peace over power.

The adults reach a resolution that prioritizes the children, offering a rare moment of healing in Salem. Whether this peace will last remains uncertain, but for now, Thomas is given the reassurance every child deserves: that he is not the cause of adult pain.

A Week That Changes Everything

As Salem moves through January 19–23, Days of Our Lives delivers a masterclass in emotional storytelling. Arrests raise doubts about justice, hidden manipulations come dangerously close to exposure, love triangles teeter on collapse, and a grieving child reminds everyone what truly matters.