Salem is once again bracing for impact as Days of Our Lives prepares to unleash two of its most powerful and polarizing figures back into the heart of the drama.

Just when fans thought the canvas had settled into a fragile balance, the return of two legendary characters threatens to upend alliances, reopen old wounds,

and expose secrets long buried. These are not quiet homecomings. They are seismic events that will ripple through Salem and redefine the future for multiple families.

At the center of the storm is the long-awaited return of EJ DiMera, the charismatic, cunning heir to the DiMera dynasty. Absent from Salem for weeks, EJ’s disappearance left a noticeable void—one filled with speculation, suspicion, and unanswered questions. Now, his return signals the end of that uneasy calm and the beginning of a far more dangerous chapter.

According to spoilers, EJ storms back into Salem on Monday, January 26, after an extended stay in Italy. Officially, his trip was about family—specifically, spending time with his daughter Sydney, a rare glimpse of the softer side he rarely allows others to see. But anyone who knows EJ understands that sentimentality is never the whole story. He does not return reflective or humbled. He comes back sharper, more focused, and primed for confrontation.

From the moment EJ steps back onto Salem soil, tension thickens. His impeccable suit, commanding presence, and barely restrained fury announce that he is once again a force to be reckoned with. But the true shock awaits him almost immediately. Police Commissioner Rafe Hernandez pulls EJ aside for a private conversation—one that will change everything EJ thought he knew about his family’s past.

During a recent hostage crisis involving DiMera family members trapped inside the infamous DiMera crypt, investigators made a chilling discovery. Forensic analysis confirms that the remains found there belong to Stefano DiMera himself. The Phoenix. The man whose shadow has loomed over Salem for decades. The architect of countless schemes, resurrections, and reigns of terror is finally, undeniably dead.

For EJ, the revelation is devastating. Stefano was more than a villainous legend—he was a father, a mentor, and a relentless standard EJ spent his life both chasing and rebelling against. To learn that Stefano’s remains were hidden in the family crypt, reduced to bones after a lifetime of defying death, forces EJ to confront a truth he has avoided for years: even DiMeras are not immortal.

Yet grief is not EJ’s default response. Loss, for him, becomes fuel. Instead of breaking, he hardens. The confirmation of Stefano’s death closes the door on long-running mysteries, but it opens another—who allowed this to happen, and who has been manipulating events in his absence? EJ’s rage quickly finds a target, and that target is Gwen Rizczech.

Spoilers hint at explosive confrontations between EJ and Gwen, whose recent actions have already put her on dangerous ground. Their history is tangled with betrayal, shifting alliances, and emotional manipulation. Now, with EJ armed with grief and fury, Gwen may find herself facing the full force of DiMera vengeance. Expect blistering verbal battles, razor-sharp accusations, and the constant threat that EJ’s retaliation could cross a line from emotional to lethal.

Adding another volatile layer is EJ’s complicated relationship with his sister, Kristen DiMera. Kristen has never been known for forgiveness, especially when it comes to family betrayals. EJ’s return reignites their long-standing rivalry, one fueled by ambition, resentment, and competing visions of the DiMera legacy. With EJ distracted by the crypt revelation, Kristen may see an opportunity to advance her own agenda. Whether the siblings unite against common enemies or tear each other apart remains one of the most compelling questions looming over Salem.

EJ’s return is not just a storyline—it is a catalyst. His presence reactivates dormant rivalries, destabilizes fragile truces, and forces characters across Salem to confront truths they hoped would stay buried. Fans of Dan Feuerriegel’s portrayal can expect a layered performance, as EJ balances charm, cruelty, vulnerability, and ruthless ambition in equal measure.

As if one major comeback weren’t enough, Salem is also welcoming back another icon of chaos: Vivian Alamain.

Portrayed by the incomparable Louise Sorel, Vivian’s return is nothing short of legendary. After nearly a year offscreen, the unapologetically diabolical schemer is summoned back to Salem under desperate circumstances. Gwen, already entangled in a web of lies and enemies, reaches out to the one person she believes can solve her biggest problem—Dmitri von Leuschner.

Dmitri’s presence has become increasingly dangerous for Gwen, especially after financial betrayals and shifting power dynamics. She needs him gone, permanently or otherwise. And when it comes to making people disappear, no one does it better than Vivian Alamain.

Vivian arrives in Salem like a gathering storm—elegant, calculating, and dripping with menace. Louise Sorel effortlessly slips back into the role, her every word laced with sarcasm and threat. Vivian does not simply react; she assesses, manipulates, and plans several steps ahead. Helping Gwen may be her stated purpose, but Vivian never acts without considering how the situation might benefit her own long-term ambitions.

Her return raises countless questions. Will she resort to her signature brand of deception involving science, drugs, or identity manipulation? Could old allies resurface? Or will Vivian ultimately turn the tables on Gwen, using the crisis to advance her own agenda tied to her son Stefan or unresolved DiMera fortunes?

Vivian’s presence alone amplifies every conflict in Salem. Her history with the DiMeras—particularly EJ—adds another layer of unpredictability. Uneasy alliances, old grudges, and overlapping schemes are almost guaranteed. With EJ driven by legacy and vengeance, and Vivian motivated by chaos and control, Salem becomes a pressure cooker ready to explode.

Together, these two returns create a perfect storm. EJ DiMera, fueled by grief and fury, and Vivian Alamain, guided by ruthless intellect and moral indifference, are not just re-entering the story—they are rewriting it. Their actions in the coming days promise shocking revelations, dangerous alliances, and consequences that will reshape Salem’s power structure.

The week of January 26 is shaping up to be one for the history books. These are not nostalgic cameos or temporary arcs. They are game-changing returns that remind viewers why Days of Our Lives remains a masterclass in long-form drama. In Salem, the past is never truly buried, villains never stay gone, and every return comes with a price.