Love her or loathe her, there is no denying that Vivian Alamain changes the temperature of every room she enters—and Salem is about to feel the heat. During the week of February 2–6, 2026,

Days of Our Lives welcomes back the iconic Louise Sorel for a brief but potentially explosive three-episode arc. Her return couldn’t come at a more crucial time,

as Gwen Rizczech’s long-simmering conflict with Dmitri von Leuschner threatens to either finally erupt—or completely fizzle out.

For weeks, viewers have watched Gwen and Dmitri circle each other in a frustrating pattern. The same accusations. The same threats. The same verbal sparring interrupted before anything meaningful can happen. Dmitri vows to ruin Gwen’s life. Gwen denies orchestrating his kidnapping. The tension crackles, but the story never quite ignites. Now, with Gwen making a desperate call to Vivian for help, the narrative finally promises movement—and chaos.

Vivian Alamain: A Wild Card Returns

Vivian’s arrival is more than a nostalgic cameo. It’s a calculated disruption. She’s a villainess of a different breed—elegant, ruthless, and utterly unpredictable. Vivian doesn’t just play the game; she rewrites the rules while smiling over a glass of wine. Her moral compass has always been flexible at best, which makes her the perfect ally—or enemy—for someone like Gwen.

Spoilers tease that Vivian returns specifically to assist Gwen in her plan to take down Dmitri. But anyone who knows Vivian understands that she rarely helps anyone without helping herself first. While Gwen believes she’s gaining a powerful ally, the real question is whether Vivian intends to eliminate Dmitri… or clear the board entirely.

Even with her limited screen time, Vivian’s presence promises to inject much-needed momentum into the story. Three episodes may not sound like much, but when Vivian Alamain is involved, it’s more than enough time to flip the narrative upside down.

Gwen vs. Dmitri: Finally Leaving Second Gear

The Gwen–Dmitri conflict has lingered in neutral for far too long, despite the strong performances and sharp dialogue. Gwen, fiercely intelligent and perpetually underestimated, is tired of playing defense. Dmitri, charming and manipulative, has relied on intimidation and half-truths to keep control. Their dynamic is combustible—but until now, the writing has refused to let it explode.

That changes this week. Gwen doesn’t just threaten action; she initiates it. Looping EJ DiMera into her plan, Gwen proves she understands one of Salem’s oldest truths: power requires resources, and alliances matter. EJ, freshly emboldened by Stefano’s memorial and the DiMera family’s renewed sense of purpose, may see Gwen’s scheme as an opportunity to assert dominance in a shifting power structure.

But Dmitri isn’t defenseless. His counterplay comes in the form of seduction, as he sets his sights on Leo Stark. This move isn’t about romance—it’s about leverage. Leo’s emotional volatility makes him vulnerable, and Dmitri knows it. Still, Salem has a way of turning manipulation into genuine emotion, and if Leo gets hurt, the fallout could ripple far beyond this triangle.

Vivian vs. the Law: A Dangerous Dance

While Vivian stirs trouble for Gwen and Dmitri, she’s also facing scrutiny from the law. Rafe Hernandez and Eli Grant turn their attention to her after suspicious activity in Alamainia raises fresh questions. Someone was spying on the captives in the DiMera crypt. Someone knows more about Stefan DiMera’s fate than they’re admitting. And Vivian, as always, sits squarely at the center of suspicion.

True to form, Vivian offers a polished, convincing story—just believable enough to stall the investigation. But Rafe and Eli aren’t rookies. Spoilers suggest they realize something doesn’t add up, even if they can’t immediately prove it. Vivian’s likely response? Retreat. Salem has never been her favorite place to answer hard questions, and a strategic exit back to Alamainia may be the safest move once the pressure mounts.

Still, her words leave damage behind. As the possibility of Stefan’s death becomes increasingly undeniable, Gabi Hernandez is forced to confront devastating reality. Stefan has been the axis of her emotional world—her greatest love and her deepest wound. Confirmation of his death doesn’t just bring grief; it brings rage. And Gabi, when pushed into a corner by loss, is anything but passive.

Liam, Rafe, and the Kidnapping Fallout

Elsewhere, the fallout from the DiMera kidnappings continues to spread. Rafe’s interrogation of Liam raises more questions than answers. While Liam eventually apologizes to Abe Carver, the simplicity of that resolution feels deceptive. In Salem, apologies rarely mean innocence—they often signal survival.

There’s growing speculation that Liam may be a pawn rather than a mastermind. Perhaps he was paid to assist without understanding the scope of what he was enabling. If true, the real architect of the operation remains in the shadows. And in a town like Salem, shadows are where the most dangerous players thrive.

JJ, Jeremy, and a Troubling Shift

The week also deepens the controversial stalker storyline, as JJ Deveraux clashes with Julie over Jeremy’s guilt. JJ’s firm belief that Jeremy tried to kill Alex twice has unsettled longtime fans, especially given JJ’s own history as someone once judged too harshly by the system.

This version of JJ feels unfamiliar—too quick to accept the official narrative, too willing to turn on family. The conflict with Julie adds emotional weight, but it also raises uncomfortable questions about bias, instinct, and whether JJ has lost the very qualities that once made him such a compelling character.

A Town on the Brink

As if all that weren’t enough, Salem continues to fracture along familiar fault lines. Kristen and Brady clash over Rachel’s future, each convinced they’re acting in the child’s best interest. Holly and Sophia’s reconciliation offers a rare moment of healing, a reminder that not every story in Salem ends in betrayal. And looming over it all is Stefano DiMera’s memorial—an event some consider unnecessary, others cathartic, but all recognize as symbolic.

Stefano’s confirmed death doesn’t bring peace. It creates a vacuum. Power, once centralized, is now up for grabs. And in Salem, vacuums never stay empty for long.

The Final Word

Vivian Alamain’s return may be brief, but its impact could be seismic. By stepping into Gwen and Dmitri’s conflict, she accelerates a story that desperately needs momentum. Whether she becomes Gwen’s greatest weapon or her most dangerous mistake remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: the week of February 2–6 marks a turning point. Alliances will shift. Secrets will surface. And the end of one legend will give rise to new threats. In Salem, nothing ever truly ends—it only transforms.