Salem is once again a pressure cooker of secrets, shifting loyalties, and emotional manipulation, and Days of Our Lives spoilers for Thursday, February 5 promise

an episode that crackles with tension from start to finish. As familiar faces collide and unresolved conflicts resurface, viewers are reminded that in this town,

truth is never freely given—especially when a DiMera is involved. At the heart of the episode is Rafe Hernandez’s latest attempt to extract answers from one of

Salem’s most notorious figures: Kristen DiMera. But as history has proven time and again, questioning a DiMera rarely leads to clarity—and this encounter is no exception.

Rafe Returns to Salem and Straight Into the Fire

Fresh off a frustrating and ultimately fruitless trip abroad, Rafe (Galen Gering) returns to Salem with more questions than answers. Alongside Eli Grant (Lamon Archey), Rafe had traveled all the way to Alemania hoping to corner Vivian Alamain and finally crack the case surrounding Peter Blake’s recent actions. Instead, Vivian delivered exactly what she always does: half-truths, blatant lies, and smug deflection.

With Vivian stonewalling them at every turn, Rafe is forced to admit defeat—at least for now. Back in Salem, he shifts his focus to another prime suspect, someone with both motive and a long, documented history of deception: Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk).

Rafe arrives at the DiMera mansion prepared for resistance, but even his seasoned instincts may not be enough to penetrate Kristen’s carefully constructed wall of denial.

Kristen Plays the Game—and Plays It Well

Rafe’s line of questioning is direct and relentless. Did Kristen know what Peter Blake was planning? Was she secretly involved? Is she protecting him now that things have gone sideways? Each question is delivered with the weight of law enforcement and personal experience—after all, Rafe has tangled with Kristen before and knows better than to underestimate her.

Kristen, however, meets every accusation with cool composure. She denies any involvement, insisting she had no knowledge of Peter’s plans and certainly no role in enabling them. Her answers are polished, precise, and maddeningly vague—the kind that give nothing away while sounding just plausible enough to stall further action.

For Rafe, it’s déjà vu. He can sense that Kristen isn’t telling the whole truth, but proving it is another matter entirely. With no concrete evidence and no witnesses willing to talk, he’s forced to retreat once more, knowing that the DiMera matriarch has once again slipped through the cracks of justice.

Rachel Under Kristen’s Spell as Brady Tries to Intervene

While Kristen may be evasive with Rafe, her influence is unmistakable when it comes to her daughter, Rachel (Alice Halsey). Still reeling from her time at Bayview, Rachel makes it clear that she wants out—and Kristen, rather than encouraging her daughter to face treatment head-on, sides with her completely.

Kristen’s decision to pull Rachel from Bayview raises immediate red flags. Instead of reinforcing the importance of therapy and accountability, she frames the situation as an injustice inflicted on her child, reinforcing Rachel’s belief that she’s being wronged rather than helped.

Brady Black (Eric Martsolf), alarmed by Kristen’s permissiveness, tries desperately to get through to his daughter. He understands that healing often requires discomfort, but Rachel is too deeply entrenched in her mother’s narrative to hear him. To Rachel, Brady’s words sound like punishment, not protection.

Tate Steps In as an Unexpected Voice of Reason

Recognizing that his parental authority may be falling on deaf ears, Brady turns to an unlikely ally: Tate (Leo Howard). As Rachel’s older brother, Tate occupies a unique position—young enough to seem relatable, yet removed enough from the parental conflict to be heard.

Tate attempts to connect with Rachel on her level, hoping that sibling solidarity might break through where adult reasoning has failed. Whether his efforts will succeed remains uncertain, but his involvement underscores a growing truth in Salem: Kristen’s influence over Rachel is becoming dangerously absolute.

The question looming over this storyline is clear—how far will Kristen go to maintain control, and what will it cost Rachel in the long run?

Holly Reaches Out—but Forgiveness Isn’t Guaranteed

Elsewhere in Salem, emotional fallout continues to ripple through the younger generation. Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) has spent weeks grappling with anger and betrayal after learning that her best friend Sophia (Rachel Boyd) was pregnant—and believed Tate was the father.

Now armed with the truth—that the baby is actually Aaron’s (Louis Tomeo)—Holly is forced to confront her own behavior. In hindsight, her rage feels misplaced, her resentment fueled by misinformation and hurt pride rather than reality.

Determined to see herself as the bigger person, Holly reaches out to Sophia in an attempt at reconciliation. She offers forgiveness, framing it as a step toward emotional maturity and personal growth.

But forgiveness, as Salem often proves, is not always a two-way street.

Sophia’s Pain Runs Deeper Than Holly Realizes

While Holly may feel relieved to unburden herself of resentment, Sophia’s wounds are far from healed. She endured judgment, isolation, and heartbreak during one of the most vulnerable moments of her life—and Holly was not exactly gentle in her response.

Sophia listens, but whether she accepts Holly’s olive branch is another matter entirely. Forgiveness may come eventually, but trust is harder to rebuild. The power dynamics between the former friends have shifted, and Sophia may not be ready—or willing—to simply pick up where they left off.

Their fractured friendship highlights a recurring theme in Days of Our Lives: intentions matter, but impact matters more.

An Episode That Reinforces Salem’s Core Truths

Thursday’s episode weaves together law enforcement frustration, parental manipulation, and youthful emotional reckoning with classic Days intensity. Rafe’s inability to crack Kristen once again reinforces her status as one of Salem’s most formidable players. Brady’s struggle with Rachel underscores the devastating reach of Kristen’s influence. And Holly and Sophia’s strained interaction reminds viewers that forgiveness is often more complicated than it appears.

As Salem braces for the consequences of these choices, one thing is certain: secrets remain buried, alliances remain fragile, and no one escapes unscathed when truth and deception collide.

Days of Our Lives continues to prove that in Salem, the past never stays quiet—and the fight for control is never truly over.