Salem’s revolving door is spinning faster than ever, and this week Days of Our Lives is leaning hard into history, legacy, and the emotional aftershocks of the DiMera dynasty.

Familiar faces resurface, power players re-enter the battlefield, and one deliciously wicked icon slips back into the shadows. If ever there were a moment

That proves the past in Salem never stays buried, this is it. As the town gathers to reckon with Stefano DiMera’s looming presence — even in death —

the canvas fills with returns that feel both nostalgic and urgently present. These aren’t cameos for the sake of sentiment. Each arrival lands with consequence, tugging at old loyalties, rivalries, and the fragile alliances forming in the wake of chaos.

Tony DiMera Comes Home

At the center of the storm stands a man who knows better than anyone what it means to live in Stefano’s shadow.

Thaao Penghlis is back as Tony DiMera, and his return couldn’t be timed more explosively. As the family prepares to say a final goodbye to its controversial patriarch, Tony’s presence serves as a reminder that the DiMera legacy is far from settled. Old wounds remain tender, and questions about the future of the empire hover in the air like smoke.

Tony shares pivotal material with Chad this week, scenes that promise to be layered with grief, responsibility, and the complicated bond between brothers shaped by the same formidable father. Chad has been carrying the emotional weight of recent tragedies, trying to hold himself together for his children while the family structure around him continues to shift.

Enter Tony — elegant, perceptive, and never unaware of the political temperature of a room.

Is he returning simply to mourn? Or is he also arriving to quietly assess who will rise, who will fall, and what the DiMera name will mean moving forward? With Penghlis back in the mix, expect gravitas, intelligence, and perhaps a gentle but firm steering of the ship.

Eli Grant Steps Forward

While the DiMeras wrestle with dynasty, Eli Grant is stepping deeper into Salem’s present and future.

Lamon Archey enjoys increased screen time this week, placing Eli in key interactions with both Rafe and Julie. It’s a meaningful bridge between generations — the steady lawman balancing duty, family devotion, and the ever-present unpredictability of the town he serves.

His scenes with Julie are sure to land with warmth. She sees in Eli the continuation of legacy done right — compassion paired with strength. After so much loss rippling through Salem, their connection offers something rare: reassurance.

But don’t mistake comfort for calm. When Eli crosses paths with Rafe, the professional stakes inevitably rise. Salem’s law enforcement never has the luxury of an easy week, and with arrests, inheritance battles, and DiMera maneuvering underway, Eli will be exactly where the action demands.

Archey recently teased behind-the-scenes moments from set, and that extra visibility suggests the show is positioning Eli as a stabilizing force amid emotional upheaval.

Dimitri Isn’t Done Yet

Peter Porte continues his run as the ever-intriguing Dimitri Von Leuschner, a man whose charm often masks calculation.

Dimitri’s entanglement with Leo remains one of the more unpredictable dynamics in Salem. Are they allies, lovers, opportunists, or all three depending on the day? The answer, deliciously, is usually yes.

This week deepens those complications as Dimitri also finds himself in Rafe’s orbit. And when Rafe Hernandez is involved, things tend to turn official — and potentially dangerous — fast.

Dimitri has always carried the energy of someone walking a tightrope in expensive shoes. Every conversation could tip the balance. Every secret risks exposure. Porte plays that tension beautifully, giving viewers a character who is both seductive and suspect.

Expect sparks, suspicion, and maybe a scramble for self-preservation.

Dr. Rolf Delivers From Beyond the Grave

If Stefano DiMera had a high priest of mayhem, it would undoubtedly be Dr. Wilhelm Rolf.

Richard Wharton returns to place yet another chess piece on the board, appearing in a crucial moment opposite EJ. And in true Rolf fashion, he doesn’t come empty-handed. He arrives bearing a directive from the late patriarch himself.

A gift.

But in Salem, gifts from Stefano are rarely sentimental tokens. They are messages, obligations, sometimes even tests. Whatever Rolf places into EJ’s hands carries the unmistakable weight of expectation.

For EJ, who has spent years wrestling with how much of his father lives inside him, this delivery could be deeply unsettling. Is it an honor? A burden? A trap disguised as inheritance?

Wharton’s presence alone is enough to send a chill through the episode, a reminder that Stefano’s reach extends far past mortality.

A Wedding Figure Appears

Thursday brings the arrival of Reverend Hart, portrayed by Michael Spellman, who steps into scenes with Alex and Stephanie.

Clergy in Salem rarely appear without drama nipping at their heels. Whether this signals romance, complication, or a ceremony that may not go as planned, the reverend’s presence suggests lives are about to pivot.

Alex and Stephanie’s history is already tangled with former flames and unresolved feelings. Introducing a spiritual authority into that mix only heightens the sense that choices are about to crystallize.

Farewell to a Delicious Villain

Of course, while Salem welcomes beloved figures home, it also shuts the door — at least for now — on one of its most gloriously wicked residents.

Louis Sorel has wrapped her latest stint as Vivian Alamain, leaving behind a trail of mischief, elegance, and unforgettable barbs. Vivian never simply entered a room; she conquered it. Her brief return reminded audiences why she remains one of the soap’s most treasured antagonists.

Though she exits again, experience tells viewers never to assume permanence. In Salem, villains rest. They rarely retire.

The Past Is Prologue

What makes this week resonate is how intentionally it braids history with momentum. Tony’s return reframes the DiMera future. Eli’s expanded presence reinforces family continuity. Dimitri complicates loyalties. Rolf resurrects Stefano’s influence in the most literal emotional sense.

And somewhere in the middle of it all, Salem keeps moving — loving, grieving, plotting.

Fan favorites aren’t just back for a wave. They’re back to matter.

And in this town, that always changes everything.