In true Days of Our Lives fashion, Salem is once again teetering on the edge of chaos as old wounds reopen, trauma resurfaces, and loyalties are tested in ways no one could predict.

The shocking return of JJ Deveraux—and the sight of him holding a gun—has reignited one of the darkest chapters in Theo Carver’s past. What follows is not just a confrontation between two men,

but a storyline that promises to shake Salem to its core.

A Traumatic Past That Refuses to Fade

For longtime fans, the sight of JJ with a firearm is a haunting reminder of an incident that forever changed Theo’s life. Years ago, in a tense moment as a police officer, JJ fired his weapon, striking Theo. Though officially deemed an accident in the line of duty, the damage was irreparable.

For Theo, the bullet was more than a physical wound—it shattered his sense of safety, created lifelong scars, and left him with a deep mistrust of JJ. For JJ, the shooting was a mistake he could never take back. The guilt has followed him like a shadow, and while he sought forgiveness, it was never truly given.

Now, with JJ back in Salem and visibly armed once again, Theo is thrown into a nightmare he thought he had escaped. The past is no longer history—it’s a living, breathing terror.

Theo’s Terror Ignites

The moment Theo sees JJ with a gun, his composure unravels. His hands shake, his breath quickens, and memories assault him like a tidal wave. The trauma isn’t buried—it’s alive, raw, and impossible to ignore.

Longtime DOOL viewers will remember the original fallout of the storyline, when Theo—a young man on the autism spectrum—was nearly killed due to a split-second misjudgment. That heartbreak for his family, particularly Abe, left scars across Salem. Now, those same wounds are reopening, threatening to send Theo down a darker path.

Jada Caught in the Crossfire

Detective Jada Hunter finds herself in a complicated position. Working closely with JJ since his return, she has trusted his instincts and leaned on his experience. But when Theo confides in her, detailing the trauma and warning her about JJ’s past with firearms, Jada is rattled.

Should she continue to trust JJ as her partner? Or does Theo’s warning plant seeds of doubt too large to ignore? For Jada, the choice isn’t just about professional loyalty—it’s about safety, ethics, and whether the ghosts of JJ’s past could resurface in a dangerous way.

This uncertainty threatens to fracture Salem’s police force from within, raising the stakes even further.

JJ’s Quest for Redemption

The week of September 22–26 will bring emotional fireworks as JJ struggles under the weight of renewed tension. He knows he cannot erase the past, but his desperation to show Theo that he has changed is palpable.

Viewers can expect heartfelt moments where JJ reaches out, once again offering apologies, remorse, and explanations. But will it be enough?

Theo’s pain may be too deep, too ingrained, for forgiveness. What JJ sees as an olive branch could instead be met with a wall of anger, leaving him to confront the harsh truth: some wounds never heal, no matter how much time has passed.

Theo’s Darker Impulses

For all his compassion, Theo is human. Trauma has a way of twisting even the kindest souls, and Salem whispers suggest Theo may not stop at words. Instead, he could turn his pain into a weapon.

Could Theo be planning revenge?

Some insiders speculate he may actively work to dismantle JJ’s career. Whether through undermining him at work, planting seeds of doubt among colleagues, or orchestrating situations that paint JJ as unstable, Theo may pursue a campaign of calculated retribution.

But revenge is a dangerous road. Once started, it rarely ends the way one intends. The question is: how far will Theo go before someone pulls him back—or before he does something truly unthinkable?

Salem Braces for Fallout

The ripple effect of this storyline promises to touch nearly every corner of Salem.

• Abe Carver will be fiercely protective of his son, standing firmly behind Theo and demanding accountability.
• Lonnie and Chanel are likely to rally to Theo’s side, reinforcing his anger and bolstering his sense of justice.
• On the other side, Jennifer and Jack will defend their son JJ, arguing he has carried the weight of guilt long enough and deserves a chance to rebuild his life.

The result? Salem could fracture into two camps, each passionately defending one of their own. What began as a personal trauma may spiral into a full-blown community divide.

The Big Question: Revenge or Healing?

This storyline embodies what Days of Our Lives does best—forcing characters into impossible emotional dilemmas. Will Theo allow his pain to transform into vengeance, possibly destroying his own moral compass in the process? Or will he find a way to heal, choosing peace over destruction?

At the same time, JJ faces his own crucible. Can he truly prove he is no longer the reckless young man who pulled that trigger? Or will Salem forever view him as a danger in uniform?

The tension between past mistakes and the hope for redemption is at the heart of this arc, making it one of the most compelling storylines in years.

Salem’s Other Explosive Twists

As if Theo and JJ’s storyline weren’t enough, Salem is heating up with parallel drama.

• Sarah’s Emotional Awakening: At Victoria’s birthday party, Sarah sees a softer side of Xander that forces her to question everything she thought she knew. Could reconciliation be on the horizon?
• Tate’s Dangerous Manipulation: In a morally gray twist, Tate begins using Sophia to get closer to the truth about Holly. But deception this deep could leave lasting scars.
• The DNA Investigation: Rafe and Steve’s involvement in the mysterious adoption case will spark family-shattering revelations. Salem’s families may never be the same.
• Corporate Warfare: Tony DiMera sets off fireworks in the business world, declaring open war on Titan in a move that could reshape the power balance in Salem.

Each subplot adds new layers of intrigue, but the centerpiece remains Theo and JJ’s volatile clash.

The Road Ahead

As Salem braces for the fallout, one truth stands clear: the past is never truly behind us. In Days of Our Lives, history is a living force, shaping the present and steering the future.

For Theo, confronting JJ may finally bring closure—or it may plunge him into a darkness from which there is no return. For JJ, this is a battle not only for forgiveness but for the very soul of who he wants to become.

The stage is set for heartbreak, confrontation, and shocking choices. One thing is certain—Salem will never be the same after this.