A roar of indignation is echoing through the Days of Our Lives fandom, not from the characters on screen, but from the very heart of its most loyal viewers. A wave of anger is spreading, aimed directly at the writers, who stand accused of betraying trust, dismantling character development, and pushing one of the show’s most beloved relationships to the brink of collapse. At the epicenter of this storm is the perceived cruel “reset” of Xander Kiriakis and the controversial destiny of his love story with Sarah Horton.

There is a profound sense that years of Xander’s arduous journey towards becoming a better man—a path fraught with challenges but acknowledged by the audience—have been ruthlessly discarded by the new writing team. Instead of continuing his promising road to redemption, Xander appears to be dragged back into the mire of his villainous past, a “reset” that leaves viewers feeling utterly cheated. “I feel like this is just over the top writing to give him a villain arc with his ex,” one fan passionately shared, their words dripping with indignation. This sentiment is more than mere disappointment; it is a direct betrayal of the time and emotional investment viewers have poured into Xander’s character development.

The issue is further inflamed when considering the roles of Maggie and, particularly, Sarah in this unfolding crisis. Fans cannot help but point out what they see as blatant hypocrisy: “Maggie and Sarah both handwaved Xander trying to kill Brady. Now they suddenly have a problem with it.” The defense of Xander is crystal clear: his explosion was the direct consequence of “months of lies and everyone he trusted betraying him.” Emphasizing that it was merely “one bad day” for Xander, the fanbase finds it utterly unacceptable that Sarah, who “lied to him for 5 months and roped half his relatives into helping her,” now turns her back. The act of them barring him from seeing his child—a legal right he possesses—is deemed “cruel” and only serves to worsen the situation, depriving him of the one thing that might offer him solace.

And then, the outrage shifts, setting its sights on Brady Black, the character many fans fear is being forcibly pushed by the writers as the “perfect man” for Sarah. This notion is met with vehement rejection: “Which I will never accept,” the fan bluntly declares. “The man is a train wreck who can’t keep a relationship and who has two kids he barely parents.” This is a scathing critique, highlighting the stark disconnect between what the writers seem to intend and what the audience believes is authentically right for Sarah, especially given her profound history with Xander.

The unwavering belief in Xander and Sarah, affectionately known as “Xarah,” burns brightly in the hearts of many fans. After more than seven years of their tumultuous but deeply felt love, the writer deems it “ludicrous to think they’d ever work with anyone else.” The ultimate prayer remains a desperate plea for “a redemption arc for Xander and a way forward for him and Sarah.” This is not simply a wish; it is a declaration of the inseparable nature of this relationship within the collective consciousness of the fanbase. This deep-seated attachment transcends the current plot contrivances and the writers’ attempts to redefine these characters.

This raging anger is not just about the characters; it is a battle for the soul of the storytelling, a cry for justice for the character development that was earned, and a fierce opposition to what is perceived as “over the top writing” simply to force a tired plot device. This emotion, raw and potent, is the voice of a fandom too invested to accept a character “reset” that they deem unfair and unwarranted. It reflects a profound fear that what makes Days of Our Lives truly special—its long-term character arcs and complex relationship dynamics—is being irrevocably compromised.

Will the writers heed the furious cries of a betrayed fanbase, or will they persist on this contested path, risking pushing Xander into a villainous role he seemingly had transcended, and forcing a relationship that many believe can never truly succeed?