The air in Salem, already accustomed to shocks and tragedies, is now thick with the tension of a brutal legal and emotional drama, where even the seemingly strongest bonds are torn apart by betrayal and dark secrets. Thursday, July 10, 2025, will go down in Days of Our Lives history as a day where justice is twisted, love is tested to its absolute breaking point, and fragments of the past rise up to demand their due. Brace yourselves, for what is about to unfold will surpass all imagination of drama and cruelty!
The Fateful Blow: EJ Betrays Chanel Right In Court!
The courtroom air is thick with tension as Johnny DiMera’s (Carson Boatman) fate hangs precariously in his attempted murder trial. The irony is bitter: EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel), the very father who was shot and is now the victim, is also defending his son. Yet, a ghost of betrayal silently lurks, threatening to consume everything. Johnny, with his impulsive remarks and anxiety about returning to normal life, is inadvertently weakening his own case. Chanel (Raven Bowens) desperately tries to reassure her husband, convinced of Johnny’s innocence, but she is utterly unaware that she is about to become the victim of a devastating, calculated blow.
Paulina Price (Jackee Harry), in her capacity as mayor, attempts to uphold fairness, advising Chanel against interference for the sake of “the big picture” and judicial “integrity.” She desperately hopes her gut feeling is wrong, that Johnny is innocent, and that new evidence will surface to save her nephew. But Paulina’s cold warning about EJ’s potential “dirty trick” comes true in the most brutal way imaginable. As Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) and Belle Black (Martha Madison) project the footage from a recovered memory card, Paulina is so shocked she nearly faints.
The horrifying video reveals a furious argument between Chanel and EJ on the very night he was shot. And then, Chanel’s voice rings out, piercing the courtroom’s silence like a sharp knife: “I’m not going to let you live long enough to hurt Johnny or anyone ever again!” This is no mere evidence against Johnny; this is incriminating proof against CHANEL, instantly implicating her as the prime suspect and threatening to utterly destroy her life! This cruel twist transforms a criminal case into a profound family tragedy, where trust is painfully betrayed, and Chanel now faces a bleak, inescapable future.
Passion and Regret: Gwen and Xander’s Fiery Night
While Johnny and Chanel grapple with their legal nightmare, a flame of passion ignites only to flicker out, leaving deep scars on the complex relationship between Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) and Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer). Gwen wakes with a contented smile in a Salem Inn bed, but as she reaches for Xander, he is gone. Memories of the previous night flood back: a “wild time” that almost happened between them, but Xander abruptly stopped himself and fled her room.
Xander’s sudden halt leaves Gwen deeply disappointed and hurt. He was “the one who got away,” and though she had been vulnerable to Dimitri, it was Xander who had first broken her heart. Her lifelong fear of losing him to his “true love,” Sarah, had, tragically, become a reality. Now, will she get a second chance? Although Xander, that night, had tenderly held her face, showing empathy for her pain, it’s clear he still carries reservations. Gwen’s lonely breakfast the next morning is a testament to her regret and unspoken questions. What did she do wrong? What could she have done differently to achieve the outcome her wounded heart so desperately craved? Passion and pain led the way, but regret and unseen barriers ultimately triumphed, pushing this relationship to a tragic crossroads.
The Reckoning: JJ Returns to Confront Gwen Over Stolen Heirloom
Gwen’s painful solitude is shattered by an unexpected knock at her door. Standing there is none other than her half-brother, JJ Deveraux (Casey Moss), who has returned to Salem in an unmistakably tense role: police officer and an agent of justice for the Horton family.
JJ doesn’t mince words, accusing Gwen of “screwing up” her relationship with Jack and Abigail, sowing chaos and jealousy. Gwen, as always, retorts with defiant and cold remarks, denying Jack ever cared for her and questioning JJ’s presence in her room. But JJ has a singular purpose: he snatches the famed diamond necklace, declaring Gwen bought “stolen property,” and he intends to return it to its rightful owner.
The heated confrontation escalates as Gwen challenges JJ for proof of ownership, and when he has no answer, she snatches the necklace back. “If Julie wants her necklace so badly, she can sue me for it!” Gwen defiantly declares, then puts the necklace on. Her bitter words, “because my dad started a family with my mother instead of yours,” profoundly expose her deep-seated pain of abandonment and lingering jealousy. JJ, though hurt, tries to persuade Gwen to change, but she insists her life is perfect: she’s rich. “Family,” JJ counters, implanting a piercing question in Gwen’s mind about what money truly cannot buy. Will JJ’s plea be enough for Gwen to “extend an olive branch” to her family, or will she continue to wallow in her resentment?
The Relentless Battle: Kiriakis Power Struggle
Tension isn’t confined to the DiMera and Horton families; it explodes ferociously between the Kiriakis heirs. Xander (Paul Telfer) stumbles into work looking hungover, while Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) appears relaxed, even putting his feet up on the desk, greeting Xander with a provoking “Howdy partner.” Though they had an uneasy pact to save Titan, their personal animosity has clearly reached a breaking point.
Xander bluntly states, “We may be blood, but you will never be my brother.” Philip, undeterred, is ready to put their differences aside for the sake of their father’s company, but Xander can’t hide his disdain: “Every time I see you I want to wring your neck!” In response, Philip “pranks” Xander by signing him up for an anger management course, igniting a fiery argument right in the office. Xander grabs Philip by the collar, but Philip merely smirks: “You’re kinda making my case for me now, aren’t ya?”
The chaotic and tense scene continues as Philip insists on working in the same office as Xander, deliberately trying to annoy him with physical therapy stretches. Johnny walks in, observing the scene in disbelief. Despite the tension, they must cooperate to record a video showcasing corporate unity. But petty bickering persists, to the point where Philip delays the video recording. When Johnny leaves, Xander complains about working with someone who makes his “flesh crawl,” and Philip coldly retorts: “Well, there’s one way to remedy that. You could quit.” The relationship between Xander and Philip is not just rivalry; it’s a mental battle, where each tries to push the other to the absolute limit.
Salem is currently experiencing tumultuous times, where every character is drawn into a vortex of fateful decisions and unpredictable consequences. From Johnny and Chanel’s legal tragedy to Gwen and Xander’s heartbreaking reunion, and the intense confrontation between JJ and Gwen, along with the relentless power struggle of the Kiriakis brothers, everything is exploding.
In your opinion, which twist in this episode is the most “shocking” and will have the longest-lasting impact on the characters and storylines of Days of Our Lives?