In the upcoming episodes of Days of Our Lives airing January 5 through 9, Chanel Dupree reaches a breaking point amid marital tensions, while Leo Stark reels from an unexpected revelation. These developments follow a tumultuous New Year's period involving weddings, family decisions, and returning characters in Salem.
The week of January 5-9 on Days of Our Lives promises heightened drama for several key characters. Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) completely snaps, likely stemming from ongoing disagreements with her husband, Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman). The couple has been at odds over Johnny's decision to remain at DiMera Enterprises for financial stability, compounded by his concerns about their unborn child carrying DiMera DNA and the risks to Chanel's health due to her history of molar pregnancies. This friction places significant stress on their marriage and her pregnancy.
Meanwhile, Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) reels in total shock, potentially tied to the aftermath of his wedding to Javi Hernandez (Al Calderon), which occurs on January 2. The ceremony, officiated by Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) with Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) as best man, features attendees including Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez), Arianna Horton (Marissa Reyes), and Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering). Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien), seated front row and frustrated by Leo's happiness after he wrecked her marriage to Dimitri von Leuschner (Peter Porte), plots revenge. Dimitri returns to Salem that day, courtesy of Gwen and EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel), leading to a kiss with Leo at the DiMera mansion. Speculation arises that Gwen authored a breakup letter to Dimitri, keeping him enamored with Leo and threatening the new union.
Other plotlines include Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow) allying with Xander Cook (Paul Telfer) to save Titan using Bonnie's novel, EJ and Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton) unveiling secrets in a lab—possibly involving Lexie Carver (Renee Jones) in a test tube—and Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) returning from Paris with a hostile attitude toward Tate Black (Leo Howard) and Ari. Owen Kent (Wes Ramsey) escalates his stalking of Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein), unaware to her and Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson), who may receive a proposal. The DiMera family grapples with Peter Blake's (Jason Brooks) life support, with EJ pushing to unplug him after his sarin gas plot, though Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) faces moral conflict as his biological sister. A potential wedding crasher looms, continuing Salem's tradition of disrupted nuptials.