“My first scenes are with Deidre Hall (Marlena),” explains Wilson “She’s been Ben’s doctor from the very beginning. So, to have this clearance from her is everything. Marlena is the gatekeeper to get Ben back into the world of Salem, the world period, because he was locked away.”
Yes, Ben is mentally healed. “So to speak,” notes Wilson. “He had a chance to find himself, do some heavy reading and find God, maybe. He is medicated. He has been cleared and deemed sane. And he’s okay.”
Back to Bland Good Guy?
But don’t worry, Ben isn’t reverting back to the bland guy he originally was. “No, no, no,” assures Weston. “Without a doubt you’re going to see an edge forever. That’s the through line for everything.
“The way they wrote it, it’s just a beautiful balance of could he, at any moment, slip back into [that dangerous mental] space,” he continues. “You’re going to see a lot of edge, trust me. That’s not going anywhere.”
Not So Welcomed Home
In the interim, look for Ben to reacclimate to the free world, which doesn’t welcome him with open arms.
Remember he murdered Eve’s (Kassie DePaiva) daughter and JJ’s (Casey Moss) girlfriend, Paige (True O’Brien), and Eric’s (Greg Vaughan) ex, Serena (Melissa Archer), as well as offed Will (Chandler Massey) before Dr. Rolf (Will Utay) brought him back to life.
Back with a Purpose
“Salem is a tough place to be in,” admits Wilson. “Ben’s got [enemies] everywhere. But he’s still coming back there, even though he could have gone anywhere, because he wants to make amends for what he’s done. And not everybody wants that, obviously. So it’s a struggle for him.
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“I’ve been [back taping] for a while now, and Ben has been chipping away at it,” adds Wilson.
“He’s been developing a sense of worth. He knows what he’s done. He carries it with him. Yet he has to try to control it, especially in public, if he has no one else on his side.”
Then There’s “Chabby”
Well, aside from Ciara. Among those not on Ben’s side, however, will be Chad (Billy Flynn) and Abigail (Marci Miller), the couple Ben wreaked havoc on during his initial Salem run. Viewers can expect him to figure into their complicated storyline, too.
“It’s a pleasure working with them,” admits Wilson. “Marci is an absolute pro, and Billy is one of my best friends here in Los Angeles. Any time I get a chance to work with him again is awesome.
“We’ve been at each other’s throats for so long on the show. Our enemy bromance or whatever you call it is always fun. I’m really excited for what’s to come.”
Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for air times.
Video Credit: KC Lynne
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