Days of our Lives dropped a bit of a bombshell on fans when it was revealed that Rita is, in fact, betraying EJ, while he remains on high alert that everyone else is out to get him. It’s a brilliant move because EJ fully believes that Rita’s the one person he can trust no matter what, and boy, is he wrong.
Key Takeaway
- EJ doesn’t trust easily for good reason.
- Rita has him convinced she’s his right hand, but that is not the case.
- EJ’s growing paranoia will keep Rita flying under the radar.
The Trust Issue That EJ Can’t See
It’s not a surprise that EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) has half of Salem coming for him, considering his horrific actions. EJ knows he has to be very careful regarding who he trusts. Aside from his son Johnny (Carson Boatman), Rita (Maggie Carney) is the only other person who has EJ’s blind loyalty.
Cat (AnnaLynne McCord) used to be in his small circle of trust. Since her ISA bombshell, EJ has his guard up around her, and rightfully so. EJ instantly knew that Cat wasn’t to be trusted, but that he has to play that card close to the vest.
However, what he can’t see is that Rita, his confidante, is the one person he shouldn’t be trusting. Rita’s endgame is unclear, other than it definitely has something to do with Stefano (Joseph Mascolo), but what is clear is that she isn’t as loyal to EJ as he thinks.
Rita’s Just Might Be More Dangerous Than Anyone Else Coming for EJ
One of the most ironic things about how easily Rita can manipulate EJ is that his instincts are usually on point. After all, EJ’s instincts are telling him that secrets, lies, and enemies surround him.
When he speaks to Rita, there are clear signs that something is off with her. From her shaky response to the photo of Stefano with a little boy to her reaction to Dominic, Rita isn’t herself, but EJ doesn’t clock it because he has no reason to question her loyalty.
Rita profusely reassures EJ that she’s working very hard to help cover up secrets and uncover other secrets. She even helped nudge him in Dr. Rolf’s (Richard Wharton) direction as the person delivering clues about the chessboard to Chad (Conner Floyd) and Belle (Martha Madison).
Because EJ has relied on Rita for so long, he has no reason to think she would betray him. Rita also knows how to play EJ like a fiddle without him even realizing her real agenda. Those two things, along with EJ being convinced it’s other people like Cat who are deceiving, makes it much harder for him to see what is happening right in front of him.
Will EJ ever realize Rita has duped him, or will he keep falling for her act?
