In the January 2 episode of Days of our Lives, Gwen bumped into Chad in the town square just ahead of Leo and Javi’s wedding, opening with concern that felt like an act, at best. But the pleasantries didn’t last. Gwen quickly zeroed in on the real issue, calling out Jennifer for threatening to take Thomas and Charlotte away from Chad, and labeling her behavior exactly as it’s played on screen: selfish, controlling, and wildly out of line.
Key Takeaways
- Gwen bluntly called out Jennifer for overstepping her role as a grandparent.
- The show acknowledged that threatening custody isn’t “concern,” it’s control.
- Chad’s defense of his parenting was presented as reasonable, not reckless.
- Fans were given validation for long-standing frustrations with Jennifer’s behavior.
What Happened on DAYS
Gwen (Emily O’Brien) ran into Chad (Billy Flynn) in the square and offered sympathy over his recent disappearance, though her tone made it clear she wasn’t there just to make small talk. She changed gears quickly, revealing how “distressing” she found Jennifer’s (Melissa Reeves) attempt to take the children away from him, calling her behavior wretched and selfish without hesitation.
Chad pushed back, insisting Jennifer was only trying to protect Thomas (Cary Christopher) and Charlotte (Autumn Gendron). Gwen wasn’t having it. She questioned how taking the kids from their only living parent could possibly be spun as protection, and for once, the show let a character voice what’s been obvious to the viewers for weeks.
Why It Matters
Jennifer’s grief over Abigail’s death has been real and painful, but DAYS finally separated grief from authority. Jennifer being shattered doesn’t suddenly give her a say in who Chad dates or the right to dangle the kids’ custody over his head when she’s unhappy.
Having Gwen spell that out shifts the temperature of the story, because it stops feeling like Chad pushing back and starts feeling like him being cornered for trying to move on. It would have been nice if the conversation had gone a little further, with Gwen advising him to put Jennifer in her place.
The Fallout
Jennifer’s custody push has already damaged her relationship with Chad, and this confrontation suggests the show is aware of the imbalance it created. With mediation looming, DAYS appears poised to course-correct and re-center the story on what actually serves Thomas and Charlotte’s stability.
More importantly, Gwen’s commentary cracked the halo Jennifer has worn for years. Once that surface cracks, the pattern is hard to ignore. What’s been sold as concern starts to look a lot like control, and now that someone’s actually said it out loud, Salem can’t really walk it back.
