Days of our Lives’ Missing Hope Problem and How to Resolve It

Ciara’s returned to the Days of our Lives canvas, which means having Hope Williams Brady hang back in Johannesburg makes little… OK, absolutely no sense.

Days of our Lives — A Hope-less Situation

Why is Hope still there? Wouldn’t she have followed her daughter back to town, especially considering Ciara’s (Victoria Konefal) amnesiac state and the fact that she’s planning to marry Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson)? Days of our Lives has a serious missing Hope problem, but here’s how they can resolve it.

DAYS: Let’s Make A Deal

Kristian Alfonso opted not to renew her contract with the show when her DAYS bosses suggested a surprise move: pulling her character from the show for five months. Alfonso was disgruntled, and justifiably so. Having been a main character for over three decades, the idea seemed disrespectful. As a result, Hope hasn’t been seen since October 2020, and without ever being given a proper write-out.

In exit interviews prior to her departure, Alfonso insisted, “I’m not coming back.” But let’s face it, if the right deal and situation were presented, it’s hard to imagine the show couldn’t lure her back – at the very least just to make things right and wrap things up.

Days of our Lives: New Life, New-ish Love

The soap could also go another route – explaining, via Ciara, what’s been going on in her mother’s new life in Africa. Perhaps Hope met a new man and fell in love. He could be a rebel doctor, who relocated from The States, has long hair and a beard, and drives a motorcycle. Ciara could reveal how much the guy reminds her and her mother of Bo Brady (Peter Reckell).

Star Wars: A New Hope?

Many thought it was impossible for anyone to take Melissa Reeves’ place as Jennifer Horton Deveraux, a character she’d played on and off since 1985. But when Reeves chose not to return to the role, after the show resumed taping during the COVID-19 pandemic, the powers-that-be took a chance and cast Cady McClain as a temporary replacement. The daytime vet not only easily acclimated to the role but also won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series in the process.

Perhaps the same could be done with Hope. There are lots of daytime vets out there who would love the opportunity to step into the character’s shoes. Krista Tesreau (ex-Mindy, Guiding Light; ex-Tina, One Life to Live) comes to mind. She’s a consummate actress and the perfect age, although they may want her to dye her trademark blonde locks. Another suggestion, former DAYS (ex-Ivy) and OLTL (ex-Cassie) star Holly Gagnier. She already looks the part and knows the basics about Hope.

Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Salem, check out all the latest that’s been posted on DAYS spoilers.