On Days of our Lives, Salem limped into the end of the year bruised, kidnapped, emotionally compromised, and still somehow standing. Another DiMera crypt mess. Old family secrets resurfacing. Relationships stretched thin while new, devious alliances formed. It’s been a week where Salem felt worn down, the kind of stretch where everyone’s carrying something, and it shows. That’s why a recent social media post helped the show loosen its grip for a moment and let the characters try to change things for the better.
Key Takeaways
- The DAYS cast used humor and honesty to reflect what their characters need most in 2026.
- Goals ranged from personal growth to survival skills, with plenty of self-awareness.
- Fans responded warmly, laughing, sympathizing, and rooting for change.
What Salem Thinks It Needs to Fix
The official DAYS Instagram account shared a video with the caption, “New year, same Salem… unless our characters get it together. 😉.” The clip featured cast members answering a simple question about what their characters need to work on in 2026, and the honesty ranged from earnest to delightfully unserious.
Carson Boatman (Johnny) explained, “Something that Johnny needs to work on in 2026? Maybe letting go of the past.” Suzanne Rogers (Maggie) stated, “To do better!” AnnaLynne McCord (Cat) responded, “She could be better at lying. She’s a secret agent. She needs to get good at this.”
Abigail Klein, in light of the crazy letters Stephanie has been getting, simply said, “Self-defense lessons.” Paul Telfer (Xander) stated, “His anger. So he’s going to keep working on that. Maybe a Christmas miracle will happen; he’ll find some better ways to deal with all his rage.” Leo Howard answered that Tate needs to work on “letting Holly be who she is. Let her go, pal.”
Fans Heard Exactly What They Needed To
The video continued with Stacy Haiduk (Kristen) responding, “Do not overreact.” Eric Martsolf, feeling Brady’s loneliness, answered, “Getting a girlfriend.” And with a furrowed brow, Dan Feuerriegel (EJ) answered the question stoically: “Nothing is perfect.”
The comment section filled up fast, and one fan zeroed in on Telfer immediately, writing, “I love Paul’s big smile as he talks about rage. 😁” Another laughed at the self-awareness baked into Haiduk’s answer, saying, “Kristin was the best, ‘To not overreact!!’ 🤭🫢😂 At least that made me smile!!!!☺️” Feuerriegel’s moment didn’t go unnoticed either, with one viewer summing it up neatly: “I love EJ’s response 😂” while another added, “Dan with the hard facts over here.”
Martsolf’s answer hit harder. Multiple fans reacted with pure sympathy, posting things like, “Poor Brady! Give this guy a nice woman,” and, “Brady 😭😭😭.” Telfer, meanwhile, inspired confidence: “Xander can do it 🎯. He will hit the mark he wants in 2026,” one fan wrote, while another was less philosophical and more direct: “I want Xander and Sarah back together… 😩❤️🥰.”
