In a beautiful yet heartbreaking episode of Days of Our Lives, Julie’s friends, family, and loved ones rally around her after her husband and the love of her life dies. On November 29, Julie says goodbye to Doug, and Hope mourns her father and pleads to the love of her life, Bo Brady. And it looks like he listens to her.
I Will Love You Forever
After Jack (Matthew Ashford) broke the heartbreaking news to Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) about Doug (late Bill Hayes) dying in his sleep, Julie felt all the emotions from losing the man she just spent the last fifty years loving, learning from, and leaning on.
Jack immediately started making calls and doing practical things while Jennifer (Melissa Reeves) called Hope (Kristian Alfonso), and Eli (Lamon Archey) comforted Julie. As the episode progressed, more of Doug’s loved ones learned he was gone.
Throughout the episode, flashbacks of Doug played as characters reminisced about the talented man they loved. Hope remembered the father who was there for her 18th birthday and before she gave birth to Shawn Douglas. Maggie (Suzanne Rogers) reflected on the Ginger Rogers/Fred Astaire-type dance she and Doug performed together for a variety show back in the day.
The Support Group
Meanwhile, Jack also broke the news to Maggie and Sarah (Linsey Godfrey). Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) told Marlena (Deidre Hall), and Hope revealed the painful news to Shawn (Brandon Beemer).
Lani (Sal Stowers) rushed to the Horton house to comfort Julie and her husband, Eli. He was late to the Horton family game, but she loved how they made up for it and welcomed in so easily. Eli called his half-brother Scotty.
Plus, Kayla gave Julie the time she needed to pay Doug a proper goodbye before the ambulance came to pick up her husband’s body. Each step of the way became more beautiful as they honored this man who meant so much to them.
It all culminated with Maggie, Sarah, Paulina (Jackée Harry), and Marlena (Deidre Hall) arriving at the Horton House. And they said such wonderful things about Doug.
Julie noted how Doug loved Paulina’s spirit and style. Marlena told Julie she wouldn’t be anywhere but with her. She wanted to remind her that her and Doug’s “love and devotion were…are…an inspiration to us all. They will be forever.” Julie thanked her friends and family for being there for her. “It means the world to me,” she cried.
READ THIS: Ken Corday previews the 15,000th DAYS episode.
The Bope Epilogue
Hope told Shawn she wanted to go to Bo’s side, but she wanted to do it alone. As she sat beside his hospital bed, she told him about Doug’s death. Doug was the one person who said, “No matter what I was going through, he always made me feel safe and so loved.” Then she said that the only other person who had ever made her feel the same as Doug did was Bo (Peter Reckell).
READ THIS: Kristian Alfonso was happy to be included in these goodbye to Doug episodes.
She told Bo how much she needed him, and wouldn’t you know it, his fingers suddenly started moving. He might be coming out of the coma, which sets up Bo and Hope’s ultimate return to Salem in 2025.
What did you think of this episode? Did you tear up (and sob) as much as we did? Let us know in the comments.
Share this: