Spectacular Days of our Lives Cliffhanger Hit All the Right Marks

If a soap’s going to be preempted for two weeks, it needs to present fans with a major reason to tune in after the break. It has to air an explosive last episode that takes the drama to a pinnacle and leaves viewers on the edge of their seats. Days of our Lives did exactly that with its final show before the Summer Olympics, presenting a spectacular cliffhanger that hit all the right marks.

Days of our Lives: Setting the Stage

The episode was carefully plotted and strategically played out. With each beat, the main storylines gained momentum. Then, as the final minutes of the soap aired, they reached their crescendos.

DAYS Wedding Woes

On the Ciara Brady (Victoria Konefal) and Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson) front, more things went wrong in the hours leading up to their wedding. Theo learned Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) couldn’t serve as his best man, and Eli Grant (Lamon Archey) wasn’t available either. Ciara’s big brother, Shawn Brady (Brandon Beemer), announced Belle Black Brady (Martha Madison) might not be able to make the ceremony and suggested a postponement, but the bride-to-be wouldn’t be deterred.

Across town, a desperate Ben Weston (Robert Scott Wilson) chatted with Claire Brady (Isabel Durant) about how to stop the nuptials. Finally, they orchestrated the perfect plot, and when Allie Horton (Lindsay Arnold) agreed to help, things were off and running.

Days of our Lives: The Letter

Meanwhile, Philip Kiriakis (Jay Kenneth Johnson) brought Nicole Walker Brady (Arianne Zucker) Kristen DiMera’s letter exposing Lucas Horton (Bryan Dattilo) and Sami Brady DiMera’s (Alison Sweeney) affair. Armed with the ammunition to pay back her nemesis, Nicole headed to EJ DiMera’s (Dan Feuerriegel) office to destroy his marriage to Sami. Before she arrived, Belle chatted with EJ about his conniving wife, certain she orchestrated Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan) and Nicole’s anniversary party blowup and challenging him to see Sami for who she truly was.

Sami, who believed her secret was safe, had a heart-to-heart with Lucas. He admitted he almost revealed all to EJ, but couldn’t go through with it because of his love for her. A teary-eyed Sami was filled with appreciation, particularly when Lucas vowed to be there for her if and when things imploded with EJ.

DOOL: Bang-Up Shockers

Moments later, Nicole gave Kristen’s letter to EJ, who was stunned and furious to learn about his cheating wife. After Nicole left, EJ raged, swiping everything off his desk and screaming aloud. Then he headed home to Sami. They shared a kiss, and EJ announced he had an overwhelming urge to come home to his “loving faithful wife.” What does he have in store for the adulteress? Knowing EJ, it’s not going to be pretty.

Finally, Ciara and Theo’s wedding began, and Shawn walked the bride down the aisle. But when Theo lifted her veil, Claire was beneath it. Viewers didn’t have to wait long to find out what happened to Ciara.

As she rode to the church in a limo, she told the chauffeur he’d taken a wrong turn. “That’s because we’re not going to the church,” announced Ben, who was in the driver’s seat. “Happy anniversary, Ciara.” Determined to make Ciara remember their love story, Ben’s whisking her away to somewhere private. Exactly what tricks he has up his sleeve remains to be seen, but they’re bound to be incredibly romantic.

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.