Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI (2), Peacock screenshot (5)

We haven’t quite gotten to the big shooting yet, but things are coming to a head on Days of Our Lives as tempers flare, secrets explode and every last lifeline and ally EJ may have once had turn on him. That and the fallout from Ava’s kidnapping were the two big stories— though it looks like Marlena and Steve are about to take front and center.

Good Times Gone Bad

Well, I’m fully team Ava at this point. Anyone else? I liked her and Brady together, but forget that. Wanting to protect your kid is one thing, but he’s clearly never going to make Ava — or her life — a priority, so it’s time for her to move on. And that’s frustrating, because I think these two need to end for good, and it’s just another potential couple destroyed before it could even breathe.

I’m struggling to figure out what the point of bringing Rachel Blake back was if she was just going to be made irredeemably unhinged. Her return didn’t teach us anything new and the idea that she’s been alive for decades, one town over from her daughter and never said or did anything is just a tough pill to swallow.

And with her determined to kill Ava and no one willing to stop her, I’ve a feeling she’s going to end up dead the next time she goes up against the former mobster. Which, again, leads me to ask: Why bring her back just to get rid of her again?

Now Johnny Knows

I really thought this week would end with EJ getting shot, but it makes sense to give Johnny some room to breathe (and punch) after finding out how he was conceived. I know we all questioned how he couldn’t know what happened, but if everyone in his life, like Kate said, promised to keep the secret so he and Allie wouldn’t be hurt, I get it. Right or wrong, a choice was made by Johnny’s parents, and it wasn’t anyone else’s place to tell him.

The performances got me right in the heart as Johnny realized he’s the product of violence against his mom. This is the type of revelation that could have start making him hate himself too, if he starts looking at himself as a “bad seed” from conception. And wow, I was almost taken aback at how heated Roman got. Not that I blame him, since his daughter was the one traumatized, but it’s been a while since this was touched upon. At the end of the day, the suspect list actually grew considerably more than I expected just in the last week.

Who’s Shooting EJ?

I almost felt bad when Belle forcibly shoved EJ out of bed. He seemed truly hurt. After his talk with Johnny, I do believe he wanted to try doing the right thing and genuinely reconnect with Belle in the process. And she did hop back into the sack with him, rather than stick to her guns. But he just couldn’t help himself in trying to turn their fling to his advantage — and let’s be honest, he’s still lying to her about everything he’s done. She may have just been pushed (partly by herself) too far.

I think they also set Roman, Paulina and even Kate up as shooting possibilities this week, though, honestly, to varying degrees of likelihood. And man, it feels like ages ago that Rafe tried to choke the life out of EJ, but it was just Monday! In any case, it looks like next week is ending with an EJ/Rachel Blake confrontation, so I’m wondering if he’s shot at the end of the episode, and we’re made to think she’s the one who did it — only for the truth to be something a whole lot more complicated.

I just hope the shooter isn’t one of the disposable characters and it’s not some accident. I want a real murder attempt from someone who really wants him dead. It’s a rarity in daytime, but not impossible — especially in Salem. Hope shot Stefano dead and got away with it, thanks, in part, to Rafe helping her cover it up and falling in love in the process. (Though whether or not Stefano had really died was up in the air for a bit, and then his “essence” came back anyway.)

Although, now that I say that, I’m also hoping it’s not a repeat and ends up being something like Jada shooting EJ and Rafe helping her cover it up. For my part, I would seriously love it if someone like Roman pulled the trigger. EJ hurt just about everyone he loves at this point, including Johnny now that he knows. And his anger and disgust this week towards EJ was real.

Stray Thoughts…

• I was hoping for a bit more between a Theresa and Amy confrontation, not going to lie. Push back, Theresa.
• I’m already disappointed with the inevitable collapse of the Kiriakis camaraderie. I like seeing Xander and Philip (and Alex, I guess) work together and get along. Will they put the takeover on hold while EJ fights for his life, or move in for the kill?

• After months and months of utterly stalled and forgotten storyline, Chad and Cat are finally moving forward. And Billy Flynn is leaving. Take that as you will.
• With Joy hiding her pregnancy and Philip insisting Stephanie won’t say anything about his own misdeeds so long as she’s happy with Alex, I’m starting to wonder if he will actually pretend to be the father to keep the peace when Joy, inevitably, starts to show.
• Oh yeah, Gabi’s gonna love Leo moving in. Maybe even more than she loves Javi dating him!
• There wasn’t a ton of Steve and Marlena this week, but they’re just getting started. Next week, we get Shane, and I have a feeling once the Ava/Rachel drama wraps and EJ’s shooting happens, we’ll pivot more towards the search for John.