Days of our Lives Recap, October 28, 2025: Tony disappears

Here’s your Days of our Lives recap for what happened on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, when Marlena counseled Xander, Sarah expressed her rage, JJ struggled with his decision, and Tony disappeared.

What happened on Days of our Lives

Xander attended couples therapy with Marlena alone. “Sarah filed for divorce. She also filed for sole custody of Victoria. Didn’t even give me visitation rights. And I have no one to blame but myself,” Xander said. Xander told Marlena about his confrontation with Maggie, and how he had confessed to Sarah that he had attacked Philip.

“I wasn’t just lying to you. I was lying to myself. I was doing everything I could to put what I did to Philip in the past, forget it ever happened. Because otherwise I have to look in the mirror and see myself for who I really am. Just a thug. Or worse, a homicidal maniac,” Xander said. Xander admitted he was ashamed for having let Sarah repeatedly apologize to him for rightfully believing that he had attacked Philip.

“How did Sarah react when you told her the truth?” Marlena asked. “She made it perfectly clear that she hates me, wants nothing to do with me ever again. But she couldn’t possibly hate me as much as I hate myself,” Xander said. Marlena asked Xander what he planned to do next. With a shrug, Xander noted that his marriage was over, and Maggie wanted Philip to turn Xander in to the police. “Do you think he would do that?” Marlena asked. Xander said that Philip had been his biggest ally and had refused Maggie’s demand.

“But even if Philip does cover for me, there’s still plenty of people out there that can testify about all the other horrible things that I’ve done,” Xander said. Xander noted that he did not believe a judge would let him have visitation with Victoria. “Maybe it would be best for Victoria if I just walked away,” Xander said. Marlena asked Xander if he believed Victoria would be better off without him. Xander argued that he continued to hurt the people he loved, and he could not bear to hurt Victoria.

“I think we need to do a lot of work on this. I mean, why you keep hurting the people that you love,” Marlena said. With a shake of his head, Xander said he did not know. “I think you’re judging yourself too harshly. I think you don’t know what the future holds for you,” Marlena advised. Marlena said she believed that Xander could grow because he had his daughter to motivate him to heal. Marlena encouraged Xander not to give up on therapy.

“I want to get better. I want to be better,” Xander stressed. Xander asked Marlena if she would continue to treat him. Marlena agreed on the condition that Xander agreed to be completely honest in their sessions. Xander agreed. “Do you see any way that I could ever fix this with her?” Xander asked. After a moment, Marlena said, “I think we should work on fixing you first.” Xander agreed.

Brady took Sarah to a rage room to work out some of her aggression. “You have every right to be angry at Xander right now. This is a place where you can just get your anger out in a safe, controlled environment,” Brady said. Once Sarah was alone, she screamed about Xander and trashed the room. When Sarah was done, Brady returned and sat next to her.

“How was it?” Brady asked. “Exhilirating. Eye-opening,” Sarah said. With a sigh, Sarah explained that what she had done to the room was what Xander had wanted to do to Brady and what he had done to Philip. “I doubt Xander even thought twice about doing it to an actual person,” Sarah said. Sarah noted that she had married a monster.

“Part of me knows that I can never let him be around Victoria again. He’d never hurt her. Never, not in a million years. Not physically. But the pain that he has caused me is just as real as any broken bone. I never want her to feel that,” Sarah said. Sarah confessed that she felt like a monster for wanting to keep Xander out of Victoria’s life.

“I get it. You want to protect your little girl,” Brady said. Brady noted that Victoria was only two, and she would not have memories of her father. “If there was ever a time to break it off, now would be the time,” Brady said. Sarah thanked Brady for the therapy, and they hugged.

At the pub, JJ stopped by Theo’s table. “I thought a lot about the talk that you and I had after what happened in the square,” JJ said. JJ confirmed that he had offered his resignation from the force, but Jada had talked him out of it. “But she did encourage me to take a leave of absence while I work out some things with the department psychiatrist,” JJ said. Theo asked why JJ was telling him about it.

“I’m not going to be able to work this out unless I talk it over with you,” JJ said. Theo shook his head, and he noted, “It’s not my responsibility to assuage your guilt.” JJ agreed. JJ clarified that he valued his friendship with Theo, and if he had known that rejoining the force would upset Theo, he would not have done it. JJ said he felt like he could be a better cop and right his past wrongs.

“Are you seriously asking for my permission?” Theo said. When JJ said yes, Theo groaned. “I don’t think it’s fair of you to put this decision on me,” Theo said. JJ said he only wanted Theo’s help to make the decision.

“I never would have involved you in this in the first place if you hadn’t flipped out when you found out that I was back on [the force],” JJ said. Theo scoffed. “Is that what you think I did?” Theo asked. Theo noted that JJ should have talked to him about rejoining the force before he had rejoined. Theo walked out.

In EJ’s office at the hospital, EJ told Cat that Anna had told him that Tony was missing from the cruise. EJ argued that Anna was an anxious soul, and he was not worried yet. “Wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry?” Cat said. EJ asked Cat to talk to Chad about Tony’s disappearance.

Jennifer visited Chad at the paper to apologize for the hurtful things she had said to Chad. “I also wanted to tell you how grateful I am that you are doing the right thing and you’re putting your relationship with Cat Greene behind you,” Jennifer said. “I’ll always put my family first. I hope you know that,” Chad said. Jennifer nodded yes.

After a moment, Chad admitted that he had never expected to forgive Cat or be interested in a relationship with her. Jennifer argued that Chad’s feelings for Cat were transference from Abigail. “The love, that belongs to my daughter, not to Cat,” Jennifer said. Chad said he was sorry that he had hurt everyone. Jennifer stressed that she had never suggested to Thomas that he move with her to Boston.

“I hate that Thomas found out about me and Cat the way that he did. I’m doing everything in my power to regain his trust. But Jennifer, he’s not letting me in. And he’s not going to as long as he thinks that moving in with you and Jack is a viable option,” Chad said. Chad asked Jennifer to make it clear to Thomas, and Jennifer agreed. Jennifer asked Chad to promise that he would keep Cat away from the children. As Chad stressed that his relationship with Cat was over, she walked in.

“I’m very sorry to interrupt. EJ sent me here,” Cat said. Cat explained that Tony had not returned from an excursion in Greece on his cruise. Cat was flustered at the sight of Jennifer, and she walked out.. “I need to call EJ. And I had no idea that she was going to be showing up,” Chad said. Jennifer said she believed him. “You both live in Salem. There is no way that the two of you are going to totally avoid each other all the time,” Jennifer said.

When Theo arrived in EJ’s office at the hospital, he confirmed that he had last spoken to Tony the night before. “If you need any help with DiMera, I’m happy to step in,” EJ offered. Theo asked EJ why he was worried about the company instead of Tony. EJ argued that the family needed to close ranks against any enemies. Anna called to confirm that Tony had returned to the ship at the next port and was fine.

In the square, Cat called Rafe and told him about Tony’s disappearance. Cat noticed Chad approaching, and she ended the call. Cat apologized for having interrupted his meeting with Jennifer. Chad noted that Jennifer had admitted that it was inevitable that they would run into one another. EJ called Chad to tell him that Tony was okay. Chad shouted with joy, then he and Cat awkwardly said goodbye.

When Jennifer returned home, JJ was deep in thought. JJ told Jennifer about what happened with Theo on the night of the blackout. “It brought back up the shooting for both of us. And I have decided to take a leave of absence from the PD. And now I’m struggling with whether to remain on the force or resign,” JJ said. JJ admitted he was ashamed. Jennifer told JJ that there was no shame in taking time off and speaking to a therapist.

“But Theo is right. Whether you decide to rejoin the force or not, that is a decision that you have to make on your own,” Jennifer said. JJ nodded yes. Jennifer apologized for having been too preoccupied to notice that JJ had been struggling, and she promised to stand by him.

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