Days of Our Lives Scorching Summer Preview: EJ DiMera’s Mighty Fall, Stefano’s Chess Move From Beyond the Grave, and the Most Dangerous Summer Salem Has Ever Seen

EJ DIMERA WAS ON TOP OF THE WORLD AND DAYS OF OUR LIVES CANNOT WAIT TO WATCH HIM PLUMMET TO THE PITS OF DESPAIR

TL;DR: The Days of Our Lives summer preview dropped and it is a whole lot. EJ DiMera is carrying Stefano’s torch, Gwen Rizczech is sharpening her knife, Chanel Dupree is in a hospital bed, Stefano’s chess set has claimed a new pawn, and Salem is staring down a public health crisis, a baby missing or in severe trouble, and a kiss between EJ and Cat that Marlena wants to know more about. Summer in Salem is never quiet. This summer looks like a full collapse.

The Man in the Portrait’s Shadow

EJ DiMera has spent his entire life trying to become Stefano, and the summer preview confirms this may finally be the season he goes for it. But will be succeed? Highly doubtful. Still, he’s going to go down fighting. Standing beneath his father’s portrait, EJ declares that Stefano built an empire and he intends to carry that vision forward. It sounds like a promise. It lands like a warning.

The preview makes one thing clear. The empire has cracks. Philip Kiriakis is quietly panicking that EJ will discover DiMera money was used to cover a Titan loan payment and if he does, they’ll lose everything. Kate Roberts is rallying the troops, telling Xander and Philip they must stand together or go down together. And Gwen Rizczech delivers the line of the entire preview without ambiguity to EJ, her former partner in crime: he stabbed her in the back, and now she is returning his knife.

EJ built his summer on betrayal. Salem has a way of collecting that debt with interest.

What are you most afraid of heading into this Salem summer? Send your hottest takes to [email protected] and we just might publish them!

The Chess Set, the Pawn, and the Dead Man’s Game

The most chilling moment in the preview has nothing to do with a key being placed on Stefano’s chess set.

Stefano famously called John Black his pawn. When Stefano wrote his will, John was still alive, and the chess set reference was one final act of psychological warfare aimed squarely at John and Marlena Evans, his Queen of the Night. John is gone now. But the game is still running, and someone is carrying out Stefano’s instructions from beyond the grave, placing pieces exactly where the Phoenix wanted them.

Chad DiMera tells Belle Black that whoever is dropping these bread crumbs on Stefano’s behalf is still out there, and the word needs to stay quiet. Chad and Belle are also getting considerably closer, and finally share a passionate kiss.

Speaking of Chad, he seems to have cooled considerably in terms of crushing on Cat. He is seen questioning her about how she could have know about this and did nothing. She counters that there are reasons she couldn’t tell him everything.

Reaons including the fact that she’s an ISA agent? Undoubtedly.

Salem’s Summer of Consequence

The preview does not let a single character breathe. Chanel Dupree is in a hospital bed, scared, bleeding, and asking what the drug effects mean for her baby. Paulina Price, Lani, and Kayla are there. The room is being cleared. This is not a minor scare.

Sarah Horton tells Xander Kiriakis she hopes they stopped EJ in time. Xander warns her that she does not want to get caught in EJ’s crosshairs. And later, she asks EJ, incredulously, if he’s actually firing her. Marlena tells Xander he may be deluding himself about Sarah still wanting him. Brady tells Sarah he loves her. Sarah tells Brady she loves him too. The triangle is not resolved. It is accelerating.

Steve Johnson and Brady raise the alarm by telling Johnny that tainted drugs still in circulation could trigger a public health crisis. And Johnny, against his will, seems to be contining to delve into the dark side. After he says he doesn’t want to be involved in “any of this” to an unknown person on the phone, he is shown wearing gloves and sneaking around a darkened office. But Theo finds out Johnny isn’t innocent after all and demands Johnny tell him what other heinous things he has been covering up.

Lives are changing in two additional hopsital rooms. In one, Holly Jonas, Tate and Sarah are gathered as Holly holds pills in her hand and insists they’re not hers. Tate, who’s on the bed, begs her to talk to her further. She refuses then orders Sarah out of the room.

In yet another room lies Lexie, as Theo and Abe surround her. She is furious with EJ and previously accused him of not giving a damn what this would due to her. “This” clearly means her resurrection. And when EJ enters that hospital room, Abe – who is beyond furious – screams at him to get the hell out.

Meanwhile, Rachel wonders whether Salem’s doctors can help her the way they could not help Sophia. Alex Kiriakis is frantic as he asks Joy where Kelsey is and Joy collapses, sobbing, into his arms. Jada admonishes Stephanie for pointing a loaded gun at a stranger. And Kristen DiMera is downright scared because EJ has apparently figured out it was she who tried to murder Johnny. When he confronts her, his fury leaves no room for interpretation.

There is one woman who tries to save EJ. His mama.

Susan Banks tells EJ he is not Stefano and she will not let him become that monster.

He has heard this before. He has never listened. Will he listen now? Or have all his independent choices been taken from him? Buckle your seatbelts, pour a refreshing summertime beverage and prepare yourself. Noone is safe in Salem this summer.

Stefano’s chess game is still running, EJ’s empire is cracking from every direction, and Salem is heading into its most dangerous summer in years. Whose story are you watching closest and do you think EJ DiMera survives his own ambition? Sound off below!

WATCH THIS: Do you want more Xander and Kristen?

@soapoperamag We Need MORE Sexy Time Between #KristenDiMera and #XanderKiriakis on DAYS! One night was a TEASER. We are formally demanding the SEQUEL. Hit play because Salem's most dangerous duo needs ENCORE energy! #DOOL #DAYS #DaysofOurLives ♬ original sound – Soap Opera Magazine