With over 15000 episodes, Days of Our Lives is one of the longest-running soap operas to achieve this feat. Beginning with depicting the lives of characters living in Salem City, the show has introduced many new storylines, which include plots of serial murders and demonic possessions that were loved by fans.
The decade-long rivalries and entangled love stories have also piqued many viewers’ interest in the daily soap. Whether a fan-favorite character dies or a supervillain returns to wreak havoc on the lives of residents of Salem City, the different storylines sometimes run for more than a year. Among these storylines, some are anticipated more by fans, which, when aired in the Days of Our Lives episodes, did not disappoint the viewers.
In this article, we have listed 9 such Days of Our Lives storylines and the year in which the episodes aired.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the writer’s opinion. Reader discretion is advised.
9 Days of Our Lives episodes that were over-hyped, but that was justified
9) Princess Gina - Episodes from the 1990s and early 2000s

The 1990s storyline connecting Princess Gina and Hope Brady in Days of Our Lives might be one of the most confusing for the audience and characters living in Salem City.
In the early 1990s, Stefano captures Hope Brady, who everyone thought was dead, and brainwashes her. He puts a chip on her with the real Princess Gina’s memories, which makes her think that she works for him.
8) The baby switch - Episodes from 2000 - 2002

The baby switch plotline is a recurring theme in many soap operas, and Days of Our Lives did not shy away from using it a couple of times.
In the episodes from 2000 - 2002, Stefano DiMera caused the baby switch in which he ordered Dr. Wilhelm Rolf to swap Hope and Bo’s newborn son and Lexie’s adoptive son, as he thought Hope’s son was not Bo’s but his and wanted him to be raised by his daughter. Later, Lexie discovers the switch but does not reveal it to her best friend, Hope Brady.
7) Carrie's interruption in Sami and Austin’s wedding - 1997

In another bombshell of a Days of Our Lives storyline, Sami’s efforts to keep Austin to herself and away from her half-sister crash down when Carrie interrupts Sami’s wedding to Austin.
In the 1997 episodes, Sami and Austin decide to get married to regain custody of Will, but the ceremony is interrupted when Carrie comes and reveals that Will is Lucas’s son and not Austin’s, which results in Austin marrying Carrie instead of Sami.
6) Laura Horton’s institutionalization - Episodes from the late 1970s to 1980
One of the beloved characters from the daily soap, Laura Horton, was going through a tough period after she slipped into depression and her complicated marriage with Bill Horton.
After discovering Bill’s affair with Kate Roberts, her mental health spirals, and she tries to hang herself, but is saved by Bill and sent to a psychiatric hospital, where she spends more than a decade.
5) Will’s coming out - 2012
By including a storyline involving the LGBTQ+ community, Days of Our Lives entered into a new era of acceptance and inclusion. After kissing a boy at a party, Will finally came out to his grandmother Marlena in the March 27, 2012 episode.
The episode was heartwarming as Marlena supported Will. Other than Marlena, Will’s father, Lucas, and his other grandmother, Kate, also supported him in his new journey. However, his mother, Sami, did not like the idea at first, but later came around.
4) Bo and Hope’s reunion - 2011

Any list of Days of Our Lives would be incomplete without the mention of Hope and Bo's romance. They had gone through many separations but always found their way back to each other.
In early 2011 episodes, Hope and Bo renew their vows after being separated due to Bo’s relationship with Carly and also due to the earlier kidnapping of their daughter, Ciara, which brought back Hope’s troubling memories about her losing their son Zack.
3) The Salem Stalker - Episodes from 2003-2004

The Salem Stalker storylines and episodes are a hit among the fans of the daily soap due to the mystery and intrigue surrounding them.
Many popular characters such as Maggie Horton, Abe, Roman, and Alice become the victims of the Salem Stalker, who is later revealed to be none other than Marlena Evans, who was brainwashed into thinking that she was a serial killer by Andre DiMera.
2) The return of Stefano DiMera- 2019

The drama and chaos in Salem City are underwhelming without the presence of Stefano DiMera in the soap opera. However, the evil presence in everyone’s lives was shot dead by Hope Brady in 2016.
In November and December episodes in 2019, Stefano was revealed to be brought back by Dr. Rolf as he implanted a chip that contained the DiMera’s essence into Steve Johnson’s body. No one around first guessed that it was Stefano masquerading around Salem in Patch’s body and complicating everyone’s life in Salem as usual.
1) Marlena’s demon possession - 1994
One of the over-hyped but most exciting storylines of the daily soap was Marlena’s demonic possession in 1994. The devil was able to possess Marlena due to her weakened state caused by Stefano’s drugs and hypnosis.
While being possessed, she tries to hurt several of her close ones, such as trying to attack John with scissors, kidnapping Kristen, or dropping a chandelier during Billie and Bo’s wedding. She was at last rescued by John Black, who called to God and immobilized the devil.