Days of our Lives Recap for Wednesday, January 1, 2025: Jada rings in the New Year with the wrong Rafe

JJ and Gabi literally ran into each other in Horton Town Square. JJ inquired about Gabi’s New Year’s Eve plans, and she said she’d be staying in with Javi. JJ was skeptical that Javi would stay at home, so he invited Gabi “to ring in the New Year together.” Gabi readily accepted and asked JJ where he planned to go. When JJ said he hadn’t thought it through yet, Johnny approached and invited JJ and Gabi to his party at the mansion.

Johnny explained that he missed having Gabi around the mansion and told her to bring Arianna as well if the girl was in town. Gabi mentioned that her daughter was spending the holiday with Will and Sonny but promised to think about going to the party herself. When Johnny left, Gabi confided to JJ that she didn’t want to step foot back in the mansion because it was “haunted.” Gabi clarified that the mansion was haunted by the ghosts of her past with Stefan and EJ. JJ suggested they go somewhere else.

Gabi decided that she wanted to attend Johnny’s party. Going to the mansion would kill two birds with one stone. Gabi could “exorcise the ghosts of my marriage” while “sticking it to EJ” in the process. Later, JJ arrived at Gabi’s place to pick her up for the date. He said she still had time to back out. Gabi smiled broadly and assured him she looked forward to going to the mansion and making EJ squirm.

Alex and Joy chatted after they finished a scene on the hospital set. Alex complimented Joy on the “feistiness” and “determination” she had shown in the scene. Joy cracked that it had been easy since she was “no stranger” to causing friction between happy couples. Just then, Chanel approached and asked what the duo had been discussing. They said they’d been talking about their recent scene, in which Joy’s character had told Alex’s character that she was pregnant with his child.

Chanel agreed that the scene had probably been “intense” and turned the talk to New Year’s Eve plans. She explained that she had convinced Johnny to host a small party at the mansion, and she insisted that Joy come. Joy tried to refuse, but Chanel persisted. Joy acquiesced on the condition that Alex go to the party as well. Joy quickly explained that she and Alex were still on good terms following their “affair.” Alex was forced to accept the invitation, but his smile turned to a distressed roll of the eyes when Chanel turned away from him.

Chanel happily chirped that she would see Alex and Joy later and left. Joy’s smile fell, and she lamented the situation and Chanel’s propensity for inviting her to things. Alex wished that Johnny had “manned up” and told Chanel the truth. Joy apologized to Alex for “dragging” him into her mess. He didn’t place any blame on her and acknowledged that he understood why Johnny didn’t want to hurt Chanel, as he didn’t either.

Joy added herself to the list of people who didn’t want to hurt Chanel. She regretted what she had done to a woman she had grown to like as a friend.

Stephanie was ending a work call at the office when Philip entered the room. As he began to excitedly make plans for their date, Stephanie informed him that she couldn’t go. She explained that the cast for Body and Soul were meeting up at the DiMera mansion for a party, and she felt obligated to be there and to protect them from any Lady Whistleblower fallout. She regretted disrupting Philip’s plans but insisted that she wanted him to accompany her to the party.

Philip was hesitant and reminded Stephanie that EJ “hates my guts.” Stephanie joked about EJ’s sour demeanor with everyone but said she understood if Philip was uncomfortable with the idea. Philip reassured Stephanie that he’d love to go to the party as her date and to spend time with her. He left to get ready and gave her a goodbye kiss on the cheek. She smiled happily as she watched him go.

Later, Philip arrived at Stephanie’s apartment for their date. He appreciatively praised her choice of dress and waited while she searched for her shoes. Once she found them, the couple prepared to leave. Outside the apartment, they bumped into Alex. Stephanie and Alex exchanged awkward greetings, and Alex mentioned that he was attending the same New Year’s Eve party as Stephanie, with Joy as his plus-one. Stephanie's happy face faltered when Alex excused himself.

At the Brady Pub, Arnold looked at a picture of Jada on his phone and spotted Jada sitting at a table. He smirked and sauntered over to the table, joining her. He told her she looked “great” and then asked about the big news she had to share. Jada started to tell him about the DA change but became distracted by his clothing. When she asked “Rafe” if he had changed, he confirmed that he had. Jada quizzically asked him why.

Arnold concocted a cover story about having spilled coffee on his clothes. When Jada pressed him about why the clothes looked entirely new, he claimed that he’d been near the mall at the time and had decided to buy a new outfit. Jada seemed to buy the explanation and pivoted to her big news: EJ’s ouster as the DA. Arnold acted shocked.

After Jada revealed she played a role in the firing, Arnold responded with a “huh.” Jada mentioned Paulina’s involvement, and Arnold asked “Who?” to the mention of Paulina’s name. Jada gave him a look and clarified she was talking about the mayor. Arnold brushed off the mishap by claiming he had misheard Jada. Once “Rafe” expressed that EJ “had it coming” and asked Jada if she had taken EJ's picture to get his reaction, Jada wondered why her fiancé was acting so “giddy” at the news. "Rafe" reminded her that EJ was “a pompous ass,” and Jada couldn’t argue the point.

Arnold asked who would be replacing EJ. Jada said she’d found someone very “qualified” and with whom EJ had a history: Belle. Arnold made another crack about EJ being an “oaf” just as Johnny entered the pub. Johnny overheard the comment, approached the table, and lightly ribbed “Rafe.” Johnny said he hoped that “Rafe” working for EJ on a case would help ease the tensions between the men. Jada was surprised to hear about the development, but Arnold claimed he hadn’t found the time to tell her.

Johnny extended an invitation to Jada and “Rafe" for his party. Jada began to politely decline, but Arnold interrupted her and accepted on their behalf. After Johnny stepped away to get some food for the party, Jada snapped, “Are you crazy?” Arnold didn’t see the problem, but Jada reminded him that she’d just had EJ fired. Arnold responded that he hadn’t thought about how the invitation might make Jada uncomfortable.

Arnold cajoled Jada into attending the party nonetheless, claiming that he wanted to “show off” his “sexy fiancée” and get under EJ’s skin as well. Jada reluctantly agreed to go. When she rose from the table and walked away, Arnold chuckled to himself and joined her.

At the DiMera mansion, EJ huffed about the bad start to the New Year as he pulled on Rafe’s unconscious body. He remarked on the need to get Rafe “downstairs and out of the way" and then opened the secret entrance and dragged Rafe inside. Later, a breathless EJ emerged from the tunnels and was startled when Belle greeted him. He quickly tried to compose himself and asked why Belle was there. She redirected with her own questions: why was EJ so out of breath, and why had he been roaming the secret tunnels?

EJ claimed he had been consulting with construction workers who were repairing the tunnels from Connie Vininski's explosive device. Belle snarked if EJ was preparing to hold more captives during the new year, and EJ gave a hearty and slightly panicked laugh. He told Belle that he would save her the trouble if she had come to gloat about Hattie. When he informed her he had been fired, she replied that she already knew and that his firing was the reason for her visit.

Belle added that she hadn’t come to gloat. Before she could tell EJ about her installation as DA, Chanel entered the room and asked to speak with EJ. She told him about the impromptu party and apologized for the short notice. EJ was irritated because he’d given the staff the night off, but Chanel assured him that all the preparations were in place. She mentioned wanting to retrieve some wine and made a move toward the cellar.

EJ hastily stopped Chanel, which drew a curious look from Belle. EJ used the same excuse that he had used with Belle about construction work in the tunnels. He assured Chanel that he would retrieve the wine and urged her to go upstairs and get dressed for the party. Before she went upstairs, Chanel asked Belle to stay for the party. Belle attempted to decline and said she didn’t have a proper dress, but Chanel offered to pick one out for her.

Belle relented, and when Chanel left, she sighed about how hard it was to say no to the younger woman. EJ agreed with Belle’s assessment and once again interrupted Belle mid-confession about the DA position. He stated that while Belle was a professional rival, he still liked her personally. He believed that since they were both newly single and looking for a fresh start, they should ring in the new year together as each other’s dates. Belle was taken aback, and EJ joked, “Just don’t tell Samantha.”

Upstairs, Johnny met with a towel-clad Chanel in their bedroom. They told each other about the respective attendees they had invited to the party. Johnny tried to play it cool when Chanel mentioned Joy would be coming but was caught off-guard. He distracted Chanel by suggesting that she take another shower…with him. Chanel obliged her husband with a passionate embrace.

Later, the guests began to arrive for the party, beginning with “Rafe” and Jada. Arnold again attempted to quell Jada’s reservations and said he’d go inside first to “get the lay of the land” and grab some champagne. While “Rafe” was gone, Jada chatted briefly with Stephanie and Philip, who had also arrived.

Inside the mansion, EJ’s bad day grew worse when Arnold strolled into the main room and helped himself to some appetizers. EJ demanded to know why Arnold was there, and Arnold said that Johnny had invited Rafe and Jada to the party. Arnold assured EJ that nothing had happened between Jada and him “yet.” The men exchanged threats about putting each other in jail but were disrupted by Jada, Stephanie, and Philip’s entrance. EJ tensely greeted all three new arrivals while Arnold draped his arm around Jada.

EJ asked “Rafe” to help him pour drinks and whisked the doppelganger away. When he got Arnold alone, EJ commanded Arnold to “stay the hell away” from Jada. Arnold wondered how that would be possible since he and Jada had a wedding to plan. EJ sharply reminded Arnold that Jada was Rafe’s fiancée, which prompted Arnold to ask what had become of Rafe. EJ said he’d been forced to stash Rafe away.

Arnold reasoned that EJ would just have to deal with Rafe and himself later because he had come to party. Arnold walked off, and EJ noticed his next unwelcome guest: Gabi. She greeted “Rafe,” and EJ marched up to her and asked who had invited her. When Gabi coolly replied, "Your son, who has better manners than you,” Arnold snorted and agreed. EJ needled Gabi about being back at the mansion again, but Gabi affirmed her intention to turn the page with her date.

At Gabi’s mention of "date," JJ walked up. EJ sarcastically asked if JJ was going to assault him again. JJ promised to keep his hands to himself. Gabi suggestively told JJ not to make that promise. She pushed past EJ, who brightened when he saw Belle coming down the stairs in a sparkling hot pink dress.

Belle made a remark about the dress not being her style, but EJ begged to differ. With a chef’s kiss, he proclaimed that she looked “great.”

In the corridor, a fully dressed Chanel and Johnny descended the staircase. Chanel worried that she had offended EJ by springing the party on him, but Johnny defended the decision. He believed EJ needed to get used to being around people who made him uncomfortable. Cue Alex and Joy’s arrival. Chanel warmly greeted them and invited them inside, but Johnny was less than enthusiastic.

Chanel and Alex departed to get drinks, leaving Johnny and Joy alone. Johnny said he needed to speak with Joy in private and ushered her upstairs. When Alex and Chanel returned, they were puzzled by their dates’ disappearances. Chanel went in search of Johnny while Alex took a big swig of champagne, hoping that Johnny and Joy were not together.

Back inside the main room, Jada mingled with Stephanie and Belle before going to retrieve Rafe for the midnight countdown. Arnold was busy munching on the appetizers again, to EJ’s chagrin.

Elsewhere, Gabi pledged to JJ that she would declare EJ “a colossal loser” when the clock struck midnight. She wanted to end the year on a “high note.” JJ agreed that it had been a tough year, but he was thankful that he got to end it on his own high note with Gabi.

Alex bumped into Stephanie and spilled his drink on her. He profusely apologized and tried to clean the spill off her dress. Philip watched the encounter with a glare as he caught up with Belle. The friends toasted to new beginnings.

Gabi stepped forward and announced that the ball was about to drop. Everyone began the countdown. At the stroke of midnight, Alex and Stephanie and Philip and Belle shared respective toasts. Philip approached Stephanie and kissed her (while shooting a glance at Alex) as Alex watched in the background. JJ and Gabi kissed, and Arnold planted a prolonged smooch on Jada. EJ ended the year by downing the rest of his champagne.

Upstairs, Johnny took a protesting Joy into the bedroom and confronted her about why she had come. Joy angrily reminded him how pushy Chanel had been about spending time with her. As they traded words, Joy blurted out, “If Chanel knew what happened between you and me—” Outside the bedroom door, Chanel reacted to the revelation.

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