Days of Our Lives Full Episode Recap | Vivian's Villainous Return - Friday, April 11, 2025 [SPOILERS]

Well, if you thought Days was just going to cruise into the weekend without emotionally wrecking everyone and setting a few more fires in Salem, then sweetie, you clearly don’t know DOOL. Friday’s full episode recap brings tears, threats, and a surprise prison release that had everyone blinking twice. Sami opens the emotional floodgates with Johnny, Vivian's out for blood (and property), and Sarah almost spills her truth... again. If you missed it, don’t worry — this DOOL recap is your sassy deep-dive into every deliciously dysfunctional moment.

Sami and Johnny’s Therapy Session… But Make It Traumatizing

So, let’s set the scene: Sami’s doing damage control with EJ, saying Johnny and Sydney still adore him — Johnny’s just in a spiral, okay? And then boom — speak of the devil, and he appears. Johnny walks in like he’s been waiting his whole life for this showdown and gives his mom the classic, “Now’s your chance.”

Instead of flipping a table, Sami hugs her son like she’s been through a thousand storms (she has) and says she came for him. But she might’ve just popped in to see EJ, which sets Johnny off. He basically says, “Why do you even care if EJ lives after what he did?” Valid question, tbh.

Sami tries to explain the unexplainable: loving EJ after he violated her. And let’s be clear, she is not here for any victim-blaming. She opens up about how hard it’s been to even look at him, how she’s kept it all from Johnny and Allie to protect them (and maybe herself), and how she’s done being quiet.

And oh, we’re not talking surface-level confessions. This is deep, raw, sobbing-into-your-popcorn level. She straight-up says she didn’t want Johnny to see her as the “pathetic victim who was stupid enough to fall in love with the man who forced himself on her.” Yeah. That level.

Turns out therapy has finally done what decades of drama couldn’t — Sami’s connecting the dots in her trauma. She talks about being raped in high school by Alan Harris, about how that moment shaped years of bad choices and even worse men. She doesn’t excuse her own actions either — she flat-out admits to being the abuser in her twisted pursuit of Austin. Drugging him? Forcing herself on him? Oh, she goes there.

Johnny, bless his heart, just breaks down. “You didn’t deserve it,” he tells her. But Sami’s journey to believing that has been decades long, starting with Stefano DiMera ripping her family apart. Her entire existence has been about surviving chaos — cheating parents, sibling rivalries, a parade of trash relationships, and enough guilt to sink Salem.

The emotional climax? When she talks about the night Johnny was conceived. That it felt like karma. That even after everything, she loved EJ more than anyone. And despite the horrors, she’s grateful for Johnny.

So yeah, mother and son hug, tears flowing like we’re in a Nicholas Sparks finale. But don’t exhale yet. There’s more mess ahead.

Rex Thinks Mama Kate’s Packing Heat (Again)

Meanwhile, over in a less tear-soaked part of town, Rex is on the phone, doing Rex things, when he finds a little surprise: Kate’s gun. Cue internal screaming.

Roman shows up and gets caught in the whirlwind. Rex is practically sweating bullets (pun absolutely intended), asking what Kate said about EJ. Roman explains — she just told Johnny the truth. You know, the one where EJ’s not exactly Prince Charming.

But Rex, now holding the literal smoking gun, is doing the math, and it’s not looking good. Roman tries to calm the storm, insisting Kate didn’t pull the trigger. But Rex? Not convinced. Not when the gun isn’t in the safe where it belongs. Suspicious much?

Chanel’s Not Buying Parenting by Tragedy

Chanel breezes into Paulina’s place, all, “Hey Mom, seen Johnny?” No, Paulina hasn’t — and she’s more than fine with that. Johnny’s still reeling, and so is Chanel, especially about his stone-cold reaction to EJ being shot. But Paulina’s not shedding a tear for EJ. Not after what he did to Sami.

Chanel floats the idea of adopting Tate’s baby now that EJ might be permanently comatose. But even Paulina’s eyebrows shoot up at that. Chanel shuts it down herself: she doesn’t want their family to start because Johnny’s dad got gunned down. Fair enough.

And because DOOL loves a “just kidding” twist, Paulina confesses she has something to share — but no, she didn’t shoot EJ. “Prison orange is not my color,” she quips. Instead, she met with the ADA to try to get EJ charged for the assault on Sami. No dice, but Paulina is now on a mission. Statute of limitations? She's working her senate contacts to change it. Queen behavior.

Vivian Is Out, Loud, and Threatening Murder (Again)

Let’s pivot to the truly unhinged: Vivian Alamain. Just when Philip and Kate are sipping bubbly to celebrate Philip snagging DiMera, in walks Salem’s favorite escaped (but technically released) diva.

Vivian strolls in like it’s a runway and throws down some receipts. Legal ones. She’s not here illegally, she’s here for her half — and she wants it all. But she’s not interested in splitting with “that walking piece of scrap metal,” aka Xander.

And when they don’t bow to her demands? Oh, she casually threatens to have Xander eliminated. Not by her, of course. She volunteers Kate for the job. Kate’s response? A very non-ambiguous “like hell I will.” Vivian shrugs and exits, leaving the tension thicker than Stefano’s accent.

Sarah’s Guilt Is Screaming… But Her Mouth Isn’t

Across town, Sarah and Xander are toasting at Small Bar. She's all proud of him taking over DiMera and getting along with Philip like two vaguely unstable brothers in a mob movie.

Then Xander pulls out a necklace — not just any necklace, but one just like the one Victor gave Maggie for their 10-year anniversary. Cue the tears in Sarah’s eyes and the mountain of guilt practically crushing her.

She starts to confess. Again. She gets so close. She’s about to spill the tea (oops, sorry — the truth), but Xander interrupts with corporate talk about not destroying people’s lives. Ironic, much?

Before she can try again, Sarah gets called back to the hospital. Timing is everything, and in Salem, it’s always the worst.

Final Scene Whiplash

As the credits start metaphorically rolling, Roman is brooding, remembering his own gun situation just as Kate returns. He's got something to say, but who knows what it is — maybe “Why is your gun out?” or “Did you kill someone today?”

Xander walks into a celebration he didn’t RSVP for — Philip’s gloating like he won the Super Bowl — when Vivian struts in and drops another bomb: “I’m moving in.” Xander looks like he just bit into a lemon made of betrayal.

Meanwhile, Chanel’s feeling better knowing her mom didn’t go vigilante, and Paulina is still ready to crown whoever did shoot EJ as the new Salem hero.

Johnny, now semi-processed and emotionally fried, thanks Sami for opening up. She’s about to tell him something big when — of course — Allie calls. She hugs him and leaves him alone. With EJ. And you know that’s not going to end quietly.

Flashback: Johnny remembers holding Roman’s gun.

So… you do the math.

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