DOOL Casting Scoop & Storyline Heat: Big Returns, Fresh Faces, and a Rolf-Sized Cliffhanger

NBC News Channel – Salem’s about to get crowded in the very best way. Days of Our Lives is stacking the week of Monday, November 17 with legacy comebacks, fan-favorite cameos, and younger-generation turns—plus a late-week mad-science jolt that points to a major new arc.

The DiMera Dynasty Re-ignites: Tony’s Back (Mon, Nov 17)

Thaao Penghlis returns as the enigmatic Tony DiMera, reuniting on screen with “sister” Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk). Expect silky sparring, family chess moves, and the kind of DiMera intrigue that turns a polite drink into a declaration of war.

Double Delight: Susan Banks Swoops In (Fri, Nov 21)

Haiduk pulls double duty when Susan Banks pops back to town—part comic chaos, part maternal sixth sense. With EJ’s world never exactly “stable,” Susan’s honeyed warnings and psychic twinges could land uncomfortably close to the truth.

The Lucas, Rafe & EJ Summit (Tue, Nov 18)

Bryan Dattilo’s Lucas Horton drops in for a scene fans have quietly wished for: a sharp, funny, and oddly heartfelt check-in with Rafe (Galen Gering) and EJ (Dan Feuerriegel). One woman ties them together—Sami Brady—and the shared history is equal parts roast and reckoning.

Jennifer Takes the Spotlight (Thu, Nov 20)

Melissa Reeves gets meatier material as Jennifer Horton Deveraux faces heavy choices opposite Justin Kiriakis (Wally Kurth). Family legacy, the Horton clinic celebration, and hard truths collide—classic, grounded Salem drama anchored by veteran performances.

Next-Gen Feels: Aaron & Rachel (Fri, Nov 21)

Louis Tomeo returns as Aaron Green for emotionally raw beats as he tries to reach his struggling mother—while Sophia Boyd’s Rachel Choi adds texture to the turmoil. It’s the show’s sweet spot: tough family material played with heart.

Rachel Black’s Busy Week (Mon, Thu & Fri)

Alice Housley continues to redefine Rachel Black across multiple episodes, sharing key moments with Brady (Eric Martsolf). Her take blends innocence with DiMera-Brady complexity—expect Rachel to be a pivot in upcoming plot turns (and co-parenting friction).

Here Comes Trouble: Dr. Rolf’s New Experiment (Fri, Nov 21)

Richard Wharton is back as Dr. Wilhelm Rolf, tinkering with a mysterious experiment involving Mark Green (Jonah Robinson). Given Rolf’s track record (serums, memory games, resurrection-adjacent mischief), this looks like the fuse for the next big umbrella story.

Anniversary Week: Guests Take a Bow

A starry roster exits after commemorative appearances: Alison Sweeney (Sami), Greg Vaughan (Eric), Chandler Massey (Will), Christopher Sean (Paul Narita), Colton Little (Andrew Donovan), Orpheo Crito (Dr. Mike Horton), Marie Cheatham (Marie Horton), and Stephen Schnetzer (Steven Olson). The nostalgia hit was real—and the door is cracked for future returns.

Part Two: Diamonds, Regrets & Missing DiMeras — Square-Side Drama

A diamond and an apology. In Horton Square, Julie’s necklace—Alice Horton’s cherished pendant—sparks a quiet reckoning. She apologizes to Steve for a misplaced accusation, and the siblings choose grace over grievance. In Salem, forgiveness remains a family dialect.

Old loves, new ties. Mike updates the clan on Doug III, whose orbit now includes Robin and her uncle Robert—a lineage knot only Salem could tie. Beneath the genealogy is the ache: Doug owes Julie words he’s never been good at saying. Jeremy (Mike & Robin’s son) may finally be finding firmer ground, thanks to Julie’s steadiness.

Jack returns; Jennifer draws a line. Shaken by Thomas’s recent accident, Jennifer tells Jack she wants the children in Boston—distance over danger. With Cat Green now a red-flag name, parental instinct wins. Jack listens; the choice is hard, not hasty.

EJ smiles; Eli doesn’t buy it. Eli warns EJ he’s circling back after the party—to talk about Salem’s missing DiMeras: Stefan, Tony, Dmitri. EJ shrugs off Stefan and Dmitri as voluntary absences, but when Tony comes up, the façade flickers. EJ urging a full-tilt search? That’s not nothing.

Sarah’s closure isn’t clean. Sarah confides to Maggie that Xander hasn’t answered the divorce papers. Maggie believes he won’t fight it; Sarah’s “Sure” says otherwise. Even necessary endings leave fingerprints.

The Bottom Line

From Tony/Susan fireworks to Rolf’s ominous late-week lab work, DOOL is threading legacy warmth through high-stakes mystery. Add a poignant Horton reset, DiMera disappearances, and next-gen heartbreak, and you’ve got Salem in peak form: reverent of its past, ravenous for its next twist.