Days of our Lives Recap October 23: George O'Halloran Shoots Xander

On the Friday, October 23, 2026, episode of Days of our Lives, Steve was rushed to the hospital, Joy claims she was healed, and Xander and Sarah squared off against George.

Examinations

While Steve was staked out across the street from George’s home, he called Johnny to tell him that he was going to follow George back to DiMera Enterprises before George left town. Mid call, someone tased Steve and knocked him unconscious. At the hospital, a panicked Johnny yelled Steve’s name into the phone. Sarah overheard, and she urged Johnny to call 911. After Johnny called, he decided to go after George, but Sarah stopped him. Sarah told Johnny to stay with Chanel, and she would follow George with Xander.

Before Joy’s examination with Kayla in the hospital, she took a muscle relaxant. When Kayla arrived in the exam room, she asked Joy about life outside the hospital. Joy said that her health aide had been great, and she was doing well at home. Kayla thought about her conversation with Stephanie about testing Joy’s reflexes.

Kayla explained that she wanted to do a blind reflex test to rule out any psychosomatic complications in Joy’s recovery. Joy reluctantly lay back. Before Kayla could conduct her test, Johnny interrupted to tell Kayla about his phone call with Steve. Kayla apologized and left with Johnny. Joy breathed a sigh of relief. While Joy waited, the muscle relaxant took hold and she drifted off to sleep.

Stephanie and Alex cuddled on their couch as they settled in to watch TV together. Kayla called to tell Stephanie that Steve was on his way to the hospital. At the hospital, a worried Kayla greeted Steve when he arrived in the ER. Steve assured Kayla that he was fine, and the EMT confirmed that Steve had a lump on his head but he was stable. When Stephanie and Alex arrived, Steve insisted that they find Johnny.

After Kayla checked out Steve, she was relieved but upset. Kayla reminded Steve that he meant the world to her. Her was her entire world. Steve promised that he would always do whatever it would take to return home to her. Johnny walked in, and he confirmed that Chanel was recovering in her room with her family. With a nod, Kayla left to update Stephanie. Steve thanked Johnny for having called 911. Johnny said he felt guilty because he had put Steve in harm’s way. When Steve lamented that he had lost George, Johnny told him that Sarah was in pursuit with Xander.

Jada interrupted to ask Steve questions about the tasing incident. Steve asked Jada to send officers over to DiMera Enterprises. After Jada made the call, Steve told Jada everything that had happened. Steve confirmed that he had not seen his assailant, but he believed that EJ had tased him because he had been in the area. Jada asked why Steve had not kept her in the loop on the investigation. Steve explained that there had not been enough evidence for a warrant, and that he had more leeway as a PI.

After Jada questioned Steve, she talked to Johnny in the hallway about the incident. Jada asked Johnny if he had spoken with EJ. “You think my dad did this?” Johnny asked. Jada said there was no evidence, but that Steve was certain that EJ had assaulted him.

Kayla told Stephanie and Alex what had happened, and then she realized she had left Joy in the exam room alone. Alex offered to check on Joy so that Kayla could stay with Stephanie. Stephanie and Kayla returned to check on Steve, and Steve assured Stephanie that he was fine. After Stephanie left, Kayla ordered Steve to go home and rest and to leave the fight at DiMera to the police that were on route. Stephanie met up with Jada and Johnny in the hallway. Johnny apologized for EJ’s actions, but Stephanie reminded Johnny that EJ’s actions were not his fault. Jada stressed that Johnny’s efforts to expose EJ’s crimes would help a lot of people.

The Miracle

In Joy’s exam room, she stirred awake. Joy saw her purse was too far away to reach, so she got up to retrieve it. Alex walked in and saw Joy standing on her own. “You can walk!” Alex yelled. Joy attempted to say it was a miracle, but Alex was not fooled. Furious, Alex said he was going to tell everyone about Joy’s lies, and that he would sue her for full custody.

Joy woke from her nightmare, and Alex was standing next to her. Alex noted that Joy had been crying in her sleep, and he asked if she was okay. Joy asked about Steve. Alex said Steve was okay, and that Kayla had asked him to tell Joy that they would need to reschedule Joy’s appointment. Joy asked Alex to pass her purse to her so she could call for a rideshare.

When Alex opened her purse to retrieve the phone, Joy yelled at him to stop. Joy jokingly reminded Alex that it was impolite to root through a woman’s purse. With a nod, Alex offered to drive Joy home. Alex lifted Joy and placed her in her wheelchair. As Alex fussed with the pedals, Joy gasped. “I could feel you touching my legs!” Joy said excitedly.

Frame Job

All heck broke loose for Sarah and Xander | Image: Corday Productions

In the halls of DiMera pharma, Xander and Sarah cautiously looked for George. Sarah confirmed that Johnny had turned off the security cameras for them. Xander noted that if they could not find the laptop, he would persuade George to hand it over. As Sarah raised her eyebrows, Xander showed her the gun in his waistband. Xander noted that Sarah was important to him, and Sarah said she felt the same way about him as the father of her child. Sarah said she understood that the gun was about safety and not violence.

When Xander and Sarah found the right lab, they searched for hidden spots to hide the laptop. After a brief search, Xander noticed that the picture frame on the wall looked strange. Xander examined the frame, and he was able to trigger it to open and reveal a hidden space in the wall. Xander retrieved the laptop and handed it to Sarah. As Xander and Sarah started to leave, George walked in. Xander refused to hand over the laptop because it proved Sarah’s innocence. George denied the accusation, and he told Xander and Sarah that they were trespassing. Sarah reminded George that he had been fired and was banned from the premises.

George threatened to call the police, but Sarah called his bluff. When Sarah noted that the police would love to examine the laptop, George pulled out a gun. Xander jumped in the way as George fired. Xander clutched his stomach, and he returned fire and shot George in the chest.

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