Days of our Lives Recap October 8: Chanel Rang the Chemo Bell

On the Thursday, October 8, 2026, episode of Days of our Lives, Chanel celebrated a momentous milestone, Dante came to town, Marlena made a revelation, and EJ made a realization.

Paulina and Her Girls

Johnny made a promise to Chanel | Image: Peacock

At Johnny and Chanel's apartment, Lani folded baby clothes and noted to Paulina that there were still some donuts in the kitchen. Too bad they weren't special donuts, which would have done Chanel some good when she finished her final round of chemo. Paulina also said she tried to get Johnny and Chanel to tell them why Johnny was at the Salem PD the night before, but they wouldn't say.

Paulina asked Lani how the podcast had gone. Lani told her that it felt nice to speak openly about the incident outside the Brady Pub. After some more small talk, the governor called and said he would not grant Lani a pardon. Lani was disappointed by the news.

At chemo, Johnny sat with Chanel. She said she felt sick, but wondered if it was the chemo or the tale Johnny told her about EJ's dirty dealings. "Johnny, you know I hate that you covered up for EJ, but I know you. You were trying to protect the company, your family," Chanel said. "Life is too short to hold anything inside our hearts except love for each other."

When Chanel asked if she thought EJ would walk away free from all charges, she was not happy when Johnny admitted that he hoped that he did. "Gio, I hate to be the one to break this to you, but you need to hear it. Your father is not some hero for cleaning up a mess he knowingly made. He is a monster," Chanel said.

"Well, not to me, he's not. He's...he's my dad and he always will be," Johnny replied. Johnny also had no intention of quitting his job. He explained that he wanted to make DiMera into something their kids could be proud of, but Chanel didn't think it was worth the effort.

Interrogating EJ

At the Salem PD, a cuffed Leo called for help, but was also intrigued when he saw Jada walk in with EJ. Jada sent EJ into the interrogation room so she could listen to Leo beg for his one phone call so he could call Javi. He also proclaimed his innocence.

In the interrogation room, Jada told him that she needed to question him about the contaminated coriseal. EJ immediately claimed that Jada had been misinformed by someone with an ax to grind. Jada warned EJ that they were also questioning George O'Halloran, but EJ still kept a straight face.

EJ tried to pin the whole thing on George and said that he was definitely the right person to talk to. As Jada told EJ every accusation, he could just laugh and tell her that it was all nonsense. "The allegations are absurd," he said. As Jada told him what they knew, EJ realized who ratted him out.

"Getting shot hurt less than this," EJ said. Jada walked out of the room to allow EJ to process his realization.

Outside the interrogation room, Jada lectured Leo on not committing crimes while researching a story before telling him she'd have him released.

Dante and Dominic

Sydney was working at her laptop in the DiMera living room when Dante appeared, surprising her. He said he had just landed in Salem and had hoped to meet her father, but EJ wasn't around. They made some small talk, with Dante revealing that he and Sami had decided to marry in Tuscany, but still hadn't set a date.

Sydney and Dante made some small talk on the couch and discussed the Monte Carlo poker game and Philip's winning enough to save Titan. Sydney said that her father was really "p*ssed" about that.

In the hospital waiting area, Belle worried about Marlena as they waited for news about Rachel's surgery. Belle was sad that her mother had to spend her birthday worried about her granddaughter, but Belle was more concerned for her mother. Marlena insisted she was fine.

Belle said she knew something had been bothering Marlena for days, but also understood if she was not ready to share. Just then, Belle received a call from Sydney, who told her that Dante was in Salem. He had also spoken to Dominic, so Sydney relayed that Dominic was headed to Salem "as soon as he was ready to make his move."

"Dominic Marino is coming to Salem to stay?" Belle asked, alarming Marlena. When Belle hung up, she wondered if he had just wanted to renovate the Kiriakis mansion. Marlena worried that he was sending a message, which confused Belle. "Make a move? Is that just the next step in Stefano's dastardly plan?" she asked, before declaring that she was "sick of all this."

Marlena finally opened up and told Belle about the birth certificate, informing Belle that she might have another sibling out there. Belle asked why this news was causing her so much pain. "Well, if that birth certificate is true, it means that I am the mother and that Stefano is the father," Marlena said. She assured Belle that she and Stefano had never been intimate, but she could have been impregnated while in a coma.

Marlena asked Belle to keep this information between them. She did the same with Steve and Brady, but then told others anyway. Belle then received a call from Jada, so Marlena convinced her to go to the Salem PD to deal with EJ. After Belle left, Leo stopped by to give Marlena flowers for her birthday.

Back at the Salem PD, EJ greeted Belle and made excuses for Johnny, saying he was confused. He had a wife with cancer and two small children at home, so they couldn't take Johnny's word for things. Belle admitted that she didn't have any big questions for now, but expected to call him in again later.

When EJ returned home, he was surprised to meet Dante Vitali. EJ claimed he'd heard a lot about Dante, but not from Samantha. Dante said that Sami had told him more about EJ than he needed to know.

Ringing the Chemo Bell

Lani and Paulina looked on as Chanel rang the bell | Image: Peacock

As the episode ended, Lani and Paulina surprised Chanel with the babies as her last chemo session ended. They then signaled to her that there was something she had to do. Chanel looked over at the bell and took a deep breath. She walked over to the bell and thanked the medical staff for all they do for everyone.

"When I first got my diagnosis, I didn't think this day would come. The end of chemo. And how lucky I am to be at the end? I do not take that for granted. Not for one minute," she said.

Johnny then joined Chanel as she rang the chemo bell, signifying a momentous milestone in her life.