Days of our Lives Recap September 10: Sydney DiMera Debuts, Holly Gets a Terrifying Text

On the Thursday, September 10, 2026, episode of Days of our Lives, Philip and Gabi ran into a familiar face in Monte Carlo, while Holly and Tate's lake date was interrupted. Plus, Ari learned a secret.

A Day at the Lake

Tate and Holly took some time to relax | Image: Peacock

In the Square, Ari joked with her new friend, Mason, but when Mason spotted Holly, he made his excuses and ran. Holly stopped him and thanked Mason for offering to help Lani the other day. "I didn't do much and I didn't do it for you," Mason said before walking off.

After Mason was gone, Holly explained how she knew him. Apparently, Mason had already left her study group once he knew she was in it. Ari was surprised because Mason had been nice to her. "So, it's clearly me," Holly said. "God, how can someone hate me when they don't even know me?"

Just then, Ari got a phone call telling her that she had been let go from her internship at DiMera because they didn't have any more work for her. Holly was encouraging. "You'll find a different internship somewhere else, where the people are actually decent human beings," Holly said.

After Ari left, Tate appeared and convinced Holly to spend a relaxing day with him at the lake. When they got there, they enjoyed the great weather, but then a text came in from an unknown number asking if she was having fun.

A Morning at the Pub

Leo made a pitch to Javi | Image: Peacock

Kate and Leo sat down at the Brady Pub to discuss The Spectator's new podcast, which Leo wanted to call "Stark Raving Mad."

At another table, Marlena was shocked when Tate told her that Holly had been attacked in broad daylight right outside the pub. Leo overheard them talking and demanded the deets, from a journalistic perspective, of course. He reported back to Kate that they had just scored "podcast gold."

When Leo spotted Javi, he tried to make some small talk, but it did not go well. Javi went to the counter to pick up his takeout order, so Leo sat down with Marlena. Javi then returned and said hello to Marlena, but didn't say a word to Leo before walking out. Marlena gave Leo permission to talk to Javi about his feelings.

So, Leo did just that. He found Javi on the bench in the square and told him that he had been trying to respect his boundaries and give him space, but he still loved him and wanted to get back together. "And I know what you did. I know that you wanted to rescue me when I was in Alamania. You wanted to travel all the way there to save me," Leo said.

Leo mentioned that Gabi claimed Javi still had feelings for him, so Leo asked if that was true. Javi said he didn't want to go down that road again. Leo suggested they could go down the friendship road for now. Javi finally agreed to give it a shot.

More Pub Happenings

Ari lost her internship thanks to Kate | Image: Peacock

Back at the pub, Ari found Kate and Marlena sitting together. She sat down with both her great-grandmothers to lament the loss of her DiMera internship. Kate didn't tell Ari that she and Gabi were behind that. Kate tried to comfort Ari because the girl thought she had done a bad job. Kate assured her that it was just the corporate world and not personal.

Mason soon walked in and said hello to Marlena, who introduced him as a volunteer at the mental health hotline she oversaw. Ari was cold to him. When Mason walked away, Ari was quiet and walked away as well. She approached Mason to speak to him about Holly.

Ari asked Mason how he could dislike someone he didn't even really know. "You're right. I don't know Holly, but she is responsible for the death of someone I did know," Mason said.

At Kate and Marlena's table, Marlena grew alarmed when she received a text from Sydney telling her she was on the French Riviera, which made her suspicious because EJ said he was going to visit her in Italy.

Poker Face

Philip and Gabi ran into Sydney | Image: Peacock

In Monte Carlo, Philip walked into the poker room as an addict would, quietly and taking in the surroundings. He told Gabi that seeing the room early helped get him in the zone. Gabi noticed that Philip was pale and his hands were shaking. She asked if he was sure that he wanted to do this.

Philip said he was sure, but explained that he always got revved up like this before a game. He felt and rubbed all the chairs for vibes and told Gabi this was helping him get a feel for everything. Gabi worried that if Philip won, he'd have a dopamine hit and not be able to stop.

Philip assured Gabi that he had it all under control. Gabi wanted to believe him, but she wasn't so sure. Gabi explained that while his mother didn't know they were in Monte Carlo, she was still worried about him and asked Gabi to look out for him. Gabi was worried too.

As they tried to calm their nerves, Philip suggested that they put on a show so that the other players believed they were a couple. Philip moved in for a kiss, but suddenly Sydney DiMera walked in. Gabi literally shoved Philip aside to greet Will's baby sister.

Philip didn't even seem to know who this now-grown-up young woman was. She was there early to check things out. "Sort of a pre-game ritual for me," she said. Sydney told them that Sami's fiancé was hosting the game and would give Sydney a cut of the winnings. Philip seemed a bit freaked out to know Dante Vitali was involved.

Sydney noted how crazy it was that three Salemites ended up in this Monte Carlo poker room. Philip asked Sydney to keep their presence a secret. Philip explained that his mother didn't approve of him gambling. When Sydney mentioned her dad, Gabi made a disparaging remark, but then remembered to pull it back. When Sydney spotted Gabi's ring, she asked if they were engaged.

Philip said that they were, so Gabi added that this was a new development that only happened the night before. Sydney congratulated them before rubbing down the chairs to catch some vibes.

Do you think Sophia is alive and stalking Holly? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.