DAYS Recap November 12: EJ Declared War on Dominic as Stefano Haunted Marlena

On the Thursday, November 12, 2026, episode of Days of our Lives, Marlena was haunted by her past, Belle insulted Chad, and Dominic made himself at home with an angry EJ and a welcoming Tony.

Hauntings From the Past

Marlena had haunted dreams | Image: Peacock

Marlena was sitting in her living room staring into space when Belle walked in to tell her that Chad was making tea. Belle said she understood why her mother felt numb. "It's like he's two different people," Marlena said of Dominic. "He's a son I want to get to know and love, but he exists because of Stefano's cruelty. I don't know how to reconcile those things."

Marlena said she needed to rest and walked off to her bedroom. Belle called Brady to discuss the Dominic matter. She wasn't sure she could accept him as her brother. "It's hard not to resent him for playing along with Stefano's game this entire time," she said.

In her bedroom, Marlena tried to read a book, but a phone call she ignored and a photo of John distracted her. "Oh, how I wish you were here. To steady me and calm me as only you could," Marlena said to the photo. As Marlena slept, she flashed back to pivotal moments from the 1980s when she was presumed dead.

In the living room, Chad and Belle discussed the Dominic situation. "This man could be my brother. After everything Stefano did...if Dominic really is his son, how could he be anything but pure evil?" Belle asked, not realizing how insulting that was to Chad.

Belle quickly backtracked, but it was too late. Chad was rightly hurt by what she had said. Belle was surprised when an angry and hurt Chad stormed out. Belle tried calling him, but Marlena appeared and grabbed her purse and coat. She said she needed to see Dominic. Belle tried to stop her, but Marlena insisted that it couldn't wait.

Tate's Suspicions

After Brady hung up with Belle, Tate asked if his grandmother was okay. Brady said she would be, but was going through a rough time. Tate noted that Marlena had been acting strange since Belle and Chad returned from Italy. Brady asked Tate to sit so he could fill him in on this complicated family update.

Tate was in shock when Brady was finished. "This is beyond horrible," he said. Tate wanted to know why he was in Salem after all these years. Brady was sure that Dominic had an agenda. Father and son also discussed Kristen posing as Susan, which led Tate to mention Holly's suspicions about Sophia. Brady and Tate both hoped that Holly was wrong.

Dante's Anger

Dominic explained himself to Dante | Image: Peacock

At Small Bar, Dominic was happy to see Dante, but Dante was all business. "I'd like to know why I had to find out from my fiance's daughter that..." Dominic finished his sentence, saying, "That your old college friend is the son of Stefano DiMera."

Dominic didn't think that should change things between them, but an angry Dante disagreed. "Why did you keep your true identity from the start?" he asked. Dominic didn't think Dante would even care, so he never brought it up. Dante thought that was absurd. Dante was the one who introduced Dante and Sami, and now Dominic could be Sami's brother.

"I have to wonder what your real motive was in introducing us," Dante said. Dominic said he was being altruistic and introducing his sister to a better choice than EJ. "Thanks to you, I have stolen your rival's true love," Dante noted. He angrily left as Dominic tried to keep his cool.

The DiMera Brothers

In the DiMera living room, Tony poured himself a drink. EJ walked in and started shouting, "You insufferable bastard!" Tony kept his cool after he learned this was about Dominic's bags taking over the East Wing. EJ wanted to come up with a way to get rid of him. Tony was resolved to keep Dominic sticking around.

EJ was smarting because if Dominic was really Marlena and Stefano's son, that meant he would be usurped. Dominic was likely Stefano's perfect child, the one containing the DNA of his dream woman, Marlena. "Not me, the ill-begotten son of the wacky Susan Banks," EJ scoffed. "Is that any way to speak about your mother?" Tony scolded.

"It's how everybody else sees her. I'm just glad she's not around to chime in about this," EJ said. Tony thought it was awfully convenient of EJ to send Susan on a cruise at this particular time.

Tony began chastising EJ for constantly judging people and holding grudges, including against his own son. "My son betrayed me in the worst possible way," EJ shouted, as a defense for his actions. "Maybe you could have had some empathy for him," Tony suggested.

EJ said Johnny was nothing but an ingrate and traitor. As EJ also went off on Chanel and Paulina, Tony stopped him. Tony wanted the family to stay strong, but EJ refused if that meant accepting Dominic. He was also going to fight for the right to run DiMera in court. Tony warned him that he would lose.

EJ changed the subject and informed Tony that someone was nosing around their "surplus warehouse," but he was taking care of the problem. EJ noted that he was doing everything on his own because Rita had vanished. EJ was sure Rita had given Dominic their father's ring. They realized that Rita's allegiance was to Stefano and not them.

Tony warned EJ that he needed to learn to peacefully coexist with Dominic. EJ got his shot at that right away when Dominic arrived and proposed a toast to "brotherhood and the ties that bind." Dominic claimed that Stefano only told him good things about his siblings. Tony and Dominic vowed to be Team DiMera. EJ did not join in.

Is Dominic a good guy or a bad guy? Should Chad forgive Belle for her comment? Sound off in the comments.