As December unfolds in Salem, the holiday lights may be twinkling — but beneath the cheerful glow, Days of Our Lives is preparing to unleash one of its most electrifying weeks of chaos, heartbreak, and long-buried secrets erupting to the surface. What should be a season of forgiveness and family unity instead spirals into betrayal, dangerous confrontations, and revelations powerful enough to tear apart some of the show’s most iconic relationships.

Next week’s episodes are not simply dramatic. They are transformative, setting the stage for a winter storyline that promises to upend Salem’s power structures, push family legacies into new eras, and force beloved characters to confront the demons they’ve tried so hard to outrun.

Let’s break down the emotional landmines, plot twists, and character-shattering moments heading our way in the December 3rd, 2025 preview.

Steve and Kayla Face Their Worst Nightmare as a Familiar Threat Re-emerges

Next week kicks off with something fans have been dreading ever since the fall finale began planting ominous clues: a dangerous figure from Steve and Kayla’s past resurfaces in Salem — and they’re not here for peace.

Steve’s instincts ignite instantly. The way he watches over his shoulder… the way Kayla clutches his arm with quiet dread… the way their once-safe home suddenly feels like hostile territory.

This storyline taps into decades of DOOL history, reminding fans that Steve Johnson has fought countless battles — but this one threatens the heart of his family.

Kayla senses the shift before Steve even admits it. Their bond, forged through miracles and devastation, is tested once more as their worst fear becomes terrifyingly real:

Someone is targeting their family again.

And this person knows exactly where to strike.

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Stephanie Johnson Caught in a Dangerous Triangle: Love, Lies, and a Stalker in the Shadows

Stephanie’s storyline next week is poised to steal the show — not because of romance alone, but because romance becomes a weapon.

Her fragile but growing connection with Chad takes a dark turn when a new suitor enters the picture — a man who seems charming, confident, and deeply attentive.

Too attentive.

Viewers will instantly sense the danger Stephanie doesn’t yet recognize: this new man is not who he claims to be. His interest in her is obsessive, calculated, and built on secrets she never saw coming.

The eerie familiarity in his eyes.
The way he finishes her sentences.
The moments he appears in places he shouldn’t know she’s visiting.

By the end of the week, the truth will be chillingly clear:

Stephanie has a stalker — and he’s already closer than anyone realizes.

Chad’s growing concern sparks heated arguments, forcing the couple to confront the cracks in their relationship. This is not just a love triangle — it’s a psychological thriller poised to explode.

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EJ DiMera and Nicole Reach Their Breaking Point as a New Scandal Emerges

Few relationships in Salem are as volatile, intoxicating, and heartbreaking as EJ and Nicole’s — and next week promises one of their most dramatic chapters yet.

Nicole uncovers a secret EJ has been protecting, and this time, it’s not business… it’s not politics… it’s personal.

It involves someone Nicole believed she could trust — someone who has been manipulating her from the shadows.

EJ’s betrayal pushes Nicole into a whirlwind of fury and devastation, reigniting her darkest insecurities. Their explosive confrontation is already being called one of the most intense scenes of winter:

Screaming.
Accusations.
Tears threatening but refused.
Two people who love each other more than they should — and wound each other even deeper.

EJ will fight to keep Nicole, but the damage may be irreversible… especially once Eric reappears at the worst possible moment.

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Ava Vitali Makes a Ruthless Move — and Clyde Weston Pays the Price

The underworld storyline rises to a boil next week as Ava Vitali makes a move that shocks even her closest allies.

Ava has been underestimated for far too long — but the events of this week prove she’s embracing the darker side of her legacy. When Clyde Weston pushes too far, crossing a line Ava never thought she’d tolerate, she responds with brutal precision.

The fallout is massive:

• Clyde finds himself cornered with no leverage left.
• Harris is pulled deeper into Ava’s orbit, torn between justice and loyalty.
• Salem’s criminal balance shifts in a way no one expects.

Ava’s transformation into a true Vitali matriarch may become one of the defining arcs of 2025.

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Xander and Sarah’s Emotional Bombshell: A Truth That Changes Everything

Next week delivers one of the most emotional punches of the month as Sarah finally reveals a truth she has been terrified to share with Xander.

A truth that will change their future forever.

Their storyline blends heartbreak, hope, and raw vulnerability as Sarah confesses something that forces Xander to confront the darkest parts of his past — and whether he can ever truly break free from them.

His reaction is gut-wrenching, unpredictable, and beautifully acted.

Fans expecting a reunion may find themselves shocked by the direction this story takes — because love isn’t always enough when the past keeps clawing its way back.

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Paulina’s Health Crisis Takes a Dire Turn

Paulina’s secret diagnosis, which she has been hiding out of fear and pride, spirals next week in a way that terrifies her family.

Chanel and Lani rally around their mother, but what begins as concern quickly transforms into panic when Paulina collapses during an emotional confrontation.

This moment marks a turning point.

Her storyline stops being about stubbornness and becomes a race against time — leading to one of the most powerful emotional arcs DOOL has explored in recent years.

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A Holiday Season of Chaos, Love, and Unforgettable Cliffhangers

Despite the holiday décor sprinkled throughout Salem, the upcoming week offers little warmth and plenty of explosive drama.

What fans can expect:

• A shocking arrest that flips a major storyline upside down
• A betrayal that breaks one of Salem’s long-standing friendships
• A mysterious letter that reveals a buried truth from decades ago
• A romantic confession that will leave viewers divided
• A final Friday cliffhanger guaranteed to ignite social media

The tone is dark.
The stakes are high.
And the emotional fallout will carry DOOL through the rest of December and into a jaw-dropping New Year’s arc.

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The Bottom Line: December 3rd Week Will Define DOOL’s Winter Run

This isn’t just another preview week — it’s a turning point.

Every storyline next week expands, erupts, or collides in ways that reshape the entire canvas of Days of Our Lives. Relationships shift. Old enemies rise. New threats emerge. Love becomes a battlefield, and every character is pushed to their breaking point.

Salem has never been more dangerous…
never more emotional…
and never more addictive.