Christmas Eve in Salem arrives wrapped not in peace, but in peril. The December 24 episode of Days of Our Lives delivers a masterclass in soap storytelling—balancing claustrophobic terror, heroic desperation, and fragile holiday warmth in an hour that reminds viewers why this show has endured for generations. As the DiMera family faces extinction beneath the earth and the Hortons struggle to preserve Christmas above it, Salem becomes a town suspended between darkness and light.

The DiMera Disappearances: Power Reduced to Terror

The vanishing of DiMera family members has shaken Salem to its core. A dynasty built on control, manipulation, and strategic dominance is suddenly stripped of its greatest weapon: power. The once-impenetrable DiMera mansion now feels hollow, its silence echoing with dread. Each disappearance isn’t just a crime—it’s a calculated humiliation, a reminder that even the most feared family in Salem can be rendered helpless.

At the center of the investigation are Jada Hunter and Rafe Hernandez, newly elevated to FBI status. Their promotion isn’t celebratory—it’s a necessity. This case requires precision, urgency, and emotional restraint, especially for Rafe, whose history with the DiMeras complicates every decision. Together, Jada’s razor-sharp instincts and Rafe’s emotional intelligence uncover a chilling truth: the missing DiMeras are trapped in an underground crypt—an ancient tomb buried deep beneath Salem, sealed away like a relic of sins past.

Buried Alive: Terror in the Tomb

Inside the tomb, time stretches into something cruel and distorted. Cold stone walls glisten with moisture. Air grows stale. Hope becomes a fragile currency. The captives—Tony, Chad, EJ, Theo, Kristen, and even Peter—are no longer rivals or allies. They are survivors clinging to breath.

The danger escalates when toxic gas begins to seep into the chamber, transforming the tomb into a death trap. Panic threatens to fracture what little unity remains—until Kristen DiMera does the unthinkable. Often cast as Salem’s villainess, Kristen steps into the role of reluctant savior. Using seduction, manipulation, and sheer nerve, she distracts Peter long enough to halt the gas.

It’s a moment layered with irony. Kristen, a woman defined by selfish survival, risks herself for others. Her hands shake. Her bravado cracks. This isn’t redemption—but it is humanity. And in Days of Our Lives, humanity is often the most shocking twist of all.

Theo Carver, already fragile, suffers the worst effects of the gas. His labored breathing adds urgency to the ticking clock. Kristen masks her fear behind steel resolve, but her eyes betray exhaustion. Peter, restrained and furious, becomes a volatile wildcard—proof that danger doesn’t disappear simply because it’s momentarily contained.

The Race Against Time

As Jada and Rafe close in on the crypt’s location, the episode shifts into near-thriller territory. Flashlights slice through darkness. Orders are whispered. Every sound echoes ominously. The audience is left wondering whether rescue will arrive in time—or if another trap lies waiting.

This sequence underscores one of DOOL’s greatest strengths: suspense rooted in character stakes. These aren’t nameless victims. These are legacies on the brink of extinction.

Aftermath: Survival Comes at a Cost

Rescue does not mean resolution. Once freed, the DiMeras face a new battle—medical, psychological, and emotional. Theo’s condition is especially concerning, his vulnerability reopening wounds from past traumas. Kristen, despite her toughness, faces consequences that no amount of defiance can erase. Tony, ever the elegant strategist, carries psychological scars that even he may not fully acknowledge.

Chad DiMera emerges changed. His captivity strips him down to his rawest self, forcing him to confront what truly matters beyond power and legacy. Salem’s doctors may stabilize bodies—but hearts and minds are another matter entirely.

A Softer Light: The Hortons Hold the Line

While the DiMeras battle darkness underground, the Horton household becomes Salem’s emotional anchor. Julie Williams, the matriarch of wisdom and warmth, welcomes Eli Grant and Lani Price Grant home with tears, laughter, and fierce love. Their return feels like a blessing—proof that not everything in Salem is broken.

Yet even Julie feels the weight of recent horrors. For the first time in memory, she postpones the traditional Horton Christmas celebration. It’s a quiet but powerful decision—one rooted in empathy. Julie insists the family slow down, listen, and heal before celebrating.

Her request that Chad share Christmas with his children becomes one of the episode’s most poignant moments. It’s a reminder that joy isn’t erased by trauma—it’s reclaimed through connection.

Rebuilding Family, One Choice at a Time

Julie’s call to Jennifer Horton Deveraux sets another emotional thread in motion. She urges Jennifer to bring Thomas and Charlotte back to Salem immediately. Their return isn’t logistical—it’s symbolic. The children represent continuity, innocence, and the promise that even fractured families can find wholeness again.

The upcoming Horton Christmas tree decorating becomes a beacon of hope. Each ornament tells a story. Each tradition reclaims space from fear. It’s not escapism—it’s resilience.

Meanwhile, Eli and Lani move through Salem, reconnecting with loved ones and revisiting places shaped by shared history. Their presence stitches emotional wounds, reminding the town that survival is sweeter when shared.

Kristen DiMera: Villain, Survivor, or Something More?

One of the episode’s most compelling undercurrents lies in Kristen’s transformation. Her act in the tomb doesn’t absolve her past—but it complicates it. The toxic gas becomes a metaphor for the secrets poisoning Salem, and Kristen’s intervention forces her to confront her own.

For a woman who has always chosen self-preservation, choosing others—even briefly—marks a seismic shift. Whether this moment leads to redemption or deeper chaos remains an open question.

Christmas Eve in Salem: Hope Under Pressure

As snow falls and lights twinkle, Salem stands at a crossroads. The DiMeras survive—but at a cost. The Hortons adapt—without abandoning tradition. Law enforcement proves relentless. Families bend but do not break.

This December 24 episode encapsulates the soul of Days of Our Lives: danger entwined with devotion, legacy challenged by love, and the promise that even in Salem’s darkest hours, hope refuses to stay buried.

Because in Salem, Christmas doesn’t erase the chaos—
it simply reminds everyone what’s worth fighting for.