Days of Our Lives promises an exciting story during the week of July 14-18 when two women are kidnapped. Abductions are a favorite soap trope because they inspire deep emotions fear, the determination to survive, and the grief of relatives who are afraid they will never see their loved ones again.
The soap has used this trope often over the past six decades that it has been on the air. While many past kidnapping stories have involved Days of Our Lives’ Deidre Hall, this time she will only be tangentially related, as she is the grandmother of one of the victims.
Days of Our Lives has been setting up this story for weeks. The soap recently introduced a villain hired to force Doug III (Peyton Meyer) to repay the money he owes threatening two women he’s involved with. The women’s disappearances will ripple outward because of their family ties, leading to the strong drama this soap is known for.
What’s Happening This Week on Days of Our Lives: July 14-18
Ari and Holly Disappear During A Post-Graduation Trip
Holly and Ari’s ordeal begins on Tuesday as they head to the lake for a class trip but are instead taken by a man in a ski mask wielding a gun. The setup for this story is admittedly silly, as it doesn’t make much sense to have a senior class event of this nature three weeks after graduation.
However, this event will undoubtedly lead to one of Days of Our Lives’ wildest stories. Throughout the week, Holly and Ari will try to save themselves while Tate realizes that his girlfriend never made it to the lake and Gabi panics when she can’t get ahold of Ari.
A lot is happening this week on Days of Our Lives, including a potentially devastating storyline involving the baby Leo and Javi are fostering.
The situation will also force archrivals Tate and Doug III to work together to find and rescue the women. Will this story be as exciting as it seems? We have to hope that it doesn’t become predictable, though the guys racing against time while the women hold their own should be compelling. Here are the full synopses for each day:
Monday, July 14: Tate, Holly, and Ari prepare for their trip to the lake. Will they miss obvious signs of danger? Gabi vents to Javi. Sarah and Xander have another clash over Victoria. Doug III faces a dilemma. Sophia decides to write a letter.
Tuesday, July 15: Kristen and Gwen meet at the mansion. Will Gwen be able to manipulate the DiMera heiress? Tate questions Doug III about Holly and Ari’s whereabouts, while the women face danger together. EJ has a suggestion for Belle. Johnny and Chanel continue to support each other.
Wednesday, July 16: Xander struggles to soothe his fussy baby. Will he realize he made a mistake by taking her from Sarah? Thomas wants Cat to play with him and Chad. Gwen informs EJ she wants to move into the mansion while Rafe tells Cat about EJ’s past dirty deeds. Alex surprises Stephanie.
Thursday, July 17: Tate confronts Doug III while Holly and Ari fear for their lives. Will the guys resolve their argument in time to help save the kidnap victims? Gabi learns Ari never made it to the lake. Sophia tells her mother a made-up story about the baby. Belle and EJ begin jury selection in Johnny’s case.
Friday, July 18: Xander comforts Gabi. Will it turn romantic? Rafe helps Tate and Doug III. A search for the missing women begins. Cat and Chad have an awkward run-in. Sophia gets cold feet.
What Big Storyline We’re Following This Week
Ari and Holly’s Kidnapping Will Affect Lives All Over Salem
Holly stands up facing someone off-screen while Ari sits next to her looking scared in Days of Our Lives
While there is also plenty of movement in Johnny’s trial and Gwen’s attempts to manipulate her way into even more money and power, Ari and Holly’s kidnapping is a far bigger story. Both of these women have strong ties to Salem.
Holly is Maggie’s granddaughter, making her disappearance important to both Maggie and Sarah, while Ari is Gabi’s daughter who Gabi has been worried about since her arrival in Salem. The kidnapping also forces characters together who ordinarily hate each other, especially Tate and Doug III.
It would make more sense for Gabi to temporarily reconcile again with JJ, as she did when she thought Ari was missing before.
Xander is an odd choice for Gabi to turn to for comfort. It would make more sense for Gabi to temporarily reconcile again with JJ, as she did when she thought Ari was missing before. However, this decision could lead to a surprising romance or one-night stand that will have consequences far beyond this storyline.
How This Sets Up Next Week’s Days of Our Lives
Tate and Holly talk at graduation in Days of Our Lives while Sophia smiles in the background. The women’s kidnapping will likely be the beginning of the end for Doug III. While nothing has been officially confirmed, there has been widespread speculation that he will be leaving Salem soon, and it would make sense for him to do so now.
Most of Salem will blame him for Holly and Ari’s ordeal, and he will have even less chance of being forgiven by Julie than before the kidnapping. There is no real reason for Doug III to stay in town under these circumstances.
Tate and Holly will probably be even more determined to be together after realizing how close Tate came to losing Holly permanently.
More importantly, Tate and Holly will probably be even more determined to be together after realizing how close Tate came to losing Holly permanently. This decision would be the perfect time for Days of Our Lives to ramp up the drama by having Tate learn his child was born and become consumed with finding the infant.
