If you mention the year 1995 to any long-term Days of Our Lives fan, they will likely give you one of two reactions: a smile of pure delight or a groan of frustration. We are talking, of course, about the Possession of Marlena Evans. At the time, the idea of Dr. Marlena Evans—the moral compass of Salem—being possessed by Satan was considered career suicide for the writers. Critics called it “insane” and fans threatened to boycott.
However, the numbers told a different story. Ratings skyrocketed as viewers tuned in to see the levitation, the glowing yellow eyes, and the sheer campy horror of it all. Looking back from 2026, this storyline was the “Hail Mary” pass that saved the show from declining interest. It proved that Days wasn’t afraid to be weird, bold, and completely unpredictable. It paved the way for every supernatural twist that followed. Was it “too much”? Maybe. But it’s the reason we’re still talking about Salem thirty years later.