Known and adored for their heightened drama, soap operas frequently feature sensational scandals and bizarre situations. Fans of sudsers are aware of how strongly emotionally connected their favorite soap may make them. This is especially true for viewers who have grown up with the show’s characters; it can be emotionally draining to see them experience life’s highs and lows. While “Days of Our Lives” is renowned for its crazy plotlines, it has also included some of the most devastating incidents in the history of American soap operas.
Given that “Days” has been around for decades, notable characters are bound to be put through the wringer. Between family deaths, mental illness, and baby switches, the characters of Salem have seen it all, and the fans have been there to witness it firsthand. Since no one on a soap opera can ever just be happy, “Days” is littered with heartbreaking moments, some of which we will never forget.
Bo’s sudden death destroyed his family
Bad boy Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) was a fan-favorite character ever since his debut on “Days of Our Lives” in 1983. Paired with Hope Williams Brady (Kristian Alfonso), Hope and Bo became one of the most iconic super couples on any soap opera. Their everlasting love was what made Bo’s presumed death in 2015 so heartbreaking.
Over the course of their stay in Salem, Hope and Bo endured a lot, including learning that Bo was really Victor Kiriakis’ (John Aniston) son and losing their son Zack. Bo and Hope reunited despite their growing distance following Zack’s passing, but Bo then abruptly left town on a purported secret mission. Years passed before Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) could find him since Bo was actually being held captive rather than on a mission. Bo was delighted to see Hope and her daughter Ciara (then Vivian Jovanni), but it soon became clear that Bo had an incurable brain tumor. Soon later, he passed away by Hope’s side.
Bo’s death was abrupt and tragic, as the characters were hopeful when he returned only to die soon after. Thankfully, Bo was found alive in 2023 to Hope’s relief, but he was shot by his son Shawn (Brandon Beemer) and put back into a coma. It seems like Bo has a track record of bad luck when he’s found alive.
Victor’s death rocked Salem
Given that his tenure on “Days of Our Lives” extended decades, Victor Kiriakis is one of the show’s most well-known actors. Victor caused plenty of drama and mayhem throughout his time as Salem’s resident bad guy on the soap opera; even after his passing, he continued to make everyone’s life a little more interesting. When John Aniston passed away in 2022, “Days” fans struggled to conceive what the show would be like without Victor. Salem was shocked to learn of the passing of such a beloved figure when Victor perished in a plane disaster in 2023.
Victor told his wife Maggie (Suzanne Rogers) that he was going to visit Bo in an undisclosed location, but when his plane went down nowhere near where Bo was staying, the Kiriakis family was shocked and confused. Not only was Victor dead, but he had lied to his family about the purpose of his trip. It turns out that Victor had made a stop in Greece to write a new will that would include his son, Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson). The sudden off-screen death of such an important character rocked Salem, and left fans saddened by the loss of another favorite actor.
Ciara’s amnesia devastated Ben
Ciara Brady (Victoria Konefal) and Ben Weston (Robert Scott Wilson) have been through some harrowing moments in Salem. They met when Ben rescued Ciara after she crashed her motorcycle and she slowly started to realize that the infamous Necktie Killer had changed. The two fell in love and got married, but Ciara was kidnapped after the wedding and presumed dead in an explosion. However, she was being held prisoner and was eventually rescued by Ben.
After being separated for months without knowing if she was alive or dead, Ben was overjoyed to have his wife back. Therefore, it was especially heartbreaking when Ciara woke up with amnesia and had forgotten her entire relationship with Ben. She was terrified of the Necktie Killer once more and left town with her ex, Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson). Ciara eventually returned and regained her memories, but seeing her regress after championing Ben for so long was upsetting for fans of Ben and Ciara.
Sarah’s baby switch was shocking
On “Days of Our Lives” in 2019, Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) experienced the shock of a lifetime following the one-year time leap. While Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) was carrying Brady Black’s (Eric Martsolf) child, Sarah was expecting Eric Brady’s (Greg Vaughan) child. Sarah lied and said Xander Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) was the father of her kid in an effort to save Eric’s relationship with Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker). Time jump: Brady and Kristen are grieving the loss of their kid, while Xander and Sarah are raising their child joyfully one year later.
It was revealed in flashbacks that Sarah’s baby had been the one that had passed and Kristen’s that had lived; Victor Kiriakis and Xander had switched the babies so that Sarah wouldn’t have to know that her daughter had died. However, she found out and escaped with the baby in order to keep her. Eventually, Sarah had to face the reality that the baby she had been raising was not hers, and she returned the child to Kristen and Brady.
Claire’s mental break endangered lives
In 2018, Claire Brady (as Olivia Rose-Keegan) attempted to murder her aunt Ciara Brady (Victoria Konefal) out of jealousy. Although they were close as children, Claire and Ciara’s animosity increased as they grew older. It began when both females competed for their buddy Theo Carver’s attention after developing affections for him (Kyler Pettis at the time). When Ciara crashed her bike and spent the night at the Horton Cabin with Ben Weston, Claire discovered her and set the cabin on fire in an effort to kill Ciara.
After being saved, Ciara realized that Claire had started the fire. Claire then took Ciara back to the cabin and attempted to burn her once more. Fortunately, Hope, Ben, and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) were able to calm Claire down and persuade her to let Ciara go. However, Claire quickly turned the lighter on herself.
Claire thought about killing herself since she felt she had made an irreparable mistake, but Marlena was able to talk her out of it. The most heartbreaking part of that plot was Claire’s mental breakdown, even though it was thrilling to see the two offspring of legacy characters at each other’s throats.