Days of Our Lives Full Episode Recap - Friday, February 21, 2025

Belle and Shawn Explode, Brady & Steve Save Ava, EJ’s Scheme Unravels

Salem was on fire today on Days of Our Lives! Shawn and Belle’s divorce drama got messy, Jada learned the truth about Rafe’s cheating ways, and Brady and Steve pulled off a daring rescue—well, a partial one. Meanwhile, EJ and Kristen were up to their usual shady business, but things took a shocking turn. Keep reading for all the juicy details in today’s DOOL full episode recap!

Jada Gets a Rude Awakening About Rafe

Just when Jada thought she’d shed her toxic ex, Days reminded her that heartbreak comes with an encore performance. Javi, never one to hold his tongue, dropped the bomb that Rafe cheated on Jada before their wedding. Yes, with the bachelor party stripper. A scandal? In Salem? Shocking! Jada, ever the rational woman, wasn’t buying it at first, but when Javi spilled all the tawdry details, it was undeniable. Rafe had confessed, brushed it off, and then had the audacity to act like it was no big deal.

Adding insult to injury, Javi confessed he had told Leo, meaning Salem’s biggest gossip had the tea this whole time. Jada, still reeling from the revelation, admitted she had a dream about Rafe apologizing and wanting her back. Well, that fantasy just got obliterated. Javi, meanwhile, got a call from Gabi and took off, leaving Jada hugging herself and whispering, Goodbye forever, Rafe.

Brady and Steve’s Rescue Mission—Ava Saved, But Rafe? Not So Much

Steve & Brady save Ava

Over at the Blake House, Brady and Steve stormed in like the Salem Avengers, ready to rescue Ava. And they found her—bound, gagged, and full of stories. Turns out, Kristen’s long-dead mother Rachel Blake is very much alive and running this circus in a flowing white dress, like some kind of ghostly mob boss.

Ava wasted no time filling Brady in on the lunacy, from Kristen’s role in her captivity to Rachel Blake’s apparent resurrection. Brady was, understandably, skeptical—until Steve ran into the woman himself. That’s right, Ava wasn’t hallucinating, and Mama Blake was very much in charge. But before they could process that, Steve went off to search for Rafe.

Speaking of Rafe, he was still tied up upstairs, trying to negotiate his way out. He warned Rachel Blake that EJ was going to double-cross her (because of course he is—DiMera DNA and all). But she wasn’t having it. Instead, she doubled down on her commitment to the chaos, ensuring Rafe stayed exactly where he was.

Shawn and Belle’s Post-Divorce Drama Erupts

Over at the Salem PD, Shawn Douglas Brady was not in the mood for Belle’s courtroom charm. He was laser-focused on proving EJ framed Jada, and Belle was not having Shawn’s accusations. But Shawn? He wasn’t backing down. In a heated exchange, he called out Belle for being too cozy with EJ, implying that her ahem extracurricular activities were clouding her judgment.

Belle and Shawn D fight

Belle clapped back, accusing Shawn of being jealous. (Let’s be honest—he totally is.) Shawn, still reeling from their divorce, countered that she lied to him about EJ being a one-time mistake. Belle tried to stand her ground, but when Shawn revealed that Jada had tipped him off about her continued rendezvous with EJ, the conversation got real awkward.

Shawn stormed off, leaving Belle rattled. But before she could collect herself, Steve waltzed in with the pièce de résistance—Rachel Blake in custody. And that, dear readers, is how you turn a day from bad to worse.

EJ and Kristen’s Big Plan Hits a Snag

Kristen is giddy over her gift

Meanwhile, at the DiMera mansion, Kristen was getting giddy over a little gift from Dr. Rolf—a vial of CRS-17. Sound familiar? That’s because this memory-wiping drug has a history of erasing inconvenient truths (and apparently, it stands for Can’t Remember S**!*). Kristen had grand plans to use it on Ava and Rafe to ensure they forgot every shady thing that had gone down.

EJ, always the reluctant villain, wasn’t thrilled. Memory loss was one thing, but murder? Not his style. Kristen, however, was not about to let a little thing like morality get in the way. But before they could administer their latest scheme, they arrived at the Blake House to find Ava already gone. Panic mode: activated.

Rafe’s Close Call with the Syringe of Doom

Upstairs, EJ found Rafe still tied up, gag off, but not out of the woods. As Rafe pleaded for his life, EJ revealed his master plan—no, not to kill him, just to erase his memory. Because that’s so much better, right? But Rafe, ever the fighter, wasn’t about to go down that easily. He broke free, and suddenly, he and EJ were wrestling for the syringe.

Enter Kristen, stage left, screaming, “EJ, NO!” just as the struggle hit its peak. (Is it really a DOOL episode if someone isn’t inches away from certain doom?)

Rachel Blake’s Reign Ends—For Now

Back at the station, Shawn returned to find Steve dropping off Rachel Blake. Belle, still reeling from her argument with Shawn, could barely process the revelation that Kristen’s supposedly dead mother had been orchestrating Ava’s captivity. And just like that, Salem had a new villain in custody—though knowing DOOL, she won’t be behind bars for long.

Meanwhile, Shawn found Jada in tears in Horton Square. Without hesitation, she collapsed into his arms. Is this the beginning of something new? Or just two broken hearts seeking comfort? Either way, DOOL fans, you know the drama is far from over.

What’s Next for Salem?

With Rafe still in danger, EJ’s plan unraveling, and Belle and Shawn at each other’s throats, Salem is a pressure cooker ready to explode. Will EJ and Kristen find a way to salvage their scheme? Will Shawn and Jada’s heartbreak turn into something more? And what exactly is next for Rachel Blake now that she’s in police custody? Buckle up, because Days of Our Lives is just getting started!

Stay tuned for more DOOL recaps, because in Salem, the drama never sleeps!