Days of our Lives Recap, August 21: The jury reaches a verdict

Here is your Days of our Lives recap for Thursday, August 21, 2025.

What happened on Days of our Lives

In the jury deliberation room, Leo lamented that there were once again 11 not guilty votes and one guilty vote. It turned out that Leo's roommate, Adam, was sure that "Johnny DiMera shot his own father."

Leo pointed out that there was no proof that Johnny shot EJ. Adam disagreed. Johnny admitted to going to his father's house and waving a gun around. That was proof enough for Adam. "It's not so unusual for a son to want his father to fall off a perch," Adam said.

As the rest of the jury ordered lunch, Leo took Adam aside for a chat. "Leo, I like you. You're a stand-up chap, but I'm not going to let you bully me into changing my vote to acquit Johnny," Adam said. Leo was sure they were going to end up with a hung jury, while Adam was sure he could convince five jurors to see his reasoning.

Leo then gave them all a speech about reasonable doubt. "This is not an episode of Law and Order. What we decide today has real-life consequences, not just for the defendant, but for every single person who showed up to testify in that courtroom. We owe it to them and to ourselves to deliver an actual verdict and not end up with a hung jury," Leo said.

After lunch, Adam somehow managed to get the other jurors to agree that the rich and powerful of Salem had entered into a vast conspiracy and believed they were above the law.

In Rachel's room at the DiMera mansion, Rachel questioned Marlena about how juries work. She was worried that Johnny would be convicted. "I wish there was something I could do to help him," Rachel said. She wished she knew who really shot Uncle EJ.

Rachel noticed how sad Marlena looked and knew she was missing Grandpa John. "He always knew how to make things better," Rachel said. "I miss him so much, but I bet you miss him one thousand and one times more," Marlena said that talking about John brought her comfort. She liked her memories of John.

Rachel said that whenever she tried to remember things, her stomach hurt. Rachel also grew tired of hanging with Marlena and insisted they go downstairs and tell Kristen and EJ they had talked enough. Marlena stopped her, but Rachel worried that EJ was upset with her for breaking his paperweight.

Rachel wanted to go downstairs in the worst way, so she claimed her snake escaped its cage to distract Marlena. While Marlena was trying to trap a snake, Rachel ran from her room. Marlena followed after her.

Downstairs in the living room, EJ insisted to Kristen that he loved Rachel, but he couldn't allow Johnny to go to jail for a crime he didn't commit. Kristen asked how she could guarantee that the jury wouldn't convict Johnny. "Not my problem. That is all on you," EJ said.

EJ pointed out that there was still time because the jury had not returned with a verdict yet. Ever the DiMera, Kristen said, "Time to do what? It's not like I can bribe the judge at the point. The only thing we can do is wait and see what the jury decides. You already did a heck of a job tossing blame onto everybody who has a pulse in Salem. There's no way they're going to convict Johnny," Kristen said.

EJ wished that she was right, but he wasn't so sure. "Johnny practically threw this case away when he decided to fire me and represent himself," EJ lamented. Kristen suggested that if Johnny were to be found guilty, they could buy more time to figure out the Rachel situation by filing an appeal. EJ wasn't willing to do that.

Kristen tried to reason with EJ. "We need to take some time and figure out a solid plan so we can save both of them," Kristen said. EJ balked at the idea. "Let's not pretend we trust each other, Kristen. You're likely already coming up with ways to run off with your daughter and leave my son holding the bag," EJ accused.

EJ and Kristen bickered back and forth for a few minutes as Kristen begged EJ to give her more time. EJ didn't believe they had any more time. "You need to take action before that jury comes back with a verdict," EJ spat.

EJ insisted he would make sure the authorities knew that Rachel shot him by accident. "She's a child. It's not like she'll be doing hard time," he said. Kristen knew this, but she worried about Rachel's emotional well-being if she knew the truth. EJ was still focused on Johnny and told Kristen, "Find a way so both of our children don't have to suffer. Find a sacrificial lamb that isn't my son."

Soon, Rachel came barreling into the living room with Marlena chasing after her. "Are you guys keeping a secret from me?" Rachel demanded to know. Before EJ could say much, Marlena got a text that the jury had reached a verdict.

Brady walked in on Tate making plans with Holly over the phone. When Tate hung up, he embraced his father, while Brady commented that they never see one another anymore. Tate claimed to be excited about school starting, but was disappointed that the alleged adoptive parents wouldn't let him see his baby.

Tate said he realized that might be for the best after the emotional moment when he and Sophia saw Ari with Tessoro. "Sophia just got really upset being around another baby. All this has been hard on me, but it's been way harder on Sophia," Tate noted. "I decided it's for the best if I just stopped obsessing over meeting my daughter."

Brady was proud of Tate for considering Sophia's feelings ahead of his own. "However, if you want to fight to see your daughter, you wouldn't necessarily have to involve Sophia in that," Brady said. Tate admitted Sophia might have been right all along, that meeting the baby would have made it more difficult to let go. "So, no more fixating on the baby. It's not good for Sophia. And no good for me," Tate concluded.

As they talked some more, Tate decided that he wanted to get a job. Brady suggested they go to the Brady Pub to see if Roman needed anyone. Brady was supposed to meet Sarah there anyway.

At The Brady Pub, Sarah approached Sophia and asked if they could talk. Sarah told Sophia she was still ethically bound to keep her secret, but she knew via her friendship with Brady that Tate was having a difficult time. Sophia said she wished she could tell Tate the truth, but she feared he would hate her.

Sarah countered that Tate could be grateful and compassionate. "He would know what you went through, giving birth all alone. You would be giving him the closure that he desperately needs," Sarah said.

Sophia was sure that Tate would think she was a terrible and heartless person for leaving the baby at a fire station. "You left your baby in a perfectly safe space. It is why the drop-off program exists," Sarah insisted. Sophia also worried about her parents forcing her to take the baby back or cutting her off financially.

Sophia said she wanted what was best for the baby, but seeing him all over town was like torture. "I saw him twice yesterday, and one of the times, I was with my mom. She said he looked just like my brother did when he was a baby," Sophia noted.

Sarah asked Sophia about her plans for the future. Sophia said she planned to go to Salem U and hoped to grow closer to Tate. Sarah reminded Sophia that she was Holly's aunt and that Holly and Tate were back together again. "For now," Sophia said. "Holly and Tate are on and off all the time, so it's not going to be long until they're off again."

When Brady and Tate got there, Brady told Sophia the adoptive parents wouldn't allow Tate to see the baby. "Ahh, that's too bad. Maybe they'll change their minds and they can someday meet him," Sophia said. Brady questioned why she said "Him." Sophia covered for herself and said she just misspoke.

After Sophia walked away, Brady remembered how surprised Sarah was when she heard Sophia had given birth to a girl in Chicago.

After Tate handed in his job application, Sophia asked him to have lunch with her. She tried to cover her disappointment when he said he already had plans with Holly. When Tate left, Sophia asked for her own job application.

At a table, Brady told Sarah that he couldn't stop thinking about Sophia's slip of the tongue. "Isn't it kind of odd that she would just mistakenly refer to the baby as a boy?" Brady asked.

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