The recent performances on Days of Our Lives left viewers deeply moved. As the series began its tribute to the late Drake Hogestyn—who passed away in 2024—the raw authenticity of the cast’s portrayals was palpable. Eight months after his passing, Hogestyn’s iconic character, John Black, was written out of the show in a storyline that was as heartfelt as it was heartbreaking. Leading the emotional charge this week was Deidre Hall, whose portrayal of Marlena Evans earned her well-deserved recognition as Soap Opera News’ Performer of the Week.

What Happened This Week on Days of Our Lives?
This week delivered some of the most emotionally powerful scenes we’ve seen in a long time—this wasn’t acting; it was raw, it was real, and it left a mark.

We watched as John Black took his final breath, with Marlena by his side, after succumbing to injuries from a meth lab explosion—injuries he sustained while retrieving the drug that would ultimately bring his friend Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) back from a coma.

When Marlena lay in that hospital bed beside him and whispered, “You can rest now,” it wasn’t just a line. It was a moment that broke us. Absolutely gutted us.

The Voicemail Scene
Then came the scene—that scene—at home, Marlena finds John’s final voicemail. Just four words: “I love you, Doc.” Simple, but echoing with the weight of their decades-long love story. One that helped make ‘Jarlena’ one of the most beloved pairings in soap history. Marlena played that voicemail again. And again. And again—holding onto his voice until grief consumed her. And honestly, it took us over too. We cried. And cried. And cried.

Kudos to Deidre Hall for a performance that didn’t just honor John Black—it honored Drake Hogestyn. A true legend of daytime television, Drake Hogestyn was one of the greatest to ever grace the genre.