In Salem, danger often comes cloaked in the most unexpected forms, and this latest twist proves just how dark and destructive hidden schemes can become. On Thursday, September 25th, Days of Our Lives brings viewers an unforgettable episode filled with manipulation, deception, and shocking consequences as Sophia Choi unleashes her sinister plan against Holly Jonas. With a citywide blackout shrouding the town in chaos, the stage is set for one of the most chilling setups Salem has seen in years.

Sophia’s Calculated Entrance

The drama begins at Salem University, inside the dormitory shared by Holly Jonas and Ariana “Ari” Horton. On the surface, it looks like an ordinary evening between college friends. But lurking in the shadows is Sophia Choi, who arrives with far darker intentions than a friendly visit.

Sophia enters the room with a deceptive smile, masking the storm of malice simmering beneath. Rachel Boyd’s portrayal of Sophia highlights just how much the character has evolved—from a troubled, misunderstood young woman into a master manipulator capable of orchestrating chaos with terrifying precision. Every glance, every movement reflects her meticulous planning. This is no spontaneous act of cruelty; Sophia has mapped out each step with chilling clarity.

As she surveys the dorm, her eyes dart from details on the desk to Holly’s personal belongings, as if cataloging potential tools for her deception. To anyone else, the room is simply a living space. To Sophia, it’s a stage where she will execute her wicked scheme.

Poison in Plain Sight

The turning point comes when Sophia notices Holly’s unattended drink. With cold efficiency, she slips an unknown substance into the glass. This isn’t just mischief—this is a calculated act of harm. The drug, a powerful sedative, is meant to strip Holly of control and render her completely unconscious.

Sophia’s confidence in handling the dosage and timing suggests she has knowledge far beyond what any college student should. Her calm demeanor implies this may not be her first time dabbling in dangerous substances. The lack of hesitation proves one thing: empathy no longer exists within Sophia. For her, Holly is simply a pawn in a bigger game.

Moments later, Holly takes a sip, unaware that her trust in her surroundings has just become her downfall. The sedative takes hold quickly—her body grows heavy, her vision blurs, and within minutes she collapses into a deep, vulnerable unconsciousness. Watching this unfold, Sophia allows herself a fleeting smirk of satisfaction. Her victim is defenseless, and the plan is only beginning.

A Town Plunged into Darkness

Then, as if fate itself has conspired with Sophia’s cruelty, a massive blackout engulfs Salem. Lights flicker, then vanish. The university is swallowed in darkness, with only the faint glow of cell phones and emergency exit signs cutting through the gloom.

Across town, chaos reigns—traffic lights fail, businesses grind to a halt, and residents are trapped in elevators and buildings. The blackout is unexplained, mysterious, and perfectly timed for Sophia’s plan. In the dorm room, the outage only amplifies the sense of dread.

Ari, uneasy in the pitch black and growing concerned about the citywide outage, decides to leave the dorm in search of answers. Her departure, seemingly harmless, plays directly into Sophia’s hands. Alone with Holly, Sophia now has complete freedom to execute the darkest part of her plan.

Staged Betrayal

With Holly unconscious, Sophia moves to the most disturbing stage of her plot: a fake scandal that could ruin multiple lives. Using her phone’s flashlight, she repositions Holly’s limp body, adjusting her clothing to create suggestive poses. She snaps photo after photo, carefully framing them to tell a false story.

Each image is crafted with deliberate manipulation. Sophia tugs at Holly’s pajama straps to make them appear more revealing, arranges her hair, and angles the camera to imply intimacy. What makes this even more chilling is Sophia’s understanding of how photographs can be twisted into believable narratives. These aren’t random snapshots; they are staged pieces of evidence designed to devastate.

Her ultimate goal? To fabricate a scandal linking Holly to Johnny DiMera, her professor at Salem University. The photos, paired with flirty text messages Sophia plans to send from Holly’s phone, will make it appear as though Holly is seducing her teacher.

Destroying Johnny DiMera

Sophia’s choice of target is as cruel as it is calculated. Johnny DiMera is not only Holly’s professor but also a man whose past includes Holly’s teenage crush—an innocent phase that Sophia now intends to weaponize. Even though Holly moved on from those feelings years ago, their history gives credibility to Sophia’s fabricated story.

For Johnny, the stakes couldn’t be higher. He and Chanel have been working tirelessly on their adoption process, hoping to welcome baby Toro into their family. If the scandal breaks, it would devastate not just Johnny’s career but also their dream of becoming parents. The fabricated evidence of an affair could end his teaching position, tarnish his reputation, and destroy the adoption application overnight.

Sophia’s cruelty doesn’t stop with Johnny. Her scheme is designed to fracture relationships across Salem—between Johnny and Chanel, between Holly and her friends, and even within the DiMera family itself. This is more than sabotage; it’s psychological warfare.

Marina’s Collapse Amid Chaos

As if the night weren’t already fraught with tragedy, another shocking crisis unfolds elsewhere in Salem. Beloved psychiatrist Marina Evans suddenly collapses, unconscious and vulnerable, at the height of the blackout. The timing is almost too coincidental, leading many to question whether the events are connected.

Earlier in the week, Marina had received troubling news that weighed heavily on her mind. Whether stress triggered her collapse or whether something more sinister is at play remains a mystery. Her family, including John Black, is thrown into panic as they scramble to ensure she receives care during a citywide outage that has hospitals running on backup power.

This unexpected crisis only adds to the night’s chaos, deepening the tension across Salem.

The Aftermath for Holly

When Holly finally regains consciousness, she is groggy, confused, and terrified. The sedative leaves her disoriented, with fragmented memories of what happened. She knows Sophia was in the room, but she cannot recall every detail. What she doesn’t yet realize is that her very reputation is about to be shredded by false evidence she never consented to.

Once the staged photographs and manipulated messages begin circulating, Holly’s anger toward Sophia will be explosive. But the damage may already be irreversible. Johnny’s career, his marriage to Chanel, and their adoption hopes all hang in the balance. And for Holly, the humiliation of being portrayed as a seductress when she was actually unconscious will cut deeper than words can describe.

A Web of Devastation

As Salem reels, the ripple effects of Sophia’s plot will spread like wildfire. Chanel will be devastated, her trust in Johnny shaken to the core. The adoption process will likely be suspended, crushing her hopes of motherhood. Johnny will face accusations he cannot easily disprove, and Holly will be forced to defend herself against whispers and stares she never invited.

Meanwhile, Sophia sits back and watches her handiwork unfold. By crossing the line into drugging, staging, and framing, she cements her transformation into one of Salem’s most dangerous villains. Her actions show a chilling willingness to ruin lives with no thought to the consequences.

And the fallout doesn’t end here. In the weeks ahead, her lies will continue unraveling, sparking confrontations, shocking revelations, and perhaps even vengeance from those she’s wronged.