Let’s be real—Days of Our Lives has given us some truly wild plot twists over the decades. We’ve seen people come back from the dead (more than once), swapped identities, evil twins, and even supernatural elements. But even in the chaos of Salem, there’s one John Black storyline that still makes fans say, “Huh?” Yes, we’re talking about that one baffling plot point that defied soap opera logic, even by Days standards.
The Mystery That Still Baffles Fans
John Black—A Character of Many Lives
If you’ve followed Days of Our Lives for any amount of time, you know that John Black has had more identities than most people have socks. From Roman Brady to The Pawn to Forrest Alamain to just plain John Black, his character has ridden a rollercoaster of reinventions. But even in a life full of twists, one particular plot point stands out as especially confusing.
The Plot Point in Question—Brainwashing or Time Travel?
So what’s the twist that still doesn’t make sense? It’s the infamous brainwashing storyline where John was programmed to become an assassin… again. Wait, again? Yes. Despite breaking free of Stefano DiMera’s control years earlier, John somehow got re-brainwashed like it was a casual update from iOS 14 to 15.
Let’s Break It Down—Step by Step
First, John’s mind was wiped (again), then he was given a new mission by yet another shadowy villain. He somehow regained ninja-level combat skills and had no memory of his family or life in Salem. And just when viewers were trying to make sense of it, he suddenly remembered everything… because Marlena said his name.
No ritual. No reprogramming. Just “John” in a whisper.
Seriously.
The Stefano DiMera Factor
Of course, if any character could pull off this kind of mind control madness, it’s Stefano DiMera. Stefano has long been the puppet master behind some of the wildest arcs in the show’s history. Still, even with his reputation, this felt like a bit much—even for him.
Science Fiction or Soap Fiction?
At what point do soap operas dip into full-on science fiction? Brainwashing plots aren’t new to Days, but this one veered into sci-fi territory without explaining the how. Did Stefano invent a neural wipe device? Was John wearing a chip in his brain again? The show never told us.
The Writers’ Tightrope Walk
Soap writers walk a tightrope between shocking and senseless. The goal is to surprise viewers while still keeping things believable (in soap logic, anyway). This storyline went off that tightrope, did a backflip, and landed in a puddle of plot holes.
Audience Suspension of Disbelief Has Limits
Let’s be fair—soap fans are loyal, patient, and usually willing to suspend disbelief. But even they have limits. Social media lit up during this storyline with fans asking: “What just happened?” and “Are we supposed to understand this?”
Marlena Saves the Day… Again
If there’s one constant in John Black’s chaos, it’s Marlena. Her love, her voice, her undying patience—they’ve saved John more times than we can count. In this storyline, her simple plea broke through layers of mental conditioning. Touching? Sure. Believable? Not even close.
Soap Tropes Taken to the Extreme
Let’s list some of the tropes used in this arc:
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Amnesia ✅
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Brainwashing ✅
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Evil mastermind ✅
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Instant recovery with no side effects ✅
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Love conquers mind control ✅
Separately, these are classic soap staples. All together, they created one seriously convoluted plot.
How Did This Affect the Bigger Story?
Believe it or not, this plot actually led into a larger arc involving international espionage. John started working with the ISA again, and bits of his “training” were retained. So essentially, this confusing mess of a plot served as a reset button for John’s spy background.
The Unanswered Questions
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Who really brainwashed John this time?
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How did it happen without anyone noticing?
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Where did he get those fighting skills again?
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Why did Marlena’s voice work as a trigger?
We may never know—and honestly, maybe that’s for the best.
Fan Theories Galore
Because the show never filled in the blanks, fans did it for them. Some believed John was chipped (again), while others speculated about parallel universes. One theory even suggested it was all a dream—or Marlena’s hypnosis gone wrong.
Soap Logic vs. Real Logic
It’s like comparing apples to unicorns. Soap logic allows for story freedom, but real logic demands answers. This plot point asked fans to abandon real logic entirely and just enjoy the ride—bumpy as it was.
Why We Still Love John Black Anyway
Here’s the thing—even with all the weirdness, we still love John Black. He’s the stoic hero, the protective husband, and the guy who always finds his way back to Marlena. No amount of plot absurdity can change that.
Conclusion
This John Black storyline remains one of the most confusing plot points in Days of Our Lives history. It had all the makings of a soap classic—drama, danger, and a dose of the ridiculous. While it might never make logical sense, it did what soaps do best: kept us talking, kept us watching, and kept us guessing.
FAQs
1. What storyline are fans still confused about with John Black?
The brainwashing assassin plot where John suddenly reverts to his old ISA programming without explanation—and is cured just by hearing Marlena say his name.
2. Was this storyline ever explained in later episodes?
Not really. The show moved on without providing much clarification, leaving fans to piece things together themselves.
3. Has John Black experienced brainwashing before?
Yes, several times. Stefano DiMera has often used John as a pawn in his mind-control schemes.
4. How did fans react to this plot twist?
Many were confused and took to social media to express their disbelief, though others embraced it as classic soap chaos.
5. Will Days of Our Lives revisit this storyline?
Never say never in Salem—but unless it serves a current plot, it’s likely this mystery will stay unsolved.
