Rest in Peace, John Black: Days of Our Lives Reaches the End of an Era

Farewell to a legend. It’s been nearly nine months in coming — ever since we were all shocked to learn that Drake Hogestyn had passed away from pancreatic cancer — but Days of Our Lives has finally laid John Black to rest. He fought to live longer than we ever expected after getting caught in that meth lab explosion, giving his loved ones time to sit by his side and say goodbye. But in the end, we knew how this had to end.

Marlena lay by John’s side, talking, reassuring him, reminiscing over their life and love together. She told him tearfully that he didn’t have to fight anymore if he didn’t want to. She knew he was suffering and his loved ones would go on. He could finally rest. And then, as Marlena lay next to John, she held him as his heart stopped. She kept him safe and loved, just as she told him he always did for her, until he breathed his last breath.

If our tears weren’t flowing before that, they sure as heck were by then.

Meanwhile, out in the hall, Steve and Kayla could only hold each other and cry as they faced the facts that there was no way to fix this. No miracle drug to save John. Even in Salem, sometimes tragedy strikes and there’s just nothing you can do it about it. Steve was the first person to appear with John Black, nearly 40 years ago and, in the end, one of the last.

And while the show’s scribes promised they had an idea on how to undo John’s death if Hogestyn had pulled through, we’d be darned if we knew how. If he’d remained comatose the entire time he was wrapped in bandages, it would have been one thing. They could have made the claim that they recovered someone else’s body. But John was awake in the hospital and talking — haltingly, admittedly — to his loved ones. It would be a stretch to imagine that was anyone else under those bandages.

It’s a moot point, though, as John is, finally resting, along with his portrayer who fought his own health battle right up until the very end. For longtime viewers and lovers of “Jarlena,” this is the time to watch. Eric, Carrie and Will have all come back home. Sami is on her way (supposedly with Sydney in tow, who we haven’t seen since she was little). Jack and Jennifer are back this week as well, and, we’re willing to wager a surprise or two are on their way as well.

But still, in the midst of the sorrow, there is joy to be found. Paul and Andrew were hoping to celebrate John’s recovery with their wedding. That isn’t possible any more, but they’re still determined to bring the family together with some happiness in this heartbreaking time.

And then there’s Bo. John gave up his life to save his old friends, and Bo has finally woken up. We’ll be seeing him a lot more this week, and while we’ll be getting a joyful reunion for him and Hope (And maybe a wedding for them, too? Please, Days of Our Lives?) we can only imagine how he’ll grapple with feeling a sense of survivor’s guilt.

In the wake of the emotional times ahead, Peter Reckell took to Twitter/X last week to share some touching words for fans that apply far beyond Salem.

“It’s been a rough two weeks,” he wrote, “heck two years with people who mean so much to us. You are the most dedicated, passionate, vocal fans in daytime. Reach out to each other, make contacts, so you can get through these difficult times together.”

Whatever is coming our way, Days of Our Lives fans will get through it as Marlena, John’s loved ones and all of Salem forges a new future without him.