On July 11, the second chapter of “Beyond Salem” was released on Peacock, which is the exclusive streaming home of “Days of Our Lives.”
It features an all-star cast that included Deidre Hall as Dr. Marlena Evans, Drake Hogestyn as John Black, Stephen Nichols as Steve “Patch” Johnson, Mary Beth Evans as Kayla Brady Johnson, Lucas Adams as Tripp Johnson, Camila Banus as Gabi Hernandez, Victoria Konefal as Ciara Brady, Robert Scott Wilson as Ben Weston, and Remington Hoffman as Li Shin.
The highlight was Kristian Alfonso and Peter Reckell reprising their iconic roles as Hope Brady and Bo Brady, which have been known and beloved by fans for decades as the super-couple Bo and Hope. It feels that they picked up where they left off, their chemistry never left.
The synopsis is as follows: In an epic, action-packed tale that spans the entire globe, from Monte Carlo to Hong Kong, beloved characters from “Days of our Lives” once again go “Beyond Salem” as they trade the comforts of home for an adventure of a lifetime!
Steve and Kayla make a surprise visit to their children in Seattle, while private eye John Black travels to San Francisco to see his son, Paul (Christopher Sean).
Meanwhile, new parents Ben and Ciara drop anchor in Montreal, Canada,where they are greeted by a much-missed Hope, and she gets to meet her grandson, Bo, for the first time.
It is comprised of five distinct and thrilling episodes, poignant family reunions take a dangerous turn as a mysterious adversary wreaks havoc on their lives.
This second installment is a story full of larger-than-life romance, jaw-dropping twists, and high-stakes drama – and it all connects back to a plot that long-time “Days of Our Lives” fans will surely remember.
“General Hospital” fans are in for a treat since Steve Burton joined the “Beyond Salem: Chapter 2” cast as Harris Michaels, a role he originated on “Days of Our Lives” back in 1988.
Christopher Sean delivers a vibrant and heartfelt performance as Paul Narita opposite Hogestyn; moreover, he has great chemistry with Colton Little who plays Andrew Donovan, who becomes his new love interest.
Tanner Stein and Abigail Klein delight in the roles of Stephanie and Joey Johnson, the biological children of Kayla and Patch. It is interesting to see brothers Tripp and Joey vie for the affection of Wendy (Victoria Grace).
The scenes between Bo and Hope are extremely moving and nostalgic, and the same holds true for Hope’s reunion with her late son Zack Brady (played by Scott Shilstone).
Special guest star Loretta Devine is a breath of heavenly fresh air in the role of Angela. Miranda Wilson delivers a commanding and controlled performance as villainess Megan Hathaway, the long-lost daughter of Stefano DiMera.
Emmy winner Eileen Davidson is also noteworthy in her roles as Thomas Banks and Sister Mary Moira Banks. Vince Van Patten also makes a neat cameo as Phil Hellworth, which affords him the opportunity to work with his real-life wife, Eileen Davidson. Tony Moore (Dishin Days) also makes an appearance as DJ Terrence.
The Verdict
Overall, “Beyond Salem: Chapter 2” is a compelling new original limited series on Peacock. The performances by the cast members are solid, impressive, and memorable all around since everybody brings something unique to the table. It is certainly worth checking out by all fans of the NBC daytime drama. It garners two thumbs up.
Since it has a cliffhanger ending, hopefully, this is a harbinger of a third “Beyond Salem” iteration in the future.
