On Days of Our Lives, the month of June was largely devoted to saying goodbye to an iconic character and a daytime legend, Drake Hogestyn. His equally legendary co-star, Deidre Hall, gave one heartbreaking performance after another as Marlena came to terms with the fact that she would no longer have the love of her life by her side.

Honorable Mention

Much like we’re commending Hall for giving amazing performances during such a challenging and heartbreaking time, we must commend the rest of the DAYS cast involved in the hospital, the funeral scenes, and the scenes at The Pub when John’s chosen family remembered him and drank to him. Each actor infused their characters with a strength, even when their characters’ pain over losing John felt so real and so palpable. They had viewers in tears day after day after day.

The Top Spot

Hall’s iconic character guided us through this new world that she was suddenly forced to live in. A world without John.

Marlena started the month by giving John permission to rest. And she ended June by going into protector mode for her grandson, Johnny (Carson Boatman). In between, the grief Marlena felt over losing her husband was permanently etched on her face. It never left her.

You could see it in the way she looked at her family and friends. The way she repeatedly listened to John’s “I love you” voicemail. And even in the way that Marlena attempted to come up with things to do, so she wouldn’t have to stop and think about what she’s lost.

Marlena is strong, but currently, there’s a pure, unadulterated grief that’s always waiting to bubble up to the surface. It was especially fascinating when the psychiatrist had to go to the hospital because her grief physically affected her body. When Sarah (Linsey Godfrey) came back with the test results, she told Marlena that physically, she was fine. But she wasn’t fine, was she?

In June, Hall did a magnificent job of showing Marlena’s grieving journey.