Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Days of our Lives has been placing Stacy Haiduk and Kristen on the back burner for far too long. The soap star just reminded fans why Kristen is a key player in Salem and should be treated that way.

Key Takeaways

• Stacy Haiduk always shines as Kristen.
• The recent episode showed why Kristen and Haiduk are needed in Salem.
• DAYS loss is Y&R’s gain.

Stacy Haiduk and Kristen Deserve Better

Watching Kristen (Haiduk) unleash her fury on Marlena (Deidre Hall) after Rachel (Lorelei Olivia Mote, who revealed her hidden talents) was ordered to return to Bayview was a reminder of their rich history. Marlena and Kristen have an epic soap feud that should be revisited, but isn’t because Kristen is only involved in Rachel’s storylines.

Other than when the DiMera siblings were kidnapped, the past couple of years have seen Kristen reduced to just Rachel’s mom, rather than the delightful villain she is.

Kristen is one of those love-to-hate villains that Haiduk brings life to when given the proper material. Like when she fights with Marlena or breaks down after Rachel flew into Kristen’s arms, pleading for her not to make her return to Bayview.

Haiduk continues to show up with Kristen, but for some reason, neither she nor the character is fully utilized. There are endless possibilities for Kristen, especially with her rich history in Salem. It’s not all drama either.

Kristen and Lani (Sal Stowers) have a close and very unexpected friendship. With Lani returning to Salem, it would be great to see this friendship highlighted.

Unfortunately for DAYS fans, Haiduk is now sharing her considerable talents over at The Young and the Restless, where she is reprising the role of Patty Williams. It’s a huge gain for the CBS soap, where she’s keeping Y&’s Peter Bergman on his toes.

In a previous interview, Haiduk admitted she hadn’t filmed at DAYS since January, meaning Kristen will be off the canvas again later this year (or early next year) for an extended period.

However, the good news is that Haiduk never feels that Kristen will be off the canvas for good. Instead, she feels Kristen’s exits are temporary breaks, and she will always come back into the mix when fans least expect it.