Let's be real for a second. If you told a casual soap fan back in 2015 that the guy wandering around Salem strangling people with neckties would eventually become the show's most beloved romantic lead, they would’ve called you delusional. Seriously. But that is the magic—and the absolute chaos—of Ben Weston.
He wasn't just another villain. He was a shift in the tectonic plates of Days of Our Lives.
Even now, with Robert Scott Wilson having traded in Ben’s brooding leather jacket for the expensive suits of Alex Kiriakis, the ghost of Ben Weston looms large. You can't just erase a legacy like that. Fans are still dissecting his redemption arc like it’s a prestige HBO drama. Honestly, the "Cin" fandom (that’s Ben and Ciara Brady, for the uninitiated) might be one of the most dedicated groups in daytime history.
The Necktie Killer: A Dark Beginning
Ben didn't start as a monster. When Justin Gaston first played the role in 2014, Ben Rogers was just a guy working at Club TBD. He was kind of sweet. He liked Abigail Deveraux. Then Robert Scott Wilson took over, and the writers decided to take a sharp, dark turn.
They introduced his father, Clyde Weston. If you want to know why Ben turned out the way he did, look no further than Clyde’s "parenting."
The reveal that Ben was the Necktie Killer remains one of the most chilling moments in modern soap history. Seeing him look under that bed at the container of ties? Pure nightmare fuel. He murdered Serena Mason. He killed Paige Larson. He even "killed" Will Horton—though, in typical Salem fashion, Will eventually got better.
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Why Ben Weston Redefined the Soap Redemption Arc
Usually, when a soap character kills people, they either die or go to prison forever. Ben did go to Bayview, but he came back. And that’s where things got interesting.
The show did something risky. They paired the town’s most hated man with its "golden girl," Ciara Brady. It shouldn't have worked. Ciara is the daughter of Bo and Hope—the ultimate legacy. Ben was a serial killer. But when he found Ciara after her motorcycle accident and nursed her back to health in that cabin, the chemistry was undeniable.
It was "Cin." And it changed everything.
The Science of Forgiveness
How do you make an audience root for a murderer?
- Accountability: Ben never made excuses. He knew he was a "monster" and fought every day to stay on his meds and stay sane.
- The "Broken" Factor: Both Ben and Ciara were survivors of trauma. They saw the jagged edges in each other and decided they fit.
- Robert Scott Wilson's Performance: You can't overlook the acting. Wilson brought a vulnerability to Ben that made you forget, just for a moment, the trail of bodies he left behind.
Where Is Ben Weston Now?
As of early 2026, Ben is off the canvas, but he’s living the "happily ever after" most fans dreamed of. In 2022, Ben and Ciara sailed away from Salem on their boat, The Living in Sin (okay, it was actually just a boat, but the "Cin" pun was right there).
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They didn't go alone. They had their son, Bo Weston, and eventually welcomed a daughter named Addie.
The interesting part? While Ben is off-screen living his best life in the Caribbean or wherever they've docked, Robert Scott Wilson is still very much in Salem. In a move that only soaps can pull off, he returned as Alex Kiriakis. It’s been a trip for long-time viewers to see the same face playing a rich, arrogant playboy while knowing Ben Weston is out there somewhere.
The Dual Role Dilemma
There’s been a lot of chatter lately—especially in recent 2025 interviews—about whether Ben and Alex could ever meet. Wilson himself has said he’d love to pull "double duty."
"I would love for that to happen in terms of Ben truly meeting Alex. I think it would just be really great to have that moment more than anything. And who knows? It could be really funny." — Robert Scott Wilson to Soaps.com.
Imagine the meta-commentary. Alex Kiriakis looking at Ben Weston and joking about how they look alike. The fans would lose it.
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Actionable Insights for the "Cin" Fandom
If you're missing the Ben and Ciara era, there are actually a few ways to keep the story going.
- Watch 'Beyond Salem': If you haven't seen the Peacock limited series, do it. It features some of the best Ben and Ciara content that didn't make it to the main airshow, including their life as new parents.
- Track the Alex Kiriakis Arcs: While Alex is nothing like Ben, there are occasionally "Easter eggs" or nods to Wilson's past role. It's a fun game for eagle-eyed viewers.
- Follow the Socials: Robert Scott Wilson and Victoria Konefal (Ciara) are still very close. They often post "Cin" reunions on Instagram that keep the hope alive for a future return.
The reality of soaps is that nobody is ever really gone. Ben Weston is a legacy now. He’s the standard for how to take a character from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs. Whether he ever steps foot back in Salem or stays on that boat, his impact on the genre is permanent.
Keep an eye on the casting news for late 2026. With the way Days likes to bring back fan favorites for anniversaries or sweeps, a Weston family reunion is never entirely off the table.
Next Steps:
If you want to revisit the peak of the Necktie Killer era, look for the September 2015 episodes on Peacock. For the start of the redemption arc, jump to June 2018 when Ben first meets Ciara at the cabin. These episodes define the character's transition from a horror villain to a romantic icon.