Big drama on ‘Days of Our Lives’

Grafton native Robert Scott Wilson stirs up drama on 'Days of Our Lives'

Can a reformed serial killer find redemption and true love in a sleepy small town?

That's the hot story heating up NBC's “Days of Our Lives” (weekdays at 1 p.m.) and its fans who have rallied behind perhaps the Baddest Bad Boy to hit the fictional town of Salem since the serial started in 1965.

Credit Grafton's own Robert Scott Wilson, who is bringing vulnerability, remorse and a bit of mystery to the character of Ben Weston, a guy who murdered three women and terrorized half the town in 2015.

Ben was carted off to the mental hospital, and Wilson left the show. But now he's back, and Ben is cured of his murderous rages — Ben swears — and viewers can't get seem to get enough.

“He's trying to be a better person. It's going to get uglier before its gets prettier, and that's my favorite part,” Wilson said last week.

Wilson lavishes praise on the “Days” writers for keeping the story grounded.

“They've honestly done a great job of telling this story, of not rushing it or brushing anything under the rug. There isn't an easy road to redemption, and this audience will see the struggle for Ben to prove himself. It's not just something that changes overnight.”

In recent shows, Ben has found a home with Ciara (Victoria Konefal), the troubled daughter of Salem police Commissioner Hope Brady (Brockton native Kristian Alfonso). Ben and Ciara are both damaged souls — and that might explain why some fans root so for them. (Shippers have even given themselves a name — Cinners.)

“Victoria is super-talented, and I'm just trying to hold my end up . ... I was baffled by the number of people who got on board immediately. The story hasn't even developed yet,” Wilson said, referring to what is currently playing out onscreen. (“Days” tapes about five-and-a-half months ahead.) “It's still a roller-coaster relationship.”

Hope, understandably, doesn't want her daughter anywhere near a killer.

“He wants to be OK in her mother's eyes, and that's not going to happen for a damn long time, and it makes for a beautiful war . ... By no means are you going to see Ben hang ornaments on a tree come Christmas time,” he said, referring to a longstanding tradition on the show. Wilson, who made TV history by becoming the first male model on CBS' “The Price is Right” in 2012, recently has starred in the Lifetime thriller “Stalked by a Reality Star” and the second season of the Amazon series “Ladies of the Lake.”

A diehard New England sports fan, Wilson says he tries to get back to the Boston area as much as his schedule allows — and one day dreams of filming a series here.

That's for the future. Right now, he's enjoying the challenge of playing a man trying to atone for his sins.

“Ben's got his baggage and his demons, and he's such a layered character, and I'm finding new colors, and it's really been fun. I enjoy going to work every day. I'm getting some really gritty work, and that's all you can ask for, good work.”