**Week in Review: March 17-March 21**

I.  The Cassadines

A.  Alexis and Ned

Ned:  "I was hoping, uh, you didn't trust me and felt the need to, uh, keep your wits about you."
Alexis:  "I don't trust you.   And thanks for the suggestion that I still have wits."
Ned:  "You're welcome.  And I'll return the compliment.  I don't trust you either."
Alexis:  "Thank you.  Although I don't feel very formidable tonight."
Ned:  "Ah, you're a Cassadine.  You'll regroup."

Ned:  "Don't hire her."
Alexis:  "Why not?"
Ned:  "In a word?  Blackmail."
Alexis:  "She blackmailed you into marriage?"
Ned:  "It's alright.  I got her back."

Ned and Alexis at dinner were great fun.  They play the game of flirting/joking so well together, but manage to get in both a little bit of serious comment and a little bit of business all at the same time.  The discussion about Katherine Bell was a great example of all of the above, as well as the ensuing discussion of Ned's bigamy and Lois.

Alexis:  "A humble opinion? Coming from a power family myself.  I don't think you can."
Ned:  "Watch me."

The strange part of this conversation was Alexis talking about knowing little girls and how genetics will come through.  Ratsa is suspecting that those letters she's sending have to do with a little girl of her own, or some other child wrapped up with the Cassadines.  Some thing Miranda would be that girl, but in that case (which I suspect is the case), I can't really buy Miranda being Alexis' daughter.  They're too close in age.  A sister, perhaps?

Alexis:  "And I didn't let it slip about any of the ELQ takeover plans.  Oops."

The story about Stefan and Alexis and the sharks was amazing.  I was glad he was there to see her as she can be--joking and happier.  She was immediately concerned, and gave a look when Stefan mentioned Miranda.  More fuel to the above fire.

Alexis:  "I think you're standing on a land mine.  One false move, and you're not only going to blow yourself up, you're going to take all of us with you."

Alexis:  "I can see how you feel.  See, that's the problem.  Because if I can see it, how long do you think it will take Bobbie to catch on?"

On Tuesday, Alexis was back to being concerned about Stefan and his relationship with Bobbie.  Surely she didn't think Stefan wouldn't know Sonny was best pals with Luke.  Good point about calling 911, though.  She spoke of the fate of the family being at stake.  I want to know what she knows....  She came back to Bobbie again.  I'm glad somebody in that family's concerned about her.

Alexis was good with Stefan throughout the week, and I've spoken of that in the next section.

On Thursday, we saw Alexis writing a letter to someone.  Contrary to ratsa's opinion, I didn't think that was a Sharpie marker.  ;)  The letter sounded to me like it was to a lover, or a friend, or someone whom she would see again so she could explain the things she said she would explain about Stefan.  At the same time, with all of the talk she's had about children lately, I think we're supposed to suspect she has a child.

B.  Stefan

Katherine:  "How did you know I needed you?"

Stefan:  "I couldn't get here fast enough."

Sonny:  "For all we know she did this as an encore, just to get attention."

Stefan's running to Katherine's side was a bit corny, but I think it demonstrated exactly how much thinking he's not doing.  And, of course, the fact that when he's not thinking, he leaves himself open for attack.  And both of their reactions made it clear that they were very happy to see each other--and cared for each other.  I was so glad someone finally was there to see them.  :)  Stefan's expressions at Sonny's joking were choice.  I don't know how many times he's said "I feel responsible" when it comes to her.  His attempts to manage her staff and protect her were quite telling, and I actually felt sorry for that poor nurse.

And then we had that awkward moment when Stefan looked at Miranda and she looked away, and later when she wouldn't speak in front of him.  Not that she was drawing even more attention to herself.  I'm wondering if this unexplained Cassadine connection is the way they're going to write her out of the show.

Stefan:  "Don't you think you're being alarmist?"

Stefan:  "You don't need to tell me what's at stake, Alexis."
Alexis:  "I never thought so before."

Stefan would, on any other day, be right.  The incident with Katherine wasn't such a big deal, and he could easily explain it away to Bobbie.  He was calling about a job offer, and she had fallen.  But these days, I gotta hand it to Barbara Jean.  She's not taking the simple answers quite so easily.  I understand why he's irritated with Alexis' hounding, but he needs to be hounded lately.  He doesn't seem to worry about all Bobbie's questions, and seems to think that she's still completely under his trance (so to speak).  He needs not to underestimate her.  And I can't believe they just discuss this out in the open when Nik can walk in, like he did on Tuesday.  Smooth cover-up, though.  As usual.

Alexis:  "I think I finally understand about Katherine.  I won't bring up the subject again."

I was glad of this.  I hoped that he would talk to her about everything, rather than the fiasco we had in the following....

Stefan:  "But the damage my love does is...it's irreparable."
Katherine:  "Are you sure?"
Stefan:  "Ask Laura.  I loved her.  More than my own life.  And when she failed me and our son, I turned on her and smashed her world to ruins."

<Rant>I was so angry at that "vision" Stefan had on Tuesday.  It think it was Tante Joan that noted it told us nothing we didn't already know about Stefan, and seemed to assume the audience wouldn't have discerned these things on their own.  There were other ways they could have had him admit these thing--why not to Alexis?  But this dream and vision s*** has got to stop or I'm going to lose all patience.  We've finally got Stefan and Katherine in a realistic (ahem) situation, with this PR job, if she would just take it, but no, we have to keep having these contrived sequences that make both of the actors look stupid.</Rant>

I was glad, however, to hear Stefan speak of his guilt in Laura's life, and that he is concerned about what would happen with Nik if he and Katherine were together.

I loved that Stefan did tell Bobbie about Katherine's accident at the end of Tuesday's show.  Too bad they didn't get their stories straight.  ;)

Stefan:  "There could be any number of reasons she didn't mention my visit."
Bobbie:  "Give me one."

This was a nice moment, and I hope Stefan realized that Bobbie isn't completely in harmony with him right now.

Stefan:  "Skywalker, where is my hug?"

Cute.  Just cute.  :)

Stefan:  "What, no kiss from my wife either?  I must be doing something terribly wrong this morning."

The expression on his face when he said this was almost a challenge, I thought.

Stefan:  "She's very fortunate to have you."

When Nik and Stefan talk about Katherine, I know it hurts Stefan that she's so close with Nik while he can't be close to her.  But he supports his son (?) in his good intentions and good deeds, and I like that.  If it isn't safe for him to openly help Katherine, at least he knows Nikolas will.

Alexis:  "Either we're both hallucinating and this woman doesn't really exist or she's very good at hiding something."

That had to devastate Stefan when Katherine told him to stay away.  Luckily Alexis came in to distract him with news of Miranda Jameson.  I wonder if Alexis really couldn't find anything, or if she was just covering up some connection to Miranda?  The intercutting between Miranda/Katherine and Wyndemere makes me think that.

Alexis:  "What happened with Katherine Bell?"
Stefan:  "Why would you assume that something happened with Katherine?"
Alexis:  "'Cause she's the only person I know that can distract you from what you need to do."

Alexis:  "I am not condoning this.  But ever since I can remember, you have been my champion.  So if you need me to listen, or help you, I will if you want me to."

I really wish Stefan would tell Alexis all of this.  I would love to see them talk about this, and to see him confide in her and her in him.  He took a step towards this here, in telling her about Katherine's phone call, and about how he can't stay away from her.  I wished she hadn't turned around a warned him to remember the harm that could be done to Bobbie and Nik right away.  She needed to have just listened.  But I absolutely adored the kiss he gave her after that scene.

Now, the kiss Stefan gave Bobbie on Friday was a whole nother matter.  Be still my heart!

I wondered whether he was just transferring his sexual desire for Katherine, or whether he was trying to be sure Bobbie remained loyal, or whether he was just seeking some release.  Somehow I couldn't take that kiss on face value, and I wonder if Bobbie could.  She did seem to pull back, even before she said she had somewhere to go.  I thought it might have scared her, actually....

Funny, the kiss illicited less discussion on ratsa than that candle snuffing.  Much debate over whether Stefan would wet his fingers before or not, etc.  I for one thought that was the contemplative candle snuffing, rather than the determined, in control, dry-fingered candle snuffing.  Either way, just as sexy as that kiss.  :)

And, finally, Katherine called and he went running.  He won't be around when Bobbie needs him, I guess....

C.  Nik

I was so glad Nik got that letter from Lesley.  So funny that he thinks it's so quiet there without Lucas and Bobbie--what did he think before they showed up?

Stefan, of course, assumes Laura wrote it, but I believe Lesley did.  Further proof she's doing better than Stefan thinks she is, and I wonder if he was surprised to think that Lesley could indeed write that.  I noticed Stefan didn't see the picture of the egg.  And I was kind of surprised that he told Nikolas that Laura wrote it.  Wouldn't he want to drop the criticisms of Laura, since she's "safely" away?  They just drive a wedge in between him and Nik.

II.  The SIDAR

A.  Sonny and Miranda

Sonny:  "Mike, she hates my guts, but yet she's checking up on me?"
Mike:  "Real class act."

Miranda:  "You know he loves her."
Sonny:  "Lot of good that'll do him."

Miranda:  "But why so smug?"
Sonny:  "It's great to be alive."

Miranda's interruption of Mike's toast was pretty convenient, but kind of fun because of Sonny's reactions and attempt to cover--not to cover, really, but just not to admit anything.  I think Miranda wanted to come to see Sonny both to get information and to see his mood, which she caught onto quickly.  I think she may also enjoy the banter with Sonny, but she never seems to score many points, and she can't ever manage to get much out of him.

Miranda:  "And all the while, you and Brenda were obviously bonding in the depths of despair."
Sonny:  "And I hope you made hay while the sun was shining."

Sonny:  "Right now, I gotta deal with my enemies and hang on to the friends that I have.  And just wait."
Miranda:  "What for?"
Sonny:  "For what I'm waiting to come to me."
Miranda:  "You know, you scare me when you're this calm."

Miranda was angry with Sonny for not being concerned about Jax, but also, I think, for taking advantage of the situation when she couldn't.  I didn't understand why she was expressing all of her pain and sympathy for Jax to Sonny--did she really think he would care, or that he would have changed his mind about him because Jax helped him out of that hole?  I think she can't decide if she doesn't want Jax hurt, or if she wants Brenda taken away from him so she can have him.  She can't have it both ways.

I loved the way they set up the scene with Stefan breaking in Katherine's door--with Sonny hearing a banging from his apartment as Miranda was leaving.  Nice.

B.  Brenda and Jax

Jax:  "You're a complicated soul, Brenda, and it's not easy being you."

Brenda:  "I know myself.  And something is wrong, and I just don't want to take any of them anymore."

Jax:  "Now, does anyone else know about this?"
Brenda:  "Only Sonny."

I so wanted Brenda to tell Jax the whole truth.  Unfortunately, all she revealed was her addiction--not her affair with Sonny in the cave.  I wonder if she intended to and then backed out, or if she thought that calling off the wedding would not only be fair, but would buy her some more time to figure things out.  I do applaud her for making this her own problem--taking on responsibility for making her life better and getting her act together.  She had to realize that the men in her life can't fix everything, and I think she has.

Jax:  "I'd say honesty would be a natural response."

Brenda:  "Jax, maybe you should stop being so nice to me and open your eyes and take a look at who I really am."

If he only knew what she was honest about!  Jax was supportive, and I'm glad he let her call the shots.  But I'm amazed he didn't questioned her about what went on in the cave--what they talked about, how she felt, etc.

Brenda:  "I love you so much.  And I wish so much that I could close my eyes and have you take all of my problems away.  But I don't want to do that anymore.  I'm so sorry.  But with the way things are right now, I just can't marry you."

Jax handled this well, with humor and sympathy, and I liked that.  I thought it was smart of Bren to call off the wedding for whatever reason.  I felt for her, talking about how undeserving she would feel if they got married right now--but I wish she would tell him why she would really feel so wrong.

I thought Jax was overreacting when I first saw those scenes on Thursday, calling the police because Brenda wasn't there.  But he has multiple reasons to be worried.  The threat on her life and the cave rescue, his own insecurities about her and Sonny and Miranda and himself, and her addiction.  So I guess I understand it and will cut him some slack.  I even applauded him for questioning what she was doing locked in the bathroom.

It wasn't nice of tptb to tease us like that.  I just knew Brenda had picked up some more pills, but then it was a pregnancy test.  And again with the flashbacks to a minute before.  Then, later, they show us she did indeed pick up more pills.

C.  Sonny

Sonny:  "Just couldn't control yourself, huh?"

Katherine:  "You're one lucky man."
Sonny:  "Pretty darn lucky."
Katherine:  "And how did Brenda fare in all this?"
Sonny:  "Pretty darn lucky too."

I loved Sonny's cracks during the scene when they discovered Stefan and Katherine together.  He was taking it all in, and Stefan knew it.  Best of all was his response to Katherine's questioning.  The look on his face was priceless.  He and Mike discussing it afterwards were much fun too.

D.  Sonny and Mike

Mike:  "Say hi to Luke for me."

Sonny:  "Toasting to Sonny and Brenda doesn't work unless she's with me.  And Mike, do me a favor.  Keep your big, fat yap closed."

Mike:  "Here's to my son.  May no one else kill him before I do."
Sonny:  "And here's to Mike.  You've done some nasty mean things, but you never laid a finger on me, and you never beat a woman.  That I know of.  Could have been worse."

I hate it when Mike and Sonny have these awkward scenes.  I want so much for them to get along, or at least for Sonny to be nicer sometimes.  But their relationship continues to fascinate me, and I hope that they keep having little progresses.  I did like that Sonny let him stay around after the accident, understanding how he felt.

Mike was cute leaving, in his green shirt for St. P's day and talking about finding some lassie to break his fall.

Mike:  "That's it?  What happened to, uh, 'Hi ya, Mike, good to see ya'?"
Sonny:  "Uh, you want a marching band, go to a football game."

There were more uncomfortable Mike and Sonny scenes on Thursday.  While I'm glad that Mike wants Sonny to be happy, he has to know by now that this approach doesn't work.  At the same time, he's one of the few people that push Sonny to explain himself--and even Brenda has to push sometimes.

Sonny:  "Brenda is busy at the moment trying to kick two very bad habits.  One has blonde hair and has deeper dimples than I do.  OK?  And the other one is about yay big, round."

So Sonny explains himself, and Mike criticizes him for not taking action to help Brenda.  Personally, I just wish Sonny would go ahead and tell Mike what happened--but he won't.  Robin was right.  He won't tell anybody, and Mike would only criticize him further for not acting on that.

I did find it interesting to watch Brenda and Sonny talk about what they "knew" the other one would be doing--what Brenda would and wouldn't be telling Jax about her pills, for example.  I also thought it was interesting that Sonny was so confident that he could have helped Brenda where Jax couldn't, and that he would have recognized her addiction.  And also his determination not to tell anything to Jax about her condition because he won't betray her.

Sonny:  "The great thing about love Mike?  Is it doesn't have to make sense.  It just has to be."

I do think he's right that Brenda is scared, and that she will come back to him.

And while I understand Sonny not wanting Mike to talk, I also felt so sad for him that Sonny didn't trust him not to do as he asked.

Note:  Maurice Bernard is so convincing with those bruised ribs!

E.  Sonny and Jason

Sonny and Jason were scouting locations for a new warehouse for the gummi bears this week.  At least they were talking about business.  ;)  I was hoping that they were setting up a sting on the drug lord, but I guess not.

Sonny:  "There's something I learned in that cave.  Mike doesn't bother me as much as I say he does."
Jason:  "I know."

Sonny:  "You'd black-mail them for me?"
Jason:  "Sure."

I liked these scenes with Sonny and Jason.  Talking about Mike, about the Quartermaines, about addiction, about everything.  They both have these weird outlooks on like that mesh amazingly well.  Sonny knows things from the street, and Jason knows things from his newfound sense--and they know the same things a lot of the time.  I was surprised Sonny didn't know A.J. was driving, but then I didn't think it weird that Jason wouldn't mention it.  Did Sonny ever deal with Ned differently because he thought he was the one driving?

Sonny:  "You got us out."
Jason:  "No.  If it was just me you'd be dead."

Sonny:  "Maybe that's what everything else costs."

This was the sweetest part of the conversation, when they talked about Jason's brain damage and how he felt when he couldn't draw that map for the search party.  Sonny was so good for him.

Sonny:  "Do not pick on that."
Jason:  "They itch, man."
Sonny:  "Well, you shouldn't pick on it."

Sonny:  "She's an addict."

Sonny:  "They can ask for help.  But Brenda won't."
Jason:  "Why?"
Sonny:  "Because she's ashamed."

Sonny and Jason continued on Wednesday, and we got the cute moment above as well as Jason and Sonny talking about Brenda's addiction and addiction in general, which led them to talking about Karen Wexler.  It's interesting that both of them are involved with someone who's addicted currently.

Some people fault Sonny for his stance on drugs, and blame him for Karen's addiction.  I didn't see the show back then, but I think his story made sense, to a point.  He didn't think pills were bad, and thought they helped.  Karen obviously had reasons of her own to do what she did, given her rough history.  But Sonny did help her find her way into drugs, and people on ratsa wanted him to answer Jason's question and admit it was his fault--at least partly.  It was interesting to see how Sonny does blame himself for Stone's death, though.  We may joke about the gummi bear mob, but I'm glad Sonny doesn't deal drugs, and feels strongly about it and the mistakes he's made involving drugs.

Sonny:  "And one last thing before you, uh....  Thanks."
Jason:  "I didn't do anything."

When Jason left on Wednesday, it was cute to see Sonny list off the things he was to do and Jason actually laugh.

F.  Sonny/Jason/Mike/Taggert

Sonny:  "Well, he'll know if she's lying."
Mike:  "How?"
Sonny:  "Huh?"
Mike:  "How?"
Sonny:  "I don't know, ask him."
Mike:  "I got forty-two bucks in my pocket.  Am I lying?"
Jason:  "Then you don't need that twenty you're tryin' to hit me up for."

This was just a fun exchange.  They're really pushing the Jason-can-tell-a-lie bit lately.  I'm wondering if that's for a reason.  It certainly helped with Taggert.

Sonny:  "But what's he gonna sweat about?  You only have eyes for me."

Sonny:  "You ever thought of investigating my role in the Watergate break-in?  Did anybody see me at first communal practice that day?  How 'bout the Son of Sam killings?  Why do you think they call me Sonny?  Oh, look!  Somebody's jaywalking!  I paid 'em to do that!"
Taggert:  "That's cute."
Sonny:  "How'd you make detective?  Were the, were you the only one who could find the coffee filters?"

I couldn't believe Taggert could show up at Sonny's house and start slinging accusations!  That's not allowed, is it?  Anyway, I was sorry not to hear Sonny mention that.  The thing is, Sonny's right.  Taggert won't see any other possibilities but Sonny.  His rant (above) was a riot--it just loses everything in the translation.  His performance was a scream.

Sonny:  "Who's Deke?  What's he to you?"

When he dropped Deke's name, I could hear all of ratsa applaud!  The reactions in the room were pretty good too.  Taggert knows Deke.  Now we just have to see if he knows him through cop school or in some closer way.  I think Taggert really slipped up there, though he was almost smooth enough to cover it.  Sonny did mention Deke when he got out of the caves, but he didn't mention shooting him.  He was cool with Taggert, but after he left, he was certainly concerned.  Jason's right.  He knew him more than what he said.  They'll pay more attention to that investigation now, I'm sure.

G.  Jason and Dorman

Dorman sure was interested in knowing Sonny lived across the hall.  Don't know why he was so stupid as to get caught skulking around up there, though.  Now Jason will be on the alert even more.

Sonny:  "I can pretty much imagine that's the way Monica feels, except a judge went ahead and declared she was dirt.  If you wanna call that settled, ok."

Jason talking about Dorman, and Sonny's suggestion that he prove Dorman to be a liar were interesting.  It's interesting that Sonny encourage him to help the Quartermaines, and it's more interesting that Jason seemed to take action on that by showing up at Dorman's door.  Funny he knew right where to find him.

H.  Miranda

Miranda spoke again about wanting to get out of town, and I don't think she meant for the weekend, as Katherine assumed.

Miranda:  "But if you ever get sued again, do let me know.  It might be worth the price of a T.V."

Dorman:  "I didn't catch your name."
Miranda:  "It's long and really hard to spell."

She was amazingly spirited with Dorman, and I certainly wish they had written her more this way from the beginning.  They really blew it with that character, as far as I'm concerned.  She could have been a lot of fun to watch stir things up, if she had been active, rather than passive.  She never had this kind of spark with Sonny, even, in my opinion.

I think we're supposed to wonder how Dorman knows Miranda.  Since we're busily wondering why she's scared of the Cassadines, and whether Dorman's connected to the Cassadines, I'd suspect they're going to tie all three together in some doozy of a revelation.  (What was that bit about Thoreau--was he trying to figure out is she was the person he thought she was?)

For someone who's not raising the white flag, she sure didn't want to hear anything Jax had to say.  I think she's right about Jax feeling better because he could do for Brenda what he couldn't do for Miranda.  I think that may take the guilt out of their relationship.

I.  Brenda and Robin

I had forgotten that Robin was going to be on sometime.  They were so cute, talking about Robin's hair and how Jason always says everybody's ok.  And I was glad that Brenda had someone to tell all of this to, and to talk to, other than the two dimpled men in her life.  Robin was cute with Jax, too.

Robin:  "But he is gonna be waiting for you to tell him what it meant."
Brenda:  "I wish someone would tell me what it meant."

I think Robin's right about Sonny, even though Sonny seems to have set it out of his mind for now (of course he did show up at the end of the show at Brenda's door).  I don't think he's going to wait forever for her to decide what that meant.

Brenda:  "I told Sonny I loved him.  There's really no way for Jax to understand that, is there."

Brenda:  "I know that I have to tell Jax what happened between me and Sonny.  I just wanna....  I just wanna feel whatever I have to feel when I tell him.  I just want....  I just want my head to be really clear when it happens so if there's a decision that I have to make it'll be the right one."

I was glad to see Brenda intends to tell Jax everything.  I was glad she told Robin--all about the drugs, the thing with Sonny, the pregnancy test, Jax's honesty about Miranda, her not wanting to know, etc.  I really hurt for her when she started crying about telling Jax and wanting to be clear-headed when she did it.  At this point, both Robin and Brenda knew what Sonny would assume about Brenda's marriage.  That it was over.  Robin's right, though.  It's Brenda's choice.

Thing is, it's also Jax's choice, and although he thinks he's made it already, I really don't know how he's going to react to this.  If he writes it off as her withdrawal pains talking, or that she was under stress, he won't be seeing the truth in front of him.  I almost hope he gets good and angry with her, but I hope they don't break up by default.  I hope they break up--if they break up--after talking about all of this and making a decision.

I wish Brenda would talk to Kevin.  Robin's recommendation was very sweet.  But I bet she won't, for all the reasons Sonny gave.  She's ashamed, etc.

III.  Katherine

Katherine was a little obvious, both in her reactions to Stefan and in her questioning Sonny about what went on in the cave.  I wonder if she lost her subtlety in the accident as well.  ;)

Katherine:  "That's my friend.  A Cassadine and married."
Miranda:  "He didn't look too married when we walked in.  He looked crazy about you."

Such a strange conversation between Miranda and Katherine.  Katherine all but admitted she was in love with him, and Miranda had no qualms about declaring that he loved Katherine.  But then Katherine conveniently changed the subject to Miranda's silence around him.  Do we think she'll admit whatever she knows to Katherine or not, given her connection with Stefan?

On Tuesday, the look on Katherine's face--and Bobbie's, for that matter--was great when Bobbie showed up at the door.  I wondered what all Katherine was thinking:  Was it going to be Stefan?  Was Bobbie there to accuse her of something?  Etc.

Nik:  "It's just...on a good day, he's not very...he's not very expressive."

Nikolas and Katherine continue to be too sticky-sweet for me.  This whole Tai Chi thing, while good therapy, seems to me a contrivance for them to touch and for him to gaze into her eyes.  On Wednesday, though, Katherine did serve as a sounding board for us to hear Nik's thoughts about Stefan currently--that he's different, somehow, and that he seems "off his game," somehow.  And I do like that Katherine hounds him about his mom and tells him over and over not to give her up completely.  At this point, though, Nik has every right and every reason to decide he wants nothing more to do with his mother.

Katherine:  "I hope I will always be your friend."
Nik:  "I can't imagine any circumstance that could alter that."

Katherine's worrying about the same thing Stefan is--who's going to be hurt if they get together.  I think the scenes after they get together, or a scene where Nik caught them together or something would be explosive, and I'd like to see it soon.  While it will hurt him, the longer the lies go on about her shooting and their feelings for each other, the worse it will be.

I was very happy that Katherine turned down Stefan's job offer.  Not happy because it's going to stretch this out longer--that's not good for Nik, and might lead to more vision/dream scenes ;), but because she's not simply acting in a trance.  She's putting up a fight, and that means Stefan has to realize that he's not in complete control.  And that we get those great shots of him standing at the fireplace brooding.  :)  I liked even better when she called him back and told him off after Carly left.  But I think we're supposed to think that her emotions over Stefan were the catalyst for her feeling her leg.

When she told Stefan she could move her leg, I was even prouder of her for telling him to stay away--although I know that hurt him.  But she needs to maintain some independence from him, I think.  She needs to recover on her own, and not think it was because of him.  I did think Miranda was good with her, though.

Miranda:  "Fight it...and lose...or give in."

Nice alternatives.  With talk like that, Katherine will never believe she can get well without Stefan--or live without him for that matter.  ;)  I find it interesting that Miranda is so quick to believe this, and know she's speaking more about herself than about Katherine.

Man, Dorman was driving me crazy with his treatment of Katherine.  Some kind of bedside manner.

Of course, I was disappointed that she called Stefan at the end of Friday.  I suppose I'm supposed to believe that she couldn't help herself.  I was hoping that she would simply say she was taking the job, but no such luck.

IV.  Mac/Felicia/Tom

A.  Felicia and Lucy

Felicia puts Lucy off to flirt with Mac?  In Lucy the gossip queen's presence?  This pair always amuses me--at least the Lucy half of it.  And we did get to see Ruby!  Lucy was insistent about hearing the progress report.  I wasn't sure why she was in this scene, though.

B.  Tom and Felicia

Mistaken identity?  I wonder if that very inane road trip was actually a set up for something that will actually have something to do with a plot line, or if it was just the set up for the Tom and Felicia scenes on Tuesday.  They sure drew attention to the mix-up.

Felicia:  "Well, what can I tell you?  I haven't been stalked in...geez...one, two, three months?  And then Tom suddenly went to Switzerland.  I just wanna rock-n-roll."

Tom:  "But you tell me how would you feel if you came walking in here and you found me with an old flame laughing it up, turnin' around telling everybody that, uh, I miss being able to rock-n-roll?"

I understand that Felicia's glad to be having some fun, but I would have taken that just as badly as Tom, I think.  Things have been gloomy with them, but she certainly took the freedom his absence gave her to be overly happy.  I really don't think these two have much of a future, and they've never been convincing to me as a couple anyway.

Felicia:  "What if I have?  Would you run it over to Luke Spencer?"

Tom:  "From my experience, you may not like the way he presents it, but his radar's pretty good.  There's some truth in what he says."

I was glad Felicia told Tom about her investigation, and her qualms about Luke.  But I'm glad this investigation kind of put them on the same side.  And I loved Tom's descriptions of Luke.

Luke:  "Excuse me."

Luke:  "If we're gonna get anything good on him, we have to go somewhere where he can't corrupt the evidence."

Funny!  This just cracked me up.  I loved Luke receiving Laura's envelope, and I loved that Luke had no qualms about interrupting.  The three of them were fun, somehow.  Luke didn't hesitate to talk about anything in front of Felicia though, and I wondered when he started trusting her.

C.  Mac and Tom

I don't think Mac realizes he's undermining Tom's relationship.  I don't think either Mac or Felicia realizes what's going on between them, because they both think that's over and done with.  Tom was right, though, that Mac not only was following the evidence in the stalker case but also suspects Tom of everything.  Don't know why Tom brought up Stefan Cassadine with Mac, though.  Mac was right, he needs proof.  I didn't like the fact that Felicia jumped right in there in front of Mac and scolded him as well.

V.  The Spencers

A.  Luke and Carly

Luke:  "Good morning."
Carly:  "Get out."

Luke:  "You know who I am.  And I know who you are.  Caroline."

Luke:  "If I ever find an innocent woman I'll shoot her and tell ya."

Luke:  "All of the sudden, Stefan Cassadine and Katherine Bell are eatin' off the same fork.  Now you and me are gonna find out why."

Luke:  "This is not a request, little girl.  I'm not extending you an invitation."
Carly:  "I don't take orders from men who try to muscle me."
Luke:  "Muscle?  You call that muscle?  You've lived a very sheltered life."

I absolutely love these two together.  Their scenes on Tuesday were wonderful, with Luke completely in control and seeing how far he could push Carly.  Carly was pushing back, though, and doing an admirable job of trying to hold her own when she knows she has no cards to play.

Luke:  "You don't need legs to charm a snake.  I dunno, maybe they turn the lights down low and talk nasty."

Carly:  "You really hate him, don't you, Uncle.  Ya, well he's going up in my estimation all the time."
Luke:  "I'm sure he'd be excited to hear that."

Luke:  "If you can't hang on to your man with true love and hot sex, then you may as well toss in the teddy."

Luke:  "You will do exactly as I say.  Otherwise I will tell Dr. Feelgood that his girl toy is really his stepdaughter and he's being used as a weapon against her mommy.  Ya.  Ya.  It's an ugly world you created for yourself, ain't it darlin'."

I loved the way the scene moved into the bedroom.  While some ratsa-ers found this scene laced with erotic undertones and some didn't, either way I think it was then next step in this Spencer game of chicken to see who was going to flinch first.  I loved that Luke followed her into her room, and I love that Carly didn't even bat an eye.  Luke's right.  This is all about what Luke knows and Bobbie doesn't--and what he might tell her.  And what that would mean to Tony.  And because that's the level on which she thinks, that's exactly the level Luke knows will work.

Carly:  "You're not gonna tell Bobbie the truth about me.  You wanna know why?  Because the minute she finds out that her only biological child is not dead, she will hate you for the rest of your life for lying to her."
Luke:  "Don't count on it.  Barbara Jean already put me on her list of deceased relatives.  I got nothing to lose.  Let's go."

I especially appreciated this move on Carly's part.  She called his bluff, something Laura never did with Stefan's threats, but Luke simply wouldn't let her win that point.  When Bobbie herself showed up at the door, Carly was very quick to take Luke's offer.

Carly knew Bobbie was there to reprimand her, and I think she was right.  Bobbie never indicated any other reason she was there, and she was very quick to comment on Carly's lack of professionalism.

Bobbie:  "You and Carly?"
Luke:  "Why not?  With Laura in Switzerland and you in Slimeland, I'm craving feminine attention.  And let's face it.  She and Tony and Ruby are about the only family I got left."
Bobbie:  "Ha.  Carly and family in the same sentence.  You must really hate my guts."

Bobbie:  "You befriend the one person in this world that I detest the most, the woman who took my husband away, and you have the nerve to tell me it has nothing to do with me."
Luke:  "Well, then I'm wrong.  I guess it does, indirectly.  Sort of like you going to bed with Stefan Cassadine indirectly affects me."

Bobbie:  "Well, you know Luke, not everybody thinks only of themselves."
Luke:  "Thank you, Madame Theresa."

It made Bobbie crazy to find Luke there with Carly and get no explanation.  The one he gave her, that he was visiting family, really bothered her, as Luke calculated it would.  The second exchange above cracked me up too.  Bobbie proceeded to tell Luke he was simply irrational about Stefan; I expected him to say the same about her feelings about Carly.  Luke continues to repeat himself about Stefan shooting Katherine, and while Bobbie dismisses it in his presence, it seems she is indeed suspicious about it.

Bobbie:  "What's happened to us, huh?  We used to be so close.  Now what are we, enemies?"

It was nice to see Bobbie stop bickering for a minute and speak her mind about this.  Luke's face at this point was pained, but I don't know if she saw it.  Of course he doesn't like this, but he's got to keep her safe, and is exasperated beyond all measure with her blindness when it comes to her husband.  He gave her an out when he asked her if she trusted Stefan completely.  Of course she wasn't going to admit to him that she had doubts, but she couldn't tell him that she believed in Stefan.  Luke's right.  "You're lying to herself, and it's not going to work much longer."

Carly:  "You were gonna tell her, weren't you?"
Luke:  "No.  I told you I wouldn't.  I don't play that way, Caroline."
Carly:  "So how did you explain what you were doing here?"
Luke:  "I don't feel the need to explain myself to anybody."

Carly:  "I'm not spying on Katherine Bell and Stefan Cassadine for you indefinitely."
Luke:  "Don't worry.  I'll let you know when we're finished."

Luke:  "Caroline, open your Spencer eyes.  You got no bargaining power here."
Carly:  "God, I hate you."
Luke:  "That's a shame.  I'm very fond of you."

Luke and Carly continued to negotiate on Wednesday, but of course Luke was right.  Carly has very little say in this matter.  I liked that she continued to stick up for herself though.  I think Luke does hold a certain affection for Carly.  She is, after all, very Spencer in her methods and outlook on life.

Luke:  "Skeptical?  About what?  My...not my intentions."

The looks on their faces when Tony was at the door were good.  Nice that they pulled this scene twice, and I didn't notice until later--Luke and Carly caught together by two different people.  Luke was very smooth, knowing that he'd need to cut in or Carly might not be able to lie convincingly to Tony.  I was glad to hear that Tony welcomed Luke into the house, and I thought that Luke's reaction to that showed a little regret about what Tony doesn't know.  It was interesting that Tony was asking about Laura's absence and why they went to Switzerland.  I assume he suspects it has something to do with the Cassadines.  I wonder why Luke didn't tell him about the threat, since Tony's on his side.  But probably for the best he doesn't tell anybody--since Stefan could consider that public slander.  :)

Luke:  "That was very good.  You're good at this."
Carly:  "I will never forgive you for making me lie to Tony."
Luke:  "Oh, who you kidding?  You've been lying to him since the first day you got here.  Let us not forget why you came to town, niece."

The thing is, Luke's right on this count.  I think this is the reason that Carly dislikes him so much.  Not because he's blackmailing her into working for him, but because he speaks the ugly truth about so many things that she thinks and does.  That's a very Spencer reaction too.

B.  Bobbie

I'm gonna put Bobbie back in the Spencer category this week, since she's on the prowl for information about her husband and isn't taking things at appearances anymore...for the time being.

She's not sure what she believes anymore, and I think she may simply be hoping to clear Stefan.  But she does have reason to suspect Katherine's motives, just as she has reason to thank her for making this situation less ugly than it could have been.

I hated, though, that she chose to go to Carly's.  I know she was there to reprimand her.  I'm glad she met up with Luke too, so Carly wouldn't have to face that bitchy assault alone.

Bobbie:  "I just spent the last half hour with Katherine Bell at her apartment.  And in all that time she never once mentioned to me that she fell last night or that you came to her rescue.  Now, don't you think there's something not quite right about that?"

Her face when Stefan told her about Katherine's fall was overdone (end of Tuesday), but I was glad to see her questioning things on Wednesday.  Thing is, her husband told her, so I'm wondering if Bobbie's more suspicious of Katherine at this point.  Probably not.  But I'm not sure she's ready to really doubt her husband completely yet.  It would mean so many things about herself.

On Thursday, Bobbie went to look for Lesley's records.  Conveniently, Stefan had them sent to a warehouse days before she got there.  I found it interesting that she would tell Audrey about her suspicions when she wouldn't tell Tony or Luke--I mean her suspicions or concerns about Lesley's faked death.  And I thought it interesting that Audrey was admitting that Tom was perceptive and might have a point about Stefan.  I wish she'd tell Tom.

Bobbie:  "If I could ever stop mothering him, I think I'd have a serious crush on your nephew."

On Friday, we had Bobbie back at Wyndemere with that family.  I do like Bobbie with Nik, when she's not treating him like a child.  I was glad to see her correct Stefan's approach about the letter.  She seemed pained a little that Nik had heard from her family.  And she took the opportunity to push Stefan again on his choices about Lesley.

Stefan suggested they consult Alexis about Lucas--do I sense a major custody battle coming?  Bobbie seems resigned, though.

Then Bobbie headed off into the night to go to that warehouse.  It was an exercise in foolishness.  She went by herself, at night, left the door open, etc.  *Slap.*  Now, she said the boys were in town at the movies, and Nik might be the one to find her...but I suspect not, somehow.  Do we think somebody closed that door, or do we think it's simply an accident?  Myself, I think nothing's simply an accident in this town, but that's the Spencer in me talking.  ;)

C.  Luke and Bobbie

Luke:  "Somebody wanna tell me something?"
Tom:  "See, his radar works just fine."

Felicia and Luke going back and forth were entertaining.  Noticed that Luke has repeated a lot of lines this week: to Bobbie and Tony both about slime-land and the only family he's got left, and now the box of hair comment.  I like that one, though, and it made me laugh all over again.  Tom suggesting Luke and Felicia work together?  I can't wait to see that.

Bobbie:  "That's enough, Luke."

Bobbie:  "Why don't you just walk around town with a sandwich board, which says, 'I hate Stefan Cassadine and you should too.  Don't you have something better to do?"
Luke:  "That's a cool idea, Barbara.  I thrive on public service."

Bobbie:  "How can you listen to anything he says after that little stunt he pulled with Laura?!"
Luke:  "See, look, this is exactly what I don't understand, baby sister.  You're rabid about the fact that I faked Laura's death, but the fact that your weasel of a husband used you to fake Lesley's doesn't bother you.  It's ok."
Bobbie:  "What?"
Luke:  "Stefan drugged Lesley into a near death state, and then hustled you into identifying her.  And because you were nurse Spencer-whoever-the-hell-you-were-at-the-time, everybody believed it.  But that doesn't bother you."
Bobbie:  "Stefan was trying to save Lesley's life."
Luke:  "What the hell do you think we're tryin' to do here woman?  Lesley has been pumped full of drugs and sittin' in a room starin' at a wall for over a decade now.  But you can't hear that.  Because if you really listen, what that says is that Stefan is not the hero that you've concocted out of your needs and his lies.  And not only that, it also says that he used you then, and he's using you now!"

The thing is, Bobbie blames these people for conspiring against her husband, but by doing so she doesn't allow them any room to be worried about Lesley and what has happened to her.  She overheard Luke talking about Lesley, but she dismisses the possibility that they could be trying to do some good for her at the same time they want to prove something bad about Stefan.  That's what annoys me most about her stance.  Not that she won't hear anything about Stefan, but that she can't allow that other people can be doing some good when they're not on her side.  She feels shut out, and I think that's the key to her behavior.  Here are her brother and her best friend working to help Lesley (and bring down Stefan, yes) without her.

Luke was right on target, echoing Bobbie's own suspicions about Stefan and Lesley Webber's death.  Thing is, she has the same reaction to Luke as Carly does.  She hates him for speaking the truth that she doesn't want to hear.  However, unlike Carly, she's willing to admit Luke's right, if only to herself.  She immediately called Audrey about the records, though I'm not sure what the death certificate would have shown.  (Though I don't know why we had that flashback of only a few minutes ago--maybe the timing was off on the show and they needed that extra few seconds?)

VI.  Tony and Carly

A.  Tony

I liked that Tony offered to listen to Bobbie if she had things she was worried about, but I'm surprised he would actually expect she would, if indeed he did.  I think the gesture was the most important thing.  Oddly, she hesitated, and almost went back to talk to him.

B.  Carly

Carly lied very convincingly to Katherine when she finally got to work.  I think she really likes working with Katherine, and is happy that Katherine likes her, as she told Tony when she returned.  Convenient that Stefan called when she was answering the phone.  ;)

C.  Tony, Carly, and Lucas

Lucas:  "You like Carly better than me?"

Carly:  "Go fish?"
Lucas:  "How 'bout go away?"

The whole thing with Lucas' reaction was strange, to me.  First, that he'd react so violently out of the blue--but I guess that's how kids are.  Then, that Tony told him he and Carly were "special friends."  Obviously that's not a good enough definition.  Finally, that he'd be so upset about his Daddy kissing Carly when he doesn't bat an eye at Stefan kissing Bobbie in the scene before.  Can we say "plot device?"

I thought Tony was right, that he needed to handle this, but he wasn't doing such a good job, although I did like the fact that he allowed Lucas to feel whatever he wanted to feel.  Carly did need to stay out of it, though.  She was the threat, and thus couldn't comfort the kid.  At the same time, that really hurt her.  She likes Lucas, I think, and for him to turn on her like that had to be rough.

VII.  Ned and Emily

Emily:  "Thanks for explaining it to me Ned.  Things sound so much more logical."
Ned:  "They're not.  I know that.  My best advice is still just get through it any way you can."

I really like these two together, and at the same time I was saddened to see that Emily feels like the rest of them now, and that she sees the point of lying, etc.  Their observations about Lila were very sweet.  I'd love to have tea with her.  :)  I liked hearing Ned talk about how he got into this business, and how he wanted this position way back when.  Thing is, I don't think he'd take any of it back now...that's who he is.  And when Ned speaks calmly about A.J., I agree almost totally with him.  And I was glad to see him remind Emily not to ride with him when he's been drinking.  The line above though?  Not good advice to a teen who's experimenting with drugs.