**The Week in Review: April 7 - April 11**

I.  Jax

Jax:  "Now if we both listen hard we might actually manage to communicate."
Miranda:  "That was never a problem before."
Jax:  "I'm not so sure."

Miranda:  "I love you; you love Brenda.  Sixty-four-thousand dollar question is, who does Brenda love?  I'll give you a hint.  It's the second person out of the cave."

Miranda showed up at Jax's place at the end of Friday, and we started out with them on Monday.  I wasn't sure what to make of her appearance.  She claimed she didn't want anything more than a friendly dinner of pizza with a friend who might be lonely, but he immediately assumed otherwise.  I probably should give her points for taking the initiative, even if she couldn't keep it a secret that she wants him.  Instead, I give him points for laying down the law.  At the same time, it was clear that her assertion about Brenda and Sonny bothered him.

The part I liked most?  When Jax said he had always defended Miranda to Brenda, but now he admired Brenda's honesty.  Ha!  Of course, he immediately brought up Miranda's "death" again, and I think that's where the hostility (and I did think his reaction was fairly hostile) is coming from.  He couldn't help her, because she didn't let him.  Now, Brenda's not letting him help her either, and he's taking it out on Miranda, because he can't consciously be upset with Brenda because of her addiction.

Here's the thing.  What if Brenda picks Sonny and leaves Jax?  That doesn't mean that he's going to automatically go back to Miranda, though she seems to think so.  It's not necessarily an either/or proposition.

Jax was worried for good reason when he went to see Brenda and didn't know what she was going to say.  He apologized, and I was glad to see that, but he's being completely good about this.

Jerry was on the phone on Friday.  ;)  And do we have any idea what Dorman wants with Jax?  It has me stumped.

II.  Brenda

Mike:  "Sonny's been waiting for you."
Brenda:  "It's not what you think."

Brenda also showed up on Sonny's at the end of Friday, and on Monday we got a conversation with Brenda and Mike on Monday.  They're interesting together, because they're both trying to negotiate around Sonny, and figure out their relationship with him while they make peace with themselves.

Mike:  "He's changed.  Now, I'm not saying that he's suddenly placid or he's even tempered.  But Sonny believes in giving second chances now.  And that's what he wants with you."
Brenda:  "Did he tell you that?"
Mike:  "Course not.  I said he'd changed, he didn't have a personality transplant."

Brenda:  "I wanna learn how to love someone without losing myself.  Or else I just can't be with anyone at all."

Mike:  "But believe me when I tell you that I don't just want to see you with Sonny for Sonny.  I want it for you too."

Mike defended Sonny, telling Brenda that he wouldn't hurt her again and could help her.  He talked about the change he's seen in Sonny.  And Brenda believes him.  That's not the issue right now.  The issue is that she has to learn to make herself happy.  I hope Mike understands that and can find a balance between supporting her choice and encouraging her to give Sonny a second chance when she's ready.  Mike made it clear to me why this is so important to him, this getting Brenda and Sonny back together when he told the story about loving Sonny's mother and leaving her and regretting it.  He wants this for Brenda, and for Sonny.  But he also wants it for himself.

Brenda waited for Sonny, then almost gave up.  She got scared and headed out, but Sonny was opening the door just at the same time (convenient how that works out).  That was our cliffhanger for Monday.

Brenda:  "Do you even know what my problem is?"
Sonny:  "No."
Brenda:  "I'm afraid to be alone."

Sonny:  "Time apart is wasted time."
Brenda:  "Not for me right now."

Brenda is sending out mixed signals, and I can't fault Sonny for being a little confused.  I don't think, however, her needing to come there and say those things to him meant anything more than she felt like she had to face him and tell him that she needed him to stay away from her for a while.  And I think that while she may not be able to stop the train, she is able to slow down and step aside for a moment to figure things out, if Sonny will let her.  I was proud of her for not kissing him yet, and for telling him that he may be an addiction.  He's not listening, and he may be partly right, but I'm glad she's making a stand.

Here's my only problem with Brenda's actions at this point.  Otherwise she has my complete support.  She has, in essence, told both Jax and Sonny that after she spends some time alone, kicking the drugs and finding herself, she'll come back to them.  She's leading them on, without reminding Sonny that she might choose Jax and without telling Jax the whole truth, including the fact that she may choose Sonny.

On Thursday, Brenda wrote a letter to Sonny.  I thought it was really beautiful, the way they cut back and forth from her to Sonny.  She explained herself very clearly, I thought, and I hope Sonny understands, or at least respects, her decision.  But again, that letter made it sound like it was only a matter of time before she returns to him.  She took it to Mike and asked him to deliver it.

The scene between Brenda and Jax was strange, almost regretful.  She wanted to see him, but at the same time I think she knows that she may hurt him worse later, first because the lie about her and Sonny is still out there, and second because she may leave him and can't bring herself to remind him or tell him of that fact.  They talked about her drugs, and she had to regret also that they might have taken away some of the joy.  This was indeed almost like they were saying good-bye.  Like I said, strange.

Brenda went straight from smoothing things over with Jax and encouraging him again to asking if Sonny had gotten her letter.  Sigh.  Then she went to the penthouse to pack some more of her things.  Miranda showed up to accost her with the information.

III.  Sonny

The scenes between Sonny and Taggert continued on Monday.  Taggert continued telling Sonny what Deke had done and said about Sonny, and what Taggert had seen.  He used words like "freak" to describe Sonny; he has to see Sonny that way, I think, because that way he doesn't have to face what he suspects about Deke.  And he needs Deke as his hero, even as he needs Sonny to be slime incarnate.

Taggert:  "Go to hell."
Sonny:  "I've been there.  Courtesy of Deke."

Sonny didn't react violently, he simply spoke quietly and told Taggert to get away.  He regained control, and said he would never let Deke win by letting Taggert provoke him into violence.  He then told Taggert a bit about what Deke had done to him and his mother.  And at this point, Taggert started getting anxious.  When Sonny asked him if he had seen Deke in action as a cop, describing the violence.  And Taggert had no response.  I think Sonny hit just a little too close to home with Taggert, because Taggert could only ask him to stop and continue to defend Deke.  But Taggert didn't have much to say after this, and retreated into monosyllables and screaming--and pulling a gun on Sonny.  Yes, I'd say Sonny hit close to home.  And he's right.  Taggert has nothing, and if he takes Sonny out, he's a doomed man.

Luke:  "Pardon me, boys, private shoot-out?  Or can any clown with a gun join in?"

Sonny:  "I want Deke alive so I can kill him.  I want to be able to pull the trigger myself."

Sonny:  "Taggert thinks--you're gonna love this--that my stepfather, the wife-beating pig, is the best man he ever knew."
Luke:  "God, he doesn't get out much."

Sonny:  "I'd think about where he would hide his gun and I'd think about how easy it would be for me just to pull the trigger before he could hit us again."
Luke:  "Why didn't you?"

Luke:  "I'm uh....  Well see, those fine Havana cigars I smoke in bulk?  I don't buy 'em at the supermarket."
Sonny:  "Oh, you got a source I don't know about?"
Luke:  "Ya, several."

Luke:  "Goodnight, Mr. Corinthos."
Sonny:  "Thanks Buddy."
Luke:  "Any time."

I loved that Luke showed up at this point.  Not only did he serve as witness (even if he's sometimes an unreliable one) and thus make Taggert have to back down, he was there for Sonny.  Yes, Sonny has Robin, Jason, and Mike, but none of them can listen to this story about Deke, his mom, and now Taggert like Luke can.  Luke can hear and be concerned, but know that Sonny has to deal with this (for the most part) himself, while offering silent moral support and backup (and he immediately knew who Deke was).  And when Sonny said he thought about killing Deke as a child?  When he told Brenda, the effect was shocking, because she was shocked.  With Luke?  You get the response above--not shocked, practical with a touch of concern and wanting to understand and wanting to let Sonny tell the whole story.  And Sonny can tell Luke everything he wants to straight out, without cushioning the blow or editing as he would have to with Robin, or dealing with Mike's fussing.  And while he can tell Jason everything, somehow it's different, exactly because Jason's so cool about everything--which is a positive most of the time with Sonny.  I miss these two together, and was very glad for this scene.

Sonny:  "Seeing you in my living room...nothing could be righter."

I can't fault Sonny for assuming that Brenda had chosen him, and I liked the fact that he subtly accused her (or not so subtly) of not trusting him or thinking he would force himself on her.  While I understand his confusion, I was sorry to see him push her into changing her mind and staying with him right then.  And I didn't like the way he wanted to make her read more into her visit there.  He's partly right.  She's running away from him.  But he's still not listening.  Part of me, on the other hand, is glad.  Because she has to realize at some point that the pull she has towards Sonny isn't addiction, and it isn't habit.  It's real.  And it's stronger than the pull she has towards Jax.  I love that he told her he loved her and offered to help her.  But I hope he hears her when she says she has to face her fear of being alone.

Sonny:  "But do you see what you're doing?  You're mak...you're punishing all of us, including Jax, for dragging this out."

Well, that's the best comment on the SIDAR I've heard in a long time.  ;)

Sonny:  "And don't look at me like, like I'm upset and you're gonna humor me because you're my wise ol' Daddy.  Polish your glass, and I wanna just sit right here and have peace with my coffee."

Mike's so very worried about Sonny, because he doesn't want Sonny to have the same regrets he does.  He just doesn't realize that his harping on it--especially in the early morning hours--won't have any effect on Sonny.  He's got to learn how to support Sonny without annoying him.  If that's possible.

Luke:  "What is with you this morning?"
Mike:  "You pushed it, didn't you."
Sonny:  "Did it ever occur to you that it j...it might not just be me problem?"
Mike:  "Truthfully?  No."
Sonny:  "No?  Well, shows you how much you know."
Luke:  "Why don't you just tell him and get it over with, man."

At the same time, it was clear even to Luke that Sonny was in a particularly snarky mood this morning, and I loved that Mike saw through everything and called him on the fact that he pushed Brenda.  Luke's intervention was a hoot, and so Sonny finally put Mike out of his misery and told him what happened between him and Brenda.

Luke:  "Mike, for God's sake, let it go."

Mike wanted to put a positive spin on things, but ended up annoying Sonny again.  Then he mentioned Jason, and I don't think he was going to start in on him, as Sonny assumed.  I think he was instead trying to change the subject.  But Sonny was in no mood.

Sonny:  "Tell me something, when you were breaking into his place, did you break your finger?"
Jason:  "No."
Sonny:  "Then you should have checked in."

Luke:  "A heat packing neurosurgeon, man, it's like, uh, Eastern Europe out there."

Sonny:  "That, that's just fantastic, Jason.  You're in a place where you're really not supposed to be with A.J. and a whacko."

Sonny got a call from Robin (he just lit up when it was her on the phone) that Jason had headed back to PC already, and he was immediately anxious.  When Jason showed up, Sonny didn't even have to quiz him on where he was.  Jason immediately told him.  That didn't let him off the hook with Sonny, though, who reprimanded him for not checking in.  He told Sonny about A.J.'s visit and his willingness to step in, and Sonny just thought that was worse.  I kind of laughed at this point, because Sonny had just told Mike he didn't want him worrying about him, and now he's godfathering Jason about being safe and smart.

Luke:  "You can't?  Usually only one reason a woman lies for a man."

Sonny started putting two and two together as Jason talked about Rebecca Chase.  He started seeing the scene at the hospital when he was drugged.

On Thursday, Mac came to see Sonny, and Sonny set him straight on what Taggert had wanted and does want.  He told him all about the vendetta and the encounter at the docks.  I just wanted Sonny to tell Mac that Taggert had pulled a gun on him.  :)  People may complain that Mac is taking sides with the mobster, but Taggert's behavior has been clearly against department policy and a problem.  The best moment was when Sonny told Mac to keep him on the force.  Sonny's willing to set aside the pleasure of seeing Taggert off the force to see him slip up instead.  And the thing is, he's probably better off with Taggert on the force, because at least then he still has to answer to somebody.  Sonny remembered the night of the drugging again, and told Mac he'd keep him informed.

Sonny:  "I don't hide anything from you.  You know that."
Mac:  "Then you've got a friend for life on the PCPD, Sonny."

That was a strange moment at the end of their conversation.  I suspect they were both half tongue-in-cheek and half serious.  Taggert showed up, and Sonny ribbed him about being in on the drug ring.  Mac immediately took him to task, and Sonny called Miranda.  He told Jason to get a good picture of Dorman and encouraged him to take his time with A.J.  (BTW, Taggert and Mike on Friday was pretty funny.)

At the end of Thursday, Sonny ran into Dorman at GH.  He immediately knew he recognized the guy from somewhere.  He asked Miranda back to his place to talk about Dorman.  In the meantime, Mike headed over there with Brenda's letter.  We knew what would happen.  But I get ahead of myself.  Mike trying to get Sonny to read the letter and Sonny trying to get Mike to leave was very funny.  "I thought fools rushed in."  Ha!  And Sonny talking about the coffee?  Ha again!

Miranda:  "Do you really think this guy stuck you?"
Sonny:  "Stu...where'd you learn a word like that?  You been hangin' around me too long."
Miranda:  "You're right about that."

Miranda didn't remember Dorman, but I'll bet she does soon.  Sonny's figured out that he saw Dorman at the airport, so I'm betting he'll put 2 and 2 together soon.

At the end of Friday, Sonny read Brenda's letter.

IV.  Jason

A.  with Robin

Robin:  "Sometimes I feel like this accident happened and Sonny and I got this wonderful gift and A.J. and the Quartermaines lost everything."

Robin and Jason had a special date on Monday; they went on a boat with big band dancing.  The scenes were sweet, but didn't forward their story any.  Don't get me wrong, I love these two.  But they've got to find a way to forward the Jason/Robin story during these little visits of Robin, or she's going to simply become a sounding board for other characters.  At the same time, I'm glad we have these scenes of Jason trying to figure out things, especially about the Quartermaines.  Robin's description of the way Jason took over Jason's place and got so much from him was very smart, and I think it made a bit of sense to him.

That was a cute ending to their scenes, though, with the picture and the dancing.

B.  with Dorman

On Wednesday, Jason broke into Dorman's flat, trying to find information.  Dorman came back, and he hid in the closet.  (You know, when I check my closets for intruders, I always check the overhead shelf as well as the floor behind the coats.)  Of course he made it very easy for Dorman to tell someone had been in there, and I didn't quite believe that.  The chair, maybe, but he would have put the book back exactly where he'd found it.

I loved Amy being snarky to Dorman on Friday, but I was sorry to see her give away Jason's coming to get Dorman's press kit.  At the same time, I love that Dorman was frustrated with how easy it was for Jason to get information.

C.   with A.J.

A.J. showed up at Luke's for a drink, and Jason let him know that he was there at Dorman's.  On Thursday, A.J. thought he did it because he felt the old feelings for him and the Quartermaines, and I don't think that's Jason's motive at all.  He does it because he thinks it's the right thing to do, and because he has met these new people who he doesn't think deserve to be hurt.  I liked that Jason gave him the spare key to his room.

At this point on Wednesday we had some quick intercutting between Jason, Dorman planning drug sales, and Luke and Sonny.  This one didn't go on as long as the last Dorman montage, and it didn't have those flashes of light some people found annoying.  I really like it when they do these, and this one was done really well, I thought.

V.  The Spencer Men

I loved how they covered that need for an easy scene change with Luke meeting Lucky at the docks.  He's criticized all the time for his parenting skills--or lack thereof--but I'm betting he'd already made the transaction before Lucky got there.  Doesn't matter to me.  I liked it either way.

Luke:  "You know, your mother's a near-perfect woman, but sometimes her handwriting is like and Escher drawing."

Luke:  "I know it sucks.  But cowboy, we're playing the hand we've been dealt.  There's nothing else we can do."
Lucky:  "This ain't poker, dad.  This is life."

Lucky brought a letter from the women-folk, and hadn't opened it yet, because he said the letters made it worse.  I'm always glad to see Lucky question his dad about motives, reasoning, etc.  He always blends his logic and questioning with such emotion about his family.  I was glad to hear his complaints about being away from Lulu and assertion that this separation was neither in the plan nor worth the price.

Luke:  "Lucky, I got a sister too.  Now, Lulu's got you, she's got me, she's got your mom.  And you know that, because you've always had your mother and me.  That's what you're missin' right now, the all of us.  And so am I, believe me.  But see, I'm all my sister's got.  You know, just like you, I figure it's my job to make sure she doesn't toddle around and smack her head against the coffee table.  I just can't bail out on her."
Lucky:  "You did.  At least you said you did."
Luke:  "Well, I say a lot of things."

Lucky:  "I just don't get why we have to stick around here like we're married to him also."

Luke:  "Believe me.  If hating Bobbie's husband was all there was to it, we'd already be sittin' on an alp learnin' to yodel watching Lesley study ink blots."

Luke:  "She's no Katherine Bell, believe me, my sister could eat her for lunch.  So what's gonna happen?  I mean, you know, what can I do?  I can't force her to dump that bag of rancid goat cheese she calls a husband, I can only wait for he to do it herself.  And be there the next time she smells smoke."

I liked hearing Luke's logic about the whole thing too.  He simply can't leave.  He's protected his family, all of his family but Bobbie.  I loved that Lucky called him on what he said about turning his back on her.  But I love more that he couldn't mean it when he said it.  I like the fact that Luke's taking a new quieter approach to the Cassadines now that the women are out of the country and safe (though if they hadn't let that Helena thread fizzle out, they might not be).  Instead of taking the offensive, he's lying low and waiting to pick up the pieces when and if Bobbie lets him.  That doesn't mean he's not "paranoid" anymore.

Mac:  "Didn't you used to have music in here so loud you couldn't hear the other person?  We could use some of that right now."
Mike:  "Ya, well, Luke's used to have a lot of things.  Including Luke."

Lucky:  "Listen, I'm in it with you for the long haul.  I mean, I stayed.  But why do we have to be so grim about it?"

Luke:  "Extra on the cheese fries.  We gotta stay in shape."

Lucky:  "You tripped me."
Luke:  "You're lucky I didn't throw you in front of a bus."

I loved that Lucky understood.  Even though he and his father keep negotiating, he always ends up at his father's side...or a few steps behind him.  I loved their little race to Luke's (and yet another foreign language from Luke), and more importantly, I loved seeing Luke back at Luke's.  I hope we get more than these initial scenes of the Spencer men revving up the club, because that's the kind of light scene I prefer.  And can I just say that Lucky has fine taste in music?  I could add a couple....

Luke:  "Hit me again, Mike."
Mike:  "Hey, um, you know Luke, this is your third cup in a half an hour."
Luke:  "You wanna take my keys?"
Mike:  "Look, I'm just saying that, you know, you tend to get a little...a little wired with too much caffeine."
Luke:  "Really, do I?  I get wired?  You think it's the caffeine?"

Luke:  "Hey, don't drag me into this."
Sonny:  "He's having breakfast in a bar."
Luke:  "Ya.  In my bar."
Sonny:  "Well you should be home with your wife and your children."
Luke:  "Corinthos, my wife's in Switzerland."
Sonny:  "That's no excuse."

I really liked the scenes with Luke, Sonny, and Mike on Wednesday.  The interactions between Sonny and Mike were the usual business, but it was interesting to see when Luke would and wouldn't intervene.

Luke:  "Oh, man.  Plug 'em, put 'em in a wheelchair then hire 'em to work for you.  What's wrong with this picture."
Mike:  "Look, um, mind if I ask a dumb question here Luke?  If Cassadine did put that bullet in her spine, why would she go to work for him?"
Luke:  "I don't know."
Sonny:  "Alright.  That was Joseph.  He just saw Cassadine go into Katherine Bell's apartment."
Luke:  "Well it looks like you're gonna have a permanent visitor on your floor for a while."
Sonny:  "What am I missin'?"
Mike:  "Do you um, you think Cassadine could be workin' some kind of blackmail scheme?"
Sonny:  "Well if anybody's gonna be doin' any blackmailing it's going to be her, because if she fingers him as the shooter, it's gonna be 'Bye-bye, Cassadine.'"
Luke:  "Well, unless they're playin' nasty with the wheelchair."
Mike:  "Um, come on.  I mean, isn't that stretching it a little bit?  I mean, the woman is paralyzed from the waist down."
Luke:  "Kinkier things have happened.  In my house."

I just loved this whole exchange, so I kept it, even though I couldn't capture the inflections in the voices, especially Luke's on that last line and Sonny's on the bye-bye Cassadine.  Ha!

VI.  The Cassadines

A.  Bobbie

Stefan:  "Are you worried that I'm packing you off so I can revisit the deadly quiet of my bachelor days?"

Bobbie:  "Maybe it's just that there's a compliment in there about my judgment somewhere that I'm not used to getting."
Stefan:  "Then it's long overdue."
Bobbie:  "Oh, I don't know about that.  My judgment in some things at times has been questionable."

On Tuesday, we got Bobbie's recollection of the night before, in bed with Stefan.  The first of many times we saw that glorious chest on Tuesday.  :)  But something about that recollection bothered her.  I wondered if she was already doubting whether or not he'd really miss her while she was away.  She passed it off as insomnia to Stefan, but I somehow doubt he bought it completely, though he passed it off as her worry about the trip.  She asked him again why she was going, and he again convinced her.

But Bobbie still has her husband on a pedestal so high her self esteem can't let her think that she's good enough for him.  I would think that would make it easier for her to believe he was at fault somehow, but I think that instead, she needs him to stay up on that pedestal somehow so that it proves something about her that he chose to marry her.  If it was part of a scheme, what does it say about her that she didn't figure it out?  (I'm trying not to comment.)  I'm still trying to figure out if her "I'm not the kind of woman I'd see you with" speech was a passive aggressive move to gain more compliments or something smarter, like a subtle indication of her doubts about Stefan and Katherine.  I fear the former is true.

That pedestal shook a little when she saw the file on Katherine Bell.  She did a better job than usual at lying, though, and sidestepping Stefan's questions about which file she saw.  She didn't cave in to his second question.  And most importantly, she went back downstairs to look for that computer.

I laughed at all Stefan's plans for her travel.  What a life.  I hope the helicopter doesn't hit any of the paparazzi flying overhead....

B.  Stefan

As I'll say later in the Katherine section, I liked seeing Stefan happy and in love, both in Katherine's fantasy and in their scenes together later in the week.  My major complaint about the character of Stefan right now--or rather, the way they're writing him--is that they aren't balancing the happy and in love side of Stefan with all the other sides of Stefan that I so proudly keep.  I would complain much less about this storyline and enjoy it much more if they would balance it with an appropriately Cassadine storyline or two.  We should also see Stefan the businessman, Stefan the Cassadine plotter, etc.  The problem with Stefan always comes when they stick with one side for too long and let the rest go.  The best scenes we've had recently were the ones where he went from ridiculing Lasha in one and placating Bobbie in the next.  They've lost that give and take, and are making it too easy for us to Stefan in one light.

Katherine:  "Well, I'll go get some plates, unless you have that in here too."
Stefan:  "Uh, no.  I forgot plates.  I'll go back."
Katherine:  "Wait here."

On Wednesday, Stefan showed up bright and early at Katherine's door the minute Bobbie was out of town.  He was indeed very cute with the various bagels and coffees (I wanna put in a standing order for that at my door in the morning--just not bright and early).

Katherine:  "Well, it's not your typical employer/employee relationship."

They talked about the newspaper interview and then Katherine forced him to address the issue of their relationship.  I was sad to hear Stefan dismiss Nikolas' feelings so easily.  I think Stefan would be quite willing to go along with things just as they are without giving it the label of an "affair," because it would help him believe he was succeeding in not hurting anybody.  But Katherine insisted that it was.

I suspect that Stefan dismissed her concerns so lightly because he knew she didn't want him to act on them, to break things off.  And talking about them would only remind him that they were real concerns, when he only wanted to concentrate on being with and communicating with her.  It's exactly that willingness to put things from his mind that will make this thing messier and more hurtful than it might have been, in my opinion.  He gave her a computer by which they could communicate in instant messages--why did she need a new computer to do that?  Don't most Internet programs have a "talk" or "instant message" function?  I suppose this one was high-tech and protected, or something.

Stefan:  "The fact is, most of how I live my life is covert.  I don't want it to be that way with us.  So, if you say this is an affair, I'll bow to your better judgment."
Katherine:  "This is doomed.  Don't you see that?"
Stefan:  "No I don't.  And if you'll give me the chance, I'll prove it to you."

I know he meant that he didn't want any secrets between them.  But this whole thing is already something covert, and I'm not sure he sees that.  I don't think he considers it an affair, either, because that label carries such negative connotations.

Stefan-the-physical-therapist pushed Katherine to try to stand, and she did.  I had a problem with this, not only because it was way sappy, but also because while he has read all the books, he doesn't know what he's doing, or if this might hurt her.  At the same time, I'll be happy when she's walking again so that tptb won't have her injuries to form the guilt/hope/bond between these two and maybe they'll have to stick to more realistic motivations and situations.

Katherine:  "At least now you know what I look like standing up."

Stefan:  "You were standing the first time I saw you, that's all."

This moment actually made me sad for Stefan, and almost glad Katherine's willing to try to look past that to see only the future.  Unfortunately, I think they won't succeed in putting the past behind them.  Too many people are invested in the truth coming out.

Stefan:  "This is only the beginning, sweet Katherine."

C.  Alexis

Alexis:  "Save your breath.  It's all Greek to me.  I guess that remark doesn't make any sense when you speak Greek, does it?"

Alexis can praise Nikolas without sounding like she's talking down to him, unlike Bobbie.  I like her with Nikolas, because she treats him like the age that he is.

Ned:  "Not that I haven't enjoyed speaking in code with you.  Perhaps you can tell me exactly why you asked me here."
Alexis:  "I need you to help me nail Pierce Dorman.  And we may have to bend a few rules in the process.  Are you interested?"

Ned showed up about this time, and I enjoyed their scenes as always.  Good writing and fun performances.  I'm so glad the two of them are going to be scheming together over Dorman.  I can't wait to see what they get themselves into...and what they come up with.  Ned complimented Alexis as being a contemporary touch in their setting, and I have to say I loved her light blue suit.  I was also entertained by the fact that instead of making excuses for Stefan, she simply said it had nothing to do with him.  I think that's a first.

Again, the dialogue drew our attention in a major way to the ways in which Alexis and Ned are alike.  While I appreciate that, I hope that soon they'll get over telling us about it and put these two in action.  Alexis spoke of letting the train derail--a lot of train metaphors this week.  ;)

And at the end of Thursday's show Katherine wrote Stefan on the computer, and Alexis overheard him say her name.  And she walked away.

D.  Nikolas

Nikolas walked in on his uncle kissing Katherine's hand, and again they seamlessly explained it away.  But as Nik and Katherine left to go to the hospital, he gave a look that told me he was wondering about his uncle's presence there.  He mentioned his uncle later, and I suspect he was taken aback by her glowing description of him, since he thought they didn't see much of each other.

VII.  Miranda

A.  with Katherine

Katherine and her personal shopping service nauseated me a bit too.  ;)  Although in her current situation, I'm sure that's the easiest way.  Miranda called and asked her if she could come over because of her scene with Jax.  I loved that Katherine faulted her for her timing.  But Miranda was convinced that Brenda was with Sonny and that they were reconciling and getting back together...if not getting it on.  She's jumping to conclusions because they're what she wants to believe.  More on that later.

Miranda:  "You know, I know I'm not in the best mood, and knowing that someone actually got paid to say that those shoes and that purse match does not help, but it seems to me that you're assuming Stefan instated this trip for Bobbie out of town just so the two of you could spend time together."

I loved Miranda's less-than-enthusiastic comments on Katherine and Stefan on Tuesday.  Although Leslie Horan's delivery is still a bit stilted for my taste, now that they're giving her some personality she's definitely gotten better.  I was so glad that she said that it seemed beneath Stefan, and I loved that she kept throwing Bobbie in her face.  Of course Katherine would hear nothing negative and changed the subject.

I didn't enjoy their Paris fantasy, and I thought the "oops" theory was a bit iffy, especially since Miranda's ready to find "oops" so easily without knowing or checking the facts.

B.  and the letter

Of course, Miranda should have known from all of that who the letter was from, but it didn't dawn on her until she saw the handwriting.  Now, aside from the fact that Sonny has to have the hottest tap water in the free world and Miranda the quickest drying nail polish, I actually liked seeing Miranda stoop to Brenda's level.  What I didn't like seeing was her not reading the whole thing, or not bothering to hear the whole situation.  I know, I know, there's no reason she should give Brenda a fair shake, but this info is going to hurt Jax, and I would think she'd think twice about using it (although from the upcoming scenes, I can see that she's not about to go to Jax with the information, but she's going to accost Brenda).  She passes judgment very easily, and again, she assumes that if she can break Jax and Brenda up, she can have Jax to herself.  She has very little faith in Jax's love of Brenda or his capacity for forgiveness.  There's no reason he can't write it off as something she did in withdrawal from drugs, even if he is angry that she lied about it.  At any rate, she's banking on a whole bunch of assumptions about Jax, and I don't think she's necessarily right.

She was a little too cocky as she left, waving that letter at him and making cracks about Brenda and Jax breaking up.

My apologies to Miranda fans for going off on her--but at least I'm not bored anymore!  :)

VIII.  Mac and Felicia

Felicia is providing almost all of the light scenes these days.  But this one kind of irritated me, although Mike was sure cute.  I don't like that Mac took that coaching job and then never suggested that she help out.  I think I'd rather have the guy with the tattoo.  And she doesn't think there's a connection between the arrest and the money in her account.  I'd bet she's wrong.

Luke:  "I thought it was chilly outside."

That reminds me of a line by one of my other favorite men--"And I thought they smelled bad on the outside."  ;)

Luke informed Mac about Taggert's altercation with Sonny.  I guess he counts as an uninvolved, objective party?  ;)  I liked seeing Mac and Luke together now.

IX.  Katherine

Katherine's fantasy on Tuesday about her and Stefan was both good and bad for me, and I'm going to take a minute to explain why, so bear with me.

Everybody knows by now that I don't like the way this storyline started, but it's here with us now, and I'm willing to take it as a given and critique what they're doing with it currently rather than harp on their past failings.  I've complained over and over about the dream sequences and visions, and how they'd do much better in my estimation with something more realistic.

This fantasy was good in that it put them in a more realistic situation.  Katherine was well, so that motive/bond/guilt was gone, and they were simply working together and trying to figure out how to be together without hurting Bobbie or Nikolas.  I enjoyed seeing Stefan laughing and happy and in love.  The bad thing is, I liked the fantasy better than the scenes later in the week with Katherine's walking, and it reminded me of what could have been.

At the same time she was convincing Stefan that they were having an affair, and that other people could be hurt, she was telling him over and over that she couldn't walk without him, that she needed him, etc.  I don't see why she keeps bringing up the problems and obstacles when she obviously doesn't want him to stay away or to stop this affair.

And again, after receiving her computer, Katherine threw up every excuse or possible problem in the book, but he knew and we knew that she didn't mean it.  She simply wanted to be reassured, to voice her anxieties so she could comfort herself that she was concerned with everyone else even as she was getting exactly what she wanted.

Stefan:  "I can't be without you, Katherine."
Katherine:  "What the hell are we doing?"

Katherine stood and took half a step, and I wanted to see her be proud of herself, but instead, she has to lay all of the praise on Stefan.  Aside from this storyline, I just don't like seeing women written as so dependent on men.  It's not romantic to me.  Support is good, but utter dependence?

Katherine:  "That is really one of the most unpleasant men.  He has the bedside manner of a surly five-year-old."

Dorman was such the butthole to Katherine when she got to the hospital.  I was pleased, however, that he told her she couldn't just push on through and needed to let her muscles heal.  She thinks she can walk immediately now that she has Stefan, but she needs a dose of reality every once in a while.

X.  Lucy and Kevin

On Wednesday, Kevin came home from Oxford and told Lucy he had left the Arizona convention early because he missed her.  When he arrived home, she was crying while watching the newest video of Serena Scott sent.  She was so cute, making him sit down and watch with her, and he was adorable, praising her child.  It was a very sweet moment.

Kevin:  "I wish I knew you then.  I bet you were beautiful pregnant."
Lucy:  "Oh ya.  I was.  I was huge."

Kevin:  "It's a shame she lives so far away.  Knowing you would be good for her."
Lucy:  "Do you really really believe that?"
Kevin:  "I really believe that.  You'd be like Auntie Mame; she'd have the time of her life."

Kevin:  "You'd make a wonderful mother."

Some people on ratsa claimed that Kevin's response was cold, but I thought it was good of him not to promise anything that he wasn't sure he could come through on.  Their performances were wonderfully subtle in this scene.  I thought he was very supportive and positive about the whole thing, helping Lucy to feel better, and allowing her her feelings.  I look forward to the beginning of GH2 and the integration of these two parts of Lucy's life, but I have to say I'm hoping she and Kevin make it.

Lucy saw Kevin's passport, and Kevin covered fairly well, but not well enough to keep her from coming down and checking it out for herself.  But at least we got the cute and sexy race for upstairs to counterbalance the serious parts of their scenes.

Lucy:  "But, if you need some TLC, or you just wanna, I dunno, go to a movie or go have some raunchy dinner or something, I'm the girl.  I know I can't be Lois, but if you just need a woman around, I'm there."

On Thursday, Lucy came home to find Kevin gone out to "meetings."  She couldn't check on him immediately, because Brenda showed up.  Their scenes were some of my favorite of the week.  The combination of those two is something I really like.  Lucy was very supportive, and Brenda was so sweet, explaining her situation to Lucy and asking for forgiveness, as if she were at fault.  And I wanted to hug Lucy, both when she apologized for her part in it and when she said she could never be Lois, but offered to do her best.

Then Lucy called Spoon Island, looking through Kev's daytimer when she found out the number was unlisted.  I loved that Alexis knew immediately that it was her, and didn't really blink twice.

XI.  A.J.

A.  with Dorman

Dorman:  "Well, you're not the one with the brain damage, so you must be the drunk."

I couldn't believe A.J showed up with money at Dorman's, drunk.  I suppose I can understand that he was trying to make something better for his mother, but we really got no explanation as to why he was there.  And he doesn't understand Dorman's motives at all.  I was actually glad Dorman set him straight on how much fun he's having watching the Quartermaine troubles he caused.  And I was actually just a little pleased that Dorman pulled a gun on him, just because it let A.J. know (hopefully) that he was out of his league.

B.  with Keesha

A.J. wants things back the way they were, with he and Keesha and Jason sitting around the table together and everyone accepting his drinking.  I hated that he pointed out he was drinking coffee when he was only doing it to get over being drunk.  He's blaming her for not being part of the solution, when he has to realize that he's got to come to the point he wants to solve things himself.  And Keesha's confusion seems very realistic and convincing to me.  But when she didn't play along, he grew angry with her and stormed out.

Then Taggert edged his way in at her table and asked her for her help in getting information from Sonny through Jason.  He flattered and flirted, until Jason asked him to leave.  When Taggert left, and Jason told Keesha his side of the story, she believed him immediately, which I thought rather odd, since she's so gung-ho about bringing down Sonny, and Jason could be covering for him.  She doesn't know that Jason doesn't lie, after all.  He made sense about her wanting to get on the force and the chance she was with a bad cop should carry some weight.  I'm not sure I'll like it if this suspicion of A.J.'s about Keesha and Jason drags on, but since I've read hints about what they might be setting us up for, I think I can handle it for a couple of days.  ;)