**The Week in Review: July 28 - August 1**

I. The Quartermaines

A. Emily's Admission

A.J.:  "Uh, will you be alright?"
Alan:  "What the hell am I, the boogeyman?  Of course she's gonna be alright."

On Monday, Monica and Ned interrupted before Emily could explain to Alan what she meant or how she knew Monica had killed Dorman.  They pushed and she ran into A.J.'s arms.  Alan and Monica fought, and then Alan was called away to the hospital.  He told her not to tell anyone else what she had told him.  At this point, I thought we were going to have several weeks of the family choosing up sides.  In the meantime, Monica and Ned held another whispered conference.  Emily apologized (as if she was the one that needs to apologize), said good-bye to A.J., and Ned took her home.  Monica was off to the hospital after Alan.

B. Visiting Jason

Tony gave Jason a check-up at the beginning of Wednesday's show.  He thought that was bad, but then the Qs showed up en masse.  A predictable argument about Sonny followed.  Lila intervened, but she changed the subject to Robin, which wasn't a good choice at the time, though she didn't know it.  Better yet, Edward started in on some operation he saw on the medical channel and Jason's being in the medical profession.  Lila took him out of there at once, and she was the only person Jason thanked for coming.

C. Emily Interrupted Again

While the Qs were at GH visiting Jason (and Monica and Ned were worrying about her going at all), Alan had taken Emily off the bus and taken her home.  He asked her again to explain herself.  Alan was wonderful with her, telling her he knew she was afraid and reminding her that she was one of the injured parties.  But just as she was ready to tell him what she'd seen, Monica and Ned showed up.  And I was really getting tired of this repetition.

Ned:  "I'm not accusing her of anything."
Alan:  "You better make sure that you don't.  Last time you did that she became catatonic."

Emily apologized again, and Monica and Ned quizzed her about her alleged illness.  At this point Edward and Lila showed up too to join in the fun.  Edward said he would drive her to the BBQ, and I guess she decided that would at least be better than staying in the room with her family.  After she went upstairs, Alan suggested that maybe Monica would have something to tell all of them.  After he left with Lila, Monica and Ned had yet another of their pow-wows.  Sigh.

D. The BBQ

On Thursday, I just have to say that the best part of the BBQ was Edward.  He attempted to stay, working out a hand signal with Emily for when she wanted to leave, but finally Keesha got him to go home (he told her she reminded him of Mary Mae--a sweet mention of her that they both miss).  Too, too funny.  The incident with the kids taunting Emily about the drugs was unbelievable to me, and I wanted Nikolas to take her side.  Instead she left with Lucky and Keesha.

E. Alan and Monica

Alan:  "Pierce Dorman is now your dirty little secret again.  It's a good thing the dead can't sue."

Meanwhile, Alan fought with Monica back at home.  She went to see about Emily, and he accused her of having no faith in Emily or in him.  He asked her why she kept lying to him, but they were interrupted by Emily and her entourage coming home.  Alan told Monica to stay away from Emily and when she fought him on it, he told her he knew she killed Dorman.

II. Tony and Carly

A. Carly versus Bobbie

Bobbie:  "Because for some reason, every single thing you do has something to do with me, although I haven't quite figured out why."

On Monday, Tony admitted to A.J. that he was having trouble telling Bobbie about the baby.  But the real show was in the bathroom, where Carly realized that she had admitted the pregnancy to Bobbie.  Bobbie was livid, spewing all manner of slander, and I really don't understand how she can have this violent a reaction to Carly and not realize that it stems from the fact that she still loves Tony.  And, more importantly, that she's jealous of Carly--more so now that Carly's pregnant (I bet that really pushed some buttons).  I understand that she was expecting some kind of good news, and I understand that she doesn't like or trust Carly--and with good reason.  But her reaction still seemed over the top to me.  Even if she assumed Carly had planned this, or was trapping Tony?  She didn't have to fall back on such rude comments.  Rise above it, missy!  You're acting just as rotten as you blame Carly for acting, and she's simply pulling the same kind of stunts you have pulled in the past.  She had one thing right, though.  Everything in Carly's life has something to do with Bobbie.

Carly:  "You know what?  You make it impossible to be civil.  You know that?  So here's the deal.  Whether you wanna believe it or not, I am having Tony's baby.  So do me a favor.  Choke on it."

Carly:  "So you just have to face it, Bobbie.  This little whore is giving him what that one never could."

Bobbie:  "Be as smart as you think you are, Carly.  Just walk away from me right now, or I will not be responsible."
Carly:  "What else is new.  You never were."

On the other hand, some people agree, saying they thought Carly had indeed planned this.  I don't buy that, because we didn't get to see her scheming about it.  She went to the Outback on impulse, and while I think part of that impulse was to see her mother hurting after the news, I don't think she intended to tell her.  On the contrary, I think she intended to play it nice, calmly flaunting the news in Bobbie's face.  She got more than she bargained for.  But she did hold her own.  When Bobbie refused to be civil, Carly snapped back with some of her own.  And I say good for her.  I prefer her with her temper up to that passive aggressive sniveling she does with Tony, and which she fell right back into after this little blow up.

Carly ran to Tony and asked him to take her home, but Bobbie demanded that they all talk about things together.  Bobbie jumped on Tony for not being able to tell her, suggesting that he wasn't sure it was his child.  Finally, she just made herself look vindictive and immature, in my opinion.  She was attacking some girl in public for being pregnant with her ex-husband's child.  And I wondered then if she was angrier at Carly or at Tony.  Sometimes I think that all of this anger is at Tony for rejecting her, for choosing someone over her, and that she takes it out on Carly because she already doesn't like her.  And Carly got to get in a few last shots and appear gracious all at the same time.  And in the end, Tony had to apologize for hurting her?  With his own good news?  And she's the injured party in all of this?  Sorry, but that dog don't hunt, as far as I'm concerned.

Tony believed Carly when she told her story.  I believed her too, as I've said.  And I'm wondering if this is a model for how the real secret's going to come out.  Carly lets it slide accidentally in a rage or under confusing circumstances?

At home, Tony told her that he would believe her because he knew she'd never deceive him again after that custody paper fiasco.  Tony went in the other room, and with Bobbie's words ringing in her ear, Carly didn't answer the door when A.J. stopped by.

B. Carly and A.J.

A.J. showed up to get the scoop at the beginning of Tuesday's episode, and he believed Carly's story too.  Her retelling of this story *again* made me wonder about the circumstances, but I guess they were just filling in people who didn't see Monday's show.  I was tired of hearing her tell the story by now, though.

A.J. rambled on about getting to know her for a while, then said he had figured out what happened that night he blacked out.  He insisted that he had to take responsibility for his actions as part of his recovery and that she tell him what really happened.  He was convinced that he had forced herself on her.  Carly told him nothing happened and he was so relieved--it was sweet to see how worried he was.  But he was still determined to remember.

Carly had one of her nightmares of A.J. remembering everything, and she headed off to the AA meeting he had told her about to find out about memory loss.  Some good awareness of history in these scenes (if not much more), as Lee Baldwin was in charge of the meeting.  Carly asked him about memory loss and he filled her in, suspecting that she was the one with the problem.  A.J. showed up at the end of the episode.

On Wednesday's show, some confusion ensued as to whether or not Lee would comment on what they had been talking about, but it was a fairly boring false alarm, and then we had more maneuvering from Carly about his trying to remember that night.  The whole scene was a waste for me, but at this point A.J. said that if he slipped he would leave PC and go into rehab...and I had this sinking feeling about where we were headed.

C. Tony and Carly

Tony came home and told Carly about the run-in with Bobbie.  She turned it around into something about herself, and told him that she didn't want to raise their child in this kind of judgmental attitude and that she wanted to move.  She even pulled out a sob story from her own childhood.  Tony wouldn't consider it because of Lucas...and my sinking feeling came back stronger.

III. Sonny and Brenda

On Monday, Sonny and Brenda were at the Zoo Bar.  Sonny realized something was up and figured out which one was the Tin Man...actually, it was easy, given that he was flashing gum-wrapper origami around.  But the Tin Man slipped out under the cover of a distraction, and they were left with a note in their bar tab telling them when and where to meet him.

Brenda:  "I love you.  For a long time I tried to pretend like I didn't and I'm never gonna do that again.  I'm not gonna leave you in the middle of this alone.  So there's only one choice, and I don't want you to argue with me about it.  Ok?"
Sonny:  "I ain't arguin'."

They read the note back at the motel.  Brenda wanted to rush ahead, but Sonny made her slow down and evaluate the choices.  He told her that she could stay behind, that he could make her safe.  She told him that she would go with him, even knowing the danger.  Nice juxtaposition of these scenes and the scenes between Robin and Jason, in which she told him she wouldn't share his danger.

We closed Monday's show with a shot of Rivera's hands and opera music in the background (we didn't know it was Rivera yet, but would soon enough).  I think this was the shot where he lit candles and laid out a pair of opera gloves.

Brenda:  "She wants Jason out."
Sonny:  "I don't think I can make Jason change."

On Wednesday, Sonny and Brenda prepared for their meeting (he loaded the gun and she philosophized about their love).  She admitted that she wanted to talk to some people if it were going to be the last time.  He surprised her with a new cell phone and the promise of one phone call.  She picked Robin so Sonny could find out about Jason.  This conversation appears in the following section.  I kind of laughed at the fact that this was supposed to be Brenda's phone call and she got no comfort or closure out of it at all.  She barely got to speak to Robin.

More on Jason and Sonny in the following section too.  But I have to say here as well that Maurice Benard was fantastic in all of these exchanges, and I really felt Sonny's concern for both Jason and Robin.  I was almost surprised that Sonny fired Jason as per Robin's request...but not really.  He'd do anything for her, and he does feel bad for letting Jason get in so deep.  But finally, he's got to know that he's better off with Jason around, and the fact that he'll put himself on the line--never mind Jason--by firing Jason?  I really like that, even if it was breaking trust with Jason.  And, finally, he did it for Robin, to give her a chance.  But he also knew that Jason could turn on her because of this, something Robin didn't foresee.

Sonny:  "It's only an adventure, just like all the other ones."
Brenda:  "Yes.  I know.  And we're gonna be lucky just like we always are."
Sonny:  "I'm startin' to love your attitude."

Sonny:  "Well, then they're gonna have to make the first move.  And I've always been pretty good at makin' the second."

Brenda said everything was ok, but I hope Sonny knows it's not.  She told him that Robin would tell people that it had been her choice to stay with him...in the event of an unfortunate occurrence (maybe not so unfortunate in Roo's eyes, at least where B is concerned!).  Sonny assured her that they had to play the game out and that whomever's behind this wanted them alive still...and that they'd have to make the first move.

Sonny:  "This is personal.  And if this personal, then I would know you from Adam, and I don't."

(Aside:  I loved this line because it echoes a conversation Luke and Sonny back before the All 4 One concert at the club.)

Tin Man:  "Revenge is an operative word."

On Friday, silly Brenda actually made the first move by opening a box with a note on it for them...there was a spider inside.  Sonny was right, they were only trying to put them on their guard, but it was a cheesy moment nonetheless.  Sonny read the note and turned on the stereo as it suggested.  It was Rigoletto, and as Sonny tried to remember the story, the Tin Man welcomed them.  He filled in the gaps, admitting that he killed Dorman, and Sonny put together most of it.  But he still didn't know who was behind everything.  At the end of Friday, they entered the next room and saw....  ;)

IV. Jason and Robin

A. Round One

Robin:  "Jason, if you died?  I would have nothing.  I'd have no hopes, no dreams.  Just years and years of greyness.  I've had that before.  You gave me a future; I want to spend it with you."
Jason:  "Who would I be in the future if I wasn't myself?"

On Monday, Robin blew up at Jason.  She ranted and raved about him getting out of bed and said all the things she's said a squillion times.  But this time she said them to him.  Jason insisted that he didn't want to die but that he didn't want Sonny to die either.  They went on, and finally she told him that he had to quit, begged him to get out.  He said no, explaining that he couldn't get out because he knew too much.  When she refused to believe him, saying Sonny could get him out because he loved them, Jason told him he didn't want out.

Jason's reasons for staying in make sense to me.  This job is what he knows how to do and what he does well.  He didn't have anything, and he believed he was stupid.  Sonny showed him he wasn't and taught him.  He felt powerless and now he doesn't.  Finally, the bottom line is that he doesn't want to feel helpless or dependent--powerless--again.  And if he gets out, he's got to start over.  He values his own choice and his skills more than that.

And Robin's right.  Some of the things he does are just plain wrong, and he does them because he loves the thrill, the feeling of cheating death.  And the thing is, he could start over if he chose to.  He could learn a new place and a new job.  But I think that no matter where they went or no matter what he did, he would still want the danger.  What he wants--what he is--is exactly what she doesn't need.  She's seen so many people that she loves die and she can't take any more.

Robin:  "How do you know for sure this is the life you want?"
Jason:  "Because it's the one I chose."

After that, Robin begged and pleaded and tried every argument in the book, but it came down to the fact that Jason chose this job and wants this job and needs this job.  He doesn't want anything else.  He doesn't even want to try.  And maybe he can't.  But it bothered me a bit that he, like Sonny, spoke in the past tense.  Yes, he chose this job, but he's also choosing it now, every day.  No, he can't get out.  But that doesn't mean his choice isn't present tense, every day.  And, like Sonny, he's now talking about the impossibility of personal change.  And that worries me, about both of them.

Faced with all of this, Robin told him that she didn't want to live like that.  Mac, who was coming with news of Brenda and Sonny, interrupted them.  He didn't know anything, but said no news was good news.  He sent Robin on a walk and stayed to ask Jason what was up with the dinner in the floor.  He told Jason that he always wanted Robin to fall in love with him back when she was with Stone, and now he's gotten what he wished for...kind of.  He was trying to make peace, and Jason wasn't sure why, since he'd put Robin in danger.  But Mac continued, telling him not to go to Florida and to make up with Robin.

Jason:  "I love you so much, Robin.  I would do anything for you.  Kill, or die...every single day for you.  But that job.  That life is a part of me.  I can't give it up."
Robin:  "Just once I wish you'd lie."

Jason professed his love for her, and then she left him lying in the dark.  So far, I was totally happy with the way they were writing this breakup, even though I was sad about the breakup itself.  I think that this storyline provides a great contrast to the Brenda/Sonny connection, especially when you compare the reasoning and actions of Brenda and Robin.  Sometimes love isn't enough, and staying with a mobster isn't the mental health choice.  This, of course, is hard for me to admit, since if every girl was smart enough to make the mental health choice most of my favorite men would be lonely.  But I would like to see something of this kind of awareness in Brenda.  I know she's run from Sonny before because of his work, but she hasn't actually made a rational choice about him yet, in all this time (that doesn't mean that I think the rational choice for her would be to return to Jax, and I do think she's being open-eyed about things this time around so far).

B. Robin and Sonny

Robin:  "Sonny, what good is trust when you're dead?"

Brenda and Sonny called Robin on Wednesday's show.  Brenda asked how they were, but Robin very quickly asked to talk to Sonny.  I understood what she did next, even though I faulted her for it.  And I felt the same about Sonny's part in it.  Robin asked him to fire Jason so he'd be safe, and it was clear that Sonny would do so.  Robin kept on saying that she couldn't believe she was doing this and she knew it sounded passive aggressive, etc., but she did do it.  It was behind Jason's back and directly against the choice he had made--she was making a choice for him, exactly what he doesn't want.  And just as importantly, she was asking Sonny to break a trust with Jason too.

Sonny:  "I hate to tell you, sweetheart, but the organization speaks French."

She was deluding herself into thinking that Jason wasn't too involved and could get out.  Sonny told her it wasn't possible; she asked him to try anyway.  I felt for Sonny when he told her that although he had promised to keep Jason from getting in too deep that he had to depend on him after Lily died and he couldn't keep that promise.  Finally, Sonny couldn't turn her down, especially (and this was the lowest blow, I think, on Robin's part, even though she all but tried to take it back) when she reminded him of his promise to Stone to take care of her.  But he didn't think it was blackmail, he thought it was the truth.  She said she didn't have the strength to deal with Jason's death, that she would be dead inside as well.  Sonny brought up one last good point--that Jason would have to let him get him out.  And I knew that wasn't going to be a given.  But when Sonny said he'd think about it, I knew he'd make the call.

No matter what I think of the material of the conversation, the performances were wonderful.  Sad to me, because this was the last scene with Robin and Sonny together and it was over the phone and in these circumstances.  But the tears Sonny couldn't help shedding and the pain in Robin's voice?  Maurice and Kimberly were wonderful.

C. Jason and Sonny

Sonny did make the call, and he first caught Jason up to speed while Jason told him Jax was headed down there.  Sonny wasn't concerned, trusting that they couldn't be found, and told Jason to drop it.  He then--almost too casually--told Jason he didn't want him working for him anymore.  As if he'd make those kind of organizational changes in the middle of all of this.  Jason was shocked, but he almost just as immediately suspected his motives.  He asked to talk to Brenda and questioned her about it.  Of course he could tell they were both lying.

Jason:  "You out of everyone were never supposed to do this to me!"

Jason:  "No.  If you're gonna turn your back on me, you're damn well gonna tell me why."
Sonny:  "I'm your friend."
Jason:  "You're my brother.  And I'm still waiting for an explanation I can understand."

Jason:  "Sonny, you're a liar.  She asked you to let me go."

Sonny:  "Robin has nothin' to do with this."
Jason:  "Don't lie anymore Sonny, it's makin' both of us sick."

At first he thought there was someone in the room with them.  But he demanded a reason from Sonny.  They both yelled, and Sonny stuck by his story.  But Jason knew better.  He insisted that he made his own choices and that Sonny needed him.  Sonny insisted he was a distraction.  Jason told him he knew it was Robin, even if Sonny couldn't admit it.  Sonny didn't answer that question, then he lied.  Jason simply said he didn't accept it.  Sonny said they'd still be friends and went to the meeting.

This exchange was fabulous.  I was quite confident Jason will get his job back, but the fact that we got these scenes in the meantime was nice, since the time is running out on MB's contract and I adore him in scenes with SB.

D. Robin and Katherine

Robin went to visit Katherine and told her all about Jason, and that she was probably going to Paris.  This was really more of the same, Katherine trying to comfort her and Robin trying to hang on to the illusions of them in Paris together.  She decided she would ask him, convincing herself that she'd get the answer she didn't really expect.

E. Round Two

When Robin entered the room, she knew immediately that something was wrong.  Jason just asked, "How could you," then yelled when she hesitated.  I knew it was going to be bad.

Jason:  "Don't lie to me Robin!  Don't.  It's the only thing left that keeps you from being like everyone else."

On Friday, all reserve was gone.  Jason demanded that she call Sonny back, and she said she couldn't.  She started to say that Sonny did it on his own, but he knew she was lying and continued to yell at her.  But he was in pain more than angry.  He knew that Sonny left himself open by firing him but that he would do anything for Robin, even this.

Robin:  "Why do you think that your job is your life?  Why do you think there's nothing else worth living for?  Do you know how that makes me feel?"
Jason:  "It makes you feel like I oughta be living for you."
Robin:  "You asked me to live for you once."
Jason:  "No, Robin, I asked you to live."
Robin:  "That's all I'm doing, Jason."
Jason:  "But you didn't ask me."

Jason:  "We were closer than brothers, Robin.  He was my father.  And if makes it back from Florida alive, he's not gonna be able to look at me in the eye because you made him the one thing he never was and that's a liar."

Jason:  "When I woke up after that accident I looked around and there were two people--only two--who seemed to know what they were doing that made any sense to me.  And that was you and Sonny.  So I watched you guys.  When people said hello, you said hello back.  When people would cry, you'd touch 'em right here.  When people made a certain face, that means you told a joke and you laughed.  And I watched how all these things worked, Robin, and you were the best at them than anybody.  So when you told me to do something, I did it.  To wear a watch, to say good-bye when you hung up the telephone, to be nice to the Quartermaines, to only have a certain kind of sex and only when you said.  And see, I didn't know that it meant that you thought you were in charge of me.  So if you need an excuse, use that one!"
Robin:  "Would you and everybody else in the world just do me one little favor?  Don't look up to me, ok?  I didn't die and go to heaven; God didn't appear to me from the clouds.  Think I'm pretty, think I'm smart, whatever makes you happy.  But I am too damn little to be anybody's patron saint.  You know what?  I didn't do it because it was best for you.  I did it because it was best for me.  And if I am gonna lose you, it's gonna be because you walk away or because I hate your guts or because one of us did something unforgivable, which maybe I have, but you know what?  I don't care.  Because the one thing I am not gonna do is put somebody else I love in a grave."

Robin:  "Don't you dare feel sorry for me while I am standing here telling you I couldn't fall in love with my life again until you walked in it.  I can live without you.  I know I can because I've done those things before.  But I will be damned if I have to when a few words from Sonny can keep you alive.  How is that wrong?  Even if it is, why should I care?"

Jason:  "I don't live for my job.  Why...why do you say that?  I don't even understand that.  Nobody lives for anything.  I mean, you live because you're born.  You know, if you have a good dinner, a warm bed, somebody in it with you...and their breathing's the sound you hear when you wake up...and the sound you hear when they're not even there then you're happy.  And you want it to last.  But you can't call that your life because maybe it won't.  Then what?  Then you go out, you find something else to eat, you find another place to sleep if you know how and I don't.  I don't know how to do it in another country Robin.  You would have to do it for me.  What, would that be my life?  Would I be your job?  I can't even do that where you live now.  The only thing I can make happen what I want to happen is where Sonny lives.  When somebody does something, I know what they're gonna do back.  If I want something, I take it.  If somebody tries to fight me, I stop 'em.  If I lose, I find someone weaker and I take it from them."
Robin:  "You can't convince me you're the person you just described."
Jason:  "I guess I can't."

Jason:  "And I'm gonna make him look at me in the eye.  And I'm gonna tell him what he did was wrong--which he already knew--and I'm gonna make him take me back."
Robin:  "Jason...if you do that...I won't be there."

First, she said she did it for him.  He didn't buy it.  Then she said she only told Sonny what she felt.  He didn't buy that either; he knew that she had pulled the Stone promise out on Sonny.  Finally she admitted that she did it for herself.  It came down to this.  He has to choose his own life, and he has to know that he has the power over his own life.  He can't live for her or the way she wants.  And she can't live with a man who puts his life in danger, because she can't bear to lose someone else that she loves.  So they can't be together.  Jason will wait for Sonny to come back and will get his job back.  Robin will go to Paris.

Jason:  "You said I was always...that I wasn't afraid of anything.  That was never true 'til now.  Cause I would only be afraid of this."

Robin:  "I promise you.  There will never come a day when I don't love you.  There will never come a day that I won't feel lucky that something so wonderful could have happened to me."

At the end of Friday, she apologized, saying she didn't ever want to have control over him.  He made her promise she'd never get sick.  They both cried, and then they kissed.  Then she left him sitting in the dark.

These performances were wonderful.  Steve and Kimberly gave everything they had, and I was thankful for such a good end to this couple...and it wasn't even the end yet.  Ratsa should buy stock in Kleenex for things like this.

V. The Cassadines

A. Morning Visitors at Wyndemere

Alexis:  "I'm on your side, remember?"
Stefan:  "Well, perhaps I need the occasional reminder."
Alexis:  "Consider me at your service."

Tuesday's episode found Alexis shuffling some papers into an envelope as Stefan came down for breakfast.  They spoke of Nikolas, and Alexis told Stefan that she didn't approve of his--and Katherine's--handling of the matter.  Good for her.  She asked him to get Katherine to help, and he again questioned her loyalty.  I hate it when he does that!

Alexis:  "Those were teak doors, imported in the 18th Century from Siam.  Prominent fixtures in either a monastery or a harem...we're not sure which."
Ned:  "I can't help feeling you, uh, skipped a few secret rooms."
Alexis:  "Only the Medieval Room, where we torture our enemies, and then there's the Dark Room, where the bats sleep during the day."

They were interrupted by the arrival of Ned (goody!), who was there to visit Alexis.  Stefan bowed out after some comments on the Quartermaine/Cassadine coolness.  Ned was returning an earring that she had dropped in his car, and she tricked him into admitting she was the only woman that had been in his car.  Too cute.  She proceeded to take him on a tour of the house before he admitted that he once owned Wyndemere.  Ha!

Stefan returned, claiming he needed her for business, and I was glad again that he had to see her with her extra-curricular involvement.  Unfortunately, his came through the door at that point.  Ned chivalrously commented on the absence of her cane, but she was eager to talk to Stefan about Nikolas and the BBQ.  Ned then less-than-chivalrously commented on Alexis's interest in Katherine.  Hee-hee!

Katherine:  "I am trying to be his advocate with you."
Stefan:  "Did he ask you to be his advocate?"
Katherine:  "No."
Stefan:  "No.  Neither did I.  Perhaps you should reconsider your role."

We went from the crispness of the Ned/Alexis scenes to the slower pace of Stefan/Katherine scenes.  While language is important in both of these pairings, it's different types of language, and the S/K scenes seem wordy and almost bulky, somehow, in comparison.  They both use a lot of words, he out of habit and her out of trying to match his register, I think.  She was there to say that Nikolas could continue to stay with her but to ask him to stay away from the BBQ so Nikolas would feel free to go.  Stefan changed tones immediately and accused her of using his feelings for her to manipulate him.  They argued about what was the best thing for Nikolas; Katherine said he needed connections and control of his life while Stefan said he was raised to be something apart.

Bobbie:  "I don't want to wait, so I'm flying to the Dominican Republic to get it over with.  Don't follow me this time."

They were interrupted by Bobbie, calling to tell him that she was going to the DR to get the divorce.  And when he hung up, he actually announced to Katherine that he would be free in a matter of days.  She acted as though she didn't care.

While they were outside, Alexis remarked to herself that she needed one more thing to go with the papers.

B. Nikolas

While Stefan and Alexis had breakfast, Katherine told Nikolas that she was walking without her cane now.  She was going shopping, and she wanted him to go to the BBQ.  She assumed he didn't want to go because he might run into Stefan, but she was off the mark.  I found this whole thing--her needling him about the BBQ--a waste of time.

The reason he's not going to the BBQ dropped a box of toys in the floor and he stopped to help her.  Sarah asked after him and they swapped awkward niceties.  But I'd bet money at this point that he was going to show up at the BBQ because of her.  She stopped him and told him she would be staying the year, and they chatted about their horses.  She asked him to the BBQ again.  Pretty boring.

More about the stupid BBQ on Thursday's show.  Katherine admitted she had seen Stefan and told Nikolas what they had spoken about.  I was glad that he told her not to speak for him, but he didn't do so forcefully enough for my taste.  And I was irritated at her for suggesting that before her, Stefan was the only significant adult in his life.  Hello?  Katherine?  Her name is Alexis.  And he has a mother, say what you will.  And Bobbie, for that matter.  Nikolas figured it was rough, but she passed on any extended discussion and went on to present him with the shirt she had bought him...just like one he had left at Wyndemere.  His comment about being disoriented at Wyndhams was a hoot.  More about the BBQ.  Yawn.

Nikolas:  "I don't wanna monopolize all your time."
Sarah:  "Oh, I don't see any lines forming."
Nikolas:  "Well give it some time."

Nikolas did go to the BBQ, and Sarah ended up asking him to dance.  Now, that I applaud.  I liked their dance, though it may have gone on a bit too long.  It seemed very awkward, very real, very teenager-y.  Others would disagree, but it worked for me.  Not that I wanted to see fifteen squillion flashbacks of it....

VI. The Spencers

A. Lucky

Lucky:  "Who wants to fit in anyway, you know?"

At the beginning of Tuesday's show, Lucky reminded Sarah about the BBQ while they were working at the hospital.  They chatted about school, the Spencer family travels, etc.  He offered to show her around now that she was staying the school year, and she accepted. Later, after her meeting with Nikolas, Lucky came by and bad-mouthed him to her, acting smooth, but she didn't object.  As with Nikolas, quite boring.

Lucky:  "The men of my family are hair-challenged."

At the beginning of Thursday's show, Audrey and Sarah chatted while they looked for Gatsby...until Lucky showed up with the cat in tow.  They were off to the over-hyped BBQ, and I didn't have high hopes.  I figured it would degenerate into a Lucky/Nikolas fight.  Not quite.  Instead, it was a fairly random sequence of hormone-laden mishaps...with a touch of Amy thrown in for good measure.  Some girls taunted Emily about her drug-taking, so Lucky and Keesha took her home (no one knows why Lucky had to go with her; he said it was so she wouldn't feel weird about leaving), meaning we missed out on our daily dose of teenage testosterone *and* on Emily mooning over Nikolas.  More on this flop of a party elsewhere.

B. Bobbie

After the confrontation on Monday's show with Carly, on Tuesday Bobbie was asking off work to go to the Dominican Republic to expedite the paperwork on her newest divorce.  She and Audrey chatted a bit about the divorce and the fact that Stefan had dropped the drug charges.  Audrey immediately assumed that she and Tony might be getting back together but Bobbie told her about the pregnancy.

A.J. had overheard her conversation with Audrey about Carly, and he defended Carly to her.  She stopped him, saying that she was going to tell him all about Carly, but luckily we didn't have to see that conversation.  I'd had about enough of Bobbie's ranting for one week.

Bobbie:  "It's that time of year again.  I'm divorcing another man who wasn't what he promised he would be."

On Wednesday, Bobbie announced to Tony that she was taking Lucas with her to the DR.  Some people faulted her for this, but I think she should by all means take Lucas with her on a vacation.  The little kid's probably confused enough at this point that he doesn't need his mommy leaving him.  But she managed a few snide remarks about Carly and Tony's unmarried state and Carly in general.

VII. Jax and Officer V.

Again, I'm going to skip the details on this storyline in the spirit of some day catching up.  I promise I'll include Jax and V. before this "adventure" is through.  Jax and V. remained on the island the whole week, and it was just more of the same.  A few sweet moments, the hint that she was developing a crush on him and he was coming to like having her around.  More philosophizing from V. and more sarcasm from Jax.

Jax:  "Look, it's a beautiful S.O.S. and I'm sure it will draw rescuers for years to come."

On Thursday, though, a rescue crew found them.  While they were looking for a place to land, on Friday Jax and V. came to an understanding: she wouldn't turn him in if he took him with her to find Brenda.