**The Week in Review: August 4 - August 8**

I. The Cassadines

A. Stefan and Nikolas

Stefan:  "For myself, I've never really seen the attraction to, uh, incinerating meat over a carcinogenic fire.  But I realize I'm in the minority."

This was my favorite Stefan line in a very long time!

On Friday, Stefan had shown up on the docks, and on Monday he told Nikolas he was waiting for the launch from home, pretending not to know for sure if the BBQ had been that night.  Both of them were reserved, but polite enough to each other.  Stefan was interested, though, in whose name Nik had said--whom he thought was there instead of Stefan.  Nikolas didn't answer the question.

Nikolas:  "So if you're gonna stand here and make assumptions about who I may or may not be waiting for then knock yourself out, but don't expect me to validate 'em."
Stefan:  "Knock myself out.  Hmm.  I stand corrected."

I loved this moment, as I love always the way in which language demonstrates things about Stefan and the Cassadine family.  Unfortunately, I get the feeling this is tptb's new little gag to repeat over and over, and I hope they don't suck the life out of it.  But it still works for me so far, and I notice as I do the WIRs that Nikolas continues to have more slang and lax pronunciation while Stefan--except for the occasional slip-up--remains formal in his speech patterns.

Stefan spoke of the stable renovations and the tense moment passed.  Stefan spoke of things at home and listed all the people that missed him (bordering on being passive aggressive, but I think he pulled it out without falling into that trap).  Nikolas, for his part, admitted he missed things about Wyndemere.  Stefan said there was a solution, but surprisingly (to me and to Nikolas) merely suggested a visit to home for Nikolas.  Nikolas was suspicious, but Stefan said he wouldn't be kept there against his will and suggested he could bring Katherine with him.  They swapped niceties about work and parted...with one last exchange about Nikolas' waiting for someone.

B. Alexis

Alexis:  "While we're on the subject of over-involvement, what makes me suspect that you'll be looking forward to your first Russian Christmas?"

Stefan told Alexis he had seen Nikolas and she asked him if he had said anything about Nikolas staying with Katherine.  He said that would have ended the conversation, and at that moment Nikolas and Katherine got off the elevator.  Everyone was polite, except for Alexis, who sniped at Katherine repeatedly.  It was enough to draw the notice of everybody, and I wondered if it was part of the set up.  Katherine told Stefan she knew he had seen Nikolas but that she wasn't upset he hadn't listened to her because Nikolas wasn't upset by the conversation.

Alexis:  "I resent that accusation.  I don't lurk, I linger."

Ned:  "God, you look good in the morning."
Alexis:  "You're not so bad yourself."
Ned:  "Oh, but I can be."

Ned came up behind Alexis as she was trying to sneak Katherine's keys out of her coat pocket.  Witty banter ensued, but Alexis was thrown, I think.  She returned to her pick pocketing and Nikolas stopped her.  She got out of it by saying the coat had fallen and she was picking it up.  They swapped small pocket about Stefan's recessive backgammon game, and she fished for his return date; he told her he wasn't returning.  When Stefan and Katherine returned, Alexis was still snarky, and she left quickly.  At this point, I was wondering at Alexis' poor poker face, and was wondering why she was so rattled by her whole undertaking.  I suppose I expect her to be better at this manipulating and scheming stuff than perhaps she really is...at least when she's not on the same side as Stefan.

C. Alexis and Katherine

Alexis went from the hospital to Katherine's apartment, having stolen the keys.  She broke in, looked around, and found what she was seeking--a picture, by the looks of it, but we didn't know exactly what it was yet.  At the end of the show, she locked and closed the door and paused a moment.  And Katherine walked up and asked her what she was doing there.

On Wednesday, Alexis said she was there to see Katherine.  Katherine pointed out that Alexis knew she was at the hospital, but Alexis covered by saying this was private (since when did people not want to have private conversations in the halls of GH?).  In a very confusing break to other scenes, Katherine couldn't find her keys but the doorman came to let them in--we only saw the doorman for half a second, and some folks missed him, but he was there.  Unfortunate editing.

Alexis:  "I grant you it's not out of place to suspect a Cassadine of an ulterior motive.  I could be here to plant a listening device.  Although I'm not very handy; the coffee grinder still surprises me every morning."
Katherine:  "You know what one of my least favorite things in the world is?  Self-deprecating charm.  Lavishing all that ingenuity onto declaring oneself incompetent.  You are not incompetent and I'm not stupid."

Alexis:  "I'm sure Stefan will be pleased that we've buried the hatchet."
Katherine:  "I'll keep my hatchet, thank you.  You apologized and that's very big of you.  But I don't trust you as far as I can throw you."
Alexis:  "Watch out for the nose when you do.  A good nose is very hard to come by, and we're miles away from a really fine plastic surgeon."

She told Katherine that she was there to apologize.  Katherine was almost gracious, and Alexis gave her little set speech about her behavior towards Katherine.  In response, Katherine replaced a candlestick that was out of place--the one Alexis had upset and replaced--and I wondered if she was suspicious, but there were no other indications.  She explained her defensiveness about her family, and Katherine called her on it and asked her why she was really there.  Alexis wasn't thrown, but Katherine continued to refuse to play her game.  That was actually quite astute of Mrs. Bell, and I was glad to see a little of the old Katherine shining through.  Unfortunately, she assumed that Stefan had sent Alexis to make nice and scout out Nikolas' living quarters.  But Alexis said she merely saw how Katherine had helped Stefan and Nikolas back together and had resented Katherine's success where her own measures hadn't worked.  Katherine wasn't convinced.

I would have been.  Alexis managed this whole scene quite well, despite her being rattled earlier.  I rather like the shifts between absolute confidence and nerves of less-than-steel we get from Alexis.

Alexis came back to the hospital and filled Stefan in on her conversation with Katherine.  Stefan bought it.  She then put Katherine's keys back on the counter for Amy to find.  She then went to some diner to meet Leo, a slimy-yet-charming foreigner that we don't know where she met, but who seemed to be a con-artist, underworld kind of guy.  I wonder if Luke knows him.  She handed over the picture she had stolen from Katherine, though we still didn't know for sure what it was.

D. Stefan

On Tuesday, Nikolas ran into Sarah after the family dispersed.  She told him that Elizabeth had shown up and complained about her a bit.  Sarah went to help Nik wrap his present for Lulu.  The most important thing about their conversation was that Stefan noticed it and asked Amy what Sarah's name was.  And I wondered what he would make of it.

Stefan stopped Sarah in the hallway soon after this on Wednesday's episode.  He claimed to be worried about Audrey's recovery and her long hours.  Sarah reassured him and thanked him for his concern.  They then talked about the volunteer program, and Stefan pretended not to know if she knew Nikolas or not.  She raved about Nikolas, and admitted she would be there for longer than the summer.  Stefan seemed less than thrilled, and I wondered whether he was concerned as a matter of principle, or whether he had specific reason to suspect Sarah's intentions because of her family.  FGC Stefan reminds me that Stefan doesn't know for sure about Audrey's speculations, but I'm sure that will come out soon, though it may not be the reason for his concern here.  I would have liked some clarification.

E. Nikolas' Visit

Katherine:  "What hurts more:  'grab,' or 'see ya?'"
Stefan:  "'Grab,' I think.  The first blow is always the most painful."
Katherine:  "Relax.  I don't think he's gonna be calling you 'man' or 'dude' any time soon."

Stefan ranted about Nik's horse not being ridden until Nik showed up himself to ride her.  He admitted that he couldn't pretend he didn't want to visit.  He went to ride Sheba while Katherine visited with Stefan.  She told him she was there because she wanted to see him smile when Nikolas came through the door; he told her there was an excellent chance she'd see his smile again.  Nikolas came in quickly and said he'd come to ride the horse every morning.  He went ahead and she was to meet him at the dock.  When he had gone, Stefan asked Katherine to stay, but she turned him down despite his kiss--strong woman.  Of course, she had to, since Alexis entered and said she wanted to talk business when Stefan had a minute.

F. Nikolas and Sarah

Nikolas went to Sarah's after his visit home--just after she had made the date with Lucky, so I knew where this was headed--and they made plans to ride together.

G. Alexis and Stefan

Stefan:  "Why do you keep that suite, anyway.  You don't use it two nights out of seven."
Alexis:  "The same reason that I don't wear too much black.  I like to promote the idea that I might have a life outside this family."
Stefan:  "Is it working?"
Alexis:  "No."

Alexis brought Stefan the contracts she had been working on and that something extra she had been working on as well.  The Friday cliffhanger was his looking at the photograph.

II. The Webbers

Also at the end of the previous Friday, Sarah had come home from the BBQ to find a girl smoking on the steps outside Audrey's house.  On Monday, she greeted her.  It was her sister Elizabeth, who announced she was staying because she couldn't stand the family she had been staying with--especially the rules.  The dichotomy between the sisters hit us in the face right from the beginning--Elizabeth had flown first class on the money her parents had given her to last the year, which Sarah pointed out--but I couldn't help liking Elizabeth, where I only tolerate Sarah when she's with Nikolas.  But I still feared the way this storyline would take shape.

Audrey:  "Oh, of course you can take care of yourself.  But I doubt that you'd be here at all if you didn't need family just a little."

Audrey heard the voices and came out to see what Elizabeth was doing there.  Elizabeth filled Audrey in, giving her some horse-pucky about chemistry.  Audrey said she wanted Elizabeth to stay with her, and always had, but their parents hadn't wanted to burden her with two visitors.  So Elizabeth was staying.  Audrey did gently reprimand her on leaving without telling the Johnsons, but Sarah couldn't resist another snide remark.  Audrey tried to tell Elizabeth a story about Lucille, but Elizabeth cut her short and headed up to bed--finding out that she was going to have to share a room with Sarah.  Sarah and Audrey chatted after Elizabeth went upstairs.  Audrey put a positive spin on things, but Sarah wasn't convinced.  Audrey went inside at Elizabeth's demands and Sarah remembered dancing with Nikolas (I liked it the first time, but I didn't need to see so much of it again)--fade to Nik remembering as well.

It was clear that Audrey sees Elizabeth clearly but wants to make the best of it and that Elizabeth thinks that she could do without either Audrey or her sister.  But Audrey's surprisingly good with her granddaughters, and I'm actually enjoying seeing more of her.

On Tuesday, we were faced again with the heavy-handed presentation of the conventional difference between the sisters as we witnessed their different responses to morning.  Sarah suggested the volunteer program, but Audrey said that Elizabeth had to get a paying job.  She had spoken to the Webbers about the conditions under which Elizabeth could stay there.  Lizzy believes that everyone hates her, and told Audrey so.  Sarah and Audrey went to work, but Audrey had to return because the neighbors were complaining about the noise.  She found Lizzy putting out cigarettes in the pizza she had ordered on Audrey's credit card and playing loud music.  Audrey was not happy, and Lizzy through a fit, saying that nobody knew her and nobody liked her.

On Wednesday, Audrey showed up and caught Sarah up.  She had Lizzy's number, and knew that she was determined to feel rejected and make it seem as if people were rejecting her so she'd feel right.  Sarah inquired about her health and Audrey reassured her.  But Sarah told her Stefan had asked after her and Audrey was suspicious, I think.  She asked Stefan about their conversation, and she told him not to worry Sarah.  He offered support and she said she could support herself.  Stefan asked her why she had been cold with her of late, and she assured him it wasn't because Bobbie was gossiping about him.  He told her that he hoped his quarrels with her son wouldn't affect their relationship either and left her wondering.

After Sarah accepted dates from both Lucky and Nikolas, the only one she was talking about was Nik.  And Audrey grew very worried.  She didn't get to explain herself on Friday, but would the following Monday.

III. The Quartermaines

Monica was shocked on Monday that Alan thought she killed Dorman, but Alan recited all the suspicious things that had gone on.  Ned tried to avoid the question, but Monica said it was time he knew that Emily killed Dorman.  Alan thought that was impossible, but Monica was convinced Emily did it and chalked it up to adrenaline.  But Monica and Ned had to admit that they didn't see it happen, and Alan remained unconvinced.  They told Alan the whole story (nice "flashbacks" to Monica finding Dorman's body and Emily's locket).

Emily:  "I remember how you used to tell me that, um, sometimes you have to lie to protect people.  Thank you for protecting me.  And thank you for loving me."

Unfortunately, Emily had just walked in and overheard.  She was appalled, but instead of running away or accusing Monica of something in return, she calmly sat down on the sofa and proceeded to remember everything (this was nicely handled with some "flashbacks" as well).  She then hugged everyone and thanked them--even apologized to Monica for thinking she could do this--and it was my turn to be appalled.  The Dorman murder, even if not done by a Quartermaine, had the potential for some great Quartermaine aftermath.  And instead we got some ill-conceived lying by Monica and Ned and a letdown of a pay off with this scene.  It's like the whole thing was over in that one recollection and I resent being drawn along through all that repetition to get to such a quick resolution.

Alan:  "Is that what I am now, just another family member?"

Ned told Alan they'd take this to the authorities if it would help clear Brenda, but that otherwise this should remain a secret.  Alan still resents him being the official keeper of the family.  Ned wondered who killed Dorman, since he knew it wasn't Brenda.  Emily went upstairs, and Monica hugged Alan and spoke of moving on with their lives...and Alan didn't look like he was convinced.  He still resented being lied to and that she leaned on Ned.  Monica went up to Emily and Alan popped some pills.

Alan caught Monica up on Jason's condition and tried to brush her off.  She told him it was over and they had to get back together.  He wasn't interested.  But she insisted on explaining herself.  He still wasn't convinced, and resented her connection with Ned as well as her secrets and keeping him out of things.  Robin interrupted them; she was coming to say good-bye and to tell them that she and Jason had broken up.  They went to the hospital to see Jason then, in time to sign his release forms.

IV. Jax and V.

On Monday, Jax gave the story to the rescue party and V. backed him up.  But she insisted that she go with him to Tiger Key.  They spoke to the authorities off screen, and then prepared to go to Tiger Key.  The cutest scene between them yet came when he instructed her on how to dress like a tourist.  But I was to be pleasantly surprised with more before the adventure was over.  I can't help but like V. Ardanowski, even though the atoll storyline was dumb, and if they integrate her with more people when she and Jax get back to PC, she might just work out.  But the writers have to take her seriously as a dynamic, multi-layered character if I'm going to...and especially if they expect me to believe her as a possible romantic interest for Jax.

On Thursday, Jax and V. went undercover at the Zoo Bar as beach bums.  The scene that followed was more entertaining, actually, than Brenda and Sonny on the run.  V. proved herself to be a great improv partner (I loved her talking about the guy's skull and the rat farms--she was better than Jax most of the time) and Jax was repeatedly surprised.  They were there to look for info about the Tin Man, and V. got them out of one near miss after another. When they were about to leave, they noticed the origami on the table, and when the bartender got suspicious at their indecision, V. actually told him they were after some weed.  Too funny!  The guy thought they were cops, but V. talked him down.  Jax got the information he was looking for (though it wasn't clear what that information was...an address?) and they were off.

V. Sonny and Brenda

Sonny:  "It's a story about a man who goes lookin' to murder his enemy and kills his daughter by mistake."

Sonny:  "I woulda taken you out that day myself, but you looked so pathetic laying there in the hell you made."

On Monday, we realized what Sonny and Brenda had realized at the end of Friday--Rivera.  Now, some of us had seen this coming a mile away, but the effect was still good, I thought.  Unfortunately, his return wasn't going to live up to its promise.  Sonny was kind enough to fill us in on the plot of Rigoletto--the music on the stereo--although ratsa-ers had already filled in the gap.  But while the following days were disappointing to me, the interaction between Sonny and Rivera was not.  Very nice, especially on the part of Maurice Benard.  Sonny filled Brenda in on Rivera's apparent death, and I was surprised to find out she hadn't known.

Brenda:  "You're lucky you didn't kill him!"

Rivera hadn't shot himself.  He had decided that Sonny and Brenda must die before him, for he blamed Sonny for Lily's death.  The Tin Man ranted on for a while, and then Rivera said they would die slowly, watching each other.  Sonny made a dive at a gun, but Brenda ended up running straight into the arms of two more armed guards while the Tin Man (I think) took a shot at Sonny.  He missed, but Sonny gave in when the Tin Man threatened to shoot Brenda.  The Tin Man knocked Sonny out while Brenda squeaked the above, then he made her drink something and she passed out on top of Sonny--very Romeo and Juliet.  Each side had taken the first move, and it hadn't gotten too icky...yet.

Sonny:  "You killed her.  I bet you cry at Lassie reruns too.  Why don't you put that picture down."

Sonny:  "You bring me here, you put me face to face with the man who murdered my wife and the child we woulda had, and you're telling me he's the one who wants revenge? You kill me, you kill her, you're not gonna...it's not gonna help you sleep at night, old man.  Mercy, forgiveness, you want me to beg you for those?  Lily gave them to me when I deserved less.  You never asked me to love your daughter, but I did.  I don't want any special favors.  The only life I might have begged you for was hers...if I had the chance."

On Wednesday, Sonny came to and woke up Brenda.  He told her Rivera wouldn't kill them right away, and Rivera entered and agreed.  He said that he wanted to hear Sonny beg, and that maybe he would let them live.  Sonny refused, in rare form.  Rivera ranted, Brenda ranted, and Sonny made everyone shut up.  Brenda then tried to explain that Sonny didn't want to take her back and Sonny agreed that Rivera was the one that killed her.  In the speech above, I had to rewind and watch Brenda's face.  I hoped that she was feeling the truth of Sonny's words and understood just a little better what she had done.  Finally, while I was sure Sonny and Brenda would get out of this alive, I was hoping (beyond hope, probably) that Brenda would have one minute in which she actually comprehended what she had done to Lily and Sonny.

After they left again, Sonny got a picture of the broken glass out of Lily's picture, which Rivera had smashed and used it to cut through his ropes.  Brenda couldn't even manage to watch the door at this point.  She and Sonny took off out the back door into the swamp.  And Rivera and the Tin Man entered and set up the monitoring devices.  Rivera said he was a hunter, and I was looking forward to a grand chase through the swamps.  I was mightily disappointed.

At the end of Wednesday's episode, Sonny and Brenda paused a moment to light the lantern.  He said they got out of there too easy and was nervous.  Personally, I was wondering if they were going to come across any ROUSes here in the fire swamp ;) .  Instead, they faced down a cougar as the episode faded out.  Now, I was looking forward to Sonny's wrestling the cougar, but instead he just threw a flaming branch at it and it went away.  Convenient, and I was sad Brenda hadn't taken some rata-er's suggestion to go up and "pet the big kitty."  Crack me up.  The Tin Man and Rivera were watching, and Rivera said he was glad the cougar hadn't gotten them because they would have died too fast.

Finally, it became clear that this little walk through the swamp was just like that spider in the foyer.  It was just a little bit of something to shake them up before the end.  And it was a waste of my time, so I'll spare you the rest of the description.  Suffice it to say that my favorite part was the one obligatory leech on Brenda when she fell in the water.  The Tin Man found them when they stumbled onto the beach (and supposedly a way out, since Rivera was worried) and took them back to the house.

On Friday, Sonny continued to taunt Rivera, saying that nothing Rivera did would make Lily disappear from his mind.  The Tin Man grabbed Brenda; Brenda was the one that cried out.  Sonny just kept on talking about guilt and regret and blame.  Great delivery again from Benard, who was making the most of a poorly written and conceived confrontation, as far as I was concerned.  He told Rivera why Lily was on the plane, that she was going to Rivera to save Sonny's life.  Sonny said that Lily despised Rivera and that she was watching.  The Tin Man struck Sonny, and his lip bled.  But Rivera wasn't ready for them to die yet.  He left them for one last good-bye--twenty minutes.

Brenda cried and Sonny tried to distract her.  We went from Jason and Robin breaking up because of Jason's life to this scene, and I was struck by the truth of Jason's assessment of Sonny and Brenda's relationship--that she wasn't happy but she lied and said she was, that he knew and didn't say anything because there was nothing to say.  Quite a contrast between the honesty of Jason and Robin, their choice to be apart rather than to hurt each other any more, and Sonny and Brenda.

Sonny:  "I'd get down on one knee, but I don't want to dislocate my shoulder.  I need to shoot straight."

Sonny told her that Rivera needed him alive and her to control him.  He said they just had to hang tight and wait it out.  He told her to be ready to grab a gun and fire.  She said she couldn't kill anybody, but I was hoping that she would have to.  Now, that would be something to see.  But then Sonny surprised her and me...by proposing.  Now, that's a distraction.  She said she thought he would never ask, because he didn't trust her.  He told her that he was afraid of loving her because he was so vulnerable to her...and that he was afraid that he would hurt her when he was angry the way Deke hurt his mother.  But now he knew he was better than that, because she made him so.

She admitted to him that she had thought he was going to propose to her on her 21st birthday, though she denied that then (it's really strange, since I just watched that episode for the first time the week before), and she wondered how their lives would have been different if he had.  But she said they weren't ready then and they were ready now.  And she agreed to marry him.  But the bad guys (see the irony in that adjective?) reentered about that point, and we were left with that as our Friday cliffhanger.

VI. Carly

At the beginning of Tuesday's episode, Carly woke up from a nightmare.  She dreamed that AJ came and took their baby away and Tony left her.  Tony comforted her as she pleaded for him never to leave her.  Tony made her breakfast and asked her about her dream.  She lied and said that she had dreamed he had died, and he said he didn't want to go back to her being insecure and him ignoring it.  He reassured her...again.

Carly:  "It's yellow."
AJ:  "Ya.  Nobody can call me a sexist."

AJ:  "Me thoughtful.  Wow.  I was just getting used to having thoughts."

After Tony left for work, she rummaged through his doctor's bag looking for drugs and thinking of AJ.  And I knew she was going to do exactly what I hoped she wouldn't.  She called AJ and asked him to call her.  Then on Wednesday, she called Tony, ostensibly about seeing a movie, but really to check on whether he'd be working every night the next week.  Then she got out the drug reference book just as the doorbell rang--it was AJ, of course.  She invited him for dinner, saying any night was good for Tony, and told him she was thinking about a new place.  He pointed out that it was known for its bar, but said he could handle it.  And she subtly reminded him about his vow to go into rehab far away.  Then he gave her a present for the baby--a rattle.  She was visibly shaken, but determined to go through with this horror.

Carly then called her mother and they talked about her father a bit and about Virginia's raising a kid by herself.  Carly insisted that it would not happen to her, even though she and Tony weren't married.  She didn't give Virginia her phone number, either.

Carly then went to the restaurant where she was going to take AJ and offered the bartender money.  We didn't hear what she was proposing at this point, but it didn't look good.  In the meantime, AJ took some flyers up to the hospital and Amy told him to be careful around Carly.  I just had a big sinking feeling about the way this was going.

VII. Jason and Robin

A. Jason and AJ

Jason:  "Ya, I still...I still love her.  But now it hurts."

On Tuesday, AJ came to visit Jason, but Jason was in no mood to be visited.  He did, however, tell AJ that Robin had left him.  AJ told him that things could change, that Robin could feel differently in the future.  Jason wasn't reassured, but he seemed appreciative.

B. Robin and Karen

Meanwhile, Robin asked after Jason with Amy and was stopped in the hall by Karen.  I was glad we got a scene between them before Robin left.  They went over to the lounge and caught up, and they realized that they were going through similar things.  It's also bad for Karen and Jagger right now, for those of you who don't get PC, and it looks like they're headed for a divorce.  So the conversation was bittersweet, but a nice moment in the week.

C. Mac and Robin

Robin:  "You still don't know him."

Mac showed up and said that Jax had checked in but didn't have any news about Sonny and Brenda.  She had to admit that Brenda had called, and she told him what little she knew.  And she told him what she had done.  He was sympathetic and worried, and tried to support her.  But she knew what she had done--broken their unspoken agreement.  He was confident they'd be back together.  She wasn't.

D. Robin and Jason

She went in to see Jason, and on Wednesday she told him about the study program in Paris.  He asked what he was supposed to say; she said he should say good-bye.  Jason gave every excuse in the book for why she shouldn't go.  She described the beauty of the city and told him that he was the one that described it to her, and showed him the present he had brought her--a statue of the Eiffel tower.  She tried to explain why anybody would want such a thing and that he had done it to be kind to her because she had a crush on him.  Then she asked him to go with her.

Jason:  "I can't go back to not knowing anything."

Robin:  "Why did I think I could say good-bye to you."

I was afraid they'd start to repeat themselves, but they managed to make a similar conversation just as moving.  Jason pointed out that he couldn't get a visa because he's a criminal, and that his problem with relocating was still the same.  She said she hadn't intended to ask him, but asked him also why he had no faith in the future.  He told the story about a friend of Sonny who was blind.  He felt like that blind guy, knowing everything around him perfectly and not being willing to learn a new place.  She moved to leave, and he offered to drive her, but she knew he couldn't.  He asked her for the Eiffel tower statue.  She left it for him...and then left him.  And again, I thought it was the last.

E. Robin

Robin:  "After all we've been through, in the end we were like strangers.  Uncle Mac, I don't want to leave him.  I don't know what else to do."

Robin went to Katherine's to fill her in on everything.  I wanted to know why she wasn't talking to Mac.  But she did on Thursday.  First, Mac received a call from Dara about Jax and his travel permit, but he dodged her questions.  He got off the phone when Robin came in.  He offered to take her out to dinner, and she told him that she wanted to leave that night (loved Mac's faux French accent in this scene).  Somehow Mac never gets angry about these things, and she continues to spend very little time with him and give him little warning about these things.  I remember when I was going off to college, 8 long years ago ;), and I didn't pay enough attention to my parents either.  Maybe that's why Robin's behavior frustrates me now.  Mac asked about Jason, and Robin filled him in.  He reassured her that she was doing the right thing and she wasn't responsible for anyone else.  Dara came to the door (Mac told her nothing but demanded that she find the person who shot at Jason rather than worrying about Sonny and Brenda and Jax), and Robin said she had to go do something before she could leave.

F. Mike and Jason

Jason:  "So if I need one thing...and she needs something else...then we can't be together.  That's it."

Mike:  "Letting go is a whole different thing than running, Jason.  Believe me, I know.  I did it for more than twenty years.  You set Robin free, and you'll be giving her the last thing that she really needs from you."

In the meantime, Mike visited Jason, who caught him up on everything that was going down.  Of course Mike had to ask questions to get it out of him, but Jason did tell him everything.  Mike tried to reassure him that Sonny would take him back; Jason already knew it.  But Robin was another matter, and Jason wouldn't be reassured.  He insisted that he wouldn't quit the organization and that he had changed into someone she can't be with...someone she didn't need.  Mike pleaded for him to go to her.  He said that Robin was running, but that if Jason didn't set her free it wouldn't do her any good to run.

Jason got out of bed and started getting dressed.  Alan and Monica stopped him at the end of Thursday's episode; having heard from Robin that they had broken up, they came to see him.  But instead of giving him trouble, Alan signed his release forms so he could go see Robin.

G. The End

Jason:  "The first time you said you loved me...was the first time I knew what it meant."

Robin had gone to the bridge, and on Friday Jason joined her.  He held her; she said she wanted to stay with him forever.  He talked about being away from her, and told her that he learned that he could be ok without her, even though he hated it.  He told her to go and to be happy and not to worry about him.  Jason told her that she had to leave, because if she stayed she'd be lying--like Brenda does all the time.  And he told her he could never watch her die like Sonny watched Lily.  He told her that he couldn't and wouldn't stop her if she wanted to stay, but that he was actually glad she didn't want to.  She spoke of faith, and told him that she had faith in his future and that she loved him.

Jason:  "If a girl likes me and wants...and wants to sleep with me I probably will.  I might even like her.  But I don't see how I could love her.  She wouldn't be you.  Robin, you made me.  You gave me everything I have inside.  You said you couldn't love your life until I walked in it, well I couldn't love at all until you taught me.  But now I know.  And I almost wish I hadn't.  Because it hurts too much to lose you.  It's worse than anything I ever felt."
Robin:  "Jason, you are not losing me.  You can't.  Everything I'm moving toward, the future, even if I find it with another person I'll always know that you gave it to me.  You were right.  We're part of each other."
Jason:  "I know.  But you can't hold what's in your hearts.  Can I hold you now?  Cause I'm never gonna see you again."

He told her that he was letting her go.  They talked of finding other people, and she reminded him that things could change and that they might be right for each other in the future.  But they both knew that this was most likely the end.  By this time they were both crying, and I was buying stock in Kleenex.

Robin:  "Thank you."
Jason:  "I didn't do anything."
Robin:  "You always say that.  And it's never true."

At the end of Friday, they finally said good-bye, and she thanked him for coming to her because she would have thought all of this was her fault.  The music started, they kissed, and the montage of clips of their relationship rolled.  And I was still crying.  ;)

This whole series of scenes was beautifully acted and written, and despite the unhappy ending, I felt satisfied at the end of them.  Even when soaps aren't happy, they should be fulfilling, and bittersweet endings have to be handled well--like BJ's death, or Stone's.  And this one was, and I'm very thankful.

VIII. The Spencers

Actually, it's just Lucky, but I was so worried I was going to have a week without that heading I'm going to let him stand for his whole family!

Lucky showed up on Friday to bring Sarah a copy of the song that was playing when he left her on the docks.  A big contrast between the value he places on that song and the value she places on the one that played after he left, when she danced with Nikolas.  He asked her if she'd like to go out again, since he had to leave the party last time and I waited for the bomb to drop.  But she agreed!  I fault her for this, because Lucky actually called it a date and she didn't bat an eye, just said she'd love to go.  Lucky was so elated when he left.

Lizzy:  "What's your name?"
Lucky:  "Lucky."
Lizzy:  "We'll see."

Sarah told him then that Lizzy had come to stay, but she was out on a run just then.  Lucky was to meet her sooner than he expected; he ran into her outside of Kelly's, where she had been trying to get a beer with no luck.  They swapped witty comebacks, and somebody *finally* made the pun on Lucky's name that I've been waiting for.