Much better episode today. A little less Sami/Austin/Carrie/Lucas, but with a little movement in that storyline. Moreover, the 20-somethings in the hospital didn't have a lot to say, and Shawn's comment about losing his true love was a little surprising.

Steve/Kayla were, as usual, excellent. Loved that he remembered some stuff--not the big stuff, but it's good to know this information.

Wow... great Bo/Shawn conversation. I mean, I hate Shawn so bad, but they really spent some time on those feelings.

Great script today. I actually enjoyed Cook today and I rarely do especially when he's wearing clothes. I figured he'd come across as his one-note angry self but the dialogue was really good. I loved Bo telling him how it is. And the losing his true love comment and Philip's reaction? Ooh. And then Mimi at the end? I actually enjoyed this. And them.

Same for the older quad. So glad Lucas called Sami on her [!@#$%^&*] and vice versa. When Lexie showed up just as Austin had gotten fed up and Carrie and Lucas were leaving, I was amped.

I really liked the Devereaux house again. Jack 'leaving' again was annoying.

I wasn't surprised that Hope's pregnant. Having never seen their reportedly hot encounter, I enjoyed Patrick's flashback to sex with Hope. Because Brody is hot, so though Patrick is useless, I enjoy him on a purely aesthetic level.

Jennifer pissed me off, but at the same time I understood where she was coming from with her conversation with Frankie. She shouldn't be considering him her husband just because Jack's still dying and doesn't supposedly have much time left. I want Jack and Frankie to hate on each other again. When Jack saw them hugging out the window, I was hoping he was getting jealous. Damn it.

Today's episode was much better than yesterday's. The pace clipped right along almost cutting off a line in one of the scenes . Did anyone notice that? The scenes with Frankie and Jen were excellent. Thankfully, it reprieved Jen from yesterday's show. Frankie and Jen are wonderful together. Jack had a look on his face I've not seen before as he fell on he bed after seeing Frankie and Jen. It startled me and I could see the dark side of Jack. Now, I wonder how this story is going to play out. Jack just has to have a swing at being a single person doing his own thing. This is facetious and pure self-indulgence, but being in the 4th of July spirit, I was thinking of Frankie and Jen as American apple pie and all of a sudden there is Jack, at the top of a staff fully unfolded freely waving in the breeze, our American flag. So there they are, American apple pie and the American flag....or generically, apple pie and a flag unfurled in the breeze.

Today's was A W E S O M E !!!!!

More comments lata.

Cook is always good with Reckell. Those scenes were fantastic.

I just saw the Jason Cook/Peter Reckell scene (I dont watch his stuff on the day aheads).

Wow.

He didn't suck. Peter Reckell was great, of course, but I was really surprised by Jason Cook. I guess if you put him with a good actor it brings up his game.

Well, Cook always does angry well. It's the everything else that lacks.

I disagree. I think Cook is often very overrated when he's angry and comes across far to sanctimonious. Today was not that case.

Wow another great show. Loved all the Carrie/Austin and gang scenes again today.

And loved all the younger ones at the hospital again. I agree Jason Cook was much better today.

Loved Jack with his kids. I hate these I'm dying scenes. Always do on soaps now because no one ever dies. I just can't invest in them anymore, and have not shed a tear since Maggie was killed during the SSK story. All that dramatic stuff is just wasted on me anymore. Soaps have burned me too often, so I just don't invest myself anymore in them. Not that Ashford is not good, but I just don't allow myself to invest in those type scenes. It is all for naught.

I absolutely loved Jennifer and Frankie so much. Man Reeves and Warlock are good together. I felt the scene was very well written. I think the writers are doing good to not ignore that Jack is the one who wanted them to love one another. I mean it was not the best idea or the brightest to have Jack die a 3rd time, but the writers are not smart to write it off or totally ignore it. It is there so they need to deal with it. Also Jennifer is not the type to marry someone the way she did Frankie without the feelings being there. I mean when she got with Colin it was to save Jack's life. But this time that is not there, so Jennifer had to have true feelings (as much as some don't like it) for Frankie to marry him.

She needs to be torn. And she needs to get angry with Jack. Even if he is dying. I mean here is a man who was so selfish again that he faked his death and put Jennifer through all this for months. He asked her to move on with Frankie, making their daughter hate her.

If the writers are smart they will make Jennifer have anger feelings toward Jack, and I can't wait to see her go off on Jack for it.

Really good show today.

So far my picks for performers of the week are:

Monday: Matthew Ashford & Melissa Reeves HM to Billy Warlock & Allison Sweeney

Tuesday: Billy Warlock & Mary Beth Evans HM to Peter Reckell, Jason Cook, Melissa Reeves & Mattew Ashford

Good lord. They actually did a flashback from earlier in the SAME show.

They officially think we're idiots.

That had to have been for the benefit of those who come in late or FF through so much and just to be double dip sure it hit home. Right now I don't recall that but there were several flashbacks today. I sure felt for Steve. Strange place, terrible place, no memory, beat up and robbed, left for dead and still no memory .... he was strong to make a decent life for himself. I'm loving him all over again....as if I ever stopped.

Did anyone notice the no special effect ending!? I loved the Bo/Shawn scenes. I'm starting to enjoy the philip/belle/shawn/mimi quad.

My curiosity is sure up there as to where Patch was all these years. Witness protection?? ISA?? Don't make this a DiMera thing, because this was Lawrence Alamain all the way. Good job laying the groundwork.

I enjoyed Bo/Shawn today and was surprised Phillip and Mimi heard an awful lot of the conversation. Hmm.

As for Hope? Mehh. The sooner that's over with the better. Overall though, nice episode.

My curiosity is sure up there as to where Patch was all these years. Witness protection??

I wonder if it could be some kind of forced witness protection. They could retcon it that the ISA tried to get Steve to agree to witness protection and he refused (knew Kayla couldn't be cut off from her family, they had the plan for the trip around the world, etc.) and so they forced it on him by wiping his memory and setting him up with a new identity.

Could make for a very interesting conflict down the road if it turned out the Bo or Roman or Shane knew about it.