Lately, I think of watching AMC as a rescue mission. The show is improving (IMO) by leaps and bounds, the pacing is much better with individual stories (again, JMO), and I want to see better ratings for the show overall.

Today's best story (IMO) was Adam/Tad/Krystal/JR. OMG, I was LOL at several moments today, from Adam wanting to throw Krystal and Tad out, to Adam eating the papers which prove Kathy is Kate and Tad joining in (completely oblivious), to Tad looking for flying squirrels coming at him.

The only thing I'll say about Frankie/Dre/Cassandra/Colby is that I'll give AMC credit for starting a teen/younger set story before August. I have too many examples in my head of teens showing up on AMC when the summer is winding down, and last year, there was no teen/younger set story at all, since AMC was All Crash, All the Time.

Why did Robert feel the need to talk out loud as he rummaged through the Hubbards' personal items?

Ok. The good news is, Zen didn't have scenes with Graidan. I got a kick out of Kendall returning to Zach's office because she wanted to tell him what had happened to Erica. (Much better than a phone, IMO.) I enjoyed little things: Zach taking Kendall's hands and asking her if she trusted him, and she didn't hesitate to say yes. Aidan leaving the office, and Kendall not wishing him a safe trip or even saying goodbye. Aidan leaving Greenlee's apartment, and Kendall not wishing him a safe trip or even saying goodbye. :D Most of all, I liked that Zach told Kendall that he couldn't tell her more than that things had changed and Aidan had to go. Kendall didn't push.

I'm not seeing major trust issues with Zen after today's show. Zach had this thoughtful look when Kendall left to go be with Greenlee, but it turns out, he appears to be bothered by Aidan being off in a war zone, or else he wouldn't have called Ryan. Not that Zach is worried for Aidan, but he is worried for Kendall and yes, for Greenlee, too. I particularly liked the moment when Kendall told Zach (and I'm paraphrasing) that they continue to make choices based on the ONS, and she doesn't like it very much, and he agreed. I think that's what's going on between them, more than anything else.

I had been waiting for Greenlee to either blame Zach, or call him and threaten him, and I was surprised and glad that neither happened.

The one criticism I have is that stories involving war zones and medical crises are not done well on soaps. I didn't believe one second of Jake's scenes with the rebels, but it was his first full day, and I'll give the story more time.

I am looking forward to Jake’s story. Whether AMC is going to handle it properly remains to be seen. So far I had no problem with the scene today and anything that takes characters out of PV and into more dramatic surroundings is OK by me. I even liked the bomb shelter scenes. I think the staging was excellent even though the s/l is continuing to give me headaches.

Glad that Zach is involved in Jake’s story. It gives him so much more credibility as a serious business man heading a large corporation, instead of a “damsel in distress” savior. Ryan I could do without, but since it looks like this humanitarian project was tied in with Ryan originally asking Zach to do humanitarian work, I will accept without too much protest. Didn’t this start just before Ryan’s memory loss? Oh well, I won’t rack my brains with details. On AMC that’s an exercise in futility any way

The benefit of the Jake s/l is that it is taking Zach’s mind off the ONS and fixating on a life and death situation. Sometimes distractions are a good thing to clear one’s mind of personal emotional issues. Loved Zach and Kendall’s conversation today. It was real and in character. Zach asked Kendall to trust him and she did without hesitation. A step forward in their relationship. Loved the hand holding and the kiss on the cheek before Kendall left to comfort Greenlee. It was natural affection between two people, who even though have serious problems to deal with, are very much in love.

Zach’s look of concern IMO was focused on the seriousness of the situation at hand and even though Zach’s feelings regarding Aiden are mixed, I think he was relieved that Aiden chose to volunteer, taking the decision out of Zach’s hands. Zach believes that Aiden is the most qualified for the mission.

I liked that Kendall came back to Cambias to see Zach and to tell him about Erica. ( I do wish they finished that conversation). But, i liked that Zach told Kendall about Aidan, I liked that he held her hands and they talked.

I also liked that Kendall did not push Zach. I agree that Kendall and Zach both wished their decisions would be easier and that it was not about all that is happening.

I do think Zach is worried about Jake (even though he does not know him) and yes, even Aidan's safety. This situation has put Kendall into the position of feeling like she has to be supportive and strong for Greenlee (which to me was motivated by the fact that Kendall does love Greenlee, whether I like it or not, that is where Kendall is) and I think Zach saw that.

Which prompted his call to Ryan. I do think Ryan and Zach spoke about this pre annesia....so it does link and that is okay. Honestly, it will be nice to see Ryan doing something other than talking about his amnesia!

I liked that Kendall did kiss Zach goodbye and I liked that it seemed as though he did not want her to go.

I also liked that Greenlee called Kendall - not Zach. And even when Kendall went to Greenlee's....it wasn't all lovey dovey.

And where Greenlee will never really receive my sympathy, it is valid that she is afraid of losing someone else. I don't really think or believe that she is in love with Aidan, but I do think she cares for him and her fear is legit.

Even though it is all about her....that is in character too.

I didn't really enjoy today's episode too much. Disappointing for a Friday.

Jake in Darfur - That whole thing just seemed a little too ridiculously contrived to me. I'm willing to let it slide since it's Jake's way back into town, but I hope they get a little more realistic here soon--I mean, come on, he asks for a knife and digs into the wound BEFORE asking for the flashlight?!? Yeah . . . okay.

Adam/JR/Tad/KWAK - Adam was funny. The scenes were too long, too circuitous (as in, they didn't go anywhere), and Tad/KWAK are just annoying as all get out. Dixie was funny at the end.

Colby/Dre/Frankie/Cass - Not too bad. I'll take Colby/Cass as BFFs over Kenlee any day of the week. Having a sleepover, though, really seems to make Colby younger (as in too young for Frankie, the guy who fathered the nephew that I'm not sure Colby even knows about). Anyway. Frankie was a little grumpy and stodgy. Dre was cute with all his goo-goo eyes at Cass. Creepy Uncle Rob needs to get a hobby.

DFS/2x4 - Was it just me, or were their scenes interminable? My God, it was excruciating to sit through all that crap that's supposed to make me feel their great love for each other--it only makes me feel my breakfast coming back up. They're so disgusting. It's perfectly obvious that DFS doesn't love him at all; she just loves having someone to love her, someone to pay attention to her, someone to make her feel better about herself. It's repellent. 2x4 doesn't love her either, if you ask me; he's just a man-ho. I never realized before how incapable 2x4 is of being on his own. When Erin left him, he bungie-jumped right onto Di, and when Di left him, he went straight for DFS. Pathetic, really.

Zendall - I'm still saddened by the distance between them, but I'm really glad that it's neon-sign obvious that Kendall only cares about 2x4 because of DFS and that Zach isn't all revengy on 2x4 as some sort of transference for his anger toward Kendall. It sickens me no end that Zen is all about DFS, her feelings (WTF!), how much she's lost (GMAFB!), and rescuing her (WTH!). It's so very, very, very wrong. I hate the DFS is like this monster succubus that drains the life out of people and they thank her for it. I hope it doesn't last too much longer.

GO TEAM SLATER!!!

P.S. I was glad of the Josh mention (by 2x4 to Zach when referring to the Jake info), the Erica mention (by Kendall to Zach re: solitary confinement--shows she was going to tell him, no more secrets [just in case later he wonders why she didn't tell him]), and for the one-liners (by Tad when he was making fun of Adam--that one about the flying squirrel was great).