When did teenagers get so mature and understanding? That is not the way I remember it.

Think I fell a little bit in love with Luke today. Brian is right, a kiss would have sealed the deal.

This story is coming along nicely, lets see where they take it.

IDK if you are aware but Dusty/Lily/Holden was a big triangle back in the 80's. Lily actually lost her virginity to Dusty as a teenager. I like the idea of them exploring that triangle again after all these years.

How can the writers of that last scene be the same writers of much of the other garbage that is on As the World Turns?  Is it that the acting by Hansis and Silberman are that much better than everyone else on the show? 

Whatever it is, it's much better than the whole "Is it a tumor/lesion?" thing that has the whole Jack/Katie/Carly (God, I hate myself for actually knowing that and those names) plot and the Allison/Gwen/Will? baby thing they have going on.  By the way, is it sweeps?  Because almost every storyline on the show has a baby in it.  At the rate they're going on the show, I'm actually expecting either Luke or Noah to end up preggers.

I think today may have been one of the best scenes I've seen on this show in quite some time. It was simply amazing. The writing was wondering and acting was exquisite. Van was good as always, but Jake was his equal, matching him moment for moment. These guys are so good together, such powerful chemistry.

There was grousing about the fact that Noah's issues weren't being addressed or that we weren't getting to know Noah, but they were in a very moving and very realistic way. ATWT has managed, again, to surprise us with this story and do something we didn't expect or think them capable of. I know I know I never expected the breathtakingly beautiful scenes we saw today. And it's times like this I'm convinced that someone else is writing the Nuke scenes because they are so consistently good.

A few key points:

Maddie is clearly leaving, in part, because it's hard to see Luke and Noah together. Not that I blame her, but it was like she finally accepted, seeing the boys in an 'intimate' moment that it was over.

I about fell over when Noah admitted that he wanted to have sex with Maddie and would have. That I didn't expect. And well, I think that was a bit too much honesty. Luke did not need to know that much detail. I'm wondering about that spoiler that said Luke didn't think he could forgive Noah. Is that to come? Did he just say that so Noah wouldn't feel bad? The spoiler could be wrong, but I dunno.... I don't think this is quite over. It would be unreal if Luke did just gloss it over. I wonder if he and Maddie discuss it on Friday before she leaves Oakdale.

I love how Noah admitted that it was Luke's 'inner peace' or something to that effect was what drew him to Luke.

Both Noah and Luke have been damaged severely by what's happened to them (Luke, physically and Noah, emotionally) and they both have a lot of work ahead of them to get through this. But they are committed to succeeding, even though they both are riddled with fears of failing themselves and the other. They are so scared and yet anxious to make it work because they want to get back to that moment that was 'the happiest time in their lives'. I know it's going to be a long road, but I think they'll get there. But more and more they are laying the groundwork for a strong and powerful love story.

I wonder if Noah realizes how lucky he is to have a guy like Luke? I think I might have had a tear (or two) in my eye when Luke talked about proving Col Mayer wrong and that they were stronger than anything he could do to them.

This is my favorite episode by far, partly because it was just Luke and Noah talking and not all the silly contrivances we've seen up to now.  Brian's jokes about people jumping out of ficuses and materializing out of thin air to witness things is just bad writing 101.  But these scenes really delved into the character's emotions and there was a genuine sweetness between the two of them I really liked. 

The best part was when Luke told Noah he will have to do undo the damage his father did to him.  This was a nice moment, and one that will hopefully have an impact on gay teens struggling with bigoted parents. 

I just hope we can get past all the crazy soap cliches and see the relationship develop and mature.  Give them a chance to be a real couple with real ups and downs.  Being temporarylized is nothing compared to being a young couple in the gay community!