
As The World Turns Weekly Blog!

Paul needs James! (Soaps.com)
As The Week Turned
December 1 – December 5
I’m still trying to catch my breath from this week fans. Between my new crush (Jon Lindstrom’s Craig), my old crush (Grayson McCouch’s Dusty) and Janet’s almost-Bridezilla behavior I had a lot to keep track of this week.
On with the blog!
Craig Is Back
It’s no secret that I’ve always been a fan of Craig. Evil, sarcastic, sweet. . .all facets of Craig fascinate me. So I’ve been looking forward to his return and I have to say I haven’t been disappointed. I’ve even got a little crush going (don’t tell my husband) on Jon Lindstrom. Seriously, he ‘gets’ Craig – Craig isn’t sweet, he isn’t completely evil and he isn’t a pushover. He manipulates, he teases and he can get a little dirty in the process but he always, always gets what he thinks he wants at the time. I love that! Perfect soap opera, if you know what I mean.
You know what I didn’t like? His dalliance with Dani. That made me want to scratch out my own eyes. And her calling him ‘Big Daddy’? Just wrong. On so many levels! For about two seconds he believed he was her father and she admitted that he was like a second father to her. And now they’re sleeping together? Eeeeeeewww! That’s worse than Luke’s step-grandpa kiss from a few weeks ago!
You know what I can’t wait for? The official Dusty/Craig hate fest. They came face to face at the last second on Friday’s show, which can only mean fireworks are headed our way next week!
Dusty, Josie, Paul and Meg
On to my second crush – man, I’ve really got to keep the husband away from this week’s column! – Dusty. I know he’s superior. I know he always has an agenda and it isn’t always the best. But, he is so committed to what he wants and so charismatic that you forget that faking a death to find a missing child, man-handling emotionally fragile Emily and shooting Paul really aren’t forgivable actions.
I’m glad Josie finally came clean. Now can she go away? I liked the character at first but I’m really not liking her at this point. Giving Paul’s money back notwithstanding, what she did is just wrong. Faking a connection to a dead woman and then sleeping with her mark? I’m sorry. No. Make her go away because a simple, “I’m sorry,” isn’t enough for me at this point.
Did anyone else find Paul’s fight with Dusty a little bit comical? I mean, who carries a gun around in his pocket? And who has an axe readily available in their living room? And who, when a man is pointing a gun straight at you, lunges to fight? Only Paul. And only Paul could convince Meg that it was all Dusty’s fault in the first place. I love Paul, really I do; I especially like him when he’s a little bit diabolical but he’s mostly been a Keystone Cop this week, so he kind of deserved to be shot.
Margo
Okay, I'm taking donations. Let's all get Margo some on-going training because the Oakdale Police Force, to quote Paul really couldn’t find a cruller in a doughnut shop. All of the evidence points to Brad's guilt and then super-cop Dani thinks it's too perfect so you reopen the case? You go to Chicago on Dani's suggestion, get yourself tied up – with Dani – and still think Spencer was just a woman scorned? Come on! Way too many holes, Margo! Then, eleven months after the fact Craig's alibi and Katie's alibi are word-for-word identical and you don't find that just a leeeeeetle bit suspicious? Okay, at least she told Craig she didn't believe him, but you know she'll let it slide. So, in addition to giving to the Salvation Army after grocery shopping this year, let's take up a collection to send Margo back to detective school. I think $2 from all of us – or a blank check from Jack - should cover the cost.
Jack, Carly and Janet
Speaking of Jack, could the man get a clue already? You don't tell someone you'll pay a large bill and then spend the money on something else. I know it wasn't his fault entirely but could the man say no to one woman other than Carly? And Janet, every woman wants a dream wedding but you're marrying a cop not a lawyer; a Snyder, not a Hughes. In Jack's defense, I think he's trying to please everyone and that is backfiring. In Janet's defense, I don't think she's a gold digger but I do think she's a little over the top.
Which brings me to Carly. What is her deal? She knows Jack's situation but doesn't volunteer to pay part of the cost of JJ's school? She thinks he has $10,000 to pay for JJ's tuition at the drop of a hat? Ummm, hello! Cop salary. Snyder not Hughes. Do I have to keep repeating myself?
The other part of this I don't get – the whole boarding school concept. What kid wants to go to boarding school? Did we miss something? And what school offers a partial scholarship two days before the deadline and in the middle of the school year?
Final Thoughts
I didn't mention this above but the Luke/Brian situation is still annoying me. Luke's acting like a big baby. He needs to tell the truth or get over it but stop with the drinking, the surly 'grandpa/real man' comments and the blame games. Come on, Luke, be a guy we can root for again! What do you think fans? Talk to Soaps.com about it below!
Until next Friday, fans!
Kristina Knight