Fingers crossed that Hot Chance is leading a trend

I haven't written about Y & R for about a week, despite some promising developments regarding current story arcs. I still hate that Adam will continue to skate on all of his misdeeds; I hate that, ultimately, Ashley will be devastated when she loses Sharon's Faith. I hate that Traci will be leaving Genoa City, especially since Beth Maitland has been responsible for the heart, which has been sorely lacking.

However, there has been much to love, despite receiving them in small doses. A good example is Ashley. Despite her blindspot regarding Adam, I absolutely love how cold and ruthless she is towards Victor. Despite Colleen's heart beating inside his chest, Victor isn't being handled with kid gloves by Ashley; finally, Ashley is smart again. Although she will not likely succeed in limiting Victor's access to Faith, the fact that she recognizes that being overly accommodating is dangerous, shows that sentiment has colored her perception. Unlike Nikki, who is enthusiastically returning to the rich b*tch/lady of the manor pose she wore during her many on-again off-again years with Victor. Nikki is a sap and a buttinsky. Much like when she interrupted the Abbotts' grieving for a crack at Colleen's heart, she 'decided' to remind Ashley that Faith was a Newman. I was thinking 'Cow... stay the fcuk out of this!'

Another great surprise is that TPTB aren't letting the actress who portrayed Patty/Mary Jane go... just yet. For me, this actress is a keeper. There were times when I hated Patty/Mary Jane (i.e. when she injured Summer, killed the Newman dog, prevented emergency response from helping Colleen, etc.), but when she, with Paul by her side, surrendered herself to the authorities. Her performance was heartbreaking, especially when one thinks back on all of the awful things she did. Unfortunately, this actress will be playing a dual role, which can be tricky, but the therapist remains as scrappy as she was on Thursday's episode, this could prove promising.

But for me, most of my hopes rest on the males on the show; specifically, the 'nice guys'. I continue to be impressed, and quite frankly, majorly attracted to Paul. Seriously... he is the best big brother ever! And just a fantastic guy altogether. It's a week too late, but I really have to compliment Doug Davidson's performance in the scene after Colleen's memorial. His Paul was uncomfortable, guilt-ridden, ashamed - pretty refreshing compared to, say, Victoria, who made Colleen's life hell while she was alive and profited from her death via her father getting a second chance. Victoria was glacial and bratty throughout this whole thing; it was fantastic to see someone carrying guilt right out in the open, although Paul really didn't have a hand in Colleen's death.

Another promising male is JT. I am glad that he's not handholding Victoria. That chick is a freaking coward. Instead of accepting culpability in the disintergration of her marriage, she goes to work and avoids everything. I would so not be mad at JT if he gets that job in New York, takes Reid and get the hell out of GC. And BTW... what the hell is the deal with the writers trying to make Deacon sympathetic? Interjecting that little D may be in danger and that Deacon is merely a puppet is just too little, too late. After all, this is a dude who relished in blackmailing Amber, arranging it so that Daniel could hear them having sex, and he bedded down Victoria. That fcuker was having way too much fun screwing all of these people over, so don't try to paint him as some desperate case now.

And finally... Hot Chance. I loved it when he broke things down to Billy about his virginity. And although I would love for him to be with Chloe, I looooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeedddd how he Rhett Butler-ed her @$$ today. Why should he waste time with someone whose mind is on someone else... an unworthy someone else? Although I do worry that he will fall into bed with Mac - I simply don't like Mac. Now if it was scrappy Heather, then I'm all for it. But naturally, I would love it if Chance maintains his purity until it's absolutely right for him; but again, I find him unbelievably attractive. I just want somebody - a female somebody - to kiss him and mean it.