omg what a good episode...i loved it it was a great season opener. i wanted to cry when jj and beth were talkin on the phone, it was just so sad...i really hope jj comes home soon.. did anyone notice that beths baby is due at christmas but in one of the last episodes of last season helen said the baby was due in april/may..o well

I was glued to my chair tonight.

Touching moments throughout.

Hearing/seeing the opening, "Generation" again.

Nathan telling Sam to go to college.

Sam, quit giving your dad such a hard time and for heavens sake, smile once in a while babe.

Just seeing Henry and Jack again, period.

Beth telling JJ about her pregnancy via the Vietnamese girl reading the letter to him (I don't recall her name if given).

JJ on the phone with Beth.

Patty is such a brat.

Jack telling Patty and Will that he is going to beat that you know what. Go get em, Jack. Yum.

Meg is really looking for trouble. She needs to relax.

And I do miss Luke.

Anyway, so much more.

*sticks head out of window and screams, "I love American Dreams!!!!!!!"*

Trish

Jeff Fahey!!!!!

:) :) :)

Trish

Hi dancinqueen,

Yeah, that was really heavy duty when JJ and Beth were talking on the phone...

JJ was hurting really bad. :(

It was all I could do to not scream for him.

I hope he can make it home (safely) for Christmas. Time will tell. It is going to be dramatic if he does, and dramatic if he doesn't.

Trish

I noticed the continuity error... *sigh* You'd think they have people to check these things.

I loved the Beth and JJ phone call. Heavy duty, but I loved it. Before the ep, I was worried that JJ would ignore the baby situation for awhile, but he seems to really want the baby. I teared up when he got so upset when he found out the baby was due at Christmas, since his tour wouldn't be over by then... I think he finally realizes why everyone wants him home so bad, and I think he does want to go home now, now that there's the baby on the way...

It is so good to have AD back again!! This was such a good episode. The first thing you notice is Meg's newly straightened hair. I like it. I agree with everybody else that the most touching scene in this one was when JJ was talking to Beth. I also liked when that girl was reading JJ's letters to him.

Meg does need to settle down a little, though. If she doesn't watch out, she'll ruin Jack's chances in the election for the city councel. It would be cool if Jack won. But, he won't if Meg keeps up the way she is.

Everybody is growing up! Patty's taller, Will's getting there. Roxanne looks a little different.

Anyway, that's all I can think of for now.

(I'm going to try to merge some of the episode talk threads into this one, if I can. We don't really need multiple threads for talking about the episode.)

I agree...what an amazingly emotional scene when JJ and Beth were on the phone...its incredible how such a seemingly simple conversation can convey so much emotion. I feel horrible for JJ....one of those classic examples of so many real men..or boys...who were WAY too young to experience what they did in Vietnam.
I did notice the anachronism....however..I dont think they did that by accident...I'm sure they do keep track of their timeline....it's probably just because they want to have a super exciting Christmas episode..lol..and they probably couldnt fit a Spring due-date (which I am assuming was more realistic when you go by when Beth got pregnant..but I'm not sure exactly)into their plot plan...oh well lol
In terms of Meg's protesting bug....I have always loved it and will always. I find it hard to believe that Meg alone can ruin her father's election....but I do agree that, especially in the culture of the time, it would be difficult for voters to understand that Meg and Jack are two entirely different people in terms of their actions. However, I also think that they are very similar in that they both stand up for what they believe in at all costs. It's actually pretty interesting when you think about it. I don't think Meg needs to change...it would be unrealistic to have a girl her age with so much college-influence around her (between Beth, Drew and the fact that she lives near such an activist campus) not be infatuated with the turbulent protest of her generation. But that's just my opinion.
Great episode..can't wait til next week!
Best,
Abby

o i love american dreams! during the phone call with JJ and Beth I almost cried as I was sitting there going, "JJ, tell her you love her already, you know you want to." Now that you mention the thing about Beth's due date, that's going to bother me for the longest time. I just hope she doesn't totally fall for that guy in the Lair. That would make me really mad. I'm so glad to see all the American Dreams characters again, however Will and Patty tend to get on my nerves!
Can't wait til the next epidsode!

Hi jj'sbabe,

I think you captured perfectly how I felt about Meg when you said "protesting bug".. Unfortunately, I think she see's how protest garners attention and now maybe she is starting to be unable to see the forest for the trees.

Even though she said she wasn't all about protesting for just anything, like cafeteria food, I think it is the thrill of the protest that has her excited.

Oh, and I did notice her hair change also, and even her voice seemed a little more "mature" at some points.

Oh! (jeez there is so much) And at first I was a little worried about JJ and the Vietnamese girl maybe having some growing interest in each other, but hopefully my fears will be put to rest by another touching moment, and I paraphrase the Vietnamese girl:

"This girl in the letter, I don't know her, but I think she would do better to hear from you."

That was totally touching, even though some might say it was a little out of line as what was in the letters is theoretically none of her concern.

I am not good with timelines, so Beth's due date went like this: *makes "over the head" gesture*

As far as Beth and the guy in The Lair, sometimes I wonder if the American Dreams writers throw in what looks like little possibilities here and there and then cruise this and other message boards to see of they should continue along that storyline or not.

I mean, if we all said, "I will be dang diddely ding dang nutz if I *ever* watch another AD if Beth gets with that guy from The Lair."

And BOOM!!! Guy from Lair is history...:happyface

Oh, and Meg saying to Sam, "I will *never* be like them" as she looks at the group of parents standing there looking oh so...."parentish."

Oh so little ye know Meg, HA.

Trish

I didn't cry but I did think it was very touching that Phone call......


I really hope he gets home safe later this Season.....It is great to have AD back this Season......

And yes everyone is growing up.....First thing I said to myself when I saw Roxanne,Helen, and Meg was different hair style........Mel :)