Wow! What happened? The tribe took a sabbatical and came back better than ever! My faith has been renewed in the show after its several week break. Is it the new writers? Is it that they finally pulled their act together and put together some great scripts, stopped injecting Botox into CJ's lips and figured out that their audience didn't need a new storyline every 2 seconds? Whatever it was, "Army Wives" is back on track.

What can I say about Episode 12 (Great Expectations)? It was awesome. And I felt like it actually portrayed some real issues that Army wives face:

- Frank and Denise facing counseling: This is a huge problem for military families. The soldier (and the spouse) often feel uncomfortable seeking aid because they feel their problems will become public.

- Pamela's stalking issue: Her husband is deployed and now Pamela must face the unwanted advances of an "admirer". Does she tell her husband or try to deal with it on her own?

- Extended family issues: Claudia Joy faces her parents' problems head-on.

- Drug abuse: Post-deployment drug addict is a real problem and Trevor's struggles were portrayed in a human and real manner.

Trevor's character is really given a meaty role this week, one that Drew Fuller takes on with a lot of heart. When his buddy Dalton is killed in Iraq, Trevor must face even more of a burden being home while his unit is still deployed. Roxy faces the problem the only way she knows how. I think her character's struggles are portrayed very realistically with a balance of naivety combined with the trepidation of her past struggles. I'm rooting for you Trevor!

From Denise and Frank's counseling session to Joan's baby shower, and Pamela's break-in, Lifetime got it spot-on this week. The show has me waiting on pins and needles for next week!

Check out this message board discussion on Katherine Fugate's site. As suggested by the (former) writer/creator of the show, leave your opinion on Lifetime's "Army Wives" site

Have the wives lives been turned over to male executives who are trying to fit the show to a formula for ratings? Do you think viewers will stick with this approach?

In a stunning decision, Lifetime has (apparently) made the decision to part ways with Katherine Fugate, writer/creator of their very successful show "Army Wives".

Check out the full story here.

Fugate seemed like a good fit for the show and helped make Season 1 the success that it was - why fix something that ain't broken? As seems typical, as soon as something is a hit somebody starts tinkering with it... Katherine, we will miss you!

*****

FYI: I totally agree with a poster to the above site:

PLEASE stop botoxing the ("Army Wives") ladies lips. They look like a bunch of Ubangies!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, so I liked this episode. I know I'm probably catching a lot of grief because I'm talking about a show that I haven't been liking much (lately). Typically, people who search for a blog about their favorite show don't want to read about someone else not liking it.

But this week I enjoyed "Army Wives".

Claudia Joy's mom comes to visit Fort Marshall. At first I thought, hmmm, where was this woman when Amanda died? They did address this (a little), but now CJ's mom has come sans husband with woes packed in her suitcase. Seems grandpa has been hitting the casinos leaving the family money to the dealers.

I love how CJ's mom (Marsha Mason) leaves her running around the house in preparation. And it's nice to finally see extended family make an appearance on the show. Yes, we saw Roxy's mother for a bit, but strangely she seemed more like a crazy friend and soon left. Now we have another crazy mother who also seems to have some drama too.

Speaking of crazy, Denise seems hell bent on revealing her feelings about Getti to Frank. And she comes clean... Okay, so a guy calls and tells her that Getti loved her (weird sounding "father" voice). And Jeremy is suspect too. And Frank did see her in the hospital kissing Getti's hand... so she did kind-of have to fuss up.

The reaction: Frank is hurt (and he should be). And he agrees to go to Marriage counseling with a chaplain. This should be interesting to watch.

Unlike watching Roxy and her GED struggles. Yawn. And where was Joan? How is her babe?

As for the rest of the show - Trevor is off searching for more pain meds and turns to a civilian provider to pony up the pills. ACK! Don't ruin your career Trevor!

And Roland helps a teen through the angst of his father's KIA death. Mom is confused and doesn't know how to deal... This seemed like a great (deeper), more realistic storyline than we've seen on AW in awhile. Thank goodness!

What am I hoping to see in next week's episode: More of Joan and Roland! More of CJ's mom!

What could I do without: Another storyline based on drugs or cheating. Stick with the ones that you've got and finish them up without cheating us of a realistic and thoughtful ending.

Okay. You're losing me Lifetime. I really want to keep watching "Army Wives" and, I admit, a lot of that has to do with the fact that I'm an Army wife.

But this week's episode (9) left me wondering if we are seeing the repercussions of the Writers' Strike. Again, new stories are introduced and quickly whisked away (Jeremy's drug bust). Soldiers are suddenly on their way home without any notice (Frank). And now it looks like we get to see even more infidelity (okay, so let's recap: Roland and the reporter, the "kiss" with Denise and Getti, and now... Pamela and the reporter - so who's left? Claudia Joy and Roxy better get to work).

Here's what is new this week:

- Emmalin has drugs in her school. COL Holden comes to the rescue and makes this his top priority. It seems any issue that the wives face suddenly becomes his top issue. (Of course) the drug bust turns up one of our main characters, Jeremy, who insists he is innocent. And (miracle or miracles) just like Chase, he shows up at home with the "I'm free and everything is okay" story.

- Trevor is popping pills during his recovery. He's assigned to Joan as a driver. Okay. Did the writers forget that he has...AN ARM INJURY. He would never be assigned to drive someone if he's going through PT for a part he needs to drive! So Trevor gets it in his mind to make a really nice night for Roxy. Does it seem he's acting really weird about the whole dinner deal - is it supposed to be the drugs? And Roxy goes out drinking and spoils the whole thing....um...this whole storyline was just weird.

- And Pamela. I liked the way she was recognized as having a career (sometimes us wives can feel lost in the mix). And I liked how she ended up on the front page of the paper. But (you know what I'm going to write, don't you?) what is up with next week? The reporter wants Pamela for more than a story. Now, the whole lesbian thing is not a big deal to me...but all of these storylines are driving me nuts! Isn't this the 2nd gay storyline in two weeks? It would be like having two storylines on breast cancer for 2 weeks in a row. Or two stories on drugs two weeks on a row - oh, wait - they did that too - Trevor and Emmalin.

- Roland is a man of many talents. He's not just a shrink. He's not just a temporary bartender for the opening night of Betty's. Oh, no. Roland also...TEACHES GED CLASSES. How incredibly handy because Roxy wants to get her GED. Sigh.

- Other things on "Army Wives": Emmalin has a boyfriend. Frank is (suddenly) coming home. Denise avoids Getti, confesses to Claudia Joy, and Getti gets into a major accident (convenient and very soap opera like).

- And Joan. She keeps her sense humor in Lamaze class but something seems to be wrong. I feel her pain and I'm very worried she'll lose the baby. Why is it that her storyline seems to be the only decent one these days?

Like I said, I want to keep watching "Army Wives". I just wish they would give the show the depth it deserves. Right now it's like eating pixie sticks and chasing it with Coke. The buzz is short lived and leaves a bad taste afterward.

I stumbled on this funny site that asks the question: Has "Army Wives" jumped the shark? If you have no clue what "jumped the shark" means, you (a) obviously are under 30 or over 50 and (b) never watched "Happy Days". For those of you that fall into that category, take a look here as to what "jumped the shark" means.

For me, they haven't quite crossed the line into crazy corny...yet. But they've come close! Can I remind you about The Messenger (angel) episode?

****

So many people are asking...what's up with Kim Delaney's lips? Did she get them "fixed"? Because they certainly look funky, and she was looking good last year. At first, I thought she was trying to reflect the grieving mother, but now that she still looks the same this far into the season, I'm wondering too - what's up with the lips?

****

Regarding Episode 8, Loyalties...

Oh, Chase. You shouldn't try to keep stuff from Pamela! I understand it's part of your job, but Pamela is one tough cookie. She's going to figure it out and be mad when she doesn't... Of course I'm talking about Chase being arrested in the middle of the night as part of an operation to uncover illegal war profiteering. Poor Pamela! What a nightmare!

But I loved this part of the show this week! Pamela's pain is so real and her relationship with Chase is one reason I keep watching "Army Wives".

Another reason is Roland and Joan. Joan wanting to call the baby Enid had me laughing but Roland's dismissal for possible misconduct with a student did not. Roland does the right thing by standing up for Jessica, a gay student who is torn between her relationship with another woman and going to West Point. In the end, everything turns out okay but I held my breath when he told Joan about the issue. How did she hold it together after everything she had gone through with him and his affair? Joan, you're a stronger woman than me!

And Claudia Joy. What were you thinking by sending Emmalin out with 3 other teenagers for a drive? Isn't that illegal in some states? She just got her license! This week, Claudia Joy thinks she might be pregnant and the scare is enough for the issue of having another child to come up. Do you think she'll go for it? I would love to see a pregnant wife on the show (but I guess I'm biased right now).

Denise. Denise. Denise. I can't believe it happened. I guess I can believe it. You and the hottie doctor locked lips. It will be interesting to see what happens when Frank finds out. And I am certain he will find out.

Lastly, Trevor and Roxy. Does anyone else see big time problems down the road for Trevor with his rushed physical therapy and pill popping? He wants to get back to Iraq, but he may be heading for big problems if he keeps hurrying up his recovery.

My least favorite part of this week's program was the silly waitress story line. Really. Do they have to keep pumping this short tidbits into the program? How did the money hungry waitress add anything to this week's episode or the series in general?

Next week should be great ... I'm figuring we'll be seeing the arrival of Baby Girl Burton soon and the demise of Denise's love interest. I wonder how they plan on getting rid of the doctor...maybe a motorcycle accident? I'll see you on Sunday night!

Okay, so I don't get it.

Is Betty's a Bar or a Grill. Or both. And does this mean all future meetings of the AW Tribe will now take place in an atmosphere very unlike The Hump Bar? Maybe they will all gain a bit of weight eating fries around one of Roxy's new tables.

But I'm skipping ahead.

This week's episode of "Army Wives" dumps a lot of updates and several new storylines on us at once (I know, I'm still complaining about this - but AW viewers do have attention spans that last longer than a bunch of Kindergartners).

To update those of you that missed it:

* Roxy reopens the bar and renames it "Betty's"
* Chase is home again. Wait a minute. When did he leave?
* Jeremy is back in the picture and is upset that Emmalin has "gotten over" the death of Amanda.
* Joan is having...a girl!
* Trevor is going back to Iraq.
* Denise is about 2 minutes away from having an affair with the cute doctor.
* Pamela plays detective at a Delta BBQ. She suspects that there is something funny going on with one of Chase's Delta buds because he has so much nice stuff.
* Claudia Joy comforts a father who lost his son in Iraq and draws on her experience with losing Amanda.
* Roland is not only a shrink but also a BARTENDER. Man, is this guy talented.

But back to Betty's. I'm still trying to figure out how this is all going to work. Is Roxy's story now going to center around her new restaurant? I have a hard time seeing all the ladies laughing it up in a place where people were so devastate. Will the AW Tribe hang out there?

And Denise, Denise, Denise. What are you thinking? If you don't want to be with Frank, get it over but don't ruin your progress by hooking up with the doc. You know you're going to be in trouble with a capital "T" with the ladies of Fort Marshall if you cross the line while your man is deployed. Even if he's a total jerk.

With that said, it sounds like there will continue to be lots of new stuff introduced, so I better get used to it. Claudia Joy will soon be getting a visit from her socialite mama and Denise (I hear) will plant some lips on the doc. Can't wait to see how that turns out! Who will step in as the gossip dejour now that Marilyn is gone?

This week's episode of "Army Wives" made me think about the unique struggles of Army wives and mothers. When living the Army life, women (and men) are placed in situations that magnify what they might face in the civilian world.

For instance, this week Clare Duncan, a soldier, must decide between her job and her family. As she deploys, her daughter, Sarah, has taken to shoplifting and running off in response to her mother's ongoing absence. Clare has a lot more to lose than just a job. She faces charges for not deploying with her unit. The struggle of being a single parent is much harder in the Army, where "business trips" are more than a few days...they can last for over a year. Clare's struggle is portrayed well and made me feel for the women who have to make this decision.

And how about Pamela? She has taken a job that is based on the fact that her husband is a soldier. In this episode, Pamela says "My life is the Army". "Building One" shuts off her show because of a discussion between Pamela and Claudia Joy on family care in the Army. Pamela up and quits. It doesn't seem in her nature to give up so easily, but Pamela is soon offered a job by WHJP in Atlanta. A (very) bad replacement for Pamela shows up and Joan stands up for the "little show for the housewives". And the jerk who is replacing Joan during her maternity leave comes and apologizes to Pamela for pulling the program.

Although I think that this particular dialogue (about family care) wouldn't have been "pulled" in real-life, I do fear that topics that are important to family/spouses are not addressed publicly for fear of how it reflects on the Army. Is some of this self-imposed by the spouses themselves for fear of the effect on their spouses career? Or is it mostly due to Army pressure. I'm not sure.

And how about Denise? As her relationship with the new Doc heats up, viewers are left to wonder what is going to happen. Will she cheat on Frank? If she does, Denise will most certainly face the wrath of the rest of the AW tribe. Affairs in the Army world are much more complicated. Is it the close-knit nature of Army living or the nature of the beast that makes an affair into AN AFFAIR in the Army. The gossip mill will certainly make Frank aware of what is going on with Dr. Hottie. I guess Frank's neurotic behavior might be validated. Okay, maybe nothing validates his crazy, overbearing (even from a distance) behavior.

And then Joan. I know she can stand up for herself. I know she will overcome this dud of a replacement. But I can't help but feel for her situation. How many working women have faced this same problem? As soon as they are pregnant - BAM - they are sucked into a situation they cannot control at work. You can do it Joan! You stood up for Pamela's show and, for that, I'm very happy!

Four women. Four situations made unique because of the Army. Can't wait to see next week.

After moving so many times with the Army, I thought I would be getting better at it. Instead, I seem to be slowing down. I'm writing this because I was unable to post last week...our "new" home has Internet issues. One day it's up and the next day it's not. That goes for our cable also. And, on top of it, I'm still digging us out of boxes.

So I was happy to FINALLY catch Episode 5 (Independence Day) of "Army Wives" when it aired last night before the new episode. If I blend them together - please forgive me :)

Welcome Home Trevor! I don't quite understand why the writers thought it was a good idea (or realistic) for one of your fellow soldiers to go into cardiac arrest minutes after getting off the plane from Europe, but I did love seeing you come to home to Roxy. She's been anxious without you, but, I have a feeling, you're going to feel bad about not being in the fight. Roxy will soothe your nerves, as you two still seem to have the libido of newlyweds.

Speaking of married couples, each week I'm thrilled to follow Joan and Roland's story. I've got to wonder, has she forgotten about his affair? Maybe it will rear its ugly head at the most inopportune time...hmmm...this has got me thinking. Does Roland have two babies on the way? Okay, maybe that's a stretch.

But Frank, Frank, Frank. Whenever my husband even hears his voice come over the television, he says "man, I hate that guy" - and I've got to agree. Frank is such a stereotype...if he's that jealous of a bike, he needs to get a life. Maybe Denise is giving him something he should be worried about. She seems to have goo-goo eyes for the doctor. Do you think she'll do something indecent? My personal guess: no.

The most moving part of the program was definitely the memorial service for the fallen Vietnam Vet whose remains were returned to Fort Marshall. Who doesn't love that guy from the Wonder Years?

Episode 5 was a good one - I just hope the story-lines get a little deeper rather than wrapping up quickly, especially after only one episode...
By the way...CHECK THIS OUT..."Army Wives Picked Up for Season 3"

This week's episode of "Army Wives" brought home the real life worries of every Army wife as Roxy receives a phone call saying that Trevor has been wounded. Although the show was still plagued by the unrealistic staging of Trevor's deployment, the emotion viewers feel when Roxy reacts to the news of Trevor's injury was very real.

My Favorite Parts This Week…

Roland and Joan's relationship is still interesting to watch unfold. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the pregnancy PT scenes where the soldiers looked like they were at a posh outdoor spa doing yoga – yeah right! But the continued growth of Joan and Roland's relationship after the trials they faced is heartening. Basically, it's good to see Joan and Roland happy.

The Holdens are thinking of leaving the Army…now that is a real situation a lot of Army families face. The weird twist about retiring from the Army is the impact it has on the entire family. For an Army family, military life becomes familiar and when the soldier decides they want to leave…sometimes the family doesn't want to leave. Much like what Claudia Joy experienced in this episode.

What Left Me Saying, Huh? This Week…

Denise, Denise, Denise. The bike is cool but the flirting with the doctor is not. But Frank does seem like a bit of a jerk. What's going to happen with Denise? I don't know. But I was glad to see she told Frank about the bike; although I don't think the doctor she's flirting with is very cute, just short.

And the thing with the bomber's sister appearing on Pamela's show? I loved the exploration of forgiveness for those who do wrong, but everything with this storyline was overdone. Roxy's speech, the big "forgive" hug between Michael and Leah…sigh…it makes me miss Season One a bit.

Big News (Spoiler): Travis is on his way home – guess he got the million dollar injury and a ticket back to the states. And the Hump Bar is on its way to being reopened…under Roxy's direction. I'm looking forward to see what the Hump Bar by Roxy looks like. I'm sure it won't be as drab as the original version, right?