First of all, it looks like my theory about why James Stenbeck wants Paul and Meg's baby continues to unfold. James even uttered the very phrase I've been saying is the key to this story: "This baby will be the true Stenbeck heir." But we all know the only true Stenbeck heir is Dusty Donovan. Stay tuned.

The big news today is...Paul's visions are back. Whoopee?

I honestly don't know what to think about this latest development in what has otherwise been (at least for me) an entertaining story of James' latest scheme. On one hand, it can be persuasively argued that reincorporating Paul's psychic powers is an obvious narrative shortcut and a sign of laziness on writers' part. Psychic powers come and go whenever the plot calls for them on ATWT; Parker is a mini-John Edward one day and a lovestruck teenager who couldn't predict he'd be framed for a non-rape the next. In Paul's case, during the many times he, Meg, Barbara, Ethan, Snickers or anyone else has been in trouble recently, he's drawn a blank. Not only that, but when Paul's powers first manifested themselves a few storylines ago, he only received vague feelings and black and white hot flashes about what was happening. Now Paul miraculously sees every single detail in Cinemascope and Technicolor with crystal clear clarity. He also has the ability to control his ability at will. Instead of seeing what Sylvia Brown would be like as a cast member of Heroes, we should witness Paul and Jack butting heads with each other as they uncover clues to Meg's whereabouts, while James' plan builds and unfolds. That's one view.

The other is that there is a fair amount of respect to history in this little development. Paul's psychic ability was long ago established; however silly they may be, it is still a part of his character, at least until it was explained by way of brain tumor a la Alan Spaulding on Guiding Light. It also makes perfect sense that Jack and Carly would immediately believe Paul, given their experiences with Parker. And as a side note, I gotta admit I liked the special effects used during the psychic sequences: the Search for Tomorrow clouds, the Torchwood satellite zoom in shot of the earth, and the iMovie posterize color effect. Kinda cheesy like Paul's "Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!" but I like that kinda stuff every once in a while.

Two things bugged me, although they are relatively minor. With respect to history, no nods were or have been yet made to the fact that James and Meg have quite a long and not pleasant history via her marriage to his former associate Tonio Reyes, This would give James even further reason to seek revenge against her. The other is that James put Meg in the room right next to a caged Dusty, with convenient entry!

On the whole, James' kidnapping of Meg is very reminiscent of his treatment of Barbara over the years and is perfectly in character with how he operates. This is the James Stenbeck I know and love, and I'm keen to see how this plays out in relation to his ends.

Other Bits and Pieces: cool to see Carly's artistic skills being put to use to advance story; Henry and Vienna were cute, especially her ogling his ass; Bonnie being written inconsistently vis a vis Derek is another bit of buggery, wanting nothing to do with him one minute and fluttering like Miss Prissy with a law degree the next; and Katie admonishing Brad to man up and "fix" whatever it is Brad has broken is getting just a tad repetitive.

LINE OF THE DAY: "Just admit you have a burning with desire for that thug." When Vienna said that about Bonnie's flustered interest in Derek, I almost confused ATWT with General Hospital.

What say you, folks? Are you "psyched" about the return of Paul's super powers? Shouldn't Barbara have slapped the mess out of her son when he yelled at her to get out? Didn't James' island hideout look like the end of the cul-de-sac on Wisteria Lane?