Today was one of the first episodes of As the World Turns that I've been disappointed with in quite some time. As a whole, the performances were solid (was that a hint of growth from Chaunteé Schuler?) and the writing was decent, but there were a number of small and large plot elements that got on the very last of my nerves:

• So, Jack has the gall to ask Carly, who he's never hesitated to browbeat in fits of moral indignation, to talk to Janet — who he recently didn't hesitate to browbeat in a fit of moral indignation — about Jack's absence while the former keeps Jack's mission a secret from the latter. I almost recited the inevitable Janet's "You could trust Carly but not me!" argument with Jack coming a mile away, but I was only partly wrong. Janet stormed into the police station and demanded respect and common courtesy. Excellent! The only thing Janet and Carly should be keeping secret is how a cup of sugar wound up in Jack's gas tank.

• Didn't Janet's conversation with Carly about Jack sound a lot like Cassie's million laments about  "the connection" between Josh and Reva on Guiding Light before Josh dumped her?

• Emily and Casey: It has been so long since they've been seen that, for a minute, I thought Brian Frons had hired them to be Sonny Corrinthos' ex-girlfriend and long lost son from Bensonhurst.

• Hey, is that Luke in another extended cameo? Apparently Noah must still on the Ultimate Pride Tour with Christian Siriano and The Pet Shop Boys.

• Bonnie and Derek: I know some fans haven't warmed to Chaunteé Schuler as Bonnie, especially without mom Jessica on the canvas, but I think there is a little bit of spark between her and Benton Greene (Derek). And, oh yeah: some black characters just might be getting their own storyline after a long, long time.

• The End of Holden/Lily/Carly/Mike: Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. The intrafamilial fireworks ignited by Holden's affair with Carly were awesome. It shook up the Snyder clan by thrillingly fracturing a long standing friendship (in soap years), it helped redefine Mike Kasnof, and provided a clear entry for Noelle Beck to segue into the role of Lily. Now Holden and Lily have hit the reset button more times than the phrase "bridge to nowhere" has been uttered this year, and Carly is adrift with nary a scheme nor a dress pattern in sight. Once again story lines with years of potential have been aborted for no apparent good reason.

• James Stenbeck wants Meg's baby. Aaron wants a baby in order to hold onto Alison. Casey wants a baby to prove his devotion to Emily. I want a baby to chuck at Jean Passanante.

• Dallas' line count seemingly increased to 12. Which was more than Luke's.

LINE OF THE DAY:  "No party hat, no party!"

NON-SPOILER SPECULATION: I think I've figured out exactly why James Stenbeck wants Meg's baby. It all has to do with that one little fact of ATWT history I've been rather adamant about pointing out ever since it was announced Grayson McCouch was returning around the same time as Anthony Herrera's James Stenbeck:

Dusty Donovan is the only true Stenbeck.

If one connects the dots, it's probably pretty easy to figure out.

What, gentle readers, did you think of today's developments? Do you like Holden and Lily back together? What was up with Van Hansis' slouching in that chair during Brian's sketchy fundraising idea? Is Emily's office the only place that she and Casey can fornicate since neither have a place of their own?