I'm going to repeat most of what I already said in the other topic so that the conversation can flow here.....so if you've already read all this.....whistle to yourself for a second or two. I'm adding some other thoughts.

If these two are going to ultimately find their way together, it perhaps stood to reason that they might start out in conflict but I hadn't thought of it being on the basis of political persuasion. It could be very interesting. Everything that Jake has said thus far points to someone who is a bleeding heart liberal. Taylor is perhaps career military and it follows that she would/could be more conservative. If she's coming to find Frankie to give him an honor, Jake may well voice his opinion.

There is a risk of perhaps upsetting fans with this approach so I hope that Pratt steps carefully. It's a fine line that one has to walk with fans who may have members of their family - sons daughters, husbands, wives - serving and those who may have a different approach to the US's intervention in the world outside its borders.

I'm also intrigued by this approach to a story that involves Jake and Taylor. However, I really hope we're going to have some sort of closure as to Jake's time in Africa and what happened to him there, not to mention the secret. Hopefully, this new writer won't drop everything that was presented before he came on board. Not a good idea! Pratt needs to handle what has come before the advent of his new "baby" and remember that Jake has a past that also needs to be revealed. I am going to give it a "wait and see" stance for the time being....I want to see just how this plays out from the beginning but I hope that they will not be romantically involved quickly. I hope it's going to be a character driven story and that's where this kind of conflict could work.

On a very positive note, Beth and Ricky do "conflict" and the attraction-but-not-going-there bit extremely well. I'm sure whatever the writers throw at them, they will grab it and run with and it'll be good stuff, even if they are taken on a detour with others for a while. And yes, Diane, their chemistry is palpable. I know we've seen other actors reunite on a different show and it's not been successful but these two could break the mold. They are both extremely savvy and I know that they would be aware of the pitfalls. One thing they neither will be wanting is to repeat Gus and Harley and they shouldn't even try, IMO. But I do understand some of the fan reticence in this regard and I also understand the sense that some have already lost interest in Jake because it seems his fate is already sealed with the arrival of Taylor. Hopefully they will be caught off guard with this story and the depth of performance that these two actors can produce together and have produced.

For the time being, however, I'd like to see Jake pulled out of the treading water pool and thrown into the deep end with some meaningful story that sets him up for whatever the writers may throw his way and I'd like to see it prior to Taylor McBride arriving.

Zanbird - how WONDERFUL to see you here......I'm very excited as well but hope that whatever is in store for Ricky and Beth that it's slow and, as you say, character driven. Given what we have already learned about Beth's new character and Jake's feelings on certain things, the pieces are in place for it to be more character than plot. I hope so.

Great to see you....how's things?