“It's The Good Advice That You Just Didn't Take”

Just when I though things couldn't get worse, once it became pretty obvious Alex wasn't going to be there on a night when Bill was a big part of a story, they did.

I mean come on – they finally give Lily a one-on-one heart-to-heart story with someone outside of her parents, AND IT WASN'T WITH ALEX?  THAT'S THE THING I'VE BEEN LOOKING TO SEE FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS AND THEY SENT CLAIRE IN INSTEAD???

Sorry for the yelling, but I'm a lot more ticked off than even I thought I'd be this morning.  I mean, seriously – they weren't doing anything with Alex vis-à-vis Bill anyway, why not have her babysit Lily?  It's not even like she's never done it before, and now that we know they are both smart...

And, no, it was no consolation that Haley was in the same boat this week.

Two weeks from tonight better be the mother of all make-up calls for Alex.

So we've tied the record with the fifth Alex-less episode of the season.  Since these have come in
bunches this season (4th and 6th, 11th and 12th), I would not be shocked if we break the record before we're done.

“And Billy's Hand Was Up In A Moment, Forgetting All The Words She Said”

So Bill is in tonight's “Stand By Your Man”, therefore, I should be chomping at the bit waiting to see it, right?

Right?

"Shadow Dancing, All This And Nothing More(?)" (First Impressions - "Yes-Woman" - Season 10, Episode 19)

Well, apparently for one week, that amswer is "no" - it looks like Alex will finally get out of Haley's shadow¹, at least for a little while:

“Well, There's Too Much Traffic, I Can't Pass, No” (“The Wild” Recap)

So much for apples falling far from trees – and I had such high hopes for Alex.

“There's An Ordinary World Somehow I Have To Find“

This one going to be a quickie – I've lots to do (nothing fun) on my day off before tonight's “The Wild”.  Not to mention...

"But It's Not The End Of My World Just A Slight Change Of Plans" (First Impressions - "Stand By Your Man" - Season 10, Episode 18)

So I was re-watching Alex's scenes in "Putting Down Roots" (the one where she found out Haley was pregnant) and remembered that due to a glitch I did not have a high definition copy on my DVR, but couldn't remember if ABC had re-aired it yet (short story - they have not - it will probably be the next repeat).

So I went on to their press site to check, and in doing so found something weird - a release for the episode to air a week from Wednesday (the 20th) with a different title than "Can't Elope" (the original episode to be aired that night).  At first I thought it was a name change, but when I looked at the release it turns out to be an entirely different episode, with a lead story which, well, take a look:

"I'm Not Ready For The Altar (Either)" (First Impressions - "Can't Elope" - Season 10, Episode 20)

[March 10 EDIT:  This episode is apparently now in limbo - I'll post shortly but apparently ABC is airing a different new episode on March 20 titled "Stand By Your Man".]

[April 1 EDIT:  Sorry I'm late with this since it was posted about a week ago, but this episode is now scheduled for next Wednesday, 4/10,]

That optimism that I had hoped to keep before the press release for this episode came out?  Well, let's just say that most of it has left the building.  But not quite all.

"We're Gonna Get Married, Just You Wait And See(?)"

Well, well, well - could Bill possibly pop the question to Alex (again)?

Based off the title released for the 18th episode, it's possible: "Can't Elope".

Of course, it could just be another chapter in Haley and Dylan's story, too, but for once I'm going to try to be optimistic until the press release comes out in a few days.