Posted by Dustin on 09.23.2008 at 7:01 pm

The show picked up this week where it left off, with Claudia Joy clubbing Paulo over the head with a wine bottle and then calling for help, fearing she had killed him. She hadn’t, but unfortunately that pesky little “Diplomatic Immunity” he had also meant there was nothing that could be done. Called that one!

A woman from the government came to see Michael to basically tell him all they could do was strip Paulo of his visa, it was up to his home country to punish him, which they claim they would. Michael knew that was a crock of . . . so did the lady. Things got much worse though, the deal for the whole army base lease was still on. Paulo made it a condition that Michael be present at the signing ceremony, and the Pentagon ordered Michael to be there!

Claudia Joy told Michael, after learning about the whole ceremony, that he had to go as it was his duty and hers to support him. She said she had to accept that they could not do anything to Paulo, that he’d get away with this. He didn’t think that was fair, he was Army, she wasn’t. She said when she married him she became Army.

Claudia Joy continued to try and keep everything inside, to say it was no big deal. However when she was with Denise, she finally broke down and admitted how dirty she felt, that she could still feel Paulo’s hands all over her no matter how many showers she took.

Claudia Joy somewhat got her revenge. The day of the ceremony Michael went, shook Paulo’s hand for the cameras, but then quickly left. Claudia Joy showed up and gave Paulo a look while he was on stage for the world, which shook him to the core. I get that she was telling him that he had not won, that she would not be another victim . . . but I still would have liked to have seen him go to jail. Michael also gave Paulo what he deserved, he dropped by his hotel room at the end of the show and decked him. I’m hoping this will not have ramifications for Michael. The last thing we need after this storyline is Michael ending up punished.

Roxy found Trevor back at home, passed out on the couch. He told her he had an accident, and he realized now he had a problem. He swore he would not take the pills anymore, but he needed her support. He wanted to do this on his own, which was just a bad statement from an after school special! He claimed he could do this, even dumping the pills he had left down the sink.

The wives all headed to the hospital to support Roland. While the baby was fine, Joan was still bleeding out and in danger. It didn’t look good, she needed a transfusion, but they were short her blood type. There were some soldiers back from Iraq who could donate, but only with his permission as it was a risk. Roland permitted it.

Roxy returned home to get Trevor, knowing he was O Negative. She narrowly missed Trevor unscrewing the kitchen sink pipes to get the pills he washed down them. To me this scene was a direct rip off of “Desperate Housewives” and Mike last season, who did the same thing. I just didn’t understand why the show would do that. Was it a nod to another “wives” show? I don’t know, but I felt it cheapened “Army Wives” a little.

Roxy brought Trevor to donate, but Roland refused, not sure he could trust that Trevor hadn’t used in the past 24 hours. Trevor was hurt, as was Roxy. She said they would have screened his blood anyway. Roland eventually apologized, and Joan was saved by two other soldiers who donated.

Trevor visited Joan to see how she was doing. She in turned asked how he was handling things. He said he was off the meds and working through it with his family. However when a nurse came in with a med cart, he stole some Vicodin.

Trevor was to be awarded the Silver Star and thought he needed the pain meds to get through the ceremony without the world knowing something was wrong. However before the ceremony the kids talked to Trevor and told him how they wanted to be like him when they grew up, except for the cranky, yelling and throwing things part. Trevor finally went to Roxy and told her how he stole drugs, and how he realizes now he needs help. She promised they’d get him help.

I’m just glad this storyline ended without tragedy. Also kudos to Drew Fuller for pulling off a good drug addict with his quirky mannerisms. Maybe “Army Wives” will see some Emmy love next year! There have been so many good performances this season all around.

Continuing on . . . Denise rented a house to get away this week to try and find some clarity and purpose, as well as sort through her feelings about Frank. I see this as the calm before the storm, before tragedy hits her family.

Finally this week seems to have brought the conclusion to Pam’s stalker storyline. Tim called the station while she was on air, telling her she wouldn’t be able to keep her kids safe forever. Pam flipped and threatened to gun him down if he came near her or her kids again!

Later while at Betty’s a man sat next to her and started talking to her. He claimed his name was Dean and he was married. He said his wife was in the army and turned him onto her show, they were both real fans. He got up to leave, but Pam knew exactly who he was. She had Roxy call the cops then she confronted him as he was trying to slip away. He seemed intent on leaving, until she asked if he was after her or was it kids he liked all along? She then nailed him right in the man parts and pinned him to the ground as the cops arrived.

Okay I have to say, I was disappointed. I mean I enjoyed seeing Pam spring into action and all, but that was it? It seems like they built this storyline up for a few weeks and it was a “wam bam thank you we got him mam” ending. Is it over? Will Tim get out of jail and come hunt her down? I also still think we’ll see Pam return to being a cop. Maybe this will prompt it?