Soap Opera Digest – August 12, 2019

14

It’s the night of Kyle and Lola’s engage-

ment party but Theo isn’t invited. “Theo and

Kyle were very close for a long time, and

the change Theo sees in Kyle strikes him

as inauthentic — the gap between who he

was in New York and who he is now is just

too wide,” explains Tyler Johnson (Theo).

“Theo wants to see what’s really behind that

perceived facade.”

To that end, Summer brings Theo as

her plus-one. A furious Kyle immediately

orders his pal to leave. “Theo wants to have

some fun and push Kyle’s buttons,” chuck-

les Johnson. “Kyle has been so dismissive

of Theo, so he wants to break this holier-

than-thou persona Kyle’s adopted.”

Lola intercedes and changes Kyle’s

mind. Later, Theo gives a toast that hints

at Kyle’s dark past. A furious Kyle yanks

Theo off the stage but Vanderway threatens

to tell all. “Theo is comfortable at playing

with fire,” Johnson smiles. “Fire is used to

create, build, transform. At other times, it’s

the opposite.”

After opening up to Alexis about his per-

sonal history, Neil decides it’s time to sever

their doctor/patient relationship.

“All along, he has warned her about

blurring the lines between them,” begins

Co-Head Writer Shelly Altman. “But his

confessions in the elevator about his life, his

family, his troubles, have absolutely blurred

the lines for him. He no longer thinks he can

be an effective therapist for her, so essen-

tially, he is firing her as a client.” Alexis

accepts his decision, “because she knows in

her heart that the lines have been blurred for

her, as well.”

Their unspoken attraction is also a factor.

“They are both potently aware, yet neither

is willing to acknowledge it,” Altman notes.

“But it would probably be best for them not

to be in a confined space again!” A near-kiss

forces the issue more into the open. “There is

no denying it at that point,” offers Co-Head

Writer Chris Van Etten. “But there is still

room to not pursue, not explore, not act on.”

Sums up Altman, “There is a line and they

have been coming closer and closer to [cross-

ing] that line.”

Plots Pr

GENERAL HOSPITAL

Neil “Fires” Alexis

YOUNG AND RESTLESS

Theo Threatens Kyle

Shrink Wrap: Neil (Joe

Flanigan) ends his doctor/

patient relationship with

Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn).

Forget About It: Kyle

(Michael Mealor, l.) doesn’t

want to walk down memory

lane with Theo (Johnson).

PH

OT

OS

:^ H

OW

AR

D^ W

ISE

/JP

I