All of these threads talk like Carol knows she's getting ready to move in with Doug. (Remember - they live in TV Land. Time moves much slower there. They can't hear us when we yell at them, etc.) I imagine she is lonely - she and Doug were a passionate couple and now she's been sleeping alone for at least a year. After spending the day with Luka sharing humorous moments and heart-to-heart conversation some warm, fuzzy feelings probably developed. We know they're close friends - lots of us have strayed toward the physical with a friend only to look at it in the harsh daylight the next day and realize we're much better at being friends.

Doug is probably getting more persistent in asking her to come to Seattle plus, wants a father for her kids. She is probably a big pool of indecision right now and just wishing things could be happy and stable like they used to be. Who can blame her for grasping at straws.

-- Linda (l.brown@mindspring.com), April 28, 2000

Answers

Plus, Carol went through an entire pregnancy and gave birth without "the love of her life", and has been raising her twins alone. Who can blame her for being lonely? I can't imagine how hard that would be on someone! Especially since Carol's mom seems to have been Doyled!

-- Cindy (tailchasers@earthlink.net), April 28, 2000.

The first thing I thought of after I saw the kiss was when she kissed the hunky paramedic a couple of seasons back. Evidently that didn't mean anything and I don't think this will lead to much either. I think we're gently being led to Carol realizing that the twins need their father/Doug.

-- Claudia (jl_cl@bellsouth.net), April 28, 2000.

Claudia, that's what I pictured too. I also thought it was the most unpassionate kiss between two people, very "staged", which is odd to say, since they are both *very* passionate people. At first I was mad that Carol did this (why would she ignore her longing for Doug and hurt Luka, who obviously wants to be with her...), but it is only human. She is *thinking* about going to be with Doug (i.e. her conversation w/ Mark), but she is torn between trusting Doug enough to leave her entire life there, or moving on to someone who has been a good friend. Since we all know how much history she has with Doug, we feel she will go to him. But for Carol, she needs something (like kissing a good guy like Luka) to make herself realize what she really wants. Hopefully, Luka will have a gentle let down, and they she will depart on good terms.

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), April 28, 2000.

Linda, I couldn't have said it better myself!! It's not like Carol can think, "I am leaving to be with Doug in two weeks, but I'll kiss this guy anyway." She's lonely and confused and you're right, she was in a very passionate relationship and very quickly went to being alone and pregnant. Hell, who would NOT be confused!? I've said this on other threads, and I'll say it again: Just as Carol was drawn to Powell in that one moment, she was drawn to Luka in that one moment. It means nothing and she'll realize that. Somebody compared the Carol/Luka kiss to two teenagers trying to figure out how it's done. LoL. There was no passion and that's evident, but anyhow, Carol had a very happy day and I have a feeling she connects being happy or joyful to romance. JMHO.

-- Arianne (CarolRossSusanGreene@yahoo.com), April 28, 2000.

In watching this week's episode, I was struck by the lack of chemistry between Carol and Luka. I was never a real "Doug" fan, but Carol and Doug displayed more chemistry by just passing each other in the hall than Carol and Luka did in all the scenes they were in together this week. Their scenes seemed curiously flat and slightly forced. As much as I was constantly annoyed by Ross, I did enjoy his scenes with Carol. I am also hoping that the kiss on Thursday was more "thanks" than passion.

-- Nancy Wilson (nwilson@wko.com), April 29, 2000.