For me, Emmy Winning Performances by Blake Berris (Nick) and Eileen Davidson (Kristen). Tormented Nick and revengeful Kristen, both very believable. I was captured by the emotion of their performances and for that moment in the Hotel room with John where she realized she didn't need revenge anymore, it was clear to me, in that moment she had changed and it was because of the gift of Brady's love. Once she got to the mansion, seeing Brady stand there with the picture in his hand and Marlena looking on she reverted back to the feelings she felt 14 years ago when she lost John as they came flooding in and her evil vindictive personality surfaced with vengeance. Powerful display of emotion. Now that John has destroyed his and Marlena's relationship, it's going to be interesting to see how the writers will have Kristen go after Marlena and John. She can't destroy them as a couple, John has already done that. It will also be interesting to see if Jennifer continues her relationship with Kristen as a friend when Hope clues Jenn in on Kristen's actions.
Now Nick... the writers have definitely given him a way to redeem himself. When Nick first returned, wasn't it suppose to be for a short time? Just maybe to get the help he needs he will have to go live with his mother. For today he had me hanging on his every word. He left us with the thought that he didn't really love Gabi, but I'm going to hold my judgement on that even through his scheming and awful treatment of Will and Sonny, there were many very touching and loving moments between Nick and Gabi. Of course after today's episode it is obvious how Gabi is reading Nick's feelings for her....I'm still speculating that Maggie will let Gabi, the baby, Will and Sonny move into her house although we haven't seen that set since she married Victor.
I think Ciara has been written into a very precarious child, everything she has done up to now is going to have to come out. How will she be treated by the family when that happens? To bad the writers had to damage this character almost to the point of no return.
Not to much to say about John, the writers have almost written him out of the show and other story lines are just more powerful than what Drake Hogestyn (John) is being given.