Jaglady, that's interesting what you said about Frank dressing like Stetler. I hadn't really noticed or thought about it, but I think you might be right.

They're trying to use the main characters to fill the void he left as some sort of way to cut corners, and also maybe to cut costs like some pathetic big company would do. But it's also left a big credibility gap as far as how the show comes across. I don't know why they thought trying to replace his scenes with other characters imitating him would work. But sad to say, after that ep "Deluca Motel" aired where Ryan took Eric aside in the hall just like how Stetler would, some fans on the forum I'm on took it as Ryan caring about Eric and being concerned about him! They didn't see, or purposely didn't say, that Jon Togo had played the scene as if he were Stetler questioning someone. And I stayed quiet, not giving my opinion. I was upset enough though that I didn't watch the next episode.

Then, after another person I talk to who likes Rick told me I should be more positive and that Stetler would come back, I started thinking about the spoiler I read about (unnamed character) getting put on Admin leave, and how surely they would have Stetler do that. I allowed myself to become optimistic again about his coming back, until I just happened to be on the CBS press site at the same time that they posted the cast list for that ep. And then I see that his name isn't there. So, now I am one very pissed off fan who's not going to stay quiet anymore about how angry I am that he's not on the show.

About Alexx: I'm fairly certain Alexx will be in the next new ep (ep 14) because I think CBS has posted about it on that same press site. I'll have to go back there and look. I got that info from the spoiler thread on the forum that I'm on. Both of you might want to join that forum and give your opinion there about how you feel about DLS missing from the cast since The Powers That Be supposedly lurk there.