General Hospital Watching General Hospital

[Jock Ewing Fan]

What was the original plan for Drew? It's obvious that he's now meant to be Jason's replacement in Carly's life. The scene where Sam confessed her love for Dante next to Drew was weird. Suddenly Sam was completely sure of her feelings and Drew is free for Carly.

Shawn's exit is not a loss, but I'm glad his story had a happy ending. Others like Steve(n Lars) and Matt are apparently still in prison, although they should be released by now.

It used to be unimaginable that an actor like Vernee Watson could be on another network's sitcom and still be on a daytime soap, but times are changing. I thought Stella was just on GH during Bob Abishola's winter production break, but she's still here.

Good points.
When Vernee Watson is onscreen, it is obvious that she is a fine actress and she upgrades the entire show.
I liked Shawn, I thought that he provided a strong, moral presence on the show.
Who is Matt? I lost track
Steven Lars could be a possible character to bring back
I wish that they had followed through on bringing back Jeff Weber.
Nothing against Cynthia Watros, but Nina is a selfish, lying manipulator
and I despise this Sonny/Nina pairing.
Nina needs to be held responsible for all the sorrow, misery and heartache that she has caused.
The writers need to stop trying to make her sympathetic

 

[Monzo]

Who is Matt?

Patrick's brother, Robin's brother in-law. He killed Lisa Niles when he was drunk and is still in jail for it or he was released off-screen and started a new life elsewhere. There is no need to bring him back, maybe for his ex-girlfriend Maxie, but Steve is a wildcard when it comes to haunting Elizabeth. He is the half-brother of both Elizabeth and Franco, so he could be an important player.

I like Cynthia Watros' Nina more than Michelle Stafford's Nina, but she's still not on my list of favorites. I accepted Nelle being Nina's daughter, I don't need Willow to be her daughter (too?). Maybe Nina had twins...

 

[Daniel Avery]

I'd definitely be on board for them to recast Steven Lars, even if he ends up not being part of that whole "Who's messing with Liz?" plotline. I was kinda hoping that would be Cameron Mathison's role (back when he was hired and the show was still weighing options on who he'd play). But I think they made the right decision to have him play Drew, since he is a character who needs to be in the mix. I'm hoping this thing with Carly is just another chemistry test, because Drew deserves to be his own man, rather than functioning as Replason. If they insist on pairing him with someone (anyone) so soon, I'd prefer him with anyone over Carly, since they're conveniently forgetting how Carly and Sonny basically ghosted Drew once RealJason returned. Considering what Carly's going through right now, she needs to focus on herself rather than falling into yet another relationship that will of course be doomed to failure.

I keep hearing people online speaking of Liz having a split-personality disorder (as in "she's gaslighting herself"). I'm not really on board with that explanation, since a busy, mother-of-three with a demanding career would immediately notice if she had missing blocks of time. I picture her having to plan every minute of her day, but through all these weird events, she's not had any of those tell-tale moments of realization that she doesn't recognize where she is, or can't recall a conversation she was part of. Back when Peter was still around and being held for murdering Franco, I imagined he was engineering the odd events in an effort to discredit a potential witness in his upcoming trial...but obviously that is no longer an option (thank goodness--may he please stay dead). I've even heard odd theories that Finn is actually somehow behind the events, which would not make sense but hey....stranger things have happened. Maybe Liz's mother is a nutcase (Jeff has a "type"!) and she's behind the events. In this case, I'm happy just to sit back and let it unfold, because Becky Herbst is one of my favorites and she's going to get a story that actually centers around HER for once.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Am I the only one extremely disappointed in the Nina-Carly-Sonny storyline? And Willow giving advice on staying faithful was laughable.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I'd definitely be on board for them to recast Steven Lars, even if he ends up not being part of that whole "Who's messing with Liz?" plotline. I was kinda hoping that would be Cameron Mathison's role (back when he was hired and the show was still weighing options on who he'd play). But I think they made the right decision to have him play Drew, since he is a character who needs to be in the mix. I'm hoping this thing with Carly is just another chemistry test, because Drew deserves to be his own man, rather than functioning as Replason. If they insist on pairing him with someone (anyone) so soon, I'd prefer him with anyone over Carly, since they're conveniently forgetting how Carly and Sonny basically ghosted Drew once RealJason returned. Considering what Carly's going through right now, she needs to focus on herself rather than falling into yet another relationship that will of course be doomed to failure.

I keep hearing people online speaking of Liz having a split-personality disorder (as in "she's gaslighting herself"). I'm not really on board with that explanation, since a busy, mother-of-three with a demanding career would immediately notice if she had missing blocks of time. I picture her having to plan every minute of her day, but through all these weird events, she's not had any of those tell-tale moments of realization that she doesn't recognize where she is, or can't recall a conversation she was part of. Back when Peter was still around and being held for murdering Franco, I imagined he was engineering the odd events in an effort to discredit a potential witness in his upcoming trial...but obviously that is no longer an option (thank goodness--may he please stay dead). I've even heard odd theories that Finn is actually somehow behind the events, which would not make sense but hey....stranger things have happened. Maybe Liz's mother is a nutcase (Jeff has a "type"!) and she's behind the events. In this case, I'm happy just to sit back and let it unfold, because Becky Herbst is one of my favorites and she's going to get a story that actually centers around HER for once.

I think that Cameron Mathison as Steven Lars would have been inspired casting.
Liz story - Betsy seems too obvious, a red herring. Maybe Liz's unseen Mother? Jeff Weber?
As you say, the split personality seems physically unlikely, but it is probably going to be the reveal

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Am I the only one extremely disappointed in the Nina-Carly-Sonny storyline? And Willow giving advice on staying faithful was laughable.

I don't like it, but maybe for different reasons than yours.
Nina is a self-righteous hypocrite, and she need to be held more responsible for all the misery that she has knowingly
caused. I don't blame Michael if he wants her out of his son's life.
I am on the fence about Willow. Yes she has been deceptive, and probably for the right reasons,
but at least she seems to take ownership for her actions.
All Nina cares about is herself, and she should be a pariah

Maybe others see it differently and that is part of the fun. It promotes the show and keeps people interested

 

[Daniel Avery]

I agree it is more interesting when a show makes an effort to write things as more nuanced than "X=good, Y=bad", and I think fans do get restless when the writers go too far in trying to push one side over another. Sometimes the writers are told to write a story they don't want to write, and their own opinions (that is, loyalties to a preferred character) can bleed through even as the characters' behaviors don't match their dialogue.

I want to like Willow, but it gets quite difficult sometimes. Once she was earmarked to be Michael's new girl, it was as if they took away a lot of her independence and drive. They sacrificed her career (she stopped teaching and is now attending nursing school supposedly) and everything she does seems to revolve around Michael. She used to be a freer spirit. This show has a "blind spot" of some sort when it comes to writing love interests for Michael. I mean, they usually mess the character up so badly that they end up having to kill her off and start over. Witness the laundry list of Michael's dead girlfriends. What has happened to Willow is very close to what they did to Sabrina before they opted to kill her off and start over. Even the girlfriends who managed to escape his poison peen met untimely deaths (Kiki and Nelle). Only Sasha managed to escape mostly unscathed.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I agree it is more interesting when a show makes an effort to write things as more nuanced than "X=good, Y=bad", and I think fans do get restless when the writers go too far in trying to push one side over another. Sometimes the writers are told to write a story they don't want to write, and their own opinions (that is, loyalties to a preferred character) can bleed through even as the characters' behaviors don't match their dialogue.

I want to like Willow, but it gets quite difficult sometimes. Once she was earmarked to be Michael's new girl, it was as if they took away a lot of her independence and drive. They sacrificed her career (she stopped teaching and is now attending nursing school supposedly) and everything she does seems to revolve around Michael. She used to be a freer spirit. This show has a "blind spot" of some sort when it comes to writing love interests for Michael. I mean, they usually mess the character up so badly that they end up having to kill her off and start over. Witness the laundry list of Michael's dead girlfriends. What has happened to Willow is very close to what they did to Sabrina before they opted to kill her off and start over. Even the girlfriends who managed to escape his poison peen met untimely deaths (Kiki and Nelle). Only Sasha managed to escape mostly unscathed.

Maybe the new story with Harmony "adopting" her will re-invigorate the Willow character.
Maybe not like, but I am gaining some respect for the Harmony character, and the actress is quite good. Yes, she is being deceptive about Willow's birth
but the character has taken responsibility for her mistakes (unlike Nina), has worked to be a better person,
and she is being a good friend to Alexis.
Remember, Liesl tried to kill Robin and supported Faison, but the audience seems to have forgiven her,
and embraced her.

 

[Daniel Avery]

Well, Liesl has always been fun, in my opinion. I think I've liked her since day one because even at her most villainous, she had a good dose of humor/amusement behind her writing. Sure, she did mean things to Robin, Robert, Anna, Liz, and others, but it seemed so "normal" in her own mind when she was doing it. I'm alternately fascinated and amused by her warped outlook on the world. The period where they created an entire family for her and linked her to various other stories was an enjoyable period for me because they threw so much at Kathleen Gati and she made it so fun to watch. Dr. O is the sort of character that should never be a lead, but instead works best as a supporting character who brings a bit of spice to every scene she appears in.

 

[Monzo]

I am gaining some respect for the Harmony character, and the actress is quite good.

I guess she won writers and me over. I don't think she would have gotten the same last name as Diane if Harmony aka Lorraine was going to last. It was funny when they both called each other Ms Miller the other day.

Phyllis had the impression that she knew Stella from somewhere, but Stella pretended not to. Any idea what it means?

Is Jordan such an important character that she had to be recast again? I would have liked it better if she got a great job at the FBI and Mac became the police commissioner.

 

[Daniel Avery]

They had plans to bump Inga Cadranel (sp? the actress who plays Harmony) up to contract status back in 2020 to do a story, but had to scuttle that plan because she lived in Canada and various travel restrictions and such due to Covid made it difficult for her to go back and forth. I don't know if this is the story they had planned, but I get the idea that it is a truncated version of it. As we saw with the infamous "teens trip to the cabin" they sometimes come up with a story that ends up postponed or interrupted, and by the time they get back to it, they write a watered-down version of it and the impact is lessened due to the loss of forward momentum.

As for Jordan, I agree she's not really necessary, but they likely feel she is needed because the whole Curtis/Portia storyline is getting tiresome. Donnell Turner is very nice to look at and Brooke Kerr is a very charismatic actress, but Turner hasn't generated romantic sparks with any of his pairings. Sometimes writers will create a love triangle in order to distract the viewer from the lack of chemistry between the leads. If they can't make Curtis/Portia work, or even reunite Curtis/Jordan, then they have one (possibly two) contract actors getting paid to do nothing since they have no storyline. So bringing Jordan back might have been a business decision as much as a story-dictated decision. Instead of Curtis and Portia "working on their relationship" (and showing the weaknesses of the pairing) they can be "anxious about Jordan's presence in their lives" and give the appearance of being in love while doing scenes mostly with other people as they talk about their anxieties and doubts. Donnell Turner's best work has always been friendship/support scenes with actors like Genie Francis, Kelly Monaco, and (in the past) Billy Miller, so at least he can do what he's best at, while Brooke Kerr can do basically anything well.

 

[Emelee]

I really enjoy Brook Kerr. I think they should try Portia with someone new. Maybe Austin?

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I really enjoy Brook Kerr. I think they should try Portia with someone new. Maybe Austin?

Or maybe recast another character - (Steven Lars?) bring back Jax, or
how about Duke Lavery's son (I forget his name) or Wes Ramsey as a new character

 

[Daniel Avery]

DON'T PUT THAT OUT INTO THE UNIVERSE!

Ahem....that last bit, anyway.

I think Portia's story might also be compromised somewhat by the spotty re-appearances of Taggert. I got the impression when they brought him back that they had big plans of the character (and the actor), but Covid and other things got in the way. Real Andrews/Taggert was a big deal in the period before I watched, so I really have no attachment to the character. Now he has virtually no presence on the canvas, though no one has said the character has left town or moved on. They were obviously setting up a paternity question for Trina that they seem not to be exploring, not just because Taggert is MIA but because Willow's true parentage seems to be their new, shiny toy to play with.

 

[Emelee]

Or maybe recast another character - (Steven Lars?) bring back Jax, or
how about Duke Lavery's son (I forget his name) or Wes Ramsey as a new character

I vote NO for Jax and NO for Wes Ramsey. Griffin is a bit too young for Portia, but he's welcome back. Maybe a slightly aged Lucky Spencer? He's like 42-ish, but they can have him at 45.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I vote NO for Jax and NO for Wes Ramsey. Griffin is a bit too young for Portia, but he's welcome back. Maybe a slightly aged Lucky Spencer? He's like 42-ish, but they can have him at 45.

I think you are right. Lucky would be the most age appropriate

 

[Daniel Avery]

Actually, Lucky would have to be several years younger than Nikolas, since the back-story dictates that age gap. The decision to cast someone who looks so young to play Nikolas now dictates that Lucky might have to be mid-30s at the most. It's a pity they hired (and fired) Mark Lawson to play Dustin, Lulu's would-be boyfriend a while back, because I thought Lawson would have been a great Lucky. Then again, GH has no issue with re-hiring an actor to play a different role....

I still think it would be a hoot if Heather Webber were behind Liz's odd occurrences, and being played by Kim Zimmer!

 

[Emelee]

Actually, Lucky would have to be several years younger than Nikolas, since the back-story dictates that age gap. The decision to cast someone who looks so young to play Nikolas now dictates that Lucky might have to be mid-30s at the most. It's a pity they hired (and fired) Mark Lawson to play Dustin, Lulu's would-be boyfriend a while back, because I thought Lawson would have been a great Lucky. Then again, GH has no issue with re-hiring an actor to play a different role....

I still think it would be a hoot if Heather Webber were behind Liz's odd occurrences, and being played by Kim Zimmer!

But if they de-age Lucky, then won't it look weird that he was married to Liz all those years ago and have a 14 year old son with her?
I don't think it's healthy to think too much about soap ages. Lulu was born in 1994, but Emme Rylan was born in 1980. Marcus Coloma was born in 1978, making the Nikolas actor only 2 years older than the Lulu actress. It's already screwed up.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

But if they de-age Lucky, then won't it look weird that he was married to Liz all those years ago and have a 14 year old son with her?
I don't think it's healthy to think too much about soap ages. Lulu was born in 1994, but Emme Rylan was born in 1980. Marcus Coloma was born in 1978, making the Nikolas actor only 2 years older than the Lulu actress. It's already screwed up.

Maybe there is no other current option for Portia.
Would like to see Lucky return, but its unlikely that JJ would return for more than a short period.
Would like to see Ethan in this Luke mystery.
What about Holly's fate?
Re-ignite the Jeff Weber story that they were starting.
What about Liz's never seen Mother?

Will miss Sean - always liked his character.

Lot's of Courtney mentions?
If Esme is Ryan's daughter, who is her Mother?

Would prefer all of this to this horrible Nina chasing Sonny all over the place and then playing victim

 

[Daniel Avery]

The prop people made a goof when they re-used the tombstone for Courtney's grave. It said she died in 2006. Courtney died in childbirth (giving birth to Spencer). Now I do not know if that's when the character was killed off, but if she died in 2006 then Spencer (who was seen in the same shot as the tombstone) would be 16, not 18 or 19 as they claim. Someone in props forgot to "update" the tombstone, or else they should have just carved a new one out of styrofoam. Once again, soap ages are problematic!

I think they need to preserve and acknowledge the age gap between Nikolas and his siblings, since so much mileage has been gained off that whole situation with how Nik was left behind with the Cassadines while L&L got to be raised by their parents. It would be a bit of a cheat to longtime viewers if they glossed over the divide that existed between Laura's two sons, since sibling rivalries are the bread-and-butter of good soap stories. I get what you're saying about trying not to dwell on exact ages, though, since there are so many "traps" that the writers have set for themselves via SORAS.

I'm hoping the way Esme kept calling Ryan "daddy" was intentionally misleading (on the part of the writers) and is more of a cult leader/follower relationship. But who knows? The writers might not even know (yet).

Curtis and Portia must be a lot better off financially than I assumed, since they're buying Jax's beach-front mansion to start their new life together. It used to be said that Jax's house was next door to Sonny's compound, so it's not like they're moving into a cheap zip code. Liz, who has worked at GH longer than Portia, is always depicted as scrambling to cover the bills. Do the doctors of GH (as opposed to the nurses) make so much more that they can afford to buy half of such a place?