It was a bittersweet week filled with tributes and flashbacks as the people of Port Charles gathered to say goodbye to Monica Quartermaine. There were also a few soapy twists that played out and are sure to spell trouble down the road. Let’s discuss in a new General Hospital commentary for the week ending September 26, 2025.
Dear readers, if you have been reading my column for decades, you will know that I am an AARP-aged woman and have been watching General Hospital since the late 1970s. When I started watching, Monica and Lesley were front and center — they were the Carly and Ava of their day — and the leading ladies of the show. But I tuned in for the teen scene, Laura and Scotty, the Joss and Cam of their day.
Prince Charming and his lady love
But even as a young teenager, I thought it was incredibly dumb that Monica would cheat on Alan, because, good heavens, he was Prince Charming! Who would cheat on Prince Charming? If this reference means nothing to you, allow me to enlighten you. Just click here.
Monica was beautiful and a brilliant doctor, but she was also tough and scrappy, making her a perfect sparring partner for Tracy. When Tracy dropped down on the Quartermaine’s spiral staircase and wept for Monica, I feel certain that some of those tears were Jane Elliot crying over the loss of her real-life co-worker Leslie Charleson. How could they not be? The General Hospital cast has suffered an inordinate amount of loss recently. I don’t know how their hearts can take it.
I’m merely a fan girl who has been watching the show for 40 years, and I am crying real tears over people I have never met. I am crying now, as I type. I looked at that memorial wall and remembered all of those actors have died in real life, and my heart hurt for the General Hospital cast.
A profound loss
Like Tracy, I have lost every member of my immediate family, and when she listed all the people she has lost, I felt that in the pit of my stomach. When you are the one person left on earth holding all the family memories and stories, it’s hard not to cry all day, every day. Which is why I distract myself with soap operas, Gilmore Girls reruns, and snacks. When Tracy told Ned that she was done burying people that she loves, I felt it in my bones.
I know I am rambling, but grief, real or TV grief, spins you around and I think the General Hospital writers, cast and crew have done a phenomenal job of taking us into the maelstrom of grief with the Q family.
Jason’s grief
Readers, I can’t really explain this to you, but it’s true. If Jason Q cries, it absolutely wrecks me. If I see a single tear form in the corner of his eye, give me the large pack of Kleenex and run. Perhaps because Steve Burton’s character, with a nickname of Stone Cold, is usually so unflappable and stoic. If something brings him to tears, I lose it. I told my husband this, and he just rolled his eyes. But please tell me that you, too, get weepy when Stone Cold weeps. When Jason went to sit in the gatehouse to mourn alone and to be in the spot where Monica first held him and claimed him as her son, I cried.
Jason’s final scenes on Friday standing on the Q staircase were so heartbreaking. “You will always be my mom.” I wept. Wouldn’t that have been an amazing moment to have Jason finally remember his childhood? Imagine if Jason, focusing on his love for Monica finally cracked the wall in his brain, and all of his early memories of his mom came rushing into his mind. I could write such a soapy moment if anyone would let me.
Enter the lady in red
Lynn Herring, with Lucy’s uninvited, unwelcome, impromptu turn at memorializing Monica, was also moving. If you think about this life, many times, people who start out as rivals end up as friends, or at least begrudging admirers. Lucy and Monica were by no means friends, but Lucy saw the value in Monica setting aside their personal differences to partner on the Nurses Ball. That’s saying a lot since Lucy married Monica’s husband Alan!
Notable absences
I was perturbed that everyone kept referencing Monica’s grandkids, but Jake and Danny didn’t go to their grandmother’s funeral. They gave an explanation on Friday, “No kids allowed,” but still, it bugged me. Certainly, Wiley, Amelia, and Scout might be considered too young, but not the boys. That was a miss for me. Of course, in reality, it’s probably down to budgetary issues. If the sky were the limit for funds, I’d like to see every wayward Q from General Hospital’s past come back for Monica’s funeral.
Ned’s loss
Wally Kurth also turned in some great moments as Monica’s ex-lover/nephew/friend. And it was fun to revisit some of those kooky plots of days gone by. I remember Monica’s affair with Ned, and I get it. He was, and still is, a honey. (Cue Dan calling me a hussy.) Ned had beautiful scenes this week with Brook Lynn, with Tracy, with Gio, and scenes with Olivia that reminded me how much I loved them as a couple when they first got together. More of that, please.
Tracy’s heartbreak
Jane Elliot has been tugging at my heart and tear ducts all week. I don’t know why she decided to come back to General Hospital, but I thank heaven every day that she is onscreen because she brings back the depth of emotions that soaps used to carry in every scene. I worship the ground she walks on, and I pray she never retires again. She is the heart of General Hospital right now in my opinion, interacting with everyone from Cody the stable boy to Congressman Cutthroat with humor, warmth and fire in her eyes. I absolutely adore her. I keep hoping that she’s the one who finally reaches Gio and brings him back into the family fold, because the two of them started bonding well before she knew they were related.
Gio keeping his distance for so long after the reveal is annoying. I’m glad Gio went to the service, and also to the Q family home. I was happy to see him interact with Tracy, Ned, and even his parents a bit. But let’s have it wrapped up by Thanksgiving because that kid needs to experience his first Thanksgiving pizza.
Then there’s Drew…
The one thing the General Hospital writers do that drives me mad, and they do it repeatedly, is build and build and build a story up until we are all in a frenzy, but then they can’t stick the landing. It fizzles out, and I never understand why they would write such compelling material and then drop it right when it reaches its climax. Drew’s shooting springs to mind.
Drew is just as awful now as he was prior to the shooting. He hasn’t grown, changed, or learned anything from his near-death experience. For a while, we all suspected that Drew might really be Shiloh. Now that Britt and Nathan have risen from the dead, the refrain has become, “Oh no, could he be Peter August?” But if it were Peter, I think he’d be more into Maxie than Willow.
To the narthex with you
Drew’s insistence on attending the service today was bound to be met with defeat. When Tracy forcefully wheeled Drew out into the narthex, I was giddy. These scenes with Drew reminiscing about Monica helping him through Oscar’s death make me less confident that Drew isn’t actually Drew.
But if Monica’s death really hurt Drew, why wouldn’t this be the thing that reminded him of the man he used to be when he was Oscar’s father? Why wouldn’t it prompt him to become a better man again? The nonstop evil makes every Drew scene torture to watch. It’s taking too long to resolve.
Drew actually admitted to Martin today that he is going to frame Michael for shooting him. Shouldn’t Martin be obligated to turn him in for that? Isn’t the planning of a crime the exception to the legal confidentiality rules? Ugh.
Meanwhile, another Faison rises from the ashes
Let’s jump to the wonderful news that Nathan West is alive! I love Ryan Paevey as Nathan West. I love him in every Hallmark movie, I love the jewelry he makes, and I just think he’s a swell guy overall.
Nathan has no memory of where he has been for the last seven years. When he woke up and smiled at Nina, it was as if he just saw her yesterday. No apparent amnesia or trauma. Was he just put into a deep sleep all this time? My guess is that Faison was using him to control Britt, and now that Britt has left, he has no use for Nathan any longer. I hope Ryan sticks around for a while.
Maxie needs to wake up
As happy as I am, my joy is dampened because Nathan is back, and Maxie is gone. The timing is unfortunate. We long to see that sweet reunion. Nathan was Maxie’s best love interest ever, (sorry Spinelli). I want so much to see the two of them together. I will be furious if Maxie comes back in January just as Nathan’s is out the door. Please, soap gods, please give us extended time to revel in the joy of these two lovebirds.
But I do feel bad for Spinelli, Maxie’s most faithful friend on earth. I know he will step aside. I know he will do it with a broken heart, but he will do it. The only fair thing is to bring on a new love interest for Spinelli, so he’s not left alone.
Nathan meets James
I am wondering how things will go when James meets his father. James has grown so attached to Cody, so will James reject Nathan? Will Cody get all territorial with Nathan over James? But Nathan is so nice; how could anyone reject him? The DNA matches, the fingerprints match, he has Nathan’s memories, so no, I don’t think he is someone else, but I have been wrong before.
As to Britt’s return, I was over the moon excited about it, but instead of her and Jason coming together as I had hoped, she has pushed him away and been as cruel as possible to him. I got a small glimmer of hope when Jason told Britt that Monica died. She softened and was supportive and kind to Jason. It made me hopeful for things to come.
A dysfunctional family reunion
I love that Britt is still “the Britch” with everyone but Jason and Liesl. I need her to give those two humans her very best self. And bring back Brad, like pronto.
Rumor has it, and I hope with all that is within me that this rumor is true, that Faison is still alive. Anders Hove played my very favorite villain back in the day, and if he’s back on General Hospital, I will squeal with glee like a little girl. Nothing else makes sense. Faison’s previously declared dead kids are mysteriously still alive. Britt is getting meds with a note from someone with the initial “C.” It has to stand for Cesar, right?
Just for the record, in real life, there is a new successful treatment for Huntington’s Disease on the horizon! Maybe it’s the stuff Britt is injecting! My fellow scooper Liz, and I both saw this on the news the other day and were giddy that it fit in so well to the timing of Britt’s storyline. It genuinely is miraculous news! The treatment slows the progress of the disease by 75%!
Papa is back!
Is that why Faison is back? Will he announce he developed a cure for a disease? More likely, Faison comes back for one last chance at Anna. Or maybe I am wrong. Perhaps he realized that Dr. O gave him kids he loves, and now he wants her instead? I don’t even care which scenario, just give me that insane man with his cigarillos, intense passions, and long, wild hair.
A marriage crumbles
Across town at the Ashford household, Portia is freaking out because Curtis and Jordan had a drink together, seemingly forgetting that she SLEPT with Isaiah. But I didn’t forget. It infuriates me that she is such a hypocrite and so judgmental about everyone else when she’s the worst person in her family! All the trouble they are in with Drew is because of her choice to change a medical test for Heather Webber and to allow herself to be blackmailed over it!
Trina, the fixer
Readers, do you remember when Trina had a love story all her own? Now she is propping up Kai and digging into her parents’ failing marriage. That bugs me. Trina hasn’t even been to see Spencer’s baby, Ace. Where IS Ace? Will anyone ever tell us what happened to baby Ace? Laura hasn’t mentioned him for months. Kevin is totally AWOL. Did Esme come back from the dead and take him, and they forgot to tell us? Did he get sent to boarding school like Spencer? Is he 17 now? Who is watching that chunky baby? I need to know.
But back to Trina. Give her back her power. She’s not a sidekick. She is worthy of her very own storyline. For instance, if everyone else who is dead in Port Charles has come back to life, wouldn’t Trina wonder if Spencer was still alive, too? I see Nicholas A. Chavez is doing Nike sneaker ads now, and has an upcoming movie wrapped, but maybe he could squeeze in a General Hospital stint in between gigs? A girl can dream.
What will happen tomorrow dear readers?
Will Tracy go back to Atlantic City to gamble with Lois? Will Outback sneak into the Q mansion and become the new family pet?
Is Jason going to leave mob life behind and offer to run ELQ with Ned and Michael? Will Lucy sell the Q mansion out from under the family while Olivia is still passing the bacon-wrapped dates? Can Eddie Maine persuade Gio the violinist to go on tour with him?
Is Nina going to find a freezer full of heads in Drew’s basement? Will the mad chemistry between Jason and Liz ever catch the writer’s eyes and end up with a Liason reunion? Will Rocco decide he likes his surrogate mom more than his real mom and demand they change his name back to Ben?
Are Lulu and Brook Lynn going to fake being friends for so long that they actually forget they are enemies? Will Sasha ever come back to Port Charles and go back to cooking for the Q’s? Will Dr. O faint again when she discovers Nathan is alive? Is the mystery woman Tracy found in the Quartermaine crypt going to reveal her true identity and intentions next week?
Are you a Beyond the Gates fan and unaware that Dan J Kroll is writing a Two Scoops style column about it? Will you head over and check out his latest offering, Farce weddings and a funeral?
Only tomorrow knows dear readers and I will tune in tomorrow as long as there are tomorrows.
Tamilu
Thanks for your comments on Monica’s funeral. I was in tears for much of Friday’s show.
As was I! An emotional week, for sure.
I hope the funeral as written and shown was as pleasing to viewers as it was for me. It was just enough. with ES now on board and the reading of the will for next week – we are set for new storylines. The show has said goodbye to a longterm character and it was well done – I see Emmy reels for JE/ SBu. I am so happy that the funeral was a private one and that the GH wall of rememberance was done tastefully. LC was a classy lady – and she was given a classy send off.
No surprises that Drew is going to have a return of his memory and point the finger at MIchael. Motive yes. Evidence – no.
Is anyone else tired of Trina and I must fix this because it is all about me mentality? She should be more worried about being in Drew’s house, stealing and then destroying evidence from Drew’s safe….
It is neat that Britt and Nathan are back from the dead – for the time being. I really hope we do not get Faison’s third child back in the mix (shudders).
Me, too! I couldn’t take Peter and Drew at the same time.
I was glad to see Jason get so much screen time this week. No one does quiet , powerful emotion quite like Steve Burton. The flash back scenes of Jason and Monica were very touching.
I can’t decide if Willow is becoming more like Drew or if Drew is becoming more like Willow. Drew was his usual abominable self but this week he was Willow-like looney.
Bringing back Nathan is a bridge too far for me considering we saw him die, saw his funeral and saw him buried. Is this going to be a body switch a la baby Jake or are they cooking up something else.? Getting me to buy into this is going to be a tough sell. I did get suspicious when “Nathan” felt and looked for his gun shot wound. Seemed like he was trying a bit too hard to sell that he was Nathan. The last thing he remembers is being shot by Faison, but he doesn’t remember driving the truck. It didn’t appear to be a really serious crash based on the condition of the truck and the deployed air bag. There’s enough to make me think that it was a set up.
Portia doesn’t really think things out. If she gets involved with Isaiah she’s going to have the same problem that she has now…. JORDAN.
I don’t think Nathan not being dead is any more outlandish than Britt not being dead. But having both at once is a stretch & if Faison gets resurrected too, well that’s ridiculous. That really would be like bringing Jake back after he donated a kidney (which I was OK with because I didn’t like killing Jake in the first place). It would certainly make Faison all powerful if he could fake his own death & Nathan’s from a hospital bed at GH. Not to mention the quick action in faking Britt’s death within hours of an unexpected attack by Heather
I agree that Nathan seemed to be going through the return from the dead questions matter of factly. Nathan was not a particularly emotional character, so there’s a slight chance his reactions are genuine. Most likely things are not that simple. So has Nathan been brainwashed or had his memory altered? Has he been, like Britt, reluctantly cooperating in something he doesn’t want to discuss? Has he gone over to the dark side?
We know 2 things (1) Nathan’s return coming on the heels of Britt’s cannot be a coincidence and (2) Maxie will not be coming back for a while. So Nathan’s story is almost certainly going to tie into Britt’s. When Britt was in Croatia, I also thought her reluctance to leave might be related to Nathan. But she doesn’t act like she left anyone behind. Their conversation, whenever it happens, should be very enlightening.
My Arm Chair Critic’s Opinions, even though I don’t even *own* an Arm Chair…
What could possibly be More Annoying than LooseLips Coe and her Giant, Wildly Flapping Hands banging on your door while you’re mourning the Recent Demise of your Sister-In-Law??
I’m surprised Tracy didn’t open the door and plant a Left Hook right on LooseLips Wildly Flapping Jaw!
Fer Crying Out Loud.
And where is their So Called Security?
~~~
Hey, Gio and Emma, when you’re done playing Kissy Face, put a Leash and Collar(with Name Tag) on that Dog, get her Licensed and Microchipped, STAT!!
Hmmm…what was in the Box on Britt’s Bed?
Something from “Him”, perhaps?
Something to do with Nathan (or NotNathan?)
Like Anna said, considering Britt and Nathan are the children of Faison and Frau Blücher, Anything is Possible.
Except, of course, Doctors knowing how to use Stethoscopes in General Hospital.
~~~
Evidently all our complaints about ShrewLu’s Awful Personality since she was Resurrected have made a difference.
Looks like they’re trying to Redeem Our Ms. Spencer just a bit.
Good. She was really giving me a headache.
Now if Britt would go back to her Pre-Death Personality, We Fans will all be much happier.
But, NO!
Because the Writers Hate Us and We Can’t Have Nice Things, Britt reverts to The Britch, and claims Rocco as “MY Son!”
Stahp.
At least she got her Medicine.
Who’s “C”?
Cesar’s Brain?
~~~
Ok.
Tracy made me Verklempt again.
~~~
Next, on “Dancing With The Stars”!
Oops, wrong show.
Tuesday had a bunch of good lines.
Jordan telling EwDrew to reevaluate his life, and he actually didn’t comeback with a Threat.
However, did he grieve Monica’s Death?
Nope.
Since The Writers Hate Us and We Can’t Have Nice Things, EwDrew will be suing the Q’s for Monica’s Estate.
Because he IS a Narcissistic Misogynistic Megalomaniac.
Can he Just Go Away?
Ninny re: Nathan’s Resurrection: “Faison!”
Anna: “I saw His Brain in a Jar!”
Ninny :”You sure it’s His Brain?”
Looking more and more like Dr. Frankenstein has been Resurrected as well!
~~~
Where’s Tracy?
Ah, she’s Hanging Out in Some Casino with Lois.
Atlantic City?
~~~
And Nathan’s awake!!
Sorry Dude, your Wife is in a Coma in Boston.
Poor Spinelli.
Why’d they have to go and Resurrect Nathan?
I mean, I like him, but I need Maxi (Non-Comatose) to be with Spinelli!!
More Nice Things We Cannot Have.
~~~
Oh, Tracy made me Verklempt.
Again.
Jane Elliot is Sublime.
I Love Her.
~~~
So let me get this straight.
Nathan was “Killed” by Faison Seven Years ago.
James was born Shortly After.
James is *actually* Seven.
Alert the Media!!
The Writers on General Hospital Learned Math!!!
Don’t expect this again anytime soon.
James will probably be in College when Maxi wakes up in January.
Wait’ll Nathan finds out that not only has Spinelli been back with Maxi raising her Son, but Maxi has an Invisible Daughter, Bailey Lu, with his Half-Brother, Heinrich (Peter), who’s Also Dead (or IS he???)
So is Nathan (J) Britt’s “Him”? was he Held Captive and Brainwashed by Faison’s Brain?
My Brain Hurts.
~~~
Nice of Tad, er, Smarty, to attempt to talk some sense into Beelzebub, I mean Drew, about crashing Monica’s Memorial.
For all the good it did.
For Crying Out Loud, LooseLips had to get up there and even then makes Monica’s Memorial about HERSELF.
What a D Bag.
Speaking of D Bags, Drew rolling into the Church, full of Anger and Selfish Self Pity.
How DARE he call Monica his Mother!!!
Oh, Tracy, How I Adore You!!
After she wheeled EwDrew out of the Chapel, I was hoping everyone would Stand Up and Cheer.
I know I did.
~~~
Why do they have such a Goofy Photo of Wally Kurth in the Opening Montage? I mean, it’s a Great Pix, but Goofy.
And Alexa Havins is Blazingly Absent. Still.
~~~~
Boy, Dante and BLQ are acting more like a couple than Chase and BLQ.
Hmmmm…..
~~~
Jaon (Steve Burton) Tore My Heart Out this week.
::Sigh::
Gio and Tracy.
Now Gio made me cry.
Geez I’m getting Soft in my Old Age!!
~~~
So I suppose Erika Slezak is going to be Tracy’s Long Lost Sister?
Ugh.
I’m just not feeling this.
What I would love, however, is for Karma to find Criminal Congressman EwDrew and Do him Justice.
Right Up The Wazoo.
I hate that you can’t edit Typos on this page…
Yes, you can change typos quite easily here.
I read this: “Will the mad chemistry between Jason and Liz ever catch the writer’s eyes and end up with a Liason reunion?” and I shout Yes! This! Pretty please!! lol
Same!
Oh Tamilu, I adore you so and am right there with you in so appreciating the emotional and authentic sendoff for both Lesley Charleson and Monica.
But I couldn’t agree less with two points:
1) I don’t like this trend among some fans portraying the relationship between Maxie and Spinelli as just friendship and not real love — I think they are great together with a much more interesting and deep dynamic than the sort of cookie-cutter Maxie falls for handsome man relationship she had with Nathan. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled that Nathan is back (unless they are punking us with shenanigans.) But I hope that doesn’t automatically turn into Maxie and Nathan must reunite storyline.
2) I am truly, desperately hoping we’re not going to get more Faison. I’m so beyond bored and done with that character. If we do, my fast-forward button will be very busy. Like it’s starting to be whenever Drew appears…
I am with you on both these points. It’s funny because during Nathan’s last run on the show & the issue of Maxie & Spinelli pairing up again came up, I wanted Maxie with Nathan
Now it’s totally different. I’ll admit I am not a romantic & often am indifferent to pairings on the show (yeah, sometimes I don’t know why I like a soap opera either). I tend to like couples who complement each other well and am a complete sucker for families. And that’s what Maxie and Spinelli are, a family. Sure one of the kids is Nathan’s son, but James knows Spinelli better than his father. It would be disruptive to all three kids to oust Spinelli for Nathan. And frankly, kind of insulting when Spinelli has been so devoted to Maxie and the kids. He’s taking care of all three of them while she’s in a coma for crying out loud! Sure Nathan’s hot, but I’ve watched Spinelli for years growing from awkward adolescent to steady man. I’m 100% team Spixie. The only drawback being the writers seem to consider that a back burner pairing