General Hospital is on fire and must-see television these days. There’s drama, villains, heroes, romance and more. Let’s explore in this special General Hospital commentary.
Dear readers, I know I have been away for a while, and I know some of you thought Dan fired me. Nope. He and his trusty sidekick Bunbit still love me. (Or at least he pretends to love me to keep me in line.)
My wonderful husband Jeff, who pretends he doesn’t watch General Hospital, took me on a glorious Transatlantic cruise, and then we spent two weeks roaming around Europe. You’re thinking, “Wow, she must be rich!” Again, nope. Just a retired travel agent who knows how to take advantage of cruise line repositioning cruises.
The starting fare for a cruise that departed from Fort Lauderdale and ended in Amsterdam was $699.00 per person. I swear I am not making that up. Yes, it’s one way. Yes, you have to fly home. But again, the one-way airfare was less than you imagined.
The good — and a boo
But, back to soaps!
I was away for an entire month and had zero access to streaming my soaps. When I came home, I had a month’s worth of General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Beautiful to catch up on.
First, a shout-out to Paramount+. I was able to watch all episodes of Y&R and B&B because they keep entire seasons available, and I love them for that. Now, a complaint about Hulu. They do not keep episodes up for very long, and I was only able to catch up from April 15 thru May 1, as they had already delayed the first half of April’s episodes by the time I returned. Boo. So, I missed Sonny finding out that Natalia was a big fat liar, and I wish I could have seen him blow up on her. He did blow up on her, didn’t he?
General Hospital is simply the best
After watching multiple episodes of multiple soaps for weeks now, I have concluded that General Hospital is the far superior soap. Don’t get me wrong, I love Y&R and B&B, but GH runs circles around both of them in storyline, excitement, and acting.
Why are Y&R’s ratings higher than General Hospital’s?
I have never understood this. Now more than ever.
For the past month, the main storyline on Y&R has been that some secretive guy named Aristotle Dumas is reaching out to people in Genoa City. Who could he be? And Claire’s grandpa doesn’t like her boyfriend. We did find out Alan was Martin, but we all figured that out a month ago.
Additionally, no one is certain if they can trust their new cousin, Damian. Diane redecorated the Abbott house and worried for weeks that no one would like the sofa and lamps she picked out. OMG, It’s so dull!
Meanwhile, in Port Charles
Kristina cut the brake lines on what she thought was Ava’s car — but was actually Ric’s — and nearly killed Ric and Elizabeth. Now, Ava and Ric are blackmailing Alexis who wants to keep Kristina out of prison! To pay Ava and Ric, Alexis is embezzling from her young great-nephew Ace’s trust!
Lucky is aware of Kristina’s involvement in the accident and is trying to help Alexis and Kristina locate Ric’s car that Ric and Ava are using as leverage. Lucky came clean to Liz, but just as they seemed poised to rekindle their romance, it’s over and Lucky is headed out of town on a new adventure.
But wait, there’s more
Brook Lynn had a one-night stand with Dante years ago at summer camp when they were teens, got pregnant and gave her baby up for adoption. Her mom Lois who was supposed to handle the closed adoption, but instead Lois had her cousin Camilla raise the baby. The work between Amanda Setton and Rena Sofer should earn them both Emmy nominations.
Gio, Brook Lynn’s son, was living in the same house with Brook Lynn, and she didn’t know until Gio overheard a conversation and announced it to the whole town while smashing his violin at the Nurses Ball! (Giovanni Mazza is absolutely crushing his role as Gio Palmieri.)
The ripple effect brings more drama to our screens
Dante found out he’s a dad — again! Lulu is heartbroken over the chaos she caused! Lois and Olivia are cat-fighting over their grandson! Tracy welcomed Gio into the Quartermaine family in the most tender way. It made me weep! Ned, Brook Lynn’s father, is furious that Lois lied to him for 22 years! Sonny has a new grandson — and comforts Lois when no one else will speak to her.
Gio stormed out, and Emma went with him, very reminiscent of teen summer romances of days gone by. I love them together! At first, I was mad about General Hospital’s decision to recast Emma, but I have fallen in love with the feisty Emma brought to life by the lovely Braedyn Bruner.
The soapy goodness continues
Willow and Drew think they have things all wrapped up to get full custody of Willow’s children Wiley and Amelia. Suddenly, a brand-new exciting Michael Corinthos shows up in town, played by the dashing Rory Gibson. Despite undergoing months of burn treatment, Michael has zero burn scars. He’s also giving me a young Tyler Christopher/Prince Nikolas vibe. Michael shocked the town by bursting into the Nurses Ball. Wiley leapt into his arms, and they left together!
Jason blocked his creepy brother Drew and Willow from following Michael and Wiley.
Secrets and a court battle
Nina put the pieces together and soon realized that Sasha’s baby is not Jason’s but Michael’s. Nina was conflicted about what to do. Willow is her daughter, but Nina doesn’t want Willow to get custody of the kids and move to D.C. with creepy Drew! Also, the bombshell still hasn’t dropped that Nina and Drew were lovers when Drew began his affair with Willow!
And what about Drew? This is not the upstanding, kind military vet we once knew! Speculations are flying that someone switched lives with Drew in prison, and maybe Drew is the presumed dead cult leader Shiloh, which would explain his crazy obsession with Willow!
Whew! I’m getting winded just writing, and I am not even halfway through the EXCITING storylines on General Hospital right now.
Why aren’t more people watching General Hospital???
Joss is secretly a WSB agent trainee, and she has a very steamy handler named Vaughn, played by the dreamy Bryce Durfee. Joss is infiltrating some creepy professor’s office, played by Y&R alumni Daniel Goddard. She snagged an internship that she got by sabotaging Emma’s work! What is Professor Dalton up to? Is Emma in the WSB, too?
There’s romance too
Against all odds, Kai’s risky cutting-edge surgery was a success, and it seems he may live to throw a football again. He and Trina recently took their relationship to the next level and become lovers!
And a teen scene
Danny and Rocco sneak away to a college party, and Rocco nearly dies from alcohol poisoning!
More blackmail and a marriage on the rocks
Drew is blackmailing Portia for changing Heather Webber’s cobalt test results. Now, to add to that, Portia was an accessory to drugging Drew with ketamine and hiring a hooker to stage a drug-fueled night of cheating and body shots!
Curtis is forced to print fluff pieces in Aurora Media newspapers to keep Portia from losing her job and medical license and potentially going to jail! But Curtis is also rethinking everything about his wife and his marriage — and he’s getting close to his ex-wife Jordan again!
General Hospital has more than one villain to stir up trouble
Drew framed Tracy for drugging him and had her arrested at the Nurses Ball even though he knew she did not do it. He’s the devil!
We have a new villain, Sidwell, who is the kind of villain I love. He’s handsome and charming on the outside, but you know his heart is pure evil. He’s wormed his way into Port Charles society courtesy of Lucy Coe, partnered with Deception, and Sonny is even considering selling the docks to him and getting out of the mob!
After Sonny’s heart surgery and Jason being a single dad to Danny, Sonny and Jason are both considering if this is the time for them to exit their lives of crime.
Laura is fighting for her job, with ADA Turner breathing down her neck and Drew trying to drive her out so he can get his flunky Ezra Boyle in the mayor’s seat to greenlight all his stupid ideas. Sounds familiar.
Couples to keep an eye on
Carly and Jack. Jack is a WSB agent with many secrets. Unbeknownst to Carly, he recruited Joss to the WSB.
Brad has left town after telling Drew all the dirt he had on Portia — for a price. Brad’s ex Lucas is now dating Sidwell’s son, Marco Rios. Marco seems nice, but he’s his dad’s attorney, so is he clean or dirty? TBD. But he sure is pretty. (Dan is silently calling me a hussy.)
Two potential pairings are being chem-tested right now: Cody and Molly and Cody and Lulu. Which one of these potential pairings most interests you?
Additionally, Ric is still infatuated with Liz, but she’s now with Lucky, and he’s with Ava. Liz/Ava/Ric triangle? Juicy.
Then we have a secret relationship. Isaiah and Jordan started dating but are now pretending to be just pals because she is scheming to become a trusted person in Sidwell’s circle. I like Isaiah and Jordan together, so I hope they are not on hold for long.
The ratings
So, why did Y&R have 3 million viewers last week versus GH with 1.7 million viewers? I DO NOT UNDERSTAND! If viewership was based on pure merit, General Hospital would have had 8 million viewers this week. Every second was “Must-see TV”!
However, a lot of soap viewing is habit-based and history-driven. I challenge all General Hospital fans to become General Hospital evangelists and start telling friends how exciting General Hospital is right now. Find a friend who’s a Y&R fan and ask them to try General Hospital for two weeks!
I hope ABC wins all the Daytime Emmys for writing this year. It’s well deserved. When the writers bore me, I certainly say so, so now that they have me on the edge of my seat every day at 3pm, I want to sing their praises to the heavens.
Thanks for listening to my soap rant! And if you want to hear my thoughts on last week’s General Hospital, please check out my column Unlucky in love, well, maybe so… And if you are a fan of Beyond the Gates, be sure to read Dan’s latest column, It’s where I store my hopes and dreams.
Love, your friendly Soap Diva,
Tamilu.
All in all, a very predictable week with tried and true soap tropes.
Lucky tells Liz that they can travel the world together. With what? Lucky is broke. Didn’t Jason (or Sonny) give him 10 grand when he came to PC? The Lucky character is stale and stuck in the past. Even the last go around with Lucky and Siobhan didn’t really work. Lucky has become boring.
Just as Joss doesn’t cut it as a spy, neither does her handler Vaughn. We see him as a maintenance man at PCU, at the beach party, then in a tux at the NB and then at the MC pool.. always when Joss is around. Not exactly subtle or in line with a PCU janitor.
Are they really going to inflict Marshall and Natalia on us.. again?
Marco is a bit old to have mommy issues. When Lucas told Marco about having issues with Bobbie, I couldn’t remember any of that ever happening. It’s was a long time ago , but I can’t remember any friction.
The Anti-Emma was introduced to us as a crusader for animal rights, opposed to using animals in lab testing and she has a previous connection to Professor Dalton. But Dalton is supposed to be researching cold fusion. Where is the connection to animals? Also, how does one person research something as complex as cold fusion in a small lab?
The Emma thing was a real head scratcher for me, too. Is he animal testing with nukes? LOL. I don’t get this storyline yet, Maybe it will make sense soon!
This Week, on “Hypocrite Junction!”
Dante and ShrewLu inform Rocco he Has A Brother from Another Mother.
Krissy gives her Opinion of Brillo to NuMikey, “It’s like when she was with Shiloh!!”
You should know, Sweetie!!!
Then Lucky revealing to Liz that NutKrissy cut Ric’s Brakes.
Alexis fibbing to Mayor Laura about Ace’s Inheritance.
Curtis Not Forgiving Porthole Even Though he KNOWS EwDrew has been Blackmailing Porthole.
Then trying to Justify his Man Tantrums with Pork Pie.
BLQ and Lois and Lois’ Ma Gloria!
Lying Liars Who Lie and Make Up Excuses For It.
ShrewLu to Rocco: “I don’t exactly know what Brook Lyn Knew…”
LIAR!!! LIAR!!! You KNOW BLQ was Clueless!!
LIAR!!!!!
[To be shouted like Valerie in “The Princess Bride”]
~~~
So.
A of Tuesday, STILL no ShrewLu in the Opening Montage.
Sidwell’s there!
Not that anyone cares.
~~~
I have a question.
When is Lois going to change out of her Nurses’ Ball Outfit??
You know, that Silver Lost In Space Number?
Geez she must be Ripe by this time1
Gio and Emma have spent the night in a Cabin/Safe House, gone to Niagara Falls and back, Emma is lounging at the MCPool, and Lois hasn’t even changed her clothes yet!!
Speaking of which…
So Kai had Major Spine Surgery like, Last Week, and he ::Whips:: off his T-Shirt to enjoy the Pool, and ::What::??
Where’s the Surgery Scars??
Not even a Bruise!
I had a Titanium Cage Installed over my L4/L5, after my Spine Surgeon removed and repaired/replaced my L4/L5 and installed some Cadaver Bone (I have Dead People in me!!) and Five Years Later I STILL look like The Bride of Frankenstein!! Even my Hair!
~~~
Best Scene?
Gio knocking Councilman Creepo into the MCPool.
Too bad the water was so shallow.
Tracy, as Usual, wins Line O The Week:
At the Courthouse, To Drew: “I am fresh out of Ketamine! Maybe you should hit up your Local Veterinarian!”
And…How did Joss get from the MCPool to Court in Five Seconds Flat?
I suppose she changed out of her Swimsuit in the Parking Lot?
In a Real Court, 90% of the Testimony presented would be dismissed as Hearsay.
In Port Charles Kangaroo Court, EVERYTHING is Admissible!!
Except, of course, The Truth.
~~~
Mami Dearest getting picked up for DWI/DUI was Fairly Amusing as well.
Sonny knew she was Drunk, and driving, and her sent her off on her Merry Way.
Probably a good thing she was stopped.
Thanks Sonny!
~~~
Okay, Sasha Giving Birth in Court at Michael’s Custody Trial was pretty funny.
And Totally Predictable.
Oh, look, Brillo remembered that she’s a Nurse Sometimes.
Of Course the Baby (who looked to be about Four Months Old, BTW) was Healthy!!
All Port Charles Babies who are born On the Side of The Road, in an Abandoned Cabin, or in a Federal Building, etc. are Born Healthy!!
It’s the ones that are born in General Hospital that are Doomed!!!
Let’s hope Daisy (Mae?) gets out of the Attic more than the Rest of the Invisible Children of Port Charles!
And, Yes! I, too like NuMikey and Sasha II The Sequel.
Let’s hope EwDrew doesn’t sabotage this Potential Relationship.
~~~
Um, Liz???
Nineteen Seventy Six Called.
It wants that Powder Blue Maxi Dress back.
Seriously, I wore a dress just like that to a Junior Prom when I was Fifteen.
At least she was smart enough to reject Lucky.
I am SO Happy that Molly called Mami Dearest “…the H o m o Phobe who Disrespected my Sister”!
If this Nasty Broad is going to be on my screen, I want her Called Out Frequently.
Has anyone seen ShrewLu in the Opening Credits this week?
Me neither.
Oh, but TJ was finally mentioned…Twice!!
Back to Hypocrite Junction.
Ninny to EwDrew: “Why don’t you let Mikey and Brillo work this out and Compromise? That way, because Willow is So Stupid, YOU will STILL be the Hero in her Vapid Eyes!”
EwDrew: “Ninny, since you are NOT saying what I want to hear, let me EXPLAIN Myself Further by Using my Hands!
I learned this Method of Getting People to Hear What I Want Them To Hear from LooseLips Coe and her Wildly Flapping Man Hands! Is it Working?”
::Waves Hands in Grand Gestures::
Drives me crazy you can’t edit typos here…
SHREWLU!!! LOLOLOLOL – Lost in Space outfit??? HAHAHA. You had me cracking up today! 🙂
It was so good to see Marshall. I miss him. I was hoping Wynton might do a walk on.
Yes, they have mentioned him by name a few times, I wonder if they are trying to get him to make a cameo.
I am not giving gh that far a nom but you got to admit it’s soapy goodness.