General Hospital Commentary: Ring of Fire

It was a tragic week both in real life and in Port Charles. Will Cyrus claim another victim? Can cooler heads prevail between Willow and Michael’s loved ones for the sake of the children? It’s time to discuss that and more in this week’s General Hospital commentary for the week ending January 10, 2025.

My dearest readers, I am writing you with a heart so heavy I can barely form sentences. The fire on General Hospital was filmed long before the actual city it was filmed in went up in flames. ABC rightly warned viewers that they may not want to watch this week because it hits too close to the devastation in Los Angeles. I used to live in L.A. and I spent over 25 years living in Southern California. Watching this glorious city go up in flames is the most shocking sight imaginable.

Heartbreaking reality

Watching street after street of burned-out neighborhoods has me gutted. Our own Cameron Mathison lost his home, but thankfully he and his family escaped with their lives. I was all set for a week of hating Drew on GH, but I’m so heartbroken for Cameron that I can’t muster up any rage for the character he portrays. I mean, he lost everything. 

Sadly, Cameron story was lived by thousands of other Angelinos whose names I do not know, and whose faces I don’t recognize. My heart aches for all of them. I grew up in the church. My dad was a pastor. I spent much of my adult life working in full time ministry. But right now, my faith fails me. It seems like God isn’t responding to the millions of prayers to spare the City of Angels. I’m so sad. The only thing I know for sure right now is that firefighters are angels on earth.

But my mission here is to talk about General Hospital, and so I shall.

Michael’s shocking and tragic exit

We have known for a while now that Chad Duell intended to leave General Hospital, but I doubt that any of us anticipated that his end would be so brutal and fiery.

I had guessed that Michael would leave with Sasha and their new baby, or that ELQ would send him to their offices in Jakarta, or something that would take Michael’s character out of play only to return for a few months later with a new face. Possibly Robert Adamson who has filled in as Michael several times lately. But today, at the end of Friday’s episode, we saw Cyrus injecting a syringe filled with Digitalis into Michael’s IV. So, are we supposed to think Cyrus is attempting to be some angel of death trying helping people escape pain? Oh hell, no. I reject that plot twist as fiercely as the one where Heather was only bad because of a hip implant.

Another mob war on General Hospital

I was wrong about how Michael would leave the show. General Hospital went big and turned Michael’s exit into a major mob war storyline. Before Jenz Sidwell showed up on Spoon Island with Lucy, I suspected Cyrus was the bad guy.  Lucy is such a blabbermouth, she keeps telling Sidwell everything he needs to know about everyone in town without him asking a single question.

It’s clear now that Jenz is making himself all cozy at Wyndemere that he is planning to take over Port Charles. Apparently, his plan included leveling the current Don — Sonny — by way of a bomb. Those gutted out penthouse scenes were impossible to watch this week. The real-life scenes like this kept creeping into my brain as I watched, and I kept tearing up.

When Lucy pointed out Sidwell’s view of Port Charles from his balcony, he got an evil smile when she pointed out Harborview Towers. He most certainly planted the bomb.

Collateral damage — again

But as always happens with these things, Sidwell’s plan went awry; he missed. Sonny doesn’t even have a paper cut, while Michael is covered in third degree burns. It happened to Sonny’s first wife Lily and their unborn child, to Connie Falconeri, to Michael when he was a kid, and to Morgan. The people who want Sonny dead never have a steady enough aim, and they always hit one of his loved ones instead. This would seem so unlikely except for the fact that there is an actual person who never ever pays for his crimes, so maybe that’s who they modeled Sonny after. 

A turning point

I think Michael’s injury will be the turning point for Jason. When Jason reminded Sonny about their discussion of an exit plan, Jason noted that he didn’t want this to happen to Danny. Jason is extremely mindful right now that he is Danny’s only parent. I thought to myself, “Jack Brennan better get Jason’s desk ready; he’s ready for the WSB.” 

But what about Sonny? Can he really let it all go? He’s been in the mob his whole life. Did Sonny’s heart attack actually scare him straight? What will he do? Run the bar with Kristina? Will he actually, devote his life to Sonnybucks, become a true coffee connoisseur and travel the globe looking for small coffee farms to partner with? Get deeper into the record label with Brook Lynn? Or will he go back to Nixon Falls and wipe the bar down with Phyllis and Ghost Lenny? I can’t picture Sonny as a non-mobster. 

But I want that for Sonny. He got sucked into the mob at an early age and has felt trapped in that life since we have known him. Heck Sonny, go to Selina Wu, give her your territory. Let her hold all the poker games she wants at Curtis’ forgotten night club. Let her duke it out with Sidwell. Run as fast and far as you can.

Sonny’s future if the worst should happen

Sonny probably won’t, but I don’t know what he will do if Michael dies. Sonny will not be able to live with himself.

I think it’s weird that the writers haven’t had Sonny and Nina in a scene together in eons. It would make sense that they would talk right now, don’t you think? It looked like they may have a scene next week, but will she be able to convince Sonny to give Michael’s kids away to Michael’s cheating wife? I doubt it. Especially if Willow tries to muscle Carly and Sonny out of their son’s health care decisions. I will seriously hate her forever. Whether she has the legal right or not, that’s just evil.

A candle in the wind

I wish Nina would confess to Willow that she’s had sex with Drew. Michael’s assessment of Willow seemed spot on; Willow turns herself into the person her current lover wants her to be. She’s a chameleon, a candle in the wind as Elton would sing. 

But I think it was Joss who truly nailed it. She pointed out to Willow that Willow cheated on Chase with Michael, she cheated on Micheal with Drew, and Joss predicted that Willow would cheat on Drew with someone, too because Willow is “a lying, faithless, skank.”

I found Joss’ tirade to be extremely satisfying. Joss yelled all the things at Willow that I have been yelling at my TV this week. I mean my God, Michael sat by her side through cancer and has been supportive of anything she wanted. She wanted to be a nurse, then decided to be a spokesperson for a nonprofit, and then decided to be a nurse again. Throughout, Michael was continually supportive. 

Think about this. Michael is a good-looking guy. He’s kind, faithful, and he’s a good dad. He’s rich as all get out and he adores Willow. But that wasn’t enough for her. She got a little itch for dreamboat Drew and tossed Michael away like Tuesday’s trash. Willow has this reputation as an innocent angel which she definitely is not.

General Hospital’s illicit lovers

As Drew and Willow were in their hotel gleefully cheating and whining to each other about what victims they were, Michael was on fire. Sure, they didn’t know that, but they did know they were hurting him with their affair. Willow is making such reckless choices. I mean taking Michael’s son to go be with Drew out of state without telling Michael? Dumb. Diane Miller will run rings around her. But back to Michael.

A poignant moment

Chad Duell and Steve Burton had this moment on Thursday’s episode when Michael opened his eyes and was clearly in such severe pain. Michael and Jason looked at each other and said everything without uttering a word. My heart exploded as Jason remembered holding baby Michael so many years ago.

I don’t know why Chad Duell decided now was the time to leave General Hospital, but hey, maybe at Christmas I will see him in a Hallmark Christmas movie where he plays a guy in flannel who owns a Christmas tree lot.

Josslyn under pressure

I also want to highlight Eden McCoy this week.

Between Dex’s death and Michael’s fiery accident, Joss is one big raw nerve right now. We watched her fondle Dex’s gun, probably imagining shooting the person who took him from her. If it’s Joss who ends Cyrus once and for all, I won’t be mad about it.

But when Carly told Joss that Willow went to Washington, D.C. to sleep with Drew, and she took Wiley, I saw the rage of multiple heartaches rise up inside her chest and explode all over Willow. Nothing that Joss said to Willow was a lie, although she was probably crueler than she would have been under better circumstances.

When Nina arrived on scene and Joss called them “a bunch of lying liars,” I laughed and laughed. A great set of scenes for the grieving Joss. I always love Trina and Joss scenes, too, and those two beautiful ladies grieving the loss of their lovers was sad and beautiful.

Then there’s Kristina

But now I’m going to be mean about Kristina, so if she’s your favorite, skip this section.

As her brother lay fighting for his life, Kristina is in her usual state, ‘What will happen to ME if my brother dies? He’s the one who gets ME out of trouble! He’s the one who listens to ME when I need to talk.’ I wanted to throw something at her, but I’d never want to break my TV. She wasn’t all that concerned about Michael’s kids potentially losing their dad, or about Sonny losing his son. It was all about her not having someone to bail her out.

Poor Molly took pity on Kristina and went to General Hospital to take care of her despite all the horrible things Kristina has said to Molly as of late. Ugh.

Kudos to Brad 

In another outburst, kudos to Brad for pummeling Cyrus with a steady stream of insults. Kudos to Portia too for finally banning a serial killer from General Hospital. But with Cyrus gone, that means no more killings which will make Liz look even more guilty because if the suspicious deaths stop while she is on leave, they will assume she had something to do with it.

Will anyone ever put the Cyrus piece together into the puzzle? Oh man, did you see the look on Cyrus’ face when Portia banned him? I’m afraid for Trina.

Sasha’s future

Do you want to hear my prediction/wish for Sasha? Jason will find out that Sasha is pregnant with Michael’s baby, and he will get a place and take her in. She can cook for Jason and Danny, and Jason will protect Sasha and her new baby. The two of them will develop feelings for each other, and then about a year from now Michael will come back and want Sasha and the baby, and she will have to choose. I do think Sasha would be safe to confide in Jason about her pregnancy.

Maybe on the ride home from the hospital, Sasha will break down and confess. I enjoyed Jason and Sasha’s scene today.

Another high point

Also, I loved the scene with Maxie and Felicia. Felicia made a point of expressing her love to Maxie and telling her how much she values her beautiful daughter.

I think that’s one of the hardest things for me since my mother died. She used to call me, talk to me, and tell me she loved me every single day of my life. My mother cared about every minute detail of what was going on with me. She said her friends used to ask her what we talked about every day, and she would tell them, “We say all the things we won’t be able to say when we are gone.” She had Felicia’s lesson down pat.

Sonny and Carly’s enduring love

But I digress. Carly and Sonny in the chapel moved me. To me, Sonny and Carly will always be the endgame. If this is how they get here, sobeit.

I am so glad I haven’t seen Natalia at all so far this year. I hope she’s gone on tour with Blaze never to return. Sonny telling Carly they would walk together through Michael’s recovery as a family made me smile.

This can’t be the end for Michael on General Hospital

I hope Sonny and Carly get the chance to keep that promise, but if Cyrus’s drug does the trick, there may be no recovery for Michael and that will break my heart.

Not just for the senseless end to a great character, but because Michael has many stories left to tell. He’s in the midst of ELQ intrigue, the end of his marriage to Willow, having a child with Sasha, and being the father of two kids he worked hard to have and keep. I want to see all that, even if it has to be with a recast.

Hopefully, the writers haven’t killed Michael. I want Jason to catch Cyrus walking out of Michael’s room, beat the crap out of him, save Michael, clear Elizabeth’s name, and Michael goes off to a burn rehab for a bit.

What will happen tomorrow dear readers?

Will Lulu do a YouTube travel video about how to immediately access your old passport and get your hands on funds to buy an international airline ticket with no advance notice after waking up from a long coma? Will Lucy ask Jenz to pencil her in as his date for General Hospital’s next Nurse’s Ball? Is Drew in for a left hook punch from Sonny for bullying Carly while her son lay critically injured in a burn unit? (I hope so.) Can Cyrus please get the knockdown beating he so richly deserves? Will Willow regret crossing Carly now — or will Carly make her pay later? Will L.A. studios survive to even make more movies, TV and soap operas?

Oh, dear readers, I hope so. But today, I have to wonder. 

I will tune in tomorrow as long as there are tomorrows. Even when I am brokenhearted.

Love to you all.

Tamilu

To read all of Tamilu’s columns, check out her Author Page.