{"id":5854,"date":"2026-07-25T00:17:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T04:17:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/danjkroll.com\/blog\/?p=5854"},"modified":"2026-07-25T00:17:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T04:17:24","slug":"general-hospital-commentary-shes-gone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/danjkroll.com\/blog\/general-hospital-commentary-shes-gone\/","title":{"rendered":"General Hospital Commentary: She’s Gone…"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
It was a busy week in Port Charles as the fallout from Sidwell and Cullum’s plot continued. Will Willow become the latest victim — or make a clean getaway? Nina took bold action to neutralize Drew, but will he turn the tables on her? Anna is back in the saddle again, but Peter continues to haunt her. Let’s get into it with an all-new General Hospital<\/em> commentary for the week ending July 24, 2026.<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

If you have a very particular form of ADHD like I do, just reading that title sends Hall and Oates’ soaring vocals coursing through your veins, “She\u2019s go-oo-oo-oone, oh I, oh I, better learn how to face it\u2026\u201d. But if you\u2019re a normal person, you probably guessed I am talking about Maxie Jones. Readers, I love Maxie and I\u2019m sad that General Hospital<\/em> has chosen to write her out of the show — and Maxie\u2019s entire family too — rather than recast the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’d Pay The Devil To Replace Her<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kirsten Storms has been through so much the past several years. Brain tumors, surgeries, cross country moves, custody issues, etc. I understand that she stepped away from General Hospital<\/em> willingly to deal with real life personal issues in her life. I’m rooting for her so hard to get healthy and feel strong again. I truly adore her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that having been said, the character that Kirsten plays is integral to the General Hospital<\/em>. It was weird enough that she barely had a part in the Nathan\/Cassius storyline. When we heard Ryan Paevey was coming back, we all thought, \u201cMaxie and Nathan part deux!\u201d But Maxie spurned Nathan\/Cassius immediately. I am sure that isn\u2019t what the writers had planned, and Kirsten’s personal issues caused them to do a quick rewrite. But Maxie has been recast before. Jen Lilly played a great Maxie for a time, and even the original Maxie — Robin Richards — could have been called upon to resume her old role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s Not Just Maxie<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Right now, Anna is seeing Peter, and it would make sense that Phantom Peter would \u201ctell \u201cAnna to see Bailey Lou. Then there is the James\/Cody relationship, which is so adorable. I hate to see that go. And yes, Gary James Fuller is injured, but Easton Winn did a fabulous job filling in for Gary and could have stayed on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, Spinelli needs to be there as Jason reshapes his life. He\u2019s a solid friend for Jason. Even if Maxie was written out for a while, and Jason and Spinelli were being single dads together for a while, that could have been epic.  And what job did Spinelli get in Australia? Hacker for Jerry Jacks? Kangaroo wrangler? Well, at least the door is open for them to move back to Port Charles someday. That\u2019s something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Triangle of Love<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are a longtime viewer of General Hospital<\/em>, you notice patterns, and a generational pattern has emerged this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, we had the triangle of Carly, Jason and Robin; a Spencer, a Quartermaine, and a Scorpio. Then we had Lulu, Dillon and Georgie; A Spencer, a Quartermaine, and a Scorpio. Now, as of this week, we have Charlotte, Gio and Emma; A Spencer, A Quartermaine and a Scorpio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s that you say? There is no triangle? Then clearly you weren\u2019t paying attention to the death glares that Charlotte was giving Emma when Emma interrupted Charlotte and Gio\u2019s conversation at the pool! Charlotte is clearly over kissing her cousin Danny and crushing hard on Gio. And really, can you blame her?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Hospital’s<\/em> Teen Scene<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Elsewhere in teen world, we have Nu-Scout, played by newcomer Kayden Brenna Tokarski who instantly won me over. Her first big scene was taking on soap legend Jane Elliot (Tracy Q), and I thought she nailed it. Rocco seemed to notice Scout in a new way this week, too \u2013 so perhaps a teenage summer romance is just the thing to get his mind off shooting Cullum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also loved the way that Scout interacted with Drew. It made me hope that her dad lives up to everyone\u2019s wish that Drew will come out of his locked-in syndrome a better man, but the way he clenched his fist after hearing Michael and Alexis talking about him made me suspect that he won\u2019t. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now we just need a girlfriend for Danny that he\u2019s not related to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Mother’s Love<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Charlotte\u2019s world is about to change since Lulu came to the difficult conclusion that allowing Charlotte to choose who Charlotte wants to live with is Lulu’s only way forward. Alexa Havins has done really incredible work this week. Lulu\u2019s emotions were so raw and real. I understand her wanting to keep Charlotte close after all the time they lost together but also knowing that Charlotte will fight her every step of the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, Lulu stipulated that Charlotte live in a real home and not a hotel room or crashing at Carly\u2019s, so Valentin\u2019s plan to get his fortune unfrozen by giving Jack back his black box has got to work. I need Valentin and Charlotte back at Wyndemere. The only other person I will accept living there is Nikolas, but apparently, he\u2019s never getting out of prison, nor is anyone in his family ever going to visit him. That point infuriates me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prince of Wyndemere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But I digress. Valentin went from being in Steinmauer for life to being a free man with a clean slate, his daughter back, a steamy new romance and maybe all of his cash back, too. I love this for him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valentin went to Jack and said to prove that Valentin had turned over a new leaf, Valentin had the black box and was willing to turn it over for a price. Valentin isn\u2019t asking for much, just his own money. How could Jack deny him that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Two Sides of Valentin <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I feel sometimes like the General Hospital<\/em> writers can\u2019t decide who Valentin is. When he first came into the picture, Helena said he was the Cassadine that she had feared the most. But he\u2019s not half as bad as she was! Sometimes Valentin is a ruthless mercenary running illegal weapons through Pikeman, and other times he is painted as a misunderstood romantic antihero like Luke Spencer. I choose to see him as the latter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t want Valentin to lose his edge, but I want him to stick around for Charlotte and Carly this time. When Valentin busted into Carly\u2019s kitchen and took her into his arms for a passionate kiss, my heart was palpitating. They are just so good together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Key To Valentin’s Downfall<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

But I\u2019m worried that Carly took Brick\u2019s flash drive with all of his crimes on it and tossed it into her kitchen junk drawer with the twist ties and ketchup packets. I wish she would have just handed it to Valentin as soon as he walked in the door and told him everything. It\u2019s not like Brick didn\u2019t keep his own copy, right? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am totally invested in this romance, and I want Valentin and Carly to work long term, but this little flash drive could blow it up. Wait until Joss stops by for lunch and finds that flash drive in the drawer, or Donna finds it and thinks it\u2019s her saved Kirby game, or Michael finds it and blackmails Valentin with it. I hope Carly destroys it soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pot Gripes About Kettle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

But Sonny\u2019s gunning for Valentin and Carly, too. It always makes me laugh when Sonny says someone else is dangerous for Carly when he is the one who got her kids kidnapped, shot, arrested and more. Sonny said he doesn\u2019t understand why Carly can\u2019t see that the man she\u2019s involved with is going to be the one who ruins her life. Justine said she asked herself the same question every day about Sonny. Ha! Is Sonny jealous of Valentin? Probably so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, across town, Nina continued her bad habit of swapping lovers with Carly and went to bed with Jack. But here\u2019s the thing, I don\u2019t hate them together. But I still can\u2019t stand Nina. Her idea of motherhood is enabling all of her children\u2019s worst impulses without any limits, and Jack is a means to an end for her. I am an only child, and I was the center of my mother\u2019s world and as much as she loved me, she would never have helped me commit crimes. It\u2019s just absurd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We Are Family<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Readers, it seems like Curtis is jealous of Isaiah even though he won\u2019t admit it. Baby Desmond Robinson Ashford came into the world this week and that baby is so adorable! Every time Curtis sees Isaiah, Curtis tenses up. What\u2019s he going to do, break Isaiah\u2019s other hand? He wanted to spend the night at Portia\u2019s on the baby\u2019s first night home\u2026 C\u2019mon man. I loved when Portia asked him how he would feel if she suggested spending the night with him and Jordan when they had the baby over at their place. Haha. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I still think it\u2019s possible that meddling Aunt Stella switched the paternity tests to try and keep Curtis and Jordan together. I hope that baby is Isaiah\u2019s and that we find out in a year or so after everyone is all attached. Big soapy drama! There are so many things I am waiting on. I want to see Curtis\u2019 face when he finds out that BLQ — not Isaiah — was driving the car and realizes he punched Isaiah and may end up in jail for nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Willow’s House of Cards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But you know what else I want to see? I want to see Chase\u2019s face when he realizes Willow is a total PSYCHO. I want to see Tracy say, \u201cI told you so!\u201d to his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dante sent Chase to bring Willow in for questioning in the Sidwell case, and next week\u2019s previews shows her asking Chase to let her disappear. I hope he grows a spine and says, \u201cNo\u201d and cuffs her. It\u2019s time the spell was broken!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Willow On The Run<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Willow was perfectly willing to take Brennan\u2019s offer and grab her kids and run; both Amelia and Wiley. Wiley who is Michael\u2019s biological child and not Willow\u2019s. The son that Michael graciously allowed her to adopt. She was ready to steal the son away from his father and his entire family. She\u2019s genuinely a horrible person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don’t think that there is any redemption coming for Willow. Consider all the things that she has done\u2026 and I advise you to get a cup of coffee before you continue because it\u2019s a long list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Willow’s Reign of Terror on General Hospital <\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Willow cheated on Michael after he walked beside her though cancer, and she banged Michael’s uncle on the floor of their children\u2019s nursery. She also stalked and terrorized baby Daisy until Sasha felt that she had to leave town for the safety of the baby. Next, Willow shot her new husband Drew, then drugged him into paralysis for months, and she attempted to frame Michael for Drew\u2019s shooting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Willow also blackmailed her own mother by making Nina give Drew an injection not knowing that it was the paralytic drug. Additionally, Willow worked with Sidwell doing his dirty work in order to keep drugging her husband. Willow batted her eyes and played the victim with Chase, even throwing herself into the lake to frame Tracy for pushing her. She gave Scout away to anyone who would take her so that Willow could keep terrorizing Scout\u2019s dad. Willow worked with Sidwell and lied to everybody for months. Not to mention her flirting with Chase and inviting him on trips and such after BLQ had asked Willow kindly to stay away from her husband. Did I miss any? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can Willow just walk away from all of this without any consequences? I don\u2019t think she can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Praise for Katelynn MacMullen<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I love Katelynn MacMullen. She\u2019s a fantastic actress. This storyline wouldn\u2019t have been so compelling if Katelyn didn\u2019t sell it to us. She made Willow a genuinely kind and caring congresswoman who worked on behalf of her constituents, but also a maniacal, manipulative menace to society and she was believable in both arenas. I\u2019d hate to see General Hospital<\/em> lose her, but unless they pull a Franco and say she had a brain tumor that made her do all of these horrible things, I don\u2019t know how we could ever forgive her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fallout Continues <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Laura met with Molly this week at the Port Charles Police Department and told Molly about Sidwell. Laura also urged Ezra to do the same, and amazingly, it seems that he did. Daniel Cosgrove is fantastic and he plays the role of comic relief in the way Scott Baldwin used to do. I wish Kin Shriner was still around, and I am hoping with the return of Serena that it means her dad isn\u2019t far behind, but who knows? I still think he could be a love interest for Laura if Jon Lindtrom is never coming back to General Hospital<\/em>. It\u2019s been too long since Laura had a man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n