General Hospital Commentary: She’s Gone…

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 commentary for the week ending July 24, 2026.

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’s go-oo-oo-oone, oh I, oh I, better learn how to face it…”. But if you’re a normal person, you probably guessed I am talking about Maxie Jones. Readers, I love Maxie and I’m sad that General Hospital has chosen to write her out of the show — and Maxie’s entire family too — rather than recast the role.

I’d Pay The Devil To Replace Her

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 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.

But that having been said, the character that Kirsten plays is integral to the General Hospital. 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, “Maxie and Nathan part deux!” But Maxie spurned Nathan/Cassius immediately. I am sure that isn’t 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.

It’s Not Just Maxie

Right now, Anna is seeing Peter, and it would make sense that Phantom Peter would “tell “Anna 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. 

Next, Spinelli needs to be there as Jason reshapes his life. He’s 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’s something.

The Triangle of Love

If you are a longtime viewer of General Hospital, you notice patterns, and a generational pattern has emerged this week.

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. 

What’s that you say? There is no triangle? Then clearly you weren’t paying attention to the death glares that Charlotte was giving Emma when Emma interrupted Charlotte and Gio’s conversation at the pool! Charlotte is clearly over kissing her cousin Danny and crushing hard on Gio. And really, can you blame her?

General Hospital’s Teen Scene

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 – so perhaps a teenage summer romance is just the thing to get his mind off shooting Cullum.

I also loved the way that Scout interacted with Drew. It made me hope that her dad lives up to everyone’s 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’t.

Now we just need a girlfriend for Danny that he’s not related to.

A Mother’s Love

Charlotte’s 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’s 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.

Of course, Lulu stipulated that Charlotte live in a real home and not a hotel room or crashing at Carly’s, so Valentin’s 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’s never getting out of prison, nor is anyone in his family ever going to visit him. That point infuriates me.

The Prince of Wyndemere

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. 

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’t asking for much, just his own money. How could Jack deny him that?

The Two Sides of Valentin 

I feel sometimes like the General Hospital writers can’t 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’s 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.

I don’t want Valentin to lose his edge, but I want him to stick around for Charlotte and Carly this time. When Valentin busted into Carly’s kitchen and took her into his arms for a passionate kiss, my heart was palpitating. They are just so good together.

The Key To Valentin’s Downfall

But I’m worried that Carly took Brick’s 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’s not like Brick didn’t keep his own copy, right? 

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’s her saved Kirby game, or Michael finds it and blackmails Valentin with it. I hope Carly destroys it soon.

Pot Gripes About Kettle

But Sonny’s 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’t understand why Carly can’t see that the man she’s 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.

Meanwhile, across town, Nina continued her bad habit of swapping lovers with Carly and went to bed with Jack. But here’s the thing, I don’t hate them together. But I still can’t stand Nina. Her idea of motherhood is enabling all of her children’s 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’s world and as much as she loved me, she would never have helped me commit crimes. It’s just absurd.

We Are Family

Readers, it seems like Curtis is jealous of Isaiah even though he won’t 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’s he going to do, break Isaiah’s other hand? He wanted to spend the night at Portia’s on the baby’s first night home… C’mon 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. 

I still think it’s possible that meddling Aunt Stella switched the paternity tests to try and keep Curtis and Jordan together. I hope that baby is Isaiah’s 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’ 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.

Willow’s House of Cards

But you know what else I want to see? I want to see Chase’s face when he realizes Willow is a total PSYCHO. I want to see Tracy say, “I told you so!” to his face.

Dante sent Chase to bring Willow in for questioning in the Sidwell case, and next week’s previews shows her asking Chase to let her disappear. I hope he grows a spine and says, “No” and cuffs her. It’s time the spell was broken!

Willow On The Run

Willow was perfectly willing to take Brennan’s offer and grab her kids and run; both Amelia and Wiley. Wiley who is Michael’s biological child and not Willow’s. 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’s genuinely a horrible person.

I don’t think that there is any redemption coming for Willow. Consider all the things that she has done… and I advise you to get a cup of coffee before you continue because it’s a long list.

Willow’s Reign of Terror on General Hospital

Willow cheated on Michael after he walked beside her though cancer, and she banged Michael’s uncle on the floor of their children’s 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’s shooting.

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’s 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?

How can Willow just walk away from all of this without any consequences? I don’t think she can.

Praise for Katelynn MacMullen

I love Katelynn MacMullen. She’s a fantastic actress. This storyline wouldn’t have been so compelling if Katelyn didn’t 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’d hate to see General Hospital 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’t know how we could ever forgive her.

The Fallout Continues 

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’t 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. It’s been too long since Laura had a man.

Lulu Seeks Legal Advice

Lulu talked to Ric and Sonny and told them about Rocco shooting Cullum. They seem to think he’s in the clear but forgive me if I am still worried. So many people know that Rocco is the shooter, including WSB chief Jack Brennan. Who might Jack blackmail with that knowledge? Jason? Dante? Lulu? Mayor Collins? It could be anyone.

Jason and Rocco Talk

I am so thrilled that Steve Burton is back. All of his scenes on Friday (July 24) were so heartfelt. The Jason/Rocco talk was superb. Finn Carr and Steve Burton were so warm and engaging. I loved that Jason comforted Rocco by saying that Rocco doesn’t owe Jason anything, and that in fact, Jason owes Rocco for saving Jason and Britt’s lives. 

I think Rocco can find some healing now that Jason is home, and I hope that he and Danny can be friends and brothers again. 

The Doctors and Nurses of General Hospital

Also, I have to mention again how much I love Van Hansis as Lucas. I’m enjoying the sweet bond between Liz and Lucas. She even jokingly mentioned him moving in with her on Friday, and really, why not? Cam, Jake and Aiden are all missing, so she has a lot of spare room. I can see the two of them being entertaining roommates.

I also like Lucas’ burgeoning friendship with Britt. They have a long way to go to be true friends, but I think Lucas is becoming more understanding of Britt, and Britt is becoming more receptive to Lucas’ sage advice about projecting an attitude of humility and gratitude instead of acting like a constant victim. In Britt’s defense, I do think life has been unfair to her.  Of course, she has made a lot of bad choices on her own, but perhaps this is the season that she becomes a better woman. 

Or maybe Britt will hold a grudge against the hunky new Australian doctor with the million-dollar smile, Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer). He seems just arrogant and bold enough to be a wonderful sparring partner for Britt.

Anna’s Fixation

Or maybe Phantom Peter is going to tell Anna to kill Britt. It seems like Anna is totally fixated on Faison’s kids, Britt and Cassius, and since she thinks Cassius is dead, that leaves Britt. I’m thrilled to have Finola Hughes back, but she’s still super crazy and no one knows it yet. I am curious to see how this all plays out.

I loved the scene with Dante where Anna realized the file she was looking for disappeared because Dante was protecting his son, and so she just dropped it. But Chase is still looking for it, and Dante just had a talk with Chase about being trustworthy, so if Chase finds evidence of that cover up, I wonder what he will do?

Jason’s Next Move

I think Jason is going to dump Britt. She looked so excited to see him, but he looked stoic. It appears that Jason is going to be done with Sonny, done with Britt, done with anyone that stands in the way of him being the best parent he can be to Danny. He may even be done with Carly, but she would never accept that.

This would be the perfect season for Jason to finally be with Elizabeth, but between Ric and her chemistry with Dante, I can’t tell where the writers are going with her. 

Side note, do you follow Steve Burton’s wife Michelle on Instagram? She is adorable, posts amazing cooking videos and the two of them seem to be having so much fun together. If you give her a follow you won’t be disappointed.

Trina’s Stalker

Speaking of disappointed, did General Hospital just bring Quinn back to be Trina’s stalker? I hope not. I think that it was a red herring to cut from Quinn to the creepy murder board of photos. 

Who else could be Trina’s stalker? Heather Webber? She’s come back 8 million times, why not again? I never did fall for the cobalt poisoning storyline. Esme? Maybe she never really died and has been holding Spencer captive and he finally escaped? Taggert, the man who raised her and then she abandoned the day she found out Curits was her dad. The new record producer Simon? He did want to sign her as a solo act — or something else?

What Will Happen Tomorrow Dear Readers?

Will the new General Hospital Baseball Equipment manager take a bat to someone’s head if they don’t stop giving her a hard time? Will Brick and Valentin start meeting up weekly to shoot hoops? Is Dr. Roberts going to charm Stella into giving him the upfront parking spot even though he’s young and healthy and doesn’t need it?

Will Jordan take Sidwell up on his offer to go to the burn clinic now that Michael confirmed how exclusive and difficult it is to get into it? Will Sonny stop by the Metro Court’s pool in a full three-piece suit again instead of trunks and a towel like everyone else? Is Scout going to raise a lot of money for breast cancer with her swimming, or will Tracy just write her a giant check?

Will Chase have a nervous breakdown when he discovers his angel Willow is just like Nelle and “a nightmare dressed like a daydream”? Will General Hospital’s writers retcon Scout’s life anymore or will they remember that Scout’s mom Sam was an experienced scuba diver and that Drew was away most of Scout’s childhood and Sam is probably the one who first taught her how to swim? Are Michael and BLQ going to become the new solid voting block at Deception — much to Lucy and Tracy’s dismay?

Will we find out that new Scout is a Gilmore Girl because she has that rat-a-tat-tat banter speed that I dig? Will Liz succeed in getting Drew that meeting for a communication device after someone fishes his wheelchair out of the lake? Are Alexis and Valentin going to be meeting weekly for Cassadine catchups? (I hope so)

Only tomorrow knows dear readers, and I will tune in tomorrow as long as there are tomorrows.

Before You Check Out

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