A Critic’s Review of General Hospital: Kidnapping and Revenge

When it comes to General Hospital, every fan has their own opinion — and Soap Hub is no different. For five days, we sat and watched the good, the bad, and everything in between. Here we lead with optimism. Unfortunately, we don’t always get what we want. So here’s a review of GH’s week that was.

What I’m Feeling This Week: Euphoria Over the Return of Nikolas

Last week, Nikolas returned to Port Charles seeking out Ava. The scenes between Adam Huss and Maura West were wonderful to watch. Things with those two always alternate between extreme heat and extreme hate.

This week, Nikolas finally showed up for his son (Adam Huss talks about the scenes here). Their dysfunctional relationship has layers of layers of baggage and damage. Imagine my surprise when Spencer (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) didn’t lead with aggressive anger and Nikolas didn’t lead with extreme defensiveness.

For a change, the two were able to take accountability. Yes, Spencer still felt a measure of anger, but overall, he understood his father a little more. He was finally able to tap into the angst and pain that came with Esme (Avery Kristen Pohl) manipulating his life into something he no longer recognized. And he must have tapped into those paternal feelings he has for his brother. Because he actually led with empathy and with restraint and an apology.

As a result, Spencer asked Nikolas to stay while Nikolas asked Spencer to go with him…and Ace (Jay and Joey Clay). Both Chavez and Huss brought exactly what was needed to provide scenes filled with guilt, anger, understanding, love, and conflict. Nik wanted to stay but he couldn’t. He wasn’t ready to give himself up to the police. Spencer wanted to go, but he couldn’t. He has a life, he has Trina (Tabyana Ali). And he’s not giving up his happiness anytime soon.

All this to say that it was great watching the back-and-forth of the scenes. Was I shocked when Spencer let Nikolas leave with Ace? Yes! Also, how adorable was Ace as he rested his head on Nikolas’s shoulder? These were scenes that made me hit rewind so I could experience it all over again.

Other GH Thoughts

Frustration Central: Laura (Genie Francis) being a ride-or-die for Esme is probably one of the most frustrating things on daytime for me right now. I adore Genie Francis and I adore Mayor Laura Collins. And I get that I’m more aware of what is going on with Esme than Laura is, but I don’t care.

As irrational as it sounds, it’s hard for me to see Laura go to bat for her over and over again. Even as Pohl is acting her heart out time after time. She’s so good. But I digress. Even finding out that Dark Esme is back, Laura’s clinging to the fact Spencer may be wrong (which he’s not).

Is it Just Me: Or is Carly (Laura Wright) noticing Drew’s (Cameron Mathison) personality change more and she may not be digging it? I liked that she and Sam (Kelly Monaco) had a conversation about it as well. For now, I think things are OK. She knows he’s been going through stuff. But who knows down the road….

Second Best Interaction: Trina and Esme. Aside from Nikolas and Spencer, the courtroom conversation between Trina and Esme was pretty glorious. The look on Esme’s face when she realized Trina and Spencer were headed to Paris for a semester was everything. I need Tabyana Ali to tell me how fun it was to say these words:

• Esme: “Although I know Spencer is gonna miss you like crazy while you’re abroad.”
• Trina: “Yeah. Yeah, he might. If he wasn’t coming with me.”

Favorite Social Media Theory: Drew firing Nina (Cynthia Watros)/making her sign a resignation letter. The second this happened during Friday’s episode, fans must have Googled Whistleblower 101 and checked with their legal pals and came up with the next logical step for this story.

The short story is that whistleblowers are protected and Drew replacing her like he just did is a no-no. Nina could have a perfect case for coming after Drew legally and more lethally than what he just did to Nina. Let’s see what GH comes up with next, huh?

No Fallout Whatsoever: Nina spilling the beans on Michael (Chad Duell) blackmailing her and knowing what she did for months has had almost no consequences. So far, anyway. Maybe Drew will have something to do or something further to say about it, but everybody else was like oh well.

Burning Question: Why has nobody apologized to Ned (Wally Kurth) for targeting him as the whistleblower? Specifically, Michael and Drew. They need to acknowledge that.

Still Processing: Blaze (Jacqueline Grace Lopez) and Kristina (Kate Mansi). I’m trying to get on board with these two. First, they haven’t actually seen each other in a while. And when Kristina initially called their relationship and was like, “Have a nice life,” I was fine. So now that they are circling each other again, I hope they come up with something to make me feel for them together. I’m good with each of them separately.

Feeling It: Jordan (Tanisha Harper) in trouble. It looks like Jordan is getting story, and I’m here for it. Who took her? I’m excited to find out what’s next for the deputy mayor. And, please, tell me Anna (Finola Hughes) is going to help her out! Because I need Anna and Jordan scenes in my life. Also, Anna needs a win.

General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Port Charles, check out all the latest GH spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.

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