General Hospital viewers knew Chris McKenna was reportedly on his way out, but Jack Brennan’s final fate still delivered a major shock. On Monday’s episode, Charlotte and Danny made a disturbing discovery when they found a dead body floating in the pool. The show kept the victim’s identity under wraps until the following episode, when it was revealed to be Brennan.
Key Takeaways
- Brennan’s sudden death comes just weeks after his dramatic rescue.
- McKenna admits he’s disappointed by how his GH story ends.
- McKenna’s exit comes as several new faces arrive in Port Charles.
Aquatic Agent
There is definitely going to be drama surrounding the death of WSB agent Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna), but was it worth it if the character is really dead?
There’s certainly no shortage of explanations for how Brennan ended up in the pool. Ava (Maura West) drugged him, setting up the possibility that he fell in and drowned. He threatened Willow (Katelyn MacMullen), which rarely ends well. Nina (Cynthia Watros) caused a scene with him. Drew (Cameron Mathison) was determined to get the evidence Brennan was concealing, which set the entire drugging plan in motion. And, as a WSB agent, Jack has accumulated plenty of enemies of his own.
Why Now?
The bigger question may be why the ABC soap chose to take Brennan out now. It was just over a month ago that Jack nearly died at the hands of Cullum, only to be rescued in the nick of time. What was the point of saving him then, only to seemingly kill him off a short time later? Wouldn’t there have been a bigger dramatic payoff if Brennan had died as part of the carnage surrounding Cullum?
Then there’s Nina. Why start exploring a pairing between Brennan and Nina if McKenna was going to be out not long afterward? Their developing connection seemed to open another avenue for Brennan just as his story was apparently coming to an end.
There are also some head-scratching details surrounding the pool itself. Drew couldn’t get Brennan out of the water because he claimed he couldn’t move Brennan alone, so he enlisted Ava’s (Maura West) help. Yet, only a week or so earlier, Drew was parading around the pool with his six-pack, veiny arms, and killer tan, looking like he had never spent a minute in a wheelchair, let alone months.
Yes, Cameron Mathison is in phenomenal shape, but if Drew was soon going to be too physically weak to handle Brennan’s body without Ava’s help, maybe give the guy a shirt. Especially considering Ava is petite and slender herself.
Now comes the question of who did it or did he fall in the pool after being dosed with the sleeping pill. Danny, Ava, and Drew’s fingerprints are all over the body from touching him in the pool, so if the body is found, they would be suspects. Given that he worked for the WSB, we would expect the investigation to be thorough.
Why Brennan?
It seems that with the influx of new characters on GH, Brennan may have become easily disposable, and that would be a real shame. The newer additions haven’t necessarily captured the same spark McKenna brought to Jack.
Alimi Ballard was just announced as yet another new character, while Steve Burton (Jason) revealed on his podcast that an old character with a new face — played by an actor who has appeared in primetime and film — has also joined the show as a recast.
With characters continuing to arrive while Brennan exits, it’s difficult not to wonder what happened behind the scenes. Was McKenna’s departure simply a creative decision? Or could budget considerations have played a role?
Unless someone involved with the show confirms the reason, that remains speculation. But Brennan’s apparent death is particularly frustrating because the character still seemed to have several directions his story could have taken.
Gracious Exit
McKenna had clearly connected with GH viewers. A petition was even started after word broke that Brennan’s days in Port Charles were numbered.
While fans may be in an uproar over the decision, McKenna is taking his departure in stride while also acknowledging his disappointment.
“I’m really grateful,” McKenna told TV Insider. “It’s disappointing how it’s ending right now, but this was a gift.”
The actor also reflected on becoming a father and having General Hospital as his workplace for the past couple of years, calling the experience a “fantastic time” and saying it had been “so much fun.”
McKenna’s daytime career began on One Life to Live, where he played Joey Buchanan from 1990 to 1993. More than two decades later, he returned to soaps as Detective Mark Harding on The Young and the Restless, appearing from 2014 to 2015.
Now, his latest daytime run appears to have ended with Brennan floating lifeless in a pool — even though the character seemingly had plenty of story left to tell.
I am definitely disappointed in this decision to off Brenna. Do you feel that same now that Brennan is dead and McKenna is off GH? Do you think there was more story to tell with Jack? Sound off in the comments.
