Serena Baldwin’s reintroduction to daytime, a character born on General Hospital, raised on Port Charles, and who briefly resurfaced on GH in 2017, has arrived via daytime vet Kelly Kruger. She replaces Carly Schroeder, the young actress that won viewers hearts as Scott Baldwin’s precocious daughter; a child birthed by her surrogate mother, Lucy Coe. Kruger’s been slowly adjusting to her new role. Here’s how she’s been doing so far.
Serena’s Absent Advantage
As far as replacements go, Kruger finds herself in an enviable position. Although Schroeder was a fan favorite as a kid, she only appeared on the GH canvas as an adult for two episodes. Hence, there’s no preconceived notion about who the grown-up version of the character is, nor any specific game plan to follow.
Kruger has the luxury of molding the woman Serena’s become with her own subtle quirks and nuances. There won’t be any comparisons to a predecessor. She just has to nail the fiery spirit that a child raised by Scott (Kin Shriner) and Lucy (Lynn Herring) would have.
Kruger’s Dynamic Entrance
Serena’s entrance back onto the Port Charles scene, clad in a bikini and lounging on a chair at the Metro Court pool, has been specific and to the point. Mama Lucy summoned her daughter to town to seduce Michael (Rory Gibson) and get her hands on his Deception stocks.
She’s been reintroduced as a woman on a mission, and Kruger’s been handling her assignment quite adeptly. She’s played Serena as smart, sexy, in control, and able to manage the task at hand with ease.
Serena’s Family Ties
Since Kin Shriner is off the canvas as Scotty, Kruger doesn’t have to forge the number one bond in her life. Remember, Serena was always a chip off the old block as Scotty’s daughter.
Instead, Kruger’s only had to worry about her connection with Lynn Herring’s Lucy, and so far it’s been effortless and natural. There’s a genuine mother-daughter vibe between the pair.
Regarding her GH brother, Cody (Josh Kelly), the two siblings had never met until Kruger took over the role. So, once again, Kruger’s lucky enough to be able to mold her own unique bond with Kelly instead of having to recreate someone else’s version of it.
Is Serena a Match for Michael?
Rory Gibson’s Michael is prime for the taking now that Jacinda (Paige Herschell) has left town. Who better to mend his heart than Serena? Sure, she initially confronted him on Lucy’s behalf about Deception, but he quickly put her mind at ease noting that he plans to act in the company’s best interest and not get caught up in Lucy and Tracy’s drama.
It was an intriguing “meet cute” with a business twist, and there was definitely a magnetic pull between the two actors. On a soap lacking with couples to root for, Kruger and Gibson might have what it takes to create one.
The Verdict
Kruger has readily made her mark as the adult version of Serena. (Check out some interesting facts about the actress.) She’s played the character as sharp and savvy. Having already held down a pair of stints on soaps — as Mackenzie Browning on The Young and the Restless and Eva on The Bold and the Beautiful — Kruger knows the daytime drill well. She’s using that experience to her advantage and gets an A- for her work so far.
