Over a 12-month period, every soap opera will have a dip, a lull, a low – and General Hospital is no different. But why dwell on the occasional misfire, when you can accentuate the positives, and celebrate the very best of the best?
General Hospital: Best of the Best of 2021
Most Captivating Couple That Isn’t Really One…Yet
It’s like two porcupines trying to mate…how do they do it? Well, if you’re super spies Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) and Anna Devane (Finola Hughes), you do it slowly, carefully, and with stunningly accurate dialogue that’s playful and flirty.
They haven’t quite pulled the trigger (as of this writing) on being a full-fledged romance but that hasn’t stopped “Vanna” fans from swooning whenever these two are anywhere near each other. Something tells us though that when they do, it will have been worth the wait.
Best Character Revitalization
While some may think Selina Wu (Lydia Look) is a new character, she’s actually been attending mob meetings for years. Now with the escalating mob wars thanks to Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober) and her nephew Brad Cooper (Parry Shen) in play, Selina has risen in Port Charles stature — and mixes things up with the Corinthos clan. Is she an ally? Is she a major chess player, moving the pieces? Anything can happen and Look has everyone on social media buzzing about what her character may do next. That’s success!
Best Job With A Most Uneviable Task
Poor Cynthia Watros has had to deal with angry fans upset that her character Nina Reeves is coming between longtime supercouple Sonny and Carly. She’s been written doing unbelievable things but in the skilled hands of this Daytime Emmy-winning actress, we can’t help but root for Nina.
And yes, by “we” we mean Soap Hub. We realize not all fans agree but considering Nina could have easily been played as one-note, Watros has given an incredibly layered performance each and every time she’s onscreen, showing that Nina acts out from a place of having endured incredible pain and betrayal in her life.
Best Written Hour
It was a plethora of riches as Willow Tait was grilled on the stand, desperate to hold onto Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Nina Reeves’s (Cynthia Watros) secret, and the tension built until an extremely satisfying end — complete with Carly Corinthos (Laura Wright) finally learning the truth.
Opposite that, a finally happy Martin Grey (Michael E. Knight) was told by his best client (and pal) Valentin that he had to choose between him and sex with Lucy Coe (which apparently was super fun), Anna putting Victor Cassadine (Charles Shaughnessy) on notice, Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) mooning for Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard), Marshall Ashford (Robert Gossett) making an offer to Epiphany Johnson (Sonya Eddy), and so much more. This was the kind of soapy goodness viewers live for!
Best General Hospital Reveal
General Hospital screwed up a few reveals (Drew Cain learning off-camera about BFF Franco Baldwin’s murder, Sonny’s non-reaction to finding Carly/Jason married and in his bedroom just to name a couple), but as the “Best Written Hour” says above, Willow’s spilling the Sonny secret had all the fireworks we’d been hoping for! That look Carly threw Sonny’s way of complete humiliation and betrayal will fuel Internet memes for months alone!
Best Character Turn
Laura Collins (Genie Francis) went to visit her evil brother Cyrus and learned that he wasn’t the one who tried to kill her — because he’s found, God! The fact Laura couldn’t stop laughing only made it better as her confused bro couldn’t understand why he wasn’t immediately believed.
This has so much story potential, especially if he manages to get out and return to Port Charles in the style of One Life to Live’s revivalist preacher Mitch Laurence (played deliciously by the late Roscoe Born)…making us wonder every second if his turn is real. Here’s hoping they do it since any scene featuring Kober and Francis together is gold.
Best Siblings
Hands down, you could spin off Martin and his half-sister Laura hiding out in witness protection into a new show and it would be must-see viewing. These two vets show everyone how it’s done with their razor-sharp comedic timing and ability to dig deep for the drama as well. Kudos to both actors and here’s hoping we get to see more of them getting to know each other and bonding.
GH Quick Takes
Best Character To Get More Family
While General Hospital didn’t exactly need yet another back-from-the-dead character this year (Sonny, Victor, Drew, Peter–seriously?!?), expanding Curtis Ashford’s (Donnell Turner) family with his father Marshall’s return is to be applauded. Here’s hoping there’s a story worthy of both actors coming in 2022.
Best Uniform
Brook Lynn’s blazer. That thing will never come off, not even in the steam room.
Best Reaction
When Kristina Corinthos Davis (Lexi Ainsworth) saw her father back from the dead, she was EVERYTHING!
Best Shoulder to Lean On
Hands down, that goes to Phyllis Caulfield (Joyce Guy), who managed to chastise Nina’s actions while still remaining her friend and sounding board. Tough love with a gentle touch — fantastic addition to Port Charles and Charlie’s.
Best Friendship Circle
The teen (well, not for too much longer) scene can’t be beat! We love how they are all there for each other! The addition of Nicholas Alexander Chavez as an aged-up Spencer Cassadine has been incredible.
Most Poignant Child Performance
Easton Rocket Sweda touches our collective cold dead hearts whenever he appears onscreen as Leo Falconeri. Here’s hoping we see far more of him and his on-screen parents, Ned Quartermaine (Wally Kurth) and Olivia Falconeri Quartermaine (Lisa LoCicero) as they go on his Autism journey together.
Best Villain
Victor looks ready to unseat Cyrus (whom we LOVE) as the new Big Bad in town and we are so here for it.
Most Fun Couple
We thought Scott Baldwin (Kin Shriner) and Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) were a shoo-in for this one (and frankly, they are), but they need to watch out next year for stiff competition from Lucy (Lynn Herring) and Martin if he ends up choosing her over Valentin.
Non-Couple With Most Potential
BLQ and Chase trying to avoid their feelings for each other is giving us all the feels. Keep up the slow burn — it’s so soapy and we love it! Honorable mention goes to Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) and her blossoming friendship (?) with Harmony Miller (Inga Cadranel). Will GH really go there? Yes, please!
Best Unnecessary Heartbreak
Kudos must be given to Sofia Mattsson (Sasha Gilmore) and Johnny Wactor (Brando Corbin) for acting the heck out of their incredibly sad story of the loss of baby Liam. Not at all what fans want from their Christmas soap viewing, but both actors certainly delivered the goods and then some.
General Hospital (GH) 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 that’s been posted on GH spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.
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