PAYBACK: Why Ava HAD to Burn on General Hospital

We’re so used to seeing Ava get away with just about everything on General Hospital (GH) that many were shocked to learn that fire she started wouldn’t be another close call, but a life-changing event.

Fans were as shocked as Kiki (Hayley Erin) when Epiphany (Sonya Eddy) announced Ava had severe burns on more than half her body. That often means death is imminent, and if it doesn’t, it means a whole new way of life.

We thought Ava (Maura West) had paid with a prison term, a fall off a bridge during a prison escape, and then a bout with cancer back in 2015, but of course she came back stronger than ever–and made sure nobody found that flash drive with her confessing to Connie’s murder.

That’s why GH Head Writer Jean Passanante and Shelly Altman felt another prison sentence wasn’t nearly enough for Ava–plus it would keep her from interacting with pivotal characters.

According to the June 12 issue of Soap Opera Digest, the writers wanted her to have her comeuppance, but not in the typical manner.

“Ava has done some truly horrific things and is, in a sense, responsible for Morgan’s death,” said Passanante. “It really kind of comes down to, she has to pay.

“We wanted her to pay in a way that forces her to look inward,” she added. “Having something that severe happen to her, which will literally mark her, makes her…very vulnerable…[and] makes everything about her life different.”

Of course, Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Carly (Laura Wright) still want charges pressed when Ava recovers–IF she recovers. When Griffin (Matt Cohen) gives her a prognosis, it looks pretty bad, so who knows what’s in store from this sociopath we love to hate (and even sometimes love)?

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