Some actors go big in their performance, all the time perhaps, unnecessarily so. Michael Easton doesn’t do that opting instead to bring an understated strength and wry wit to his role as General Hospital’s Dr. Hamilton Finn. However, when the time calls for it, as it did in this recent storyline, Easton knows when and how to express a full range of emotions. For his recent performances as a man passionately fighting to save the life of his “son,” Soap Hub bestows Performer of the Week honors upon Easton.
Michael Easton — Performer of the Week
For weeks, Easton had been playing his character’s frustration of not being able to help Chase (Josh Swickard), who’d imbibed some poison that Peter (Wes Ramsey) meant for Finn to consume. Finn wasn’t just dealing with Chase’s life hanging in the balance. Every time he was asked about Peter, Finn deftly covered as he kept secret the fact that Peter is as dead as a doornail (we think) following his tumble down a staircase, and he won’t be harming anyone anymore (yeah, right).
Finn turned to nurse Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) during this crisis. When he fell into despair, Liz was there with encouragement, support, and friendship. There’s an attraction that both Easton and Herbst leaned into a bit, but not so much that Chase’s welfare didn’t remain their top concern.
In his scenes with Chase, Easton played Finn as being clearly emotional over the young man’s condition, but he also tried to cover the angst he was feeling that Chase might not make it.
Just when all seemed lost, the tide turned in Chase’s favor. Cyrus (Jeff Kober) was leaving General Hospital to go to prison. The crime lord taunted Finn that his relationship with his newfound son was going to be short-lived. Something in the phrasing of Cyrus’s words prompted both Finn (and viewers) to take notice. The episode ended with a realization striking a speechless Finn. (GH does amazing tags! Tomorrow’s show can never come soon enough!)
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Even though it meant losing a “son,” Finn quickly embraced the revelation that hit him thanks, ironically, to evil Cyrus – his attempt to save Chase using DNA from his parents (Finn and Jackie, played by Kim Delaney) didn’t work because Gregory (Gregory Harrison) was Chase’s biological dad! Easton played hopeful joy as Chase now had another chance!
The actor showed that dark humor can be injected into a person’s most stressful moments in life. When Gregory asked Finn if Cyrus had a problem with him (trying to figure out the motive for Cyrus’s machinations with Chase’s original paternity test), Finn quipped, “Who doesn’t?”
While the theory that Gregory is Chase’s dad was probable, Finn didn’t let his emotions override the medical process. Ever the doctor, Finn knew that the science wouldn’t lie. He insisted on waiting for a second round of DNA tests (Cyrus rigged the first one) before coming up with another treatment to save Chase’s life.
Finn’s hoping that he’ll be in time as Chase’s vitals have plummeted. Meanwhile, Easton’s performances are soaring high. General Hospital (GH) airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for airtimes.
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