Nikolas Cassadine & Jagger Cates Surprise Returns to General Hospital
Credit: ABC screenshot
This week saw the exit of Spencer and Esme on General Hospital, the latter we were taken aback by. Finn’s lawsuit, and Adam’s angst storylines both came to a quick end, and we are hoping one more storyline will get the same treatment. And just when we thought we couldn’t be surprised any further, Nikolas returned with Ace, and Jagger is back.
Man and Witch Overboard
Even though we knew Nicholas Chavez would be exiting as Spencer, it was still a shocking exit on many levels. In last week’s column, I speculated Esme might kidnap Spencer to trade for Ace, which turned out to be her plan. However, what transpired was far different, with Esme attempting to take out Spencer and Trina with a drug, only for Spencer and Esme to go overboard The Haunted Star, er, I mean the very familiar-looking French cruise ship. And even though we know Spencer is coming back, the shot of his turtle dove washing up on the beach was an emotional send-off.
However, the real shock was the news breaking that Avery Pohl is also out as Esme. For real? Sure once her memory came back they quickly wrote her into a corner like they did Nelle, so there really wasn’t much else they could do with her. I had previously mentioned that I wanted to see her character try and reconcile the new and old versions of herself and was glad to hear Laura mention that she never got the chance to do so as Nikolas taking Ace pushed her over the edge. Still, the thought that Esme is just gone is not something I saw coming at all.
More: Avery Pohl exits as Esme Prince
With both Esme and Spencer’s bodies not being found, they’ve set Esme’s return up nicely at some point in the future. For a second I thought another trip into some icy cold water would knock her memory back out. And I really thought the next time we’d see her she would be holding Spencer hostage as planned. I’m still not sold that Pohl and Esme are gone for good, and it won’t play out exactly that way with Esme and Spencer both returning together in a few months. What if though it’s Spencer who ends up with amnesia due to the drug, and Esme makes use of that to get her man. It also dawned on me that without Esme, we won’t get to see much more of Alley Mills as the fantastically nutty Heather Webber!
More: When will Spencer return?
Give Laura a Break!
My heart broke for Laura on Friday’s episode, especially when she told Kevin that it felt like her entire family was slipping away from her. So it was a great surprise when Nikolas and Ace were back at the end of the episode, as he clearly had heard about Spencer somehow given the tears in his eyes. And while I really would love for them to stay put in Port Charles, Monday’s preview has Laura telling Nikolas he belongs in prison. However, with Esme dead, the case against him might be pretty weak at this point. Do we hope they write Nikolas back permanently? One thing is for sure, Laura needs at least one kid in town! If not Nikolas, bring Lulu out of her coma, or Lucky back home. Laura needs a break!
Neverending Vendettas and Feuds
Oh brother, here we go again! Drew is out for blood, Nina’s blood, and plans to destroy her life for what she did to him and Carly. Many viewers are tired of Drew blaming Nina as he’s the one who did the crime, and he chose to do the time, sacrificing himself for Carly and leaving Scout behind. I have to commend Michael for not going along with Drew’s plan and helping him, realizing it could cost him Willow and his family. At least Michael is trying to move forward. I’ve said it before, but I think Drew’s plan could end up backfiring in some way, and may be the catalyst to bring Nina and Willow back together. Willow needs to wake up to the fact that none of these people are perfect, and they all keep fanning the flames of this feud. In fact, on Friday’s episode after the reporter Gemma’s article broke, Carly suspected Nina’s fingerprints were all over it, and Olivia was hoping she’d keep the peace. However, it’s Drew who is now keeping this feud alive.
I was glad to see that Olivia hasn’t completely turned on Nina, and keeps trying to give her good advice. And Nina really needs to listen to that advice, especially Olivia telling her to stop blaming all her mistakes on other people and have some humility.
It was nice to hear Carly voice her nervousness when it came to running the magazine, and that she is unsure of herself and her ability to do so. However, her first meeting with Tracy and the Deception gang seemed to make it evident that Carly was not going to have that difficult of a time running the magazine at all. I still hope I’m wrong, I want to see Carly not come out on top as usual. Perhaps Nina will take up Valentin’s offer and start a new magazine?
That’s It?
Just when Finn’s trial started to get interesting with the fact that Muldoon set Finn up, and he lost all his money when Carly and Drew inflated the worth of Aurora’s stocks, it was all over! Tracy confronted the wife, let her know what he husband did, and made a big donation to her GoFundMe to get her to drop the lawsuits. Well, at least this story is over and done with. If they don’t have Liz making a point to Carly about what her “crime” has done to people, will there have been any point to this storyline at all?
The same can be said of Adam’s storyline. After standing up to his father, that’s it! The actor is off the canvas as is his character. Mind you I felt as if the character brought nothing to the show as is, so I won’t miss this storyline. But seriously… why can’t the writers do the same with the surrogate storyline? Just end it!
More: Joshua Benard wraps as Adam
Shooting in Paradise
Brennan was back as Anna and Jordan grilled him for information on the shootings and the missing WSB guns connected to the crime. When Anna and Jordan left, Brennan teased he looked forward to seeing Anna again soon, and we look forward to seeing Brennan again too! He’s much too good of a character to be left in Pentonville!
As Anna and Jordan set up a sting to catch the criminal selling the stolen stash of guns, this unknown FBI agent showed up and was clearly connected to what was going down, and likely the one who had Jordan picked up a week ago to try and get her to stop investigating. Clues were sprinkled through Friday’s episode as to who he was, but it was Anna who was shocked when she realized it was Jagger Cates! Actually, everyone was pretty much shocked by the character’s return, oh, and the fact that he looks very, very different. Still, this has a lot of exciting potential, especially for Anna and Jordan and wherever this storyline is going… Port Charles’ new Police Commissioner maybe?
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Down in Puerto Rico, Sonny and Ava soon found out they weren’t safe anywhere as they were shot at from within the compound on Sonny’s private island. With Sonny noting this person knows how his security system works, it feels like an inside job… It’s feeling like this is all connected to how Jason comes back. Has he been brainwashed like Drew was, and sent to kill Sonny? Perhaps deep down he knows he shouldn’t be taking shots at Sonny, which is why he keeps missing.
Finally, Nina telling Ava that she and Sonny need to look out for one another, and Ava touching Sonny on the shoulder as a sign of support… Please, writers, let’s not go down this road! Nina only has one real friend left, she doesn’t need to lose her because Ava and Sonny decided to revisit the Quartermaine crypt! I also can’t shake the feeling that the next time there is an attempt on Sonny’s life it will be Nina who is hit, which could be another way to bring her and Willow back together, but also her and Sonny.
That’s it for my thoughts and opinions on this week’s shows. As always, leave yours in the comments!
Before you go, check out the gallery below of the to-do list that awaits the new General Hospital writers.
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