In the first two parts of our review, let's start with some of the the main events of the year, and then we'll look more in depth at the characters.
The Text Message Killer - a Fast Way to Cut Your Budget
I invite reader comments, as always, but I was never of a fan of this contrived story that only served to get rid of a number of characters: Leticia Juarez, Emily, Georgie and Coop. I never understood Diego's motives, and that includes back when he was the stalker. Sage's diary seemed a little lame to me.
Back from the dead, Diego's identity as the killer was revealed when Kate ripped off his mask while he held her captive. As a result of the struggle, his car crashed; Elizabeth was in the trunk. Nikolas, finally remembered who murdered Emily and killed Diego, for real this time. The bomb that Diego had set in Alcazar's warehouse, however, caused Carly to miscarry.
Logan Hayes - The Guy Fell On a Knife I Was Holding
After being rejected by Lulu, who really loves Johnny Zacchara, Logan went after her, and Lulu stabbed him in self-defense. Rather than say that, however, Johnny took the blame. Lulu and Johnny escaped and lived on the run for a time in New York City until Lulu was seeing Logan everywhere and spent most of her time screaming her guts out. Johnny then brought her to Shadybrook and was arrested. In what was not exactly the trial of the century - you could drive a Swiss cheese through the stupid legal mistakes - Claudia's heartfelt and lying testimony helped to get Johnny acquitted. This story was a conduit to getting Lulu into Shadybrook and reconnecting with her mother. Hope no budding law students were watching that trial, though.
Laura Returns from the Dark Side - or Does She?
Fans were thrilled to see Genie Francis back in the show as Laura, out of her catatonic state at last - or was that just in her daughter Lulu's imagination? It took us a while to find out, but while waiting, we were privy to some wonderful scenes between Laura and Lulu, as Lulu fought her own demons after the death of Logan. Laura, who was indeed awake, in the end agreed to leave town with Scott Baldwin if he would not press charges against Lulu for the accidental killing of Logan. Scott wanted to rekindle their love, so he took Laura to Los Angeles, where they had honeymooned so many years before.
When Laura confessed that she still loved Luke, Scott hit her up with the fact that Luke had been married to Tracy the last time Laura woke up, and that the remarriage she had gone through with him was a sham! This led to some pretty dicey scenes between Luke and Laura. Laura finally decided to go to France and get some more treatment so that her cure would be permanent. She left, unaware that Scott was also on the plane.
Luke has decided to stay with Tracy, if she'll have him, so the situation is ripe with possibilities. What if Laura returns to Port Charles and decides she now wants to fight for Luke? Will he be so sure he is committed to Tracy then?
The Shooting of Michael Corinthos - or a Painless Way to SORAS
Soap Opera Rapidly Aging Syndrome, or SORAS, is a reality for many children who play soap opera characters. It's only a few, like Kimberly McCullough (Robin) and Robyn Richards (Maxie) who play a character from childhood into adulthood. Producers decided that Michael Corinthos (Dylan Cash) had been a little boy long enough. They decided to do the SORAS thing by having Michael shot, then lapse into a coma and have to be moved to a long-term care facility somewhere out of camera range. There he remains until such time as the producers are ready to bring an older Michael back to Port Charles.
This story arc was a tragic one for everyone - his parents, of course,Sonny and Carly, who gave into their grief by having sex in a limousine; Kate, who was engaged to Sonny and whom Sonny protected from bullets, earning Carly's undying hatred; Jason, who loved Michael as his own child; and little Morgan, Michael's brother, who probably doesn't understand where his big brother went. Claudia Zacchara, the woman who hired a hit man, Ian, to shoot Sonny but who hit Michael instead, is right in front of Sonny's nose. He doesn't know it yet. Whoa - wait until he finds that out.
Wedding Interrupted by the Birth of Baby Emma
The much-anticipated wedding of Robin Scorpio and Patrick Drake finally took place, after months of dialogue about how Robin couldn't marry Patrick because he really didn't want to be married and Patrick proposing over a loudspeaker and being turned down. Actually, the wedding came as a relief. Robin looked absolutely beautiful in a gorgeous gown, and though Patrick was delayed in surgery, he showed up.
The ceremony had just started, however, when Robin went into labor. Though it was an emergency Cesarean, little Emma emerged and won everyone's hearts, especially Dad's and Mom's. Also, the baby's HIV tests were negative. Robin was quite ill for a time, and as of this writing, is going slightly crazy as a new mom. But it will all be worth it in the end.
Wedding Interrupted by Shots Fired at the Bride
There was another wedding in Port Charles and, in General Hospital tradition, the big weddings with the beautiful gowns and the bridesmaids usually don't happen. One must always opt for smaller ceremonies. Kate Howard, fashionista, didn't know this - though she had an inkling when everything started going wrong - and she walked down the aisle to meet both Sonny Corinthos and a bullet before the "I do" could leave her lips.
Kate basically lost her chance to grab Sonny while the grabbing was good, though one doubts she would have been very happy with him. He re-embraced his inner mob with a vengeance, saying it was in order to avenge her shooting. We all know that's just an excuse. Sonny hated losing his power, and he used the shooting as an excuse to get it back.
Next week - A Port Charles institution is no more, a kidnapping, a secret, and Sonny regains his power.
Homepage Photo: ABC/Adam Larkey
