Volume I, Issue vi

February 1999

GH in Review by Amy McWilliams

View a section by clicking on the links below, or read the entire review by scrolling down. The review takes up 8 separate pages, but the navigation at the top and bottom of each remains consistent.

General Hospital

Carly/Jason/Robin

Carly/Jason/Robin cont.

Sonny

The Cassadines

The Cassadines cont.

Mac and Felicia

Justus

Jax

The Spencers

Bobbie

Lucky and Elizabeth

Laura

The Quartermaines

Mac and Felicia

• Bobbie gladly tells Mac and Felicia that he'll be going home soon, and the happy couple celebrates. Felicia asks him to take it easy for a while, however, and demonstrates that she's quite willing to force or coerce him into doing just that. Meanwhile, Alan drops by and Mac thanks him for saving his life. (12/29)
• Felicia happily takes Mac home in time for the New Year. He protests the wheelchair, but Bobbie and Monica insist, teasing him that they could keep him until Spring. (12/30)
• Mac has convinced Felicia to let him out of the house, and they have dinner at the PC Grill. (1/8)
• Tony comes to the house to ask Felicia to sign his petition for visitation rights. She tells him that she won't sign it; she won't take action on either his side or Bobbie's. Tony begins to threaten, and Mac overhears. (1/13)
• Felicia then fills Mac in on Robin's troubles, and he makes it clear he wants her away from Jason. She reminds him that Robin needs someplace safe to go right now with all of her emotions, and he agrees to make their home just that place. (1/13)

Mac: "Did I miss something? Was I dreaming, or did the doctor recommend rest?"
Felicia: "For you, not for me."
Mac: "Well, I don't sleep so good without you anymore."
Felicia: "Oh, you're so sweet."
Mac: "And I especially don't sleep so good without you naked."

Felicia: "I'll make up the sofa so you can sleep downstairs."
Mac: "Why? Did we have a fight?"

Mac: "Have you decided what you want?"
Felicia: "Yes--you in bed."
Mac: "Well, that sounds good to me."
Felicia: "Stop it. You know what I mean. I should have never let you pressure me into going out like this tonight."

Felicia and Mac are adorable, but they have no plot. They are only there as so much comic filler, or to play very minor supporting roles in other people's scenes. This is one of the primary wastes of potential on the show right now, and it's a crying shame. They are charming and romantic, just what the tone of the show needs somedays, and they have a huge history with half of the city.

Tony: "Fine. I don't need your signature. I'll get enough from other people, and I will do whatever is necessary to get Lucas."
Mac: "Would that include kidnapping?"

Mac: "Let me tell you about threatening my wife, Tony--don't."
Tony: "I wasn't threatening."
Mac: "Oh, that's good because you never know--I might take you seriously."
Tony: "I think we've all maybe said enough."
Felicia: "Maybe it's better that you leave now."
Mac: "And for future reference--your welcome into this home ended when you locked robin in a storage room and almost let her die of pneumonia."

Instead, Felicia is fed to the endless repetition of once-every-8-episodes Tony Jones scenes. At least this one was a variation of what we usually see. I actually found the Mac v. Tony aspect appealing this time, and wish they'd play out the dynamic between these three--the divided loyalties, the history--a bit more.

Justus

• Justus tells Moreno that he'll take the job as District Attorney if Moreno can get him elected. Dara is planning to run, and is shocked to hear the news that she'll be running against Justus. (1/7)
• Taggert and Dara are celebrating when Justus arrives. Dara and Justus confirm that they've both filed to run in the race for DA. Dara suggests that she could expose the Damien Smith murder, but he reminds her that she and Taggert have covered it up and are just as guilty. When Dara leaves, Taggert tells him that he knows about his involvement with Moreno and won't have to use his past crimes--just his present ones. Later, Edward offers Justus a campaign contribution, but Justus won't accept it. (1/13)

Why do we even have these characters again? Justus and Dara are sooooo not in any storylines that I do a double take when they actually appear on the screen. The scenes with Edward and Justus should have resonated with a complicated relationship and echoed with scenes from the past. As it was, this sequence was simply predictable filler. The race for DA is even more boring because it promises to take up time in other episodes. Feh.

• Jax is upset by the prospect of being auctioned off at the benefit, and goes to the Gatehouse to force Ned to take his place as payment for an oversight on Ned's part. Unfortunately for Ned, he's already been asked to participate. V and Alexis, however, plan to bid. (12/29)
• When Ned comes by before the auction, Jax is still hesitant about attending, but is determined to take part for the sake of Robin and Brenda, since this was a cause they both believed in because of their connection to Stone. Jax remembers the last New Year's Eve, which he spent with Brenda at the cottage. When he arrives, Robin is happy to see him. (12/30)
• Jax and Bobbie have dinner together at the auction, and they speak of Jerry. Jax tells her that his brother is a better person because of her influence. (12/31)
• Later, everybody returns to their regularly scheduled partner for a ring-in-the-New-Year kiss, but Jax stands alone, thinking of Brenda. (12/31)
• Jerry is late for a meeting with Jax on the docks. In the meantime, Jax runs into Alexis, who hints that Cassadine Industries may be vulnerable. When he arrives, Jax asks Jerry if he's fallen in love with Bobbie, and Jerry says yes. He admits he shouldn't have kept his business with Stefan a secret from her. Jax then asks him about that business, wanting to know what Jerry knows about Cassadine Industries. Jerry realizes Jax has a plan, and Jax asks his brother to become his business partner to take down the Cassadine financial empire. (1/4)
• Jax asks Katherine for information on Cassadine Industries. She insists that Nikolas not be hurt, then gives Jax a lead. He takes it to Jerry, who'll look into it. Jax is angry to see Sonny back in town; he tells Jerry that Sonny should have to pay for his crimes. Jax confronts Sonny, but Robin breaks up their fight. (1/8)
• After Robin puts a stop to the fight, Jax and Jerry talk again, and Jax makes it clear that he'll do anything to take down Sonny. (1/11)
• Jax goes to Mac and tells him that he'll stop Sonny if Mac doesn't or can't. (1/12)
• Jax asks Stefan's permission to fund research through GH on the disease that Brenda's mother had suffered from. Stefan agrees to speak to Monica. V comforts him, and Jax thanks her for being a good friend. (1/15)

Jax: "You know what I think is offensive?"
V: "Telephone solicitation calls at dinner time?"
Jax: "Presumption."

Ned: "Why isn't my mail on the desk? I apologize. I wouldn't be acting this way if I could only strangle my family. But I keep hearing that's illegal. If they're delivering you with the mail now, I'll be glad to pay more for stamps."

Ned: "Well, maybe it's just a late Christmas card."
Jax: "No. Read the address, Ned."
Ned: "'Ned Ashton, eligible bachelor.'"

Ned: "No way will I ring in the New Year with Katherine Bell. Been there, done that, really hated it."

The whole New Year's Eve thing came in like a lion with my current favorite fearsome foursome. Jax was angry that Katherine had asked him to participate when he was still mourning Brenda's loss, and Ned objected to Katherine on principle. I know the feeling.

Alexis: "You ever been on a blind date?"
V: "No."
Alexis: "They're horrible. Unless, of course, there's a larger purpose involved, you know, like, a football game or a wedding or something where there's a beginning and an end and then you both get on with your life as quickly as possible. Like new year's eve."
V: "Although, I have been on a deaf date. Yeah, this boy in eighth grade passed me a note and asked me to a graduation party, so I answered him in a note, and then we both went to the party and didn't talk to each other all night."
Alexis: "But see, with this buy-a-bachelor thing, he'd have to speak to you."
V: "True. Probably just couldn't sit there by the corn chips pretending to listen to "ebony and ivory" if you actually paid for him. In fact, if you paid for him, you could probably tell him how stupid he looked with his initials shaved into the back of his head."
Alexis: "Indeed, you could."

Ned: "Ok, I'm going and so is Jax. You can buy one of us."
Alexis: "Oh, but can I? I'm not sure how that works."
Ned: "Or you can buy someone else, and I can lurk at a respectful distance and look at you longingly."
V: "Well, now, I think that could work, don't you?"

Ned changed his mind at this, and Jax, having no other substitute, agreed to support the cause. The women were a hoot, but I sometimes feel like I can't reconcile the Alexis I have in these scenes with the Alexis I have elsewhere. It's like there's no hint of the horror that is her family life here, and I don't know if that's the character successfully putting aside the distasteful or the writing.

Ned: "Listen--if what's best for you tonight is listening to old blues records while polishing off a bottle of tequila, then I say do it. I'll make sure Katherine understands."

Jax: "Actually, I want to do it--for Robin and for Brenda."
Ned: "She would have thought us being auctioned off like cattle would be a real hoot."
Jax: "Yeah. There's not much Brenda loved more than watching one of us squirm. You know, I never knew Stone Cates. But he inspired a lot of love. And he died far too young. But now his name stands for something. And because of what's being done in his name, Robin has a better chance for a long and healthy life. So the least I can do is donate an evening of my time. I'll see you downstairs."

Bobbie: "Well, then I'm sure tonight will give the much-needed donations a big boost, even if it does make for some pretty strange dinner companions."
Jax: "Yeah. I wonder who's suffering more, Katherine Bell or my brother."
Bobbie: "Oh, Katherine, I'm sure. Imagine having to sit over dinner with Tony. Although, I don't think Jerry was too happy. I saw him leave."
Jax: "Well, he's never had too much patience with uncomfortable situations."
Bobbie: "Oh, I don't know about that. He's been pretty patient with you. Or should I mind my own business?"
Jax: "No, from the look of things, my brother is your business, so you have the right to say whatever you feel."
Bobbie: "I know he misses you."
Jax: "Well, sometimes I miss him, too."
Bobbie: "Until he does something that drives you right up the wall, and then you remember why you were so furious with him in the first place."

Jax: "Quite the crusader on Jerry's behalf, aren't you?"
Bobbie: "Oh, yeah, well, maybe it's my fatal weakness. You know, I am a sucker for scoundrels."
Jax: "Oh, he's not all bad. In fact, he's a lot better since he's met you."
Bobbie: "Better how?"
Jax: "Well, he's less self-absorbed, more vulnerable. You're the first woman who's really inspired him to try."
Bobbie: "Did he pay you to say that?"
Jax: "I wouldn't put it past him to offer, but I wouldn't have accepted. You've had a good effect on Jerry. Sometimes that happens--a person comes into your life and you think this will be fun or it'll be a good challenge, and the next thing you know, they're the most important person."

Jax ended up with Bobbie at the auction, which I loved (as I loved all the pairs). They spoke mainly of Jerry. Jax's last line was about his beginnings with Brenda, I know, but I wondered if they were also foreshadowing for a romance with either V or Alexis as well--or perhaps some other romantic combination in his sphere.

Alexis: "It was my pleasure. Happy New Year to you. Now that you're a player again, do you still specialize in hostile takeovers?"
Jax: "There's nothing I like better. Why, you know something I should?"
Alexis: "There may be an empire ripe for raiding soon."
Jax: "Wouldn't happen to be Cassadine industries, would it?"
Alexis: "Let's just say that I have a better understanding of what you went through last year."

This really has turned into a nice parallel set of characters. Within her family, Alexis is sympatico with Ned. Now that she is on the outside preparing to force her way in, she and Jax are in similar positions with regards to their brothers. Jax and Jerry are making the peace, but I suspect that will be a long time coming--if it ever does--for Stefan and Alexis. The line above was a nice touch.

Jerry: "Hold your firearms. I didn't bring you out here to twist your arm about anything. I just happened to notice that you and that beautiful redhead that you dined with on New Year's eve had an awful bloody lot to say. So, what did she have to say about me?"
Jax: "I don't believe it."
Jerry: "I swear I'm on the level. You know how unrelenting my curiosity is."
Jax: "That's not what I meant. You've really fallen in love this time, haven't you?"

Jerry: "Are you asking if I want to team up with you against Cassadine?"
Jax: "Let's get this straight. There's no promises about any future transactions, ventures, connections--anything. This is strictly a business arrangement having nothing to do with where we stand personally."
Jerry: "Agreed."
Jerry: "You have a plan?"
Jax: "I'm getting one. Cassadine won't know what hit him."

I think I'm going to like this...