IN OUR OPINION

Coop (Jason Gerhardt) and Maxie (Kirsten Storms)

— ABC

January 28, 2008

From Mala Bhattacharjee
The bloodcurling scream GENERAL HOSPITAL's Maxie let loose today when she discovered Coop hanging from the ceiling at Kelly's pretty much sums up my feelings toward my once-favorite show. In fact, I would have made that sound myself but didn't want to freak out my colleagues. In recent years, GH has really upped the ante on violence. Perhaps because it's the fastest way to land someone in a hospital? Who knows! All I know is that Emily going thud at the Black and White Ball, Georgie's limp, pale body sprawled out on the steps at the park, pre-teen Michael buying a gun, and an already grieving young woman finding her boyfriend's hanging corpse...these visuals are not ones I want in the middle of the afternoon. Luke raped Laura 30 years ago. Shouldn't we be over violence by now? When is it going to be out of style to watch brutal murders and attacks on women and little kids wielding weapons? If I wanted all that, I'd Netflix the Faces of Death collection or the Saw movies instead of tuning into a soap opera. I honestly thought GH couldn't get any creepier than Ric tossing pregnant Carly in a Panic Room in 2003 and planning to harvest the baby and kill her. The last three months have proven me wrong (while Ric babysits cute kids and has coffee with pretty ladies, oddly enough).

A little bit of high hostage drama and various gun battles with cops and bad guys are expected on soaps. Hey, I loved the Metro Court hostage storyline — primarily because Mr. Craig was a sociopath, no bones about it, and his malicious glee was just that: his malicious glee. The recent slew of murders is a different story. It's the camera that's gleeful, lingering on Georgie's bent limbs and Maxie's stricken face — and that's too much for me. I just want a little light, a little romance — maybe just a little hope that someone in PC is happy.

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January 28, 2008

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