The Best And Worst On General Hospital, Young and Restless, DAYS, B&B and BTG The Week Of Nov. 17-21
From Sidwell (Carlo Rota) ending Laura’s (Genie Francis) reelection with a bang — literally — on General Hospital to the nuptials of Danny (Michael Damian) and Christine (Lauralee Bell) on The Young and the Restless, here are our critics’ picks for the best and worst on soaps last week.
The Best
General Hospital: Dalton Dies; Sonny Rescues Laura
“You are trying to frame my grandson for a crime he didn’t commit, and I promise that will not end well for you,” Laura threatened Dalton after the sketchy professor falsified evidence that Rocco had vandalized his lab. Multiple witnesses recorded the argument on their phones, an ominous (and clever) hint of what was to come. At the time, we thought, along with Laura, that her public display of rage might cost her the election. It did not — but the true consequences are poised to be much more complicated.
Dalton later learned the WSB was onto his illegal dealings, and showed up drunk at Wyndemere to demand that Sidwell get the government to back off. A scornful Britt pronounced Dalton useless; Sidwell agreed with her and proved it by killing him in cold blood. Britt freaked, and Sidwell pronounced it a lesson in what happens to anyone who crosses him.
Like Laura did when she refused Sidwell’s demand to help him secure Sonny’s piers. She barely gave that a thought until she got a flat tire and opened her trunk to find Dalton’s dead body inside. Shaken, Port Charles newly reelected mayor dialed her phone: “I’m in trouble!” Up pulled Detective Nathan West, but that wasn’t who she had called. “Hello, Officer,” smiled Sonny, who appeared just in time to stop Nathan from opening Laura’s trunk. Exit the cop; enter Jason to “take care of it.”
It speaks to the dangerous city Laura runs on GH that she called the local mob boss instead of the police when she found a body, but it will certainly spark more drama than if she had dialed 911. Sonny and Laura later reasoned that “somebody” didn’t like the results of her election, and concluded it could only be one person: Sidwell.
Beyond The Gates: Izaiah Shakes Up Fairmont Crest
BTG needed help in the young male department and they got it with the addition of Jacob’s sizzling brother, Izaiah Hawthorne. He was introduced as a rebel in scenes with his estranged father, which gave Izaiah instant rooting value since Chief Hawthorne is a crooked cop. Next, we learned Izaiah is cool with his honest detective brother and local mob boss Joey Armstrong, which gave him layers. But he really sparked when he shared scenes at Uptown with fellow fireball Eva Thomas.
“You’ve got a lot of guys circling you,” Izaiah surmised as the two discussed dating. She labeled him “smooth” and said he’d have to earn her attention. That launched a discussion of worth and Izaiah asked for “permission to act.” He then planted a big, smoochy kiss on Eva, interrupted by a call from — who else? — Eva’s bitchy mother Leslie.
Later, we saw Izaiah in action as the student advisor at Banneker University when Tyrell needed advice about staying local vs. following his girlfriend to UCLA. “I feel you,” counseled Izaiah, confiding that his girlfriend had just dumped him. “That’s the thing about life,” he shared. “Endings, even the ones that gut you, can always lead to better beginnings.”
Wow. He is smooth.
Young and Restless: Cricket and Danny Wed
They’re not on screen a lot, but Y&R treated OG royalty Christine “Cricket” Blair and Danny Romalotti to an A-list wedding for their long-awaited second union. The guest list included Cricket’s returning bestie Nina and their old pal Amy, which gave the women the chance to confront Cane on his role in their sons’ deaths before the ceremony (festive!). Phyllis also stuck her nose into the preparations, claiming innocence when Danny’s back-in-town sister Gina accused her of causing trouble. “If the broom fits,” commented Danny.
Lauren and Nina helped Cricket get ready, which hit a snag when a bouquet of mums arrived and the allergic bride started sneezing. Lauren blamed the delivery on Phyllis, but an oblivious Esther later bragged she was the one who chose the mums. Another arrangement showed up (no bad buds this time!) with a classy card from Chris’s ex-husband, Paul, wishing them a lifetime of happiness. The vows went off without a hitch, with Danny telling Cricket her name was “written across his heart” years ago. “The destiny couple has sealed the deal,” pronounced officiant Michael Baldwin (guess donating that kidney to the groom continues to pay dividends!).
Having Phyllis and Danny’s son Daniel walk Christine down the aisle was a choice, but at least Phyllis took it well. Ha! Coming attractions showed the rabble-rousing redhead interrupting the reception, which means this union will begin just as their previous one ended — with Phyllis causing trouble.
Days of Our Lives: Sami’s Exes Meet Up
What’s the next best thing to Sami Brady staying in Salem? Her former loves getting together to talk about her.
“Well, if it isn’t the inaugural meeting of The Sami Brady Ex-Husband’s Club,” chortled Lucas when he spied EJ and Rafe at the Brady Pub. Rafe shared that Sami had just texted him from a plane to Bimini with her new fiancé, Dante Vitali, which prompted a crack about true love from EJ. “Let’s not get into some juvenile rivalry,” cautioned Rafe.
Too late! They discussed how all three men had been Sami’s great love at one point and Lucas snarked that her great love now appears to be Ava’s mobster cousin. What if the engagement is a ruse? posited Lucas, suggesting Sami lied about marrying a “bazillionaire” to get under their skin. Rafe dismissed that, saying Sami has matured and the three of them are not the center of her universe anymore.
“She’s the one who got away,” agreed Lucas wistfully. Same, said Rafe, proposing a toast to their mutual DAYS ex. EJ demurred, but raised his glass after they left. “To Samantha,” he whispered.
Indeed. Hurry back, Sami!
The Worst
Bold and Beautiful: Luna Escapes, And Dies. Again.
Every once in a while, a show comes up with a villain that’s too far out even for soaps. Such was the case with Luna Nozawa. So, while it made sense to kill the murderer/kidnapper/stalker/
First, the pregnant inmate — played with fierce conviction by Lisa Yamada, one of the most exciting talents to join the daytime fold in recent years — had to escape prison in a laundry cart, make her way to Will’s beach house in prison garb with no money, and try to convince the guy she drugged and sexually assaulted that she was “worthy of love.” A disgusted Will said he planned to take their baby from her but would never tell the kid about its “disgusting whore of a mother.” That became moot when Luna admitted she had miscarried.
Next, as word spread that Luna had escaped, everyone even remotely connected to this story raced to Will’s house to “catch” her. Luna heard the sirens and just… ran out the door. “I will scour this entire beach and drag her back to jail myself,” vowed Taylor, sporting four-inch heels.
Meanwhile, Daphne was recording a song for release with Forrester’s latest perfume (?) which B&B strangely interspersed with images of Luna’s acquaintances running through the fog yelling her name. “I love your badness just a little too much,” crooned Daphne as the camera cut to Bill, Katie, Taylor, Deacon, Sheila, Ivy, Li and Poppy galloping on the beach with phone flashlights. “You can run but you can’t hide!” yelled Bill as Luna ran and hid — and then got hit by a car.
“Luna is dead,” announced Chief Baker again. At best, it was high camp. At worst, it was unintentional farce. At last, it was over.
GH: Dante Keeps Rejecting Gio
How are we supposed to root for Gio to forge a relationship with his bio dad when all Dante does is privilege one son over the other? By continually favoring Rocco, he makes it clear to Gio that his “love” is conditional. The first time was when Gio actually saved Rocco from alcohol poisoning, but got blamed for it anyway. Most recently, Dante blamed Gio for the lab break-in that got Rocco arrested, which Gio had actually tried to call off.
This doesn’t feel like the Dante we know. Dante grew up without a father himself. Learning mobster Sonny was his bio dad was a shocker for the good cop, but father and son achieved a detente and are close now. The fact that Dante won’t show the same grace to his own out-of-the-blue offspring doesn’t track. “Dante doesn’t want me as his son,” lamented a forlorn Gio to Sonny, who tried to defend Dante by saying that Rocco will get released and time will heal. Gio responded by saying his bio dad isn’t mad at what he did, he’s mad at “who I am.”
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