1998

Double Trouble "When Kristina Wagner (Felicia) returned to GH last summer after a three-month break, she (and we) were encouraged by the news that an entertaining Felicia/Mac storyline was in the works. Alas, what we were treated to was a nonsensical plod, er, plot about a stolen Aztec figure that was over faster than you could say, 'Hello, dolly!' Next!
Now, the two former lovers are embroiled in an equally meandering story in which look-alike James is doubling for Mac, while the real Mac is being held captive by the mysterious Tess. It sounds like an interesting story... and if James did anything other than pant after Felicia and Tess did anything other than drop veiled threats to Mac, it probably could be. Instead, this masquerade party stagnated for weeks, and it's been about as hard to swallow as Aunt Beulah's sardine-and-peppermint souffle. (Does Mac ever get to go to the bathroom?"
        Perhaps most disappointing is the misuse of entertaining actors like Wagner, John J. York (Mac/James) and Jane A. Robers (Tess), well known to soap fans from her stints on Santa Barbara (ex-Heather) and Bold and Beautiful (ex-Julie). Wagner and York have proven they can pull off storylines meatier (and funnier) than this, so give them the material necessary to turn this plot into the romantic comedy/thriller we were expecting.
        GH keeps assuring us that the payoff for this storyline will be worth the wait. We're  just crossing our fingers (and eyes) that we'll be awake when/if it happens."

GH's Mac-abre Misstep "In the tapestry of exquistely stitched together stories, General Hospital's Mac/James imposter saga seems glaringly out of place. Save for occassional interplay with a few other characters, Felicia and Mac might as well be living in Timbuktu. That's only part of the problem. What really worries me is that I have absolutely no idea what this story is about, and nothing so far has piqued my curiosity enough to want to find out. Because I'm paid to watch GH, I haven't succumbed to the temptation to fast-forward, but I do resent that those scenes take time away from the show's purposeful and compelling material.
   My only hope- help me here, Bob Guza, please - is that there is a logical reason for this uncharacteristically bewildering and tedious plot, and a boffo payoff waiting in the wings. If this plot is simply a device to reignite Felicia and Mac's romance, I'll be sorely disappointed." (Linda Susman, SOW 2/17/98)

Mob Machinations on GH "Robin's recent brush with death from a mob-planted car bomb meant for Jason is only the latest misstep in General Hospital's organized-crime storytelling.
        Although mob intrigue has been a popular and successful GH staple since the early Gloria Monty years, the way it has been presented since the Labine era in the mid-90s has done the show and viewers (especially longtime fans spoiled by how it used to be done) a great disservice. Instead of telling an active, dynamic gangster storyline with a constellation of characters (the way every story should be told), GH's mob "storylines" are 90 percent lip service, with characters like Sonny and Jason barking throw-away orders in one-way phone conversations to off-camera characters we never see, and 10 percent stunt gimmicks, like car bombs and shoot-outs at Luke's.
        Allowing action to take place off-camera is a device necessary to further a plot (without it we''d be watching paint dry in real time), but to tell an entire story offcamera, except for the occassional stunt, makes for a boring and uninvolving viewing experience. When we hear Jason talk about what "the boys in Albany" are up to, we're inclined to join Catherine Hickland in a chorus of Where the Boys Are. We'd rather see what the boys are up to- or not hear about it at all." (SOW 9/22/98)

GH's Mob Squad "After Robin was almost knocked off in a lame imitation of the explosion that killed Lily, Jason decided to leave the organization.  Okay, fine. However, going to the source of the attack, his rival Moreno, for help seemed irrational and illogical. Moreno has not only been an adversary for years, he also killed Jason's right-hand man, Renaldo, during the "hit". Jason then turned over his territory to him and told his men to consider working for Moreno- pure insanity. So is the picture-perfect notion of Jason and Robin living happily ever after in a cozy little cottage (Brenda's, no less). We must thank Jax for posing the thought we're all thinking:  "Corinthos had to leave the country." Unfortunately the absurd response forced us to realize the mechanics of mob life once addressed with seriousness is now utter nonsense." (SOM 11/20/98)

Bad Boys: PCPD Boo "Detailed reportage of recent real-life events may have desensitized our moral barometer, yet I'm still uncomfortable- and disappointed- with the casual disregard for ethics we have been seeing in the police department on General Hospital. 
        The depths to which Taggert has sunk in his quest to bring down Jason- aiding and abetting Alan's drug addiction and blackmailing Monica- were illegal and worse, inhuman (like standing by and smirking while a strung-out Alan scored hydrocodone from a sleazeball dealer apparently on Taggert's payroll).
        As police commissioner, Mac's tacit blessing of Taggert's tactics has tainted his own character as well. Taggert lives up to his reputation as a maverick with an ax to grind, but Mac? That he would allow his own desire to excise Jason from Robin's life to wreak havoc with his principles left a sour taste in my mouth. It also leaves Taggert free to continue to torment, torture and taunt- all in the name of "justice". A genuine villian would be a more viable character- and credible love interest for Dara- than a flimflammer playing cops and robbers."

1999

A Bit Too Revealing "Guess what we've learned doesn't mix? General Hospital's Cesar Faison... and peignoirs. As compelling as it was to have Faison kidnap object d'amour Felicia and hold her captive (thus reinforcing the nasty image he'd earned during his last stint in town and riling Mac and Luke), the fact that he kept her in a boudoir bunker and allowed her only frilly (and did we mention filimsy?) attire made us wonder if a call to the fashion police might be more necessary than one to the police department.
    Rather than remind us of how twisted Faison can get when it comes to 'courting' the women he desires (e.g. Anna), this meerly made him seem pathetic. Faison has been many things, but pathetic is not one of them. Only in the aftermath, when Faison forced Luke to admit his true feelings for Felicia, was this satorical slipup redeemed. Not only did it take us to a new level in the attraction between Luke and the very-married Felicia just before she got shot, but now, we're enraptured by the possibility that she may one day return those feelings. And then what?
    Another postive fallout of Felicia languishing in lingerie is that this week, it leads to an explosive plot twist: Faison informs Luke that Lucky is alive. It's a shame that only as Faison exits are we once again treated to the delicious maliciousness that made him one of the best baddies on soaps, but at least we'll soon be wrapped up in an even more fascinating cloak-and-dagger myster. And those are always in fashion." (thumbs up and down, SOD 1/18/2000)

2000