
Patrick, Rafe, Sam, Silas & Nina
This paragraph is mostly plot summary, so you can skip to the 2nd one to read my thoughts on this crew. Sam’s (Kelly Monaco) nifty detective work lead her and Patrick (Jason Thompson) to the person who ran his family off the road and caused the premature birth and subsequent death of his son, Gabriel. It was Rafe (Jimmy Deshler). As the clues pieced together, everyone close to Rafe learned that he was responsible for the accident and was using cocaine (laced with heroin as later learned). When he went to Silas’ apartment to get his things and go on the run, he heard a standing Nina (Michelle Stafford) plotting against Silas. To keep Rafe from exposing her plans to make her husband suffer (he had an affair with Ava Jerome before she went into a coma 20 years ago), she reminded him of his dyer situation and gave him money and a car to get away (7/2). Molly (Haley Pullos) came across him and got in the car, insisting on a drug intervention. Rafe revealed that he wasn’t on drugs the night of the accident and that someone put him up to it. Before he could say who that someone was, he collided with a police blockade (7/7). Both he and Molly had head injuries. Molly recovered, but Rafe’s condition was life-threatening and required immediate surgery. Given it was the 4th of July (and it’s soap-opera land), Patrick was the only surgeon available. Silas (Michael Easton) feared Patrick would seek revenge and not properly work on Rafe, but chief-of-staff Dr. Obrecht persisted and the procedure happened. Patrick’s darker conscious appeared to him (Thompson’s characterization of “Bad Drake” was fantastic), arguing that he could cut a vein and no one would know, but Rafe bled out anyhow and was declared brain-dead. Silas instantly accused Patrick of intentionally trying to murder Rafe. Patrick later confided to Sam that he thought about hurting Rafe, but didn’t follow through (7/11). Hoping it might deter Silas from taking his claims to the press, Sam shared Patrick’s secret while Nina was eavesdropping around the corner (7/17). To protect the hospital and beat Silas to the punch, Dr. Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) launched a press conference. Nina told a journalist about Patrick’s private thoughts and he was cornered on camera. Obrecht closed the conference and fired Patrick as a precaution (7/22). Sam didn’t give Silas the benefit of the doubt, charged him with breaking confidences and telling Nina what Patrick said, and blamed him for firing. This further angered Silas about Sam’s unwavering trust of and loyalty to Patrick. Overwhelmed by all the gradual discord and hurdles, Sam broke up with Silas.
Ok, now that I’ve told you the story, time for thoughts. I was disappointed that Rafe was killed. The kid was finally getting interesting and he was axed. Rafe needed to stay on canvas if for no other than 2 reasons: 1) There aren’t enough teenagers as is, and 2) he was the last major link to the Port Charles soap spinoff. All of Silas, Sam and Kiki’s “shoulda, coulda, wouldas” about paying more attention to Rafe were like scripted representations of how the writers neglected him themselves. I hate when characters like Rafe are brought on, used to propel others and then done away with. Clearly his death was a tool for this insanely fascinating Patrick vs. Silas vs. Sam storyline, so I can’t say that it was unnecessary, but I can’t help but wonder if there was another way to make the 3-way tension happen. Could there have been the same amount of conflict if Rafe was comatose or on-trial? I think so and longer term too. Rafe didn’t have to die for the Luke secret to stay buried either; car-crashes are great at erasing memories in soap-land. After all, Molly herself couldn’t remember that Rafe was put up to the accident. Speaking of Molly, Pullos stole the scene where Silas had to pull the plug on Rafe. Rafe’s uncle, cousin and adoptive mother were in the room and his crush had me most in tears. One of the longer-term conflict points could’ve been Molly throwing her all into helping Rafe recover and beat criminal charges, while her boyfriend TJ continues to fester with resentment.
You have to admit, Nina emphasizing Sam’s lack of suspicion in Patrick to Silas and creating distrust by giving the journalist that tip was well-played and pretty smart. I’m eager to see what she’ll do to Ava (Maura West). Nina is kooky, eccentric and calculating; I’m enjoying her so far, really. Although Sam’s hunch that Nina is up to no good is accurate, it’s largely unfounded and just comes off childishly jealous. If the writers wanted to show Sam’s keenness, they should’ve given her something more concrete to go on. On the other side, the dialogue between Patrick, Sam and Silas has been great. When an appalled Silas defended himself against Sam’s assumption that he squealed on Patrick, every other line I was like “Checkmate!” “Checkpoint!” Sam quickly believed Patrick when he said he only thought about killing Rafe, but refused to consider the plausible possibility that someone overheard her conversation with Silas on the hospital roof. Then, she believes the wheel-chair bound Nina (as far as Sam knows, Nina can’t walk) listened in when there’s no elevator to the roof (making Sam look even more jealous, foolish and desperate)! I cackled when Silas said “When I said that to you the other day [that someone could’ve eavesdropped], you said that was impossible…Now, all of the sudden, of all things, someone confined to a wheelchair overheard us?” Silas asked Sam when she stopped trusting him and she gave some B.S. answer that they’ve spent so much time apart lately. Being involuntarily away because of unusual and pressing circumstances makes you untrustworthy? When you met him, he was the twin brother of a serial killer and a viable attempted murder suspect himself in incapacitating a wife you didn’t know about right away (that he also cheated on), but your trust is shook now? Laughable! If you’re familiar with my writing, you know I that I’m not the biggest fan of the SiAm pairing, so prepared to be shocked: I thought the breakup was kind of whack. I understood Sam’s decision from the angle that they’re currently on divergent wavelengths and their lives are over-complicated, but to hinge so much of her reasoning on Nina was ridiculous. Silas is so obviously not interested in being with Nina and he’s assured Sam of that multiple times, but she’s convinced somehow that Silas is secretly pining. Ok, girl. It’s more like your insecurity is getting the better of you. Before I move on, how funny was it that they had the press conference in the middle of the hospital? Guess they didn’t want to build a separate set. Oh, and Patrick and Sam’s conversation about her being a “bad ass” (8/1)? So cute (that is, if you can put “cute” and “bad ass” in the same vicinity)!

Molly, Alexis, Julian & Jordan
I’m banging my head against the wall waiting for Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) to be written less preposterous, huh? The day Molly was released from the hospital, Julian (William DeVry) proposed that he and Alexis go back to sneaking around and give Molly the illusion that they were “cooling things” so she’ll move back home from Sam’s place (7/23). Alexis actually scoffed at this idea, at which a surprised Julian recalled “Your daughters always came first with you.” It’s sad she had to be reminded, especially by Julian. Molly questioned why it took Julian making the decision to “split” and almost refused to come home, but of course, TJ (Tequan Richmond) said 1 word in favor of Alexis and she backed down. I thought Molly’s questioning was valid. Alexis is getting her Carly on and being backwards. She couldn’t put her foot down about Molly having premarital, underage sex in her house, but she has assertive nerve on this front? How is she smart enough to theorize that Tracy might be duping Ned about her annulment, but didn’t figure that Julian’s mob status was the reason her house was bombed? Once again, Molly was the brighter crayon, clocking Julian’s tea instantly (7/30). Julian is being backwards with his assertive nerve too. His son gets shot before his eyes and Luke threatened to have his daughter sexually violated, but that wasn’t enough to stand up to Luke (Anthony Geary); he waited until his grandson, baby mama and 2 innocent bystanders nearly got blown away to do something. Nonetheless, I’m glad he got his gumption back, popped Mickey Diamond (in an awesome scene with perfect timing; I literally leaped out of my seat) and gave Luke his new terms of business (7/31). My 2 favorite lines this month were Julian’s “Peace out, bitch!” and “It’s hard out here for a prince” from Spencer Cassadine (I need that on a t-shirt; along with a “Lila’s Kids” tee). HILARIOUS! I’m so here for Ava teaming up with/manipulating Luke, by the way, and why didn’t Ava tell Julian outright that she killed Connie? Didn’t she do it to protect his cover? As for Jordan (Vinessa Antoine), I kind of wish she was the one to kill Mickey, but Julian doing it was pretty satisfying. I’m really starting to love Jordan; kick-butt heroines are always welcomed. Antoine and Sean Blakemore (who portrays Shawn Butler) showed just how much chemistry they have when their sweaty, gym gear-clad character’s heated exchange bubbled over into a near-kiss; it was almost hotter than when Shawn planted 1 on her in a jealous fit on 7/25! Lastly, Jordan and Anna (Finola Hughes) crack me up with their little meetings in the park; so obviously talking to one another and making unnatural movements.
Other Notes
Liz, Nikolas, Britt & Spencer
Liz’s heart is a revolving door. Must I have this problem to complain about every month? After telling Nikolas (Tyler Christopher) that they could never be and that she was focusing on Ric, who was “killed” about 7 weeks ago, Liz (Rebecca Herbst) has set her sights on Prince Sr. and is meddling in his relationship with Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) yet again. Stop pushing and pulling on Nikolas to your convenience! Let him be happy! Shouldn’t you be grieving over Ric that you were so in love with? How is your heart open and ready to love again so quickly? *Mariah voice* Thirsty! *Danity Kane voice* Might just need a drink! Lemonade, lemonade! I love and hate Britt plotting with Spencer (Nicholas Bechtel) to get Nikolas back. I love it because it’s a cute storyline, I like their friendship and I enjoy Bechtel’s wit, talent and vibrant personality. I hate it because Britt is stooping kind of low and it’s only going to make Nikolas resent her more. In case you need to catch up, Spencer staged a runway so Britt would be the one to find him and she could comfort Nikolas in his distress. Little man has been crashing at Jossyln’s house.

So, big brother Michael agreed to let Morgan (Bryan Craig) live in an ELQ-owned brownstone, which Kiki is also moving into. Michael (Chad Duell) walked in on the pair hot, sweaty, renovating and comforting each other over familial troubles. He had the nerve to suspiciously give Morgan the 3rd degree about their relationship (7/16). I laughed! If Kiki, whom he stole, went back to Morgan, he would deserve it! However, Kiki definitely (Kristen Alderson) doesn’t deserve Morgan and I didn’t want to see this triangle the 1st time, no less a 2nd. Morgan had an interesting meeting with the cute, sassy and funny nurse Rosalie (7/23), so we’ll see what happens there. I’d love for the writers to expound on her character and add to the early-20’s set on GH. Alice had a heart attack just before telling Michael that Tracy (Jane Elliott) was scheming to get ELQ back and now needs a heart transplant. Tracy promised to pull all strings available to get her a heart if she kept quiet (that’s the Quartermaine way!), but she’s having trouble making good on it. Rafe’s heart wasn’t usable because of the heroin and Mickey Diamond wasn’t a registered donor. I so deeply hope that Alice doesn’t die; that’s like killing another Quartermaine. I’ve been wondering what the point of this storyline is; I guess possibly to out Luke and just keep Quartermaine drama going, which I’m not opposed to. I was so tickled at them bringing on Jennifer Hudson’s baby-daddy (and wrestler), David Otunga (7/30). I loved the touching moments between Alice and Morgan and her saying that even though her heart was failing, it was so full.
Olivia
I know I should be #TeamLiv because Sonny (Maurice Bernard) cheated on her with Ava (Oh, Ava, always a mistress, never a marriage), but honestly, I could care less about her whining pain. She’s getting to be so annoying. Getting Carly (Laura Wright) to kick Sonny out of the Metro Court? Ha! Is she new here? She doesn’t know how this works does she? When did she become bosom buddies with Ned Ashton (Wally Kurth)?
Bobbie, Lucy & Scott
It’s great having throwback characters around and I know the writers have to give them something to do, but Bobbie Spencer (Jacklyn Zeman) fighting over a man like a teenage girl? No ma’am. If she is going to fight, she needs to win. Lucy (Lynn Herring) getting the physical upper-hand, especially when she brought up Bobbie’s daughter, Carly, sleeping with her ex, Tony, is unbelievable. The squabbling is over Scott (Kin Shriner), of all people, too? Ugh. This situation kind of lowers Bobbie in my opinion, but that’s none of my business. BLT’s for lunch?