This iconic soap premiered in 1963 as a hospital-based drama featuring Dr. Steve Hardy, Nurse Jessie Brewer, and the rest of the staff. But by the late '70's it was all about two star-crossed lovers---young hoodlum Luke Spencer and his sweet soul mate, Laura. In 1980 Luke and Laura went on the run, solved the mystery of the "Left-Handed Boy," and prevented evil Mikkos Cassadine from freezing the world. What a hoot all that was! In subsequent adventures they interacted with dashing Aussie spy Robert Scorpio as well as his brilliant ex-wife Anna Devane AND con artist Holly Sutton. Tales of international intrigue and espionage, revolving around the W. S. B. (World Security Bureau) became standard fare. Then in the '90's brooding mobster Sonny Corinthos pretty much took over the town. Thereafter the show focused on his many romantic entanglements and offspring, his bipolar disorder and of course his crimes. And let's not forget the super-rich, colorful Quartermain clan with their eternal vying for money and power. Alan and Monica Q lived "unhappily ever after" but enjoyed tormenting each other for decades. Jason, their disaffected heir, suffered brain damage and left home to become Sonny's hit man! And Damian Spinelli, hilarious computer nerd, made himself indispensable to EVERYONE whenever there was hacking to be done. Nowadays GH still has many of its original cast members along with their descendants. As of 2023 my favorite mature pairing is Anna Devane and Valentine Cassadine, who have won me over completely. And the same can be said for the young supercouple "Sprina"---angst-ridden teens Spencer Cassadine and Trina Robinson. Their chemistry's just, well, through the roof. As for soap dysfunction, that too abounds. Kudos to Carly Spencer, a legendary character in her own right, who has finally kicked Sonny to the curb. His new lady Nina Reeves---I love her but oh, she's trouble! And ditto for Ava Jerome, semi-reformed villainess who still shows her claws from time to time. Ambulance chaser Scott Baldwin remains a delight after 40+ years and remember how he used to be married to our Laura back in the Jurassic Era? Oh yeah, and Luke and Laura have been divorced for ages now. Laura's currently the Mayor of Port Charles and married to her psychiatrist. As for Luke, he's "presumed dead," but we all know what THAT means, don't we? No body was ever found. His present-day wife happens to be the wonderfully b*tchy Tracy Quartermain whose barbed comments make everyone squirm, and...Gol durn it, but I love this show!
Review of General Hospital
