Credit: ABC screenshot

It was very clear the writers were back and taking charge this week on General Hospital. Not only are they back, but they are wrapping up many stories, are beginning new ones, and it appears setting up one hell of a New Year’s Eve. As always, let’s dive into what happened in Port Charles this week.

Related Story

A Mobster Without a Moll: General Hospital’s Sonny Is Single and Ready to Mingle… But With Whom?

Pikeman Was a Bust

It took two episodes to wrap up the Pikeman storyline, which dragged on for an eternity. While I’m glad to see this mess of a storyline over, and it was a colossal re-written who knows how many times disaster, I’m saddened we didn’t get to keep Brennan longer. He was a great character, Charles Mesure is a terrific actor, and he had awesome chemistry with Carly.

I have to wonder why didn’t they use the whole end to the Pikeman/Forsythe/Hume/Brennan plot to wrap up the “who shot at Sonny and Anna at the Metro Court?” story bit. I guess they needed to leave that open for Curtis’ investigation storyline. Why do I smell a rewrite coming and they’ll find out Curtis was the target, and Ms. Wu was behind it?

More: Saying goodbye to Bobbie Spencer

Mini-Helena

We got another heartbreaking goodbye between Anna and Valentin, and this one made it seem final. Meanwhile, across town, Charlotte was admiring her gunshot scar, aka her first battle wound, and embracing Helena’s necklace which was left to her by Victor. Oh, brother, we have a little Helena in the making.

I still am unhappy that ‘Vanna’ was sacrificed for mini-Helena 2.0, so Charlotte better make Valentin’s life a living hell, even for a little bit! He deserves it at this point. More mentions of Lulu needing to come home to help her daughter have me hoping we will see Lulu wake up in 2024.

More: Charlotte’s growing into the next Helena

So Cyrus Will Expose Nina?

I guess we have an answer to whether or not Cyrus is reformed and a man of God or not, and it’s looking like… NOT! After overhearing Nina and Michael discussing their secrets, you know publically in the middle of Rice Plaza as anyone would when they don’t want anyone to know them, he later headed to the church on Christmas Eve. There he found Nina wanting to confess her sins, so he slipped into the confession to hear them. I don’t think God would approve Cyrus!

More: Eden McCoy takes a social media break

Having Cyrus armed with the information that can blow up Sonny’s family is an unexpected turn of events. And I loved that Nina finally stood up to Michael during their talk and said if she was exposed, that she’d make sure Carly knew that he knew the truth all along. I think New Year’s Eve is going to reveal a lot of explosive secrets!

Liz’s Christmas Eve

As much as Finn and Liz tend to bore me, I enjoyed the Christmas Eve scenes at her house. Violet being down in the dumps thinking her dad was going to jail was heartbreaking, but he quickly set her straight. However, it was the scenes between Aiden and Liz that made that show so special. How Aiden first used the words “they” and “them” to talk about his crush, working his way up to admitting to Liz it was a boy, was very realistic. And of course, we knew Liz was going to be accepting. This is a moment that was set up years ago with Charlotte’s tormenting of Aiden for liking to do “girl things,” and Liz and Franco discussing whether Aiden could be gay. With Charlotte embracing all things Cassadine, I could see her returning to bullying Aiden.

More: Aiden comes out to Elizabeth

Cody Versus Spinelli

Felicia and Spinelli plotting to have him move in with Maxie as a tenant clearly is the beginning of putting Spinelli and Maxie back together as a couple. At times I enjoy Spinelli, and at other times, not so much. This week was more of a “not so much” week. The way he went after Cody on Christmas Eve was downright cruel and rude, especially throwing it in his face that “My family is here, but why are you?” Ouch! After Cody left, and Spinelli followed to try make things right basically so Maxie wasn’t angry with him, Felicia voiced her concerns about Cody and the DNA test. Clearly, the truth coming out is on the docket for the New Year, but will this happen without  John J. York as Mac? As the actor shared news he wouldn’t be back till the Spring, it seems unlikely that they’ll drag this out until then. A temporary recast perhaps? And why do I have the feeling Spinelli will be in the center of the big reveal? Oh and yes, I’m still hoping we get a New Year’s Eve kiss between Sasha and Cody, as I wished for in last week’s column.

More: Is Frisco on his way back?

And… She’s Back!

The biggest surprise has been the return of the old Esme, well, maybe not? After breaking into Wyndemere, it appears all her memories have come back. I for one hope she doesn’t return to her old self but can remember who she has become. Avery Pohl is such a great actress, and this should give her a lot of good meaty material to work with. It would be nice to see Esme struggle to figure out who she is and where she goes from here, and how she reconciles what she did with who she is now.

Christmas With Curtis and Company

The Grinch’s heart melted a little what with Portia trying her best to be receptive to Spencer at their Christmas festivities. Good on Curtis for asking his wife if she wanted to go into 2024 maintaining this grudge against the man Trina loves. And it appears Stella’s getting her groove back, but this time perhaps with Marshall. I guess we won’t be meeting British George after all? Unless he shows up just as Marshall and Stella begin to fall in love.

And that wraps up my thoughts and opinions for this week. For those who celebrate, have a wonderful Christmas, and be sure to add your thoughts in the comments below!