On the January 3rd episode of General Hospital, three men found themselves at some defining moments in their lives, their relationships, and their futures.

First, Sonny (Maurice Benard) who is coming to the realization that he has a problem with his heart, sits down with Jason (Steve Burton) and explains to him that he has been having chest pains for awhile before the incident at the boxing gym. He feels he needs to make some long-term plans and needs to take a step back from the mob. Jason says he will step up his role for the short-term but he can’t take over the organization. He has to be there for his son, Danny after the death of Sam.

During their conversation, FINALLY, the mention of Sonny murdering FBI agent John “Jagger” Cates came back around. Sonny wants to find out who found the gun that exonerated Alexis. He tells Jason about giving “Charlie’s” to Kristina. Next, Sonny goes on about not wanting to be a burden to his kids. Jason tells Sonny the kids love and need him in their lives. In the end, Sonny says they have to come up with an exit strategy as there is no one they can hand the organization to.

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In Prague, Lulu (Alexa Havins) and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) have a major showdown which brings up all types of points for the two exes. Lulu blames Dante for messing up her chance to bring her daughter, Lulu home to Port Charles. Dante tries to explain to her that Lulu brought the attention on the situation, which caused the sniper to shoot, which allowed Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) to getaway with Charlotte (Scarlett Fernandez).

Dante believes that Valentin was being manipulative and the shooter followed her to get to Valentin. Lulu doesn’t want to give up on finding Charlotte, but Dante tells her to let the professionals handle it. Nothing is getting through to Lulu.

It’s at that point and in a excellent performance from Dominic Zamprogna, Dante finally lays into Lulu. He tells her that Charlotte has chosen to be with Valentin. Meanwhile, their son, Rocco (Finn Carr) sat by Lulu’s bedside for four years praying and willing her to wake up out of her coma. Dante says Valentin knows how to go under the radar, and her search for Lulu caused too much attention and danger for everyone.

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Lulu stands down that she’s going to stay in Prague and keep searching for Charlotte determined to bring her home. At that point, Dante lets loose on her. He tells her that Sam lost her life while saving Lulu’s. The way she is acting it’s like Lulu is going to throw it all away because she doesn’t care about the sacrifice Sam made. Lulu says she’s grateful for what Sam did, but it’s her life and she’ll make her choices, not what he thinks she should do. Before he storms out, Dante tells her he figures Rocco doesn’t matter to her anymore! Lulu smashes a vase in the hotel room in anger.

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Valentin is on the run with Charlotte. In his car, they have a heart-to-heart, which is touchingly portrayed by James Patrick Stuart. He asks Charlotte if she wants to go back to Port Charles with her mother, and that he knows she is missing out on a normal childhood with her friends, and her brother, Rocco, etc. Charlotte says Lulu has people in her life, while Valentin doesn’t have anyone. She wants to stay with her father. He hugs his daughter, and they drive off.

Elsewhere, Michael (Chad Duell) convinces Sasha (Sofia Mattsson) to stay in Port Charles to raise their baby. He says he will let her raise the child alone, but if she needs anything financially or anything medically he will be close by and has the means to help her. Sasha says that if she had to get unexpectedly pregnant, she is glad that he turned out to be the bio-dad.

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What do you think will happen to Sonny? Are you glad Dante told off Lulu? Do you want Charlotte with Valentin or do you think she should go back to Port Charles with Lulu? Will Valentin ultimately figure out a way to live back in Port Charles for his daughter’s sake? Share your thoughts in the comment section. but first check out the scenes between Valentin and Scarlett below.

Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) and Sharon (Sharon Case) have both become unsuspecting victims in Ian Ward (Ray Wise) and Jordan Howard’s (Colleen Zenk) latest plot for revenge. On New Year’s, while Phyllis is driving, she has flashes of the truck that ran her off the road when she careened into a tree.  =She realizes it wasn’t Sharon.

Later, she tells her children, Daniel (Michael Graziadei) and Summer (Allison Lanier), that she saw an older woman with wavy hair and glasses (Jordan anyone?). Summer says they need to tell Chance (Conner Floyd). Phyllis says she won’t hold Sharon accountable for the car crash, but she won’t let her off the hook for framing Daniel for the death of Heather Stevens.

Meanwhile, Tessa (Cait Fairbanks), Mariah (Camryn Grimes), Faith (Reylynn Caster) and Nick (Joshua Morrow) are reeling from seeing Ian Ward outside of Society. After Nick calls the cops, the policewoman tells him that Ian’s story checks out and he is out of prison. Nick is infuriated when Ian goes on about being a man of faith. The cop says Ian’s story check out as the prison chaplain. She says there is nothing she can do and walks away from the scene.

Photo: JPI

Ian tells Nick that he is determined to prove that he has been redeemed. A completely distrustful Nick tells Ian that if he does anything to cause anyone he loves distress, he will make him wish he was never born.  Once back inside Society, Nick wonders if Ian could be the one who doctored Sharon’s meds. Everyone becomes alarmed that they haven’t heard from Sharon, but Faith insists they go to the tact house to get her to join them, so Nick goes with them. When talking with Tessa, Mariah realizes that Ian is back for her and she will fight to keep her family and their daughter, safe.

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Nick and Faith realize Sharon is not at home, which sends them into a frenzy. Nick fills Victor (Eric Braeden) in about Ian. Meanwhile, Ian returns to the his motel room with Jordan. He is happy to see Sharon bound and gagged and chloroformed on the bed. Ian has plan to kill Sharon and frame Phyllis for her death. Ian wants to dump Sharon over the bridge, just like Sharon did to Heather as “poetic justice.”

Photo: JPI

Jordan wants to get to her part of their agreement to go after Claire (Hayley Erin) and the Newmans. Beginning to feel she is being played, Ian manipulates her by stating his warped plan that Sharon’s death will leave Mariah inconsolable. The only thing that will help her during her grief is the love of a parent. He plans to be that father figure. Ian tells Jordan that him winning over Mariah will give them an entree to get close to Claire.

So, do you think any part of Jordan and Ian’s plot will work? Share your thoughts on the next leg of this story via the comment section below.

On the first episode of the new year, General Hospital looks to be building fast to the exit of Michael Corinthos (Chad Duell). In story, Michael asks Sasha (Sofia Mattsson) to meet him at Aurora where he explains the divorce, custody and legal battle that looks to be a head of him with Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and their children.

Michael explains he may need to bring to light Willow and Drew’s (Cameron Mathison) affair, but wants his one-night stand with Sasha kept mum. He explains that he believes Willow is a good mother and doesn’t want his children to see the worst side of them, like he did when his parents went into divorce-mode. Sasha promises she won’t tell anyone about their night together because she is seriously considering leaving Port Charles.

Next, Sasha finally decides to tell Michael she is pregnant and he is the father. She explains that is why, more than ever, she has to leave. Sasha plans on raising the child, after what she went through losing her chance at motherhood after baby Liam died. Michael wants to be in is child’s life, but she protests that raising a child around both sides of his family – the Q’s and the Corinthos clan – will endanger the baby’s childhood.

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Sasha also makes Michael understand that him being a part of the baby’s life will not help his custody case. She wants him to trust that she’ll always do the what’s right for their child. Michael says he is not happy about it, but accepts her decision. Didn’t Michael stepping away from raising the child, seem to happen very quickly? Is Chad Duell’s departure just around the corner?

Meanwhile, Sonny (Maurice Benard) is down in the boxing ring, clutching his chest. Isaiah (Sawandi Wilson) happens to arrive the gym. Once the paramedics arrive and stabilize Sonny, he asks him some pointed questions. Sonny admits he has had these chest pains prior to working out and that he was shot in the chest twenty years ago. Isaiah implores Sonny to make sure he gets checked out, because his situation can become a chronic condition with an already compromised heart. In a warning, Isaiah mentions to Sonny, if he ignores the signs and symptom he could have a heart attack or a stroke at anytime.

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Sonny pushed back he can’t appear weak in his line of work and implores Isaiah to not mention this to anyone. Isaiah promises he won’t. Is GH setting up a stroke for Sonny? (Remember when Viki had a stroke on OLTL?) Something that will take the mighty mobster down, and make him the most vulnerable he has ever been and needing people’s help?

In Prague, Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) and Charlotte (Scarlett Fernandez) get away after Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) shows up and causes a scene infuriating Lulu (Alexa Havins). We learn that the shot fired through the widow was by Colette (Mercedes Lopez Renard), who was working with Brennan (Charles Mesure). At the end of the episode, Lulu blames Dante for her one chance to bring Charlotte home with her to Port Charles causing a major rift in their relationship. Will this mishap reunite them, eventually? Or will this set the stage for Lulu to turn more to Cody (Josh Kelly)?

So, what did you think of Sasha telling Michael she’s pregnant, and his response? Are you intrigued by what might happen to Sonny? Do you want Dante and Lulu to grow closer, or Lulu and Cody to draw closer? Weigh-in via the comment section below.