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General Hospital’s Maura West Delivers The ‘Power Performance of the Week’

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

On last Thursday and Friday’s episode of General Hospital, the ABC soap opera finally moved the story forward with the reveal to Ava (Maura West) that Nikolas (Marcus Coloma) and Esme (Avery Pohl) slept together, and within it, fans got to witness the beginning of the fallout and the reaction as played by three-time Daytime Emmy-winner and enduring fan favorite, Maura West.

As one might expect, the material in the hands of the mighty West, and the acting choices she makes are always intriguing and masterful.

In story, things start to unravel for Ava, when outside Trina’s (Tabyana Ali) courtroom trial, Esme and Ava have a confrontation.  It is there that Esme snarks at Ava, that she has the ability to destroy her world.  When Ava dares her to try, Nikolas shows up on the scene begging Esme to stop.  However, a manipulative Esme says, “Too late, I’m ending this right here, right now.” After lighting the fire, Esme walks off telling Nikolas to have a nice chit chat with his wife.

Next, Ava and Nikolas go to a private office, and Nikolas tells her that he made a huge mistake. A now suspicious Ava, asks, “What kind of mistake?” Nikolas then goes on to explain how he slept with Esme, just once, when he thought his relationship with Ava had tanked and had suffered irreparable damage.

Courtesy/ABC

What comes after was where West shined, as a sarcastic Ava quipped, “Poor you, seduced by a high school graduate.”  Ava, then launches into that she thought she married a man, but instead she married a spineless weakling, and now she is going to burn him to the ground.

Later at Wyndemere, as Esme is frantically packing her suitcase and taking with her the all-important envelope linking her to Ryan (Jon Lindstrom), Ava appears and a confrontation begins with Ava calling out Esme as a, “conniving little whore”. Esme flaps back that Ava slept with both Morgan and Sonny (Maurice Benard)! Having put two and two together, Ava says she know that Esme is responsible for the revenge sex tape of Cameron (Willian Lipton) and Joss (Eden McCoyand setting fire to her car.

Courtesy/ABC

Ava has wised up from all of Esme’s nasty statements and has come to realize that everything Esme has done including sleeping with Nikolas, feels like a targeted, planned attack on her, and she knows there is more to this story than Esme has ever let on.  When Ava spots the envelope in Esme’s suitcase, she goes to get it, but Esme grabs it from her. Then, with a steely warning, Ava tells Esme that she will be going to the courthouse now to exonerate Trina, and if she doesn’t, Ava will make sure Esme disappears and no one will ever be able to find her alive.

Now, while some viewers may be waiting for a knock-down drag-out catfight, we don’t know what will happen on Monday or Tuesday’s episode, but sometimes it’s more delicious just letting the words and its intentions drive the action, and West delivered the goods in spades in scenes with Marcus Coloma and Avery Pohl.

For all the reasons stated above, Michael Fairman TV names Maura West’s work as The Power Performance of the Week.

What did you think of Maura’s performance in the scenes where Ava finds out Nikolas slept with Esme and Ava’s confrontation later with Esme? What do you hope happens next?  Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.  But firstm check out some moments from West’s performance below.

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Flawless!

Bravo! Maura’s acting abilities are second to none. Glsd to Ava now knows the gruth and can’t wait to see yhe aftermath.

WOW is my first reaction! Not only for Maura West’s fantastic work…but finally a non-Steve-Burton article! I must say Ava has met a worthy match…that witch Esme is not backing down. Finally, some great drama. I used to like Nikolas but now I want Ava to unload all her wrath on both of them.

Soaphound
Double WOW! I’ve read so many Spoilers this week, Iam not sure what will happen, but I especially liked one, so here’s hoping. I also wish Esme would blab some stuff to Ava about her Daddy that would explain further that her attack on her has been indeed personal.

Completely agree with you!!! My woman Ava is going to have them both wishing they never crossed her!!!! That Esme though is a tough cookie, she’s her daddies baby

Bravo, Soaphound, and bravo Maura West. Indeed, Ava has been declawed and then clawed again. She has been absolutely brilliant! When Ava’s lip curled up to a snarl and told the sniveling and emasculated Nikolas, “Poor you,” I thought I saw Nikolas’s balls retreat and run for cover. Maura West can give a master class on acting to the already very talented actors who play Spencer and Esme. Marcus as Nikolas has proven himself to be stupid, tacky and devoid of manners. He is no Cassadine. This is not the Nikolas Cassadine with which we’ve become acquainted.

Harry, what I really find astonishing is that Maura West continually gets BETTER. She doesn’t rely on tics or gestures from before; she’s always doing something new and fresh. Reminds me of when Sally Field took on the series “BROTHERS AND SISTERS” and later the movie “LINCOLN”. She began to show sides of herself we’ve never seen (and she was already great). It’s so exciting to see actors continually grow. We saw it with Sofia Mattson’s Sasha when Liam died, and Nicholas Chavez in his terrific, evolving rendition of Spencer. Meanwhile, actors like Steve Burton and Chad Duell seem content with phoning in the same old performance year after year. That’s when I get bored and tune them out…figuratively that is.

Maura never fails to prove and improve herself, Soaphound. Brava !! Always Brava!!
I have perpetually praises her acting skills, albeit many were not too fond of Ava when she joined GH—even during her most manipulative and questionable tactics, I loved this Bostonian queen!
I’ve liked her since her days on Y&R, as the vicious Diane Jenkins. I appreciated her talent instantly.
Ava has definitely met her match in Esme—-or has she?! Both amazing!!
The weak link here is Nikolas—-he, by whom I was so taken at first, has proven to be a gullible dud…I will root for him no more…Ava needs a real man!!
And Spencer? WOW!! His testimony brought me to tears—-something which many a soap has failed to do for me in a long time.

Celia, my friend, how awesome was 6Spencer/Nicholas Chavez in these scenes? Just great! Meanwhile, daddy Nik is still sniveling out in the corridor. And poor, pretty Marcus Colomma is defeated by the material; the actor seems depressed by the way Nikolas has been morally castrated. But… I feel sorry for that sweet Officer Rory. Looks like Trina will be Spencer’s latest seduction. Imagine having to choose between these two sexy guys? I think I’d need to do A LOT of, um, juggling them both.

LOL….Juggle away—
Yeah, I think Trina and Spencer will be a couple–It’s a given.
Poor Rory indeed!! I’m trying to figure out what makes Trina so special??
You’re right about Marcus—the material has turned on him–that sexual interlude with Esme should have never happened—Not because of his infidelity so much, but rather because of his “choice” of “meat”. His persona has be been demeaned an black-marked.
I guess he’s always been attracted to the typical siren/femme fatale—
But, maybe I spoke too soon by calling him a dud? In today’s episode, he seemed to have stepped up? I mean, having his wife’s back ‘n all.
Esme–the villainess turned victim!! Alack, the horroe of it all.

Bravo Excellent Performance From Ava.l Loved lt! She.Should.Win Another.Emmy!

Hey, Soaphound—-I did not know Maura had a stunt double!! Did you? WOW!!—-could you tell? Completely bypassed moi!!
I had this weird thought about Esme’s mystery Mom—Ava? Nah—can’t be. Not possible—-wouldn’t make any sense, right?
I do wish there were a chance for the character to return as a good guy this time. She’s a baddie, I know—but soooo good at playing the mean vixen, she’d conquer any role. I truly respect and admire her talent.

Phenomenal!

Wonderful actress!

The powerhouse that is Maura West!

Emmy worthy episode. Go Ava JEROME!

No surprise as Maura West always rises to the occasion! Avery Pohl held her own against the powerhouse.

With all her research on Ava, didn’t Esme come across the name Connie Falconeri? Ms. Jerome has killed for a lot less than having sex with her husband. She knows how to make problems go away (AJ, Morgan). That should be plenty enough to scare the little witch to ever try something. Maybe Daddy withheld some details (like he did regarding his relationship with Felicia).

Now, please don’t lead this to yet another fall off the parapet. More people survive that fall than perish (Katherine Bell a second time excepted).

Hopefully this is the end of Nikolas/Ava. What started out with so much potential has fizzled. As mentioned previously, this weak watered-down version of Nik is unrecognizable to long time viewers. We want our smart dark prince back.

Well, we all saw that fall from the parapet coming, didn’t we? Where they go from here will be really interesting. I don’t believe Esme is gone, do you? Oh the drama! I just adore Maura! I hope she wins another Emmy! (:

Ok Michael, I know your googoogaga over Maura West( I too think she’s awesome), but You could have throw a big bone to Avery Pohl too because the girl knocked it out of the park and given them both the power performance of the week. Just saying!

Maura West is a powerful actress. I hope she gives Esme what’s coming to her. As for Nikolas in a way I feel sorry for him. Eager to watch this week. My favorite show for years!

She’s the absolute best at what she does.

She is awesome Maura! I miss the days she was a killer n had moments like this daily!

Mail Bal
Must have missed those. What show was that?

As usual, Ms. West’s performances were both explosive and chilling to the bone – reminding how lethal Ava can be! Look out, Esme!! I predict another Emmy in Ms. Wests future:)

There was no one else to choose. The continued under-playing of Maura West is criminal and, the past two days have proven that. And we know TODAY will be the tripple-hitter we’ve been asking for! No one in daytime is better than West and no one is able to match her!

That lady is always on point plus ten, this generations Beverlee McKinsey

Mike, THANK YOU for mentioning the fabulous Beverlee McKinsey. I loved her Alexandra Spaulding. What talent, what thrilling performances. I’ll always remember her disdain of Mindy Lewis…she’d drawl out her name as “Mannndeee”. So much fun. Luckily, Marj Dusay was a worthy successor…I also remember Oscar/Emmy winner Allison Janney’s brief, hysterical stint as her maid Ginger(?). Golden days for soaps!

Agree with the fantastic work of Beverlee McKinsey as Alexandra on GL. She also deserved an Emmy for that body of work. And finally GH is giving Maura West some material to work with! She rips it apart with Emmy style and now she is going to show Esme who is the leading lady of daytime. Get ready!

Maura West is the best actor on daytime . She deserves to be on a prime time show . She is perfection. !! Love love love her !

Ava was great I esme can squirm can’t wait for the rest

I’ve been a favorite of Marla West skills since Another world. You are my all time fav actress in daytime soaps. You are brilliant when it comes to emotions, u go from Villian,supporting friend, protective mama bear and will stand up against the best of them, while kicking a—- an taking names! I love it! Wish u were my kick ass bestie. Continue what youre doing, u bring life an entertainment to the screen.

Meshi Redd
Oh, never seen her on that show. Who did she play?

Maura is hands down the best actress on daytime tv! Really impressed by Avery, whose done a fabulous job acting. Well deserved!

Luv me some Ava, great viewing

I love Ava’s work with her lips and eyes in her expressions. She’s an awesome scary woman i wouldn’t want to mess with. She’s extremely seductive, enticing and a true bad ass woman! Some great acting going on here.

For the pass couple of days,GH has been awesome!!! Ava is my kinda women,she gets the job done! I hope Esme is not dead yet, so Trina can confront her. Jan

Maura has been amazing this past week! Finally, she has Emmy caliber material and she is deserving of a win or at least a nomination for 2022! I am a bit partial to Maura because we went to college together (as did Cynthia Watros) and she was my favorite during 1995-2010 when she played Carly on ATWT! I am certain she will get more great material in the days and weeks to come! (: (: (:

The only thing wrong with yesterday’s scenes? Y’all know damned well that nobody ever really dies from falling off that parapet at Windemere. So sorry to have to report this, but Esme’s not in Hell…. yet.

We all know Ava’s heading this direction herself eventually, but if she takes Esme out for real, then she’s probably earned her air conditioner for her future accommodations.

Maura West is an outstanding actress and always delivers! I hope that this is the end of Esme Prince (though I suspect not.)

MW is the best.

Maura was awesome, but Sofia Mattson was AMAZING with her manic breakdown.

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair

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Sonny, Dante, Michael, Brook Lynn General Hospital

On the Thursday, October 1 episode of General Hospital, both Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) had some things to say and what they had to say didn’t go over well with whom they were talking to!

Sonny had a confrontation with his son, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), while Michael leveled with Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) over Chase (Josh Swickard).

GH is setting up a scenario where everyone is going to make it look like Sonny was responsible for having Sidwell (Carlo Rota) beat up in Pentonville; while viewers already know Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) were behind it.

Sonny and Dante

Courtesy/ABC

A VISIT WITH DAD

Now, Dante comes to Sonny’s house. He wants to know straight up from his dad if he ordered the attack at Pentonville. Sonny flatly denies any culpability or responsibility, but Dante refuses to believe him.

Dante informs Sonny he has video footage of Sully and Vito at the prison. Sonny explains to Dante he doesn’t know why Sully beat up both Curtis and Dante. Things escalated when Sonny was deeply hurt that Dante refused to believe him. Dante says he was disappointed that his father didn’t respect him enough to be truthful with him!

Sonny asks Dante to consider that he was being set up. He says all he did was to tell Vito to instruct Sully to keep a watchful eye on Sidwell, not to harm him. No matter what Sonny said, Dante continued hammering him with how he knew deep down, even though he said he left the mob, he had to finish off Sidwell for himself.

Next, Sonny explains everything he has ever done was to provide for and to protect his family. Dante fired back that he doesn’t want to deal anymore with Sonny’s half-baked truths. As the two men argue, Gio (Giovanni Mazza) shows up at Sonny’s front door and overhears Sonny losing his temper and shouting at Dante, “Get out of my house! I don’t want a son like you!”  The scenes featured an excellent performance by Maurice Benard.

Michael and Brook Lynn

Courtesy/ABC

MICHAEL THE MANIPULATOR

While this is going down, outside the Quartermaine boathouse, Brook Lynn opens up to Michael about living at the Q’s with Chase being there, since he only came back due to legal advice from his lawyer, Monet Mitchell (Blythe Howard).

Brook Lynn questioned whether they should get legally separate. Michael insisted that would be a big mistake. When she asks why, Michael tells Brook Lynn to bide her time until Chase and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) have an affair; then she’d have full custody of Phoebe.

An angered Brook Lynn pushed Michael into the water and accuses him of moving Willow back into the gatehouse with intent on putting Chase and Willow in closer proximity and sacrificing Brook Lynn’s family in the process.  As the two cousins bicker, Chase shows up asking Brook Lynn if she is OK. Michael punctuates their talk with “You know, I’m right.”

CURTIS FIGURES OUT A WAY TO GET OUT OF THE SLAMMER

At GH, Willow visits Curtis (Donnell Turner) in his hospital room. Curtis wants Willow to get him pardoned and keep him out of jail, and in return, he will help her nail Sonny.

Next, Willow tells Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) she wants Curtis held for observation for three more days. He agrees to do so under one condition, that she understands that he may need to call in a favor from a congresswoman.

So, what did you think of how Dante accused his father and refused to believe Sonny’s answers? Is this the end of their father and son relationship for good? Is Michael the most manipulative person of all, except for Willow? Do the two deserve each other? Do you want Chase and Willow to have an affair? And what of Curtis? Does he have many redeeming qualities left? Share your thoughts via the comment section,  but first check out the talk Michael had with Brook Lynn.

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General Hospital

GH Alum Tajh Bellow and Y&R Alum Loren Lott Star in New Tiktok and Microdrama ‘Love Island’ Spoof

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Tajh Bellow and Loren Lott

Two soap opera alums very familiar to fans of General Hospital and The Young and the Restless are paired together in a new short-form digital series from none other than Issa Rae’s production entity HOORAE Digital.

Look for Tajh Bellow (ex-TJ Ashford, GH)) and Loren Lott (ex-Ana Hamilton, Y&R) as part of the cast of  The Compatibility Experiment, premiering on October 14, 2026, exclusively on TikTok and its companion microdrama platform, PineDrama.

In the video teaser, it appears that Bellow and Lott play a couple, Kelvin and Camila, set in a Love Island reality show-esque environment trying to win the one million dollar cash prize, only what could go wrong?

The Compatibility Experiment

Photo: HOORAE

The Compatibility Experiment loglines share that it brings a fast-paced, relationship-focused reality check—much like Love Island with a twist. The show takes a participant’s current relationship, introduces them to a potentially more compatible partner, and forces them to navigate the differences with life-changing money on the line.

The new series is part of a groundbreaking content deal between HOORAE Digital and TikTok to develop premium short-form storytelling. The ensemble cast also features; Ayona, Reggie Luck, JaNa Craig, Tosin Morohunfola, Jessica Jacoby, Georgia Warner, and Nick Cassidy.

General Hospital fans know Tajh Bellow for his performances as TJ Ashford, and who earned two Daytime Emmy nominations along the way during his run. Bellow took over the role in 2018 and last appeared on the ABC daytime drama series in December of 2024.

Loren Lott first appeared as Devon’s (Bryton James) sister Ana Hamilton on The Young and the Restless from 2018 to 2019; making a brief return in 2024. She has continued to perform on the stage and screen with recent credits including: Bel-Air, Cherish the Day, and All American: Homecoming.

Check out the trailer for The Compatibility Experiment below and let us know what you think of its concept and if you are glad to see Tajh and Loren again? Hoping they might return to daytime in their GH and Y&R roles at some point in the future? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ava and Drew Revealed to be Behind Framing Sonny for Sidwell’s Prison Beatdown

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Drew and Ava

If you thought that the person responsible for the Pentonville brawl that saw Sidwell (Carlo Rota) and Curtis (Donnell Turner) taken to General Hospital was Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) or even Sidwell himself, you were dead wrong! On the Wednesday, September 30 episode of GH, it turned out that the culprits were actually Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison).

In story, Drew apparently bankrolled the attack on Sidwell and framing Sonny. He told Ava their planned worked (she came up with it!) but was horrified when Drew informed her that Curtis got caught in the crosshairs. Ava is visibly upset because of her longtime friendship with Curtis’ daughter, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali). Drew tried to make Ava see the bright side. Curtis was witness to it and his presence will cast doubt on Sonny’s claims to that he had gotten out of the mob and gone legit.

Later, Vito shows up at Drew’s. They informed him that his guy on the inside of the slammer made a big mistake by hurting their friend and ordered him to leave town.

Maura West

Courtesy/ABC

BOATHOUSE BRAWL

In other major developments, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) and Rocco (Finn Carr) have a blow out fight as Danny blames his “brother” for the reason Charlotte was sent off to boarding school.

Rocco told off Danny for Charlotte’s (Bluesy Burke) reckless behavior and he explains he had to protect his sister. He went in on Danny saying that his mother Lulu (Alexa Havins) has been right to send Charlotte to boarding school and far away from Danny.

However, Rocco went a bit too far when he shouted, “And if your mom was alive, she would send you away too!” Next, Danny punched out Rocco, leading to a terrible brawl. An angered Danny yells at Rocco to, “Stay away from me and everyone in my family. And don’t you ever mention my mom again!” Danny storms off.

Rocco

Courtesy/ABC

Now alone outside the boathouse, Rocco flashes back to his first kiss with Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarksi), hoping that his fight with Danny will not escalate and ruin their budding romance. Meanwhile, a bloodied-mouth Danny heads over to Sonny’s and Jason (Steve Burton) is there at the same time. He then admits that he has a bad fight with Rocco and they are both beaten up.

WILL SCOUT WISE UP?

At the end of the episode, Scout, who had a fight with Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) over Drew, and who keeps telling everyone how good a man her dad truly is, comes upon a suspicious scene.

Scout hides behind the wall outside Drew’s. She sees her dad, Ava and Vito talking. Next, Scout seems to overhear Vito assuring Drew and Ava that their business dealings are done, and he’ll be leaving Port Charles for good.

So, what did you think of the reveal that Ava and Drew were behind framing Sonny for the prison beatdown of Sidwell (and Curtis)? Do you think Danny and Rocco’s relationship can be repaired, or do you think the teenagers will continue to be at each other’s throats? Finally, do you hope Scout gets a clue and stops thinking her dad walks on air? Weigh-in via the comment section, but first check out how Ava and Drew conspired below.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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