When a soap opera allows a full episode to stay in the story they are telling, it can often make for a riveting hour of television.  This was the case and then some on Thursday’s emotional ending to General Hospital’s Alzheimer’s storyline; when the character of Mike Corbin (Max Gail) was given a proper send-off – a funeral – and being eulogized by those who loved and cared for him.

When GH is at its best through the years has been when it tackles social issues of our time, and this story will stand among the iconic soap’s best.  The backdrop of the story was that of father and son, grappling with and coming to terms with the past, finding love, forgiveness and redemption against this most horrific of diseases that has afflicted so many.

In the episode, Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Carly (Laura Wright) go to church and prepare themselves for the emotional day as mourners come through and share their grief and condolensces and love for Mike.  Those included: Kristina (Lexi Ainsworth – back for this one), Stella (Vernee Watson), Olivia (Lisa LoCicero) and a touching moment between Diane (Carolyn Hennesy) and Carly where the legal eagle says to Carly that if she ever needs to drink and vent let her know.

As the funeral begins, one by one Mike’s family and friends say beautiful words of what he meant to them,. Michael reflects about how his grandfather loved to party and how he’d like them all to raise a glass for him. . Olivia, speaks on behalf of Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), and how close Mike and Dante were.  Ava (Maura West) talks about the love and kindness and joy he brought to little Avery.

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When Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) got up to speak, things became even more heartbreaking when she flashes back to a scene where she was having a terrible time and Mike was there for – always a great listener- but he tells he eventually, he will not remember her.

GH did a outstanding job of selecting scenes throughout the eulogies that punctuated who Mike was … and how he tied in to all of the characters lives.  Jason (Steve Burton) shared how he knew it wasn’t easy for Mike to come back and try to make amends with Sonny, but that no matter what, Mike kept trying to get through to Sonny to make things right between them.

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Stella’s moment was also heartbreaking recalling the man who became her friend.  Carly, who was the glue that held Sonny and the family together during Mike’s illness, shared her doubt if the family could handle Mike, and what was to come, but how Sonny helped his father find inner-peace..

When Sonny gets up to talk he reveals he had a lot of anger towards his father, and how the illness made him truly see the man his dad was inside.  Sonny tells his dad he is proud of him and how grateful he was that he came back into his life.   Next, Josslyn (Eden McCoy) sings as the mourners reflect back on Mike in a touching series of juxtaposed clips against the characters in the moment at the funeral.

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After the service had concluded Sonny and Carly talk how Morgan and Mike are together now, but Sonny asks for some time alone in the church. It is then Mike appears and tells his son it’s time he forgave himself, since Sonny forgave Mike.  He tells Sonny that he has made him very proud.  As he gets up to leave he kisses Sonny on the forehead and goes towards the light and to heaven.  Just after that, Dante appears at the front of the church, shocking Sonny in a beautiful analogy that now this father and son must deal with what’s ahead in their relationship, just as Sonny and Mike had done.

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This episode featured beautiful work by Maurice Benard, and Max Gail and everyone in the supporting cast who had their moments.  It was an ensemble piece but led by Benard and Gail, who should both be receiving Emmys in 2021 for their work..

What did you think of Mike’s funeral episode? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

Tuesday’s episode of General Hospital brought with it the arrival of Kim Delaney back to the soap opera scene.  The fan favorite primetime, film, and daytime star has returned to the network (ABC) that made her soap-famous when she played a young Jenny Gardner on All My Children back in the early 80’s.

Fast-forward to 2020, and Delaney is actually a recast in the marquee role that kicked off Demi Moore’s career, that of ace investigative journalist and reporter, Jackie Templeton.  Moore played the role of Luke’s (Tony Geary) new love interest (following the disappearance of Laura into the fog) back in 1982.

Now Jackie is brought into the present day story by snooping reporter, Lulu Spencer (Emme Rylan).  She wants Jackie’s help in bringing down Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober) who is creating havoc in Port Charles at the hospital.   After their brief meeting, who should Jackie run into?  None other than her ex, Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers).

As longtime GH fans remember, after her involvement with Luke, Jackie became romantically involved with Robert.  But that went bust when Robert married a pregnant Holly (Emma Samms) to keep her from being deported out of the country.   All of that begs the question, is Jackie the one holding Holly hostage in some twisted vendetta from years gone by?

It was great to see Kim Delaney back on daytime, and now GH fans will wait to see what the writers have planned for her.

Do you think Jackie is good, evil, somewhere in between?   And according to reports, look for Jackie to have a profound effect on the lives of Chase (Josh Swickard) and Finn (Michael Easton).

So, what did you think of Kim’s first episode back to daytime and as Jackie Templeton? Comment below.

General Hospital’s depiction of the battle of Alzheimer’s disease and how it affects the dying, and the loved ones they leave behind, came to its heartbreaking conclusion this past week on the ABC daytime drama series.

Led by storyline standouts: Maurice Benard (Sonny) and Max Gail (Mike), who once again acted their hearts out in their final scenes together, the entire ensemble of actors who were part of this storyline each had their moments and each delivered which made Mike’s passing all the more poignant.

In a first since we started giving out our weekly kudos several years ago, Michael Fairman TV is giving our Power Performance of the Week to the cast of GH who participated in last week’s scenes for their riveting work.

From Laura Wright’s beautiful goodbye scene as Carly with Mike, where she dreams of him telling her she is a ‘daughter to him”, to Steve Burton’s all-knowing Jason, who tells Mike he will take care of Sonny and not to worry, to Michael (Chad Duell) and Josslyn (Eden McCoy) picturing how key moments of their life would look with Mike being witness to it, and the advice he would give his grandchildren, to Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) finding out that Mike is dying while being so far away from his family – each of these beats brought even more heart-tugging moments to the ending of Mike’s journey.

Even the actors who played a part in Mike’s care were touching as Vernee Watson’s Stella prepares Sonny on how to help Mike pass before saying her final goodbye to her friend.  Then there was Felix (Marc Anthony Samuel), who helped Carly and Sonny through Mike’s last moments at Turning Woods, who was also trying to keep it together through his sadness. Brando (Johnny Wactor) showed up at Turning Woods too, trying to make peace with the death he saw in the war in Afghanistan and now losing Mike.

Of course, there was the surprise moment where Mike is met by his late daughter Courtney and escorted to heaven that both Alicia Leigh Willis and Max Gail played so beautifully without saying hardly a word.

But in the end, it was Maurice Benard who showed us the devastation and acceptance of a son having to let his father go, while trying to make peace with their troubled past that was acting at its best, and perhaps some of the finest in his storied daytime career  – and there was Max Gail – the centerpiece of the storyline – who’s emotional heart was seen in all the scenes last week with the actors as the characters visualized moments with Mike.  Throughout the entire story, Gail played the tragedy of a human being trapped within this horrific disease with brilliance.  He will be missed.

So, what do you think of our choice of the cast of General Hospital for this week’s Power Performance of the Week?  Share your comments below.