Friday’s highly-touted episode of ABC;s General Hospital featured the return of Brad Maule in the role of Dr. Tony Jones, the adoptive father of Lucas(Ryan Carnes) and former husband to Bobbie (Jackie Zeman).

It has been years since fan favorite Maule graced the GH screens, but the writers found a way to conjure him up in Lucas’ mind as Lucas is in a pivotal moment in his life; his bio-dad Julian Jerome (William deVry) is blackmailing his husband, Brad (Parry Shen), and Brad is keeping secrets from Lucas.  All spell bad news to Lucas for raising his son, Wiley.  But as GH fans know, Wiley is not the baby that Lucas thinks he is raising with Brad- he is actually raising Nelle (Chloe Lanier) and Michael’s (Chad Duell) child, which Brad knows!

So, needing some clarity and visiting his adoptive dad’s gravesite, Lucas sees the vision of Tony, and the former father and son have a heart to heart.  Tony tells Lucas how raising him as  little boy gave him the strength and courage to go on through the hard times, and how to be their for his little boy.  Lucas is just emotionally overwrought and so burdened by the lies those who say that they supposedly love him have been telling.

At the same time, Julian is searching for Lucas, and happens upon Bobbie at the hospital. She really does not like Julian and the two land at the GH hospital wall where plaques of the beloved doctors and nurses who have passed away are seen.  Bobbie knows Julian could never be the kind of father, Tony was to Lucas.  Julian says he can never replace Tony, but he is Lucas’ father and wants to somehow do right by him.

Photo: JPI

Later alone, Bobbie talks to Tony’s photo and we see a heartfelt moment where Tony touches Bobbie’s hand and touches her on the cheek. Something Bobbie feels as she remembers this once great love of hers. At the end of the episode Julian finds Lucas at Tony’s gravesite. What will their confrontation bring?

Kudos to Ryan Carnes, who was the emotional heart of this episode and who made us feel every moment of Lucas’s anguish. And … how wonderful to see Brad Maule again!

So, what did you think of Tony’s visit to Lucas and Bobbie on Friday’s GH? Comment below. But first watch some key scenes between them.

WATCH: Tony Jones returns to give Lucas a fresh perspective on the issues he and Brad are having. @bradmaule @RyanCarnes1 #GH pic.twitter.com/dAimgtePGh

— General Hospital (@GeneralHospital) November 9, 2019

For months now, viewers have seen the downward spiral of Ava Jerome (Maura West).  It began following the death of her daughter Kiki, and realizing the man she fell in love with was not her therapist, Dr Kevin Collins, but none other than his serial killer twin brother, Ryan Chamberlain (Jon Lindstrom) – the man that murdered her daughter.

Trying to get back on her feet has been difficult for Ava.  She finally found some purpose in going back to work at the art gallery she loved so much.  Along the way, she has been sipping one too many martinis.  So, if you add all that up, and if you are other denizens in Port Charles, you might think that when Ava professes she saw the real Nikolas Mikhail Stavrosovich Cassadine (Marcus Coloma) in the flesh, when the man supposedly died a few years ago, then she has really lost it!

Thing is – Ava did see Nikolas, and he is back in Port Charles, alive and well, only know else knows except for Hayden  (Rebecca Budig) and Jax (Ingo Rademacher), which we learned at the end of Friday’s episode.

Earlier, after Ava passed out seeing Nikolas, she comes too, and he is not at the gallery anymore.  She panics and looks everywhere for him. Ava is convinced there has to be security camera footage of him in the gallery.  Nikolas’ mother, Laura (Genie Francis) happens to head over to see Ava to discuss Helena’s portrait, which has been the key to the codicil mystery, which is now at Ava’s gallery,

When Laura arrives, she finds Ava with drink in hand, and professing to her that Laura’s first-born son Nikolas is alive and he was just here at the gallery! As she tries to produce the physical evidence to show Laura, it’s not there.   Ava questions her sanity after Laura suggests she really needs professional help; something Laura knows a thing or two about

What happens next is shocking:  Julian (William deVry) is called and he meets Ava and Laura at Shadybrook sanitarium.  Viewers watch as Ava takes off all of her jewelry and her high heels. She hugs Julian and Laura before leaving them behind to get the help she “needs”.

Kudos to Genie Francis and Maura West, who’s unlikely on-screen friendship as Laura and Ava has been a delight to watch; especially when these two powerhouse actresses share two-person scenes together.

Watching Francis’ facial expression when Laura entertains for a moment that her son could be alive and then feels sorrow was masterful, as was West when as Ava she leans on Laura realizing she is in a worse way than she even imagined.  Will Ava get out of Shadybrook soon?  Will Laura get to feel joy that her son is truly alive and in Port Charles? Stay tuned.

What did you think of the performances of Genie and Maura? What do you think will happen next for Ava and Laura in this story? Comment below.

Monday’s upcoming episode of General Hospital should provide the judges ruling in the competency hearing of Franco Baldwin (Roger Howarth) who has been mind-mapped with Drew Cain’s memories.  And if you caught last Friday’s episode, the judges decision will impact several lives in Port Charles.

For instance, Peter (Wes Ramsey) is completely preoccupied with Franco’s hearing and the results and what this could mean for his secrets, lies, and connection to Helena Cassadine to be exposed.

But At the courthouse, Scott (Kin Shriner) continues to pressure Kim (Tamra Braun), about the night she drugged Drew (then Billy Miller) against his will in order to conceive a child.  Kim confesses she did that, but she was driven by grief.  It looks like this Intel was a shock to the new-mind mapped version of Drew.

Later, when Franco takes the stand. his lawyer Martin (Michael Knight) attempts to prove that as Drew, Franco entirely understands his relation to space, times, dates, etc, including his time in Afghanistan; which began July 2010.  Martin tells the judge all of this illustrates that Franco can make his own decisions.

Photo: JPI

But hold on a minute! Liz (Rebecca Herbst) tells Scott (who is desperately trying to help his son and win this case) that Franco was in Los Angeles and was being questioned by the police for his involvement in the two murders at the MOCA Museum back in July 2010.  Franco says he has no memory of this – although for a moment Franco looks upset about his former life –  but insists he was in Afghanistan at the time.  Scott tells the court this proves that Franco is not competent.

Photo: JPI

Martin’s medical witness is late getting to the court, but meanwhile, Scott’s witness, Dr. Kevin Collins (Jon Lindstrom) does show up and wants to speak to Scott before he puts him on the stand.  Scott feels that having Kevin testify will be all it will take to prove Franco is not competent, but things take a shocking turn.  That’s when Kevin testifies that Franco meets the legal standards to make his own medical decisions and is in control of himself.

Next, Martin realizes he has got an advantage after Kevin’s testimony without having to have his late witness show up.  Kevin did enough damage to Liz and Scott’s case as one could do.

Photo: JPI

Kim comforts Franco, while Cameron (William Lipton), Liz, and Scott look on as the judge goes to think over the testimonies and render her decision.  Shortly after her exit, she returns to the courtroom and is ready to tell what she has decided.

Throughout the episode, we have to give kudos to Kin Shriner, who through Scott’s eyes, we could feel the ebb and flow of the case, and how he was all at once a lawyer trying to win a case, and a father fighting for the return of the son he loves.

So, how do you think the judge will rule? What do you hope happens next? Share your theories via the comment section below.