Or a highly-emotional storyline with any number of legacy characters of whom we’ve become attached through the decades, Jimh! Lesley would have been an excellent choice, but so would have Monica or even one of the popular cast members from the ‘80’s since this affliction is hitting a younger demographic these days. No matter how moving Max Gail’s talented portrayal of Mike, the mere fact that he is a recast character from a family that engenders very little goodwill or sympathy from most of the viewers makes this scenario ring a bit hollow for me. At the end of the day, I simply don’t care, at least not in the way I would have if the patient had been someone I had grown up with during GH’s glory years!

I agree it should have been a Laura and Leslie story, I am not a fan of the Sonny show and since Mike has been off the canvas for so long it doesn’t make sense to me why they would bring his character back? But I get it The Nathan & Ron company want to make the Sonny show you more of a focal point on GH! But for me personally it would have had a bigger impact if it had been a character that’s been on the canvas all along.

I absolutely couldn’t love (and hate…just because it’s so sad) this story more, jimh, than I do. I would feel this depth of emotion if I met a family I didn’t even know and witnessed the devastation and heartbreak.

As for Sonny’s dad? Unfortunately actors do get replaced. As much as I loved Ron Hale, enough time has passed for me to totally embrace Max in this role. He eased into it so seamlessly it was as if he was part of the family all along. This story could be a standalone vignette; either way, it is just so completely moving and well acted that I have no regret that they didn’t use other characters/family to tell this emotionally-packed tale.

I certainly wouldn’t want the disease to afflict characters that are currently on the canvas, like, Monica, that was mentioned. We finally have her back and I love that she’s still vibrant and a strong presence in the Q family! I tune in to GH to see characters I love that are “always” there. I have no desire to kill them off or watch them deteriorate with something not curable. It’s difficult enough, now that I’m “attached” to “Mike” to think of what’s coming…

What a brilliant idea, Jimh! A missed opportunity…

@su0000….Please tell me you haven’t already forgotten the preposterous scenario when Sonny ordered a scared-stiff Spinelli to deliver a bag of ganja to the chemo-stricken Alexis and her subsequent stoner experience with the screaming munchies! That ridiculous example more than sufficed for me when it comes to the so-called notion of “medical marijuana!” I really don’t know what more can be said about it….you’re either for it or against it, and I don’t suppose I need tell you where my views fall on that specific issue! (Hint….I am inveterately anti-drug!) Having said that, I also don’t care to introduce a debate on Second Amendment rights to Port Charles…as far as I’m concerned, the less politically-charged the storylines, the better! GH should be an escape from the daily grind of the deeply divisive state of this country…not a device to fuel more unnecessary dissention amongst our citizenry! On the other hand, kudos to your previous comments regarding “political correctness!” I wasn’t able to respond to them at the time, but I heartily agreed with your sentiments on the subject! See? Miracles do happen! P.S. I have no doubt that the “Divine Devane” would be able to handle an AK with great aplomb….ditto for Ava or Sam! Port Charles has no shortage of bad-@$$ babes who can take care of themselves!!!!

Interesting, su. As for “medical” marijuana, not sure if you were watching GH back when Alexis was battling lung cancer; so glad they haven’t revisited that. I thought it was great that Sonny cared and I love that Alexis found relief in “weed.” In the midst of sorrow, fear and the unknown, with an uncertain future and devoid of hope, if a plant can get you through the nite (and day) more power to it! So glad that a natural option is being made available vs all the synthetic damaging pharmaceuticals out there with their myriad of side effects.

Love Max too! He has those eyes that show such emotion. I just feel like giving him a big hug when he tears up and gets confused. It makes sense they wanted to give Sonny a family story. It is a breath of fresh air seeing him away from the same old mob story. And, his acting has been better, he doesn’t look bored and stumbling over his lines like he would do sometimes. You can see his eyes tearing up in some scenes with Max and they look like real tears.