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Has ‘General Hospital’ Turned the Character of Emma Drake into a Bratty Misunderstood Bad Girl?

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: ABC

When GH announced the surprise return of everyone’s favorite little girl grown up, Emma Drake, and that the role would now be played by actress Braedyn Bruner, viewers were, at first, needing to adjust to the fact that Brooklyn Rae Silzer was no longer playing the part.

However, as Emma’s arrival back to Port Charles unfolded, this was clearly not the Emma we all knew and fell in love with. This version of Emma seems to be a calculated liar, who is exposing some unabashed behavior patterns.

On Friday’s December 27th episode, thank goodness, her grandmother is super spy Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) who is already on to Emma’s deceit. Emma pretends she just got up and got them both smoothies, but Anna knows she didn’t get home until 4 AM. Emma claims she just went for a walk and didn’t want to worry her when clearly she went out all night.

Photo: ABC

When Anna suggests they call Robin, Emma says she just did, but Anna caught her in yet another lie as she just spoke to her daughter herself, and Robin had no idea Emma had planned to transfer to PCU. Anna throws back that you can’t transfer from one university to another when you’ve been expelled from the first one.

Upon her investigation, Anna says Emma threw a big party in her room at school that got out of hand where close to 200 students were displaced because of property damage caused by a sprinkler system that was used. Emma kind of blows things off and says all will be fine now that she’s at PCU. She is curious how Emma pulled off her parents not knowing about the incident. Emma admits she gave her number to the school and pretended to be her mom when they called. She swears she is done partying and she has gotten an apartment and will be signing up for school. Anna puts the kibosh on it and says she will be living with her, much to the chagrin of Emma!

Courtesy/ABC

Later, Emma shows up at “Bobbie’s” and has conversation with Josslyn (Eden McCoy). During it, Emma could not have been snottier. She tells Joss that since Berkeley and Stanford are close, she and Cameron Webber (William Lipton) would meet up during the year. Emma brings up the old days where they both vied for Cam’s attention. Next, to try to stick it to Joss, Emma admits she introduced Cam to his new girlfriend, Gretchen (Indi Star), who she thinks is perfect for him.

So what gives? It seems like this version of Emma Drake is poised to be quite the snot and a nemesis for Josslyn moving forward. Is Emma going to be a bad girl … or did something happen to make her act out this way? Time will tell.

What have you thought about this new take from the GH writers on the character of Emma Drake? What have you thought of the performances of Braedyn Bruner thus far? Comment below. But first, check out the scenes where Anna lays into Emma for her lies.

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I hope Emma is not going to be Esme, Part 2. I’m glad Anna caught her in all of the lies. I’m ready for Valentin to come back to Port Charles and reconnect with Anna. I always thought they were electric together.

Why would she be anything like lunatic Esme? Esme was a damaged, emotionally scarred, person. Emma comes from a loving family, she’s stable, sane, and emotionally grounded. Yes; it seems so far they’re screwing with the character and most of us don’t like it. Gone is the sweetness, the respectful, loving girl, and in her place is an aggressive, insensitive, snarky Emma who seems to have no filter. Her questioning of Sasha and her comments and her and Cody were beyond out-of-line; and something Emma would never say. Still, I think they’re writing “this” Emma as a bit more rebel, “cool,” and defensive. But deranged like Esme? No. There’s a difference bratty, and nuts.

Right? How is being assertive equatable to sociopathy? I do not even think Emma is bratty, just rebellious. And she’s fighting the good fight as seen with her efforts to return stolen money to a struggling merchant. Emma is her mother’s daughter as is Joss. This could be the Robin-Carly feud being carried on by the next generation.

How they can even put Esme and Emma in the same sentence and even wonder if Emma is now going to be like unbalanced Esme is beyond me. I’d be completely frustrated if I were the writer to know my stories and characters are so completely misinterpreted. I must admit I do find her bratty as she’s being currently written. Her interrogation of Sasha and her insensitivity to Cody and Sasha’s breakup was insensitive, clueless, and obnoxious; not rebellious. And not things the Emma we know would ever have asked.

I was thinking the same thing

I know it’s early but so far I cannot stand her. The original Emma would never be so disrespectful of Anna & Joss has been through enough. She needs kindness & good friends. Not another witch in town, BTW I love Carly & Jack together! Hurry up with it already.

It’s not the actor’s fault, but the complete change in personality is ridiculous. The Wright-ers are just trying to make this show like it was in the 90s. The stories are so old-fashioned.

Love your play on words. Yes, the “ Wright-ers” are engaging in both character and history revisionism. Joss was the insufferable brat while Emma was the sweet and pretty little girl whom Spencer and Cameron fought over. The reversal of roles is carrying on the great tradition of Carly propping at the expense of other characters. But maybe Emma will just have a back bone and stand up to the self- righteous, hypocritical and domineering Joss. Joss could use someone like that in her life because no one, not even her best friend Trina, stands up to her. For me? Joss will always be the snot nosed brat dressed up as an ear of corn in the school play.

Gee, couldn’t believe there was another fan that feels about Joss as I do, but really thought you meant Anna at first , with your apt description.Anna can be that way too, sometimes.

Yes. I used to love Anna but she is another hypocrite. I’m sorry, all the tears in the works can’t negate that fact. I really wish she’d stop crying.

The misspelling of writers is an accident, I’m sure. Old fashion doesn’t go away to be replaced by bad manners. There is nothing wrong with the nineties or any era. Writers blend all era to show change. I am a writer and author.

Huh? If you’re a writer, shouldn’t you at least make some semblance of sense?

Well, whoop de doo!

nostalgia is making many fans rewrite history. emma was quite the calculating brat as a child when she outed joss for faking being spencer’s girlfriend to try and make cam jealous, which backfired on her. emma still showing that part of her personality is the only thing that could make her interesting. the problem is she’s being written as a stereotypical high school mean girl rather than a nuanced 21yo young woman.

She was on the show for one episode so give the girl a chance.

Wait. You’re calling Emma a “calculating brat” for calling out Joss for trying to manipulate Cameron by pretending to be Spencer’s girlfriend? Clearly, it was the other way around.

Personality 180’s are what this regime enjoys doing.

It’s also part of being human.

Virtually nobody does that in real life.

Alrighty then.

I cannot stand the new Emma!!!! She is just awful and spiteful. She actually is worse than Esme!!! Please GH do not paint her with Gio or make her stay because I cannot stomach this new chapter and the other storylines. Like drew and willow. I do like Carly and Jack pairing though a lot actually.

Yes ..her sassy (mean girl ) persona is new but the show needs some new excitement. There’s no freeze rays or ???? You know. And Lulu is just a plain old b;”!tch. We need more wrier story tellers. I watch so I can escape into different place.

Worse than Esme? Esme was a murderous sociopath. So far, Emma is just a rebellious spit fire.

Ugh! I hate the character change!

SORASed Emma is reminding me of SORASed Holly on Days of Our Lives. They even have the same eyebrows.

They didn’t Soras her. Brooklyn Silzer is going on nineteen in real life, so if she had reprised the role I guess she would have been about 20-21 to still be in college just like Joss and Cam. If I remember correctly it was Joss who was younger than Cam and Spencer when they were kids.

This actress is older. She’s 24 from what I read which is why to me she comes off as “soras’d. But I think it’s more the horrible attitude they gave her that’s affecting her look. If she was sweet like the Emma we remember, I think she could pull it off.

I DO NOT LIKE THE NEW EMMA! The original Emma was always so sweet and good! I can’t even stand watching her!

Same

Can’t relate to her being Emma. What happened to the smart, sweet young woman? What story are the writers coming up with to explain this?

A recast can be jarring enough but a total character flip is another Bad move

GH has made some poor decisions, in my opinion. They should have brought back Emme Rylan as Lulu. If the had an issue with Kelly Monaco personally, they could have recast her instead of killing her off. As for Emma Drake, they should have brought back Brooklyn Rae Silzer. The way the new Emma presented herself upon her return to GH as a “thief”, this is going too far. Drew Quartermaine (Cain) is ridiculous. His character is pretty disgusting right now. He not only slept with Willow but Willow’s mom Nina. Then Cody and Sasha turn out to be cousins. Another ICK factor. Now Chad Duell is leaving without a recast. It looks like the writers want to tank GH. In the matter of a few months, too many characters have changed and not for the good of the show. Bring back the old GH standard.

Brooklyn is in nursing school. She wouldn’t be able to commit to a contract role on GH. The new Emma presented herself the way the writers wanted her to. I don’t think any of us who “know” Emma like the change. It’s not the actress; she’s adorable. Kinda reminds me facially of a young Gina Davis. It’s the rewrite.

I really really do not like the direction they’ve taken Emma.
It’s so inconsistent with her and with her mother and her dad and her grandma and their relationships with each other.
The original actress who plays Emma is so beautiful and kind and has such character.
Emma can go through difficult times without being a brat.
I don’t think she’s as pretty. I don’t think she’s as special.
And I don’t think we need to replace any bratty teenagers.

Very disappointed that the writers chose this.
There are a couple of different things that have happened that I haven’t liked. I don’t like the direction they took. Drew King, I’m sorry. Where is the drew Cain as played by Billy miller who is married to Sam??
Where’s the drew Kane who was humble and gracious in the face of his son’s death?
Just because the world is devolving into a pit of self-centeredness doesn’t mean that we want to see it on every single character on general hospital.
Not liking any of it.
There’s a lot of inconsistencies and complicated re-rigging of backstories and legacy story lines. It’s shabby, it’s lazy.
And GH fans deserve better.
I’m getting ready to turn you guys off and I’ve been watching you since I was 8 years old and I’m 68.
I have raised a few generations of kids on this show and all of them are saying the same thing. What’s going on??????
You killed Dax serious????
You made Emma a disrespectful ass???
Serious?
You broke up Molly and TJ???
Michael and willow???
Cody and Sasha???
Obviously no one on your writing staff has a successful relationship.
It’s just boring and not feel good TV in the afternoon
Too many murders!!!!
And all you killed Sam McCall.
Boo.

Man, you nailed it! I agree with everything you said. I think some writers need to go. Turning I to a woke, no morals show. Willow and Drew disgust me. No wonder Michael is leaving the show. And what ya’ll have done to Emma’s character! Give me a freakin break. The new Lulu is obnoxious. Just saying!

Agree with everything you said. Woke, no morals show.

This new Emma storyline is not interesting, and this new Emma is not likeable.

Ummm; we don’t know the new Emma story line yet.

I can deal with Emma’s rebellious attitude if they reveal a reason for her behavior. New Emma kind of reminds me of a teenage Elizabeth Webber when she first came to PC. She was rebellious, snarky, and lied to her Gram more than once.

I never comment on wardrobe, but why do they dress Emma like a hobo. The long coat she is wearing is about two sizes too big, the big baggy jeans and then the sweats all seem like clothing for a boy. Is oversized clothes the new style?

I wonder if the story is going to be that after all this time emma is rebelling because of all robin dispierence did to her

I did not like this version of Emma! Very disappointed. Did not expect such a little tyrant lol

Well hope she not gonna be that way it totaly ruin the character.. growing up is hard enough but not all of these kids she be turned into Helen cassidine there only room for one of her

Are they trying to run my show into the ground been watching this soap sence I was 11 or 12

Emma hasn’t even been on a full week and I already can’t stand her. Lulu is obnoxious and left her son on Christmas Eve, couldn’t wait one day to go after Charlotte. The writers have ruined more legacy characters, greeeeeat. Sigh.

Kind of agree on that. She seems to have forgotten that they had Rocco, before Charlotte dropped into their lives.Also, brat that Charlotte usually is, she and new Emma should be great friends!

The writers “made her this way”, they just can’t stand to have a semblance of normalcy with one character,so what do they do, then give us someone most of will not be able to tolerate for one reason or another ruining our beloved Emma at the same time, so sad!

She’s also much more “butch”. I don’t like it so far. I really don’t understand why they replaced Brooklynn, she’s a beautiful girl and looks similarly aged. I was prepared to hate the new Lulu and I don’t, but I sure don’t love the new Emma. She doesn’t seem true to the character at all. And also, I never felt those girls were competing for boys. Sigh. Rewriting history.

There is nothing “butch” about this really pretty girl. Could be a model in my opinion. They just made her tougher; more aggressive and offensive. That’s not butch; it’s obnoxious. They replaced Brooklyn because she’s in nursing school. No time for a contract role; acting isn’t her career goal although prior to the recast she said she’d l over to come back for “visits” like she’s done before. GH is having Emma come back this time; not visit.

We already have to stomach bratty Charlotte, do we really have to suffer through a suddenly bratty Emma too? There have been too many character assasinations lately. It’s jarring and very unpleasant. I don’t even recognize Drew anymore. Willow cheating on Michael and Micheal cheating on Willow? So out of character for both of them. Robert abandoning his job and new “daughter” (blech) to run off with Holly? It makes no sense! And the chatter about Brook Lyn suddenly having a child with Dante when she was what, ten, is nauseating. How many previously unknown children crawling out of the woodwork will the writers inflict on us before even they are bored with these cliche storylines?

GH has suffered though a turnover of several writers this past year, as it shows. And it still hasn’t found the right writers yet.

Hate the new Emma. She is NOTHING like the original Emma that was sweet and kind, wholesome. The writers suck. Drew and Willow affair, just turning to smut. Should have brought the old Lulu back, the new one acts like an entitled.spoiled bitch.

I am not happy with this Emma..Emma was always a very sweet young lady, is there any reason why you could not have her that way & write her a story like her Mom’s was growing up & how she succeeds in life

I think there is way too much nostalgia for Emma as a child. This new Emma has been on for 5 seconds, and is already more entertaining than the rest of the YA group combined. I think this new girl is absolutely gorgeous, she even reminds me of Brooklyn S. As for the attitude, I can guarantee in a month or so she’ll have her sweet nature begin to show. Loving her already.

I do not like way they have changed Emma. It’s not the actress that is the problem. It is how that they have written her to lie and cause mayham. She has no feeling for others and wants to hurt whoever she can..l can’t imagine the old Emma ever turing out this way.

General Hospital

RATINGS: ‘The Young and the Restless,’ ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Remain No #1 and # 2, ‘General Hospital’ Only Soap to Lose Viewers

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The latest Nielsen ratings data is out for the week of April 27-May 1, and three out of the four network daytime dramas posted gains in total viewers, while one showed a loss in audience numbers, which may come as a surprise.

Let’s take a look at the ratings period with data from Soap Opera Network and then provide some context. The Young and the Restless remained as per usual in the top spot coming in at 3,14,000 on average total viewers slightly up +20,000 more eyeballs for the week.

In story, Y&R served up Matt’s plot to blow up the Newmans inside the abandoned gas station on the outskirts of Vegas, Sienna believing she killed Matt, only for him to be revealed alive with a severe contusion on his head by week’s end, Nick going on a bad drug trip thanks to the fentanyl laced with something else via Matt, and Cane and the Winters family learning that he is a donor match to save Malcolm’s life, while Sally got engaged to Billy.

Photo: JPI

FASHION HOUSE PROBLEMS

Y&R’s sister soap, The Bold and the Beautiful clocked in with 2,795,000 viewers for the week up +38,000 from the previous ratings period. In story, The Bold and the Beautiful gave viewers; the fallout from Katie’s successful fashion show for her new fashion house, Logan. Dylan continuing to be freaked out. This time when doing her work at Forrester Creations, out from the clothing rack comes somebody that scares her enough to have her let out a blood-curdling scream. In addition, Liam suggested to Hope that she consider coming to work for Logan where she will be appreciated, after Steffy tells her that ‘Hope for the Future’ is back-burnered for now.

General Hospital, which many have considered being the most entertaining on a consistent basis with their storylines, most likely lost some viewers for the week because on Monday April 27, the show was preempted for a special report on the attempted shooting at the White House Correspondence dinner. If viewers did not catch it on Hulu, it aired on the network after Nightline on Tuesday at 1am. In total, GH was the only soap to lose viewers for the ratings week. GH tallied -1,809,000 which is down from the previous week by -168,000.

Photo: ABC

PAYBACK AND A SHOCKING REVEAL

In story that week, Carly’s double life with Brennan and Valentin caught up with her, Michael initiated a strategic plot against Willow, and Josslyn found herself in immediate danger after a run-in with Cassius.

Beyond the Gates, while having two days of the week fully preempted for UEFA Champions League soccer games, actually increased its viewership. BTG tallied 1,655,00 total viewers which also boasted the highest audience gains across any soap adding +42,000. In story, the soap opera spotlighted: Ashley stealing antibiotics to keep Grayson alive, Smitty zeroing in on a possible suspect in the plasma ring, Vernon taking over Martin’s debt to Joey Armstrong, while Kate recognized a name tied to Lynette’s finances.

It should also be noted for the ratings week; The Bold and the Beautiful once again topped Y&R for the top spot in the key Womens 18-49 demo and in the Womens 25-54 demo, Beyond the Gates once again bested General Hospital for the 3rd spot.

*Nielsen ratings are based on the Live+Same Day Big Data+Panel model.

So, let us know your thoughts on the current ratings picture? Then weigh-in; what soap opera is serving up the best drama right now that is keeping you engaged to catch it every day? Which soap has you the least interested? Drop a comment below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Would You Be Down With a Dante and Elizabeth Romance?

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On the Friday, May 15 episode of General Hospital, Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) shared a heartfelt talk on trauma. Dante is so concerned for Rocco (Finn Carr), and how it affects someone for the rest of their life, which is something Elizabeth knows all too well, but got through it.

It all begins when Elizabeth shows up at Dante’s office ready for her date with Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst). How beautiful she looked did not go unnoticed by Dante. When the talked turned to how Dante told Rocco that he knew his son shot Cullum (Andrew Hawkes), he admits he is scared for his child, because he lost his innocence with the emotional baggage he now must carry forever of shooting someone.

Dante notices how Rocco is becoming more and more withdrawn and he wants to know how to help him. Elizabeth bring up how she can absolutely relate to trauma at a young age, just like Rocco. However for Elizabeth, her trauma came in the form of a brutal rape by Tom Baker. Speaking from experience, Elizabeth details that it was her friends and family like Lucky and Bobbie who helped pull her through. She encourages Dante to continue to show up and be there as support for his son.

Courtesy/ABC

SPECIAL DELIVERY

Next, an officer delivers to Dante the evidence from the pier shooting, which Dante plans on destroying. Before she leaves for her date with Ric, Liz reassured Dante he is doing the right thing to protect Rocco and she has done the same. She has left no record of Rocco’s hospital visit the night of the shooting. Liz leaves for her date.

THE WRONG SUSPECT

Then, Cullum storm troops in to Dante’s office demanding the evidence that the PCPD must have collected at the site of his shooting. Dante says that the evidence must be misfiled in the warehouse, but they will find it. However, Cullum realizes Dante is stalling and lying. Before heading to Dante’s office, Cullum paid a visit to Carly (Laura Wright) and saw a photo of Danny with Jason, triggering him to now believe that Danny may have been the person who shot him in the back on the pier!

Courtesy/ABC

DINING WITH RIC

At dinner at Café Cherie, Ric handed Elizabeth the folder with the priceless piece of artwork he’d purchased for her through Ava. Elizabeth loved it and went over to Ric and planted a kiss on him.

Will GH move Elizabeth into a romance with Dante? Do you think Liz and Dante make a cute couple? After today’s episode, it’s clear they very much like and admire one another. If so, what happens to Liz and Ric’s burgeoning repeat romance? Share your thoughts and picks via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Dante Tells Rocco He Knows He Shot Cullum and Will Protect Son

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In well-played scenes on the Thursday, May 14 episode of General Hospital, Dante (Dominic Zampogna) finally had a talk with his son, Rocco (Finn Carr) informing him that he knows the teen shot Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).

Rocco has dreaded his father finding out, because he is the acting police commissioner of the Port Charles PD and feared his dad will have to arrest him for the crime.

Dante asks Rocco in his own words to recount what happened the night on the pier. He assured his son, he is not going to arrest him and noted there are very extenuating circumstances surrounding the crime.

Courtesy/ABC

FATHER AND SON

Rocco explained how he followed Britt  (Kelly Thiebaud) to the pier. Then, how Cullum attacked Britt. Jason (Steve Burton) showed up and fought with Cullum and how the gun came loose.He remembers the other weapon Cullum pulled out to kill Jason and that’s when he shot him.

Next, Dante explained that he was proud of his son for saving Jason and Britt’s lives. He also tells Rocco that he is very concerned in Britt’s involvement in all of this stemming all the way back to the Five Poppies, and feels she is still tied into everything that is happening.

Dante tells Rocco that nobody else can know about this involvement in the shooting. He also touchingly said, that he is his father, he will protect him. However, Rocco is worried that if the truth came out that he shot Cullum, his dad would be in serious trouble for covering up a crime. Dante tells Rocco, he should not worry about that right now, but he needs to stay in Port Charles so he and his mom can keep him safe.

A SHOCKING CALL

Suddenly, as father and son hug it out, Dante gets a call from Justine (Nazneen Contractor), alerting him to the fact that she just met with Cullum and he is looking for the evidence and the file from his shooting. Dante rolls his eyes, knowing things are about to go from bad to worse, and how is he going to keep his son safe from the evil WSB Director?

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Dominic Zamprogna always delivers a nice counterbalance to the often histrionics of other characters in Port Charles in his portrayal of Dante Falconeri. So that, when Dante breaks or gets emotional, it counts. Finn Carr has continually shined in the storyline as Rocco continues to teeter on the edge of knowing what he has done and being wracked with guilt. Next up has to be Danny learning his brother is the reason Jason was carted away. Stay tuned!

So, what did you think of the scenes between Dante and Rocco? How on earth will Dante keep Rocco safe? Share your thoughts via the comment section.

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