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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

Kearran Giovanni Debuts on ‘General Hospital’ as Anna Devane’s New Therapist

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Kearran Giovanni

If Anna Devane’s (Finola Hughes) new therapist on General Hospital looks familiar to you, it’s because actress Kearran Giovanni, who plays Dr. Nichols, previously played a doctor on One Life to Live!.

Viewers tuning-in to the Thursday, September 10 episode of GH got their first look at Dr. Nichols who has been brought in to help Anna recover from her PTSD and trauma following the reveal that she has been suffering from a break in reality since before being put in mental health facility in France, after being gaslighted by Cullum and company earlier in the year.

One Life to Live fans will recall that Kearran Giovanni played Dr. Vivian Wright in 2009, and it was then she first worked with current General Hospital EP, Frank Valentini, who at the time was at the helm in Llanview.

Photo: JPI

WHERE ELSE HAVE YOU SEEN KEARRAN GIOVANNI?

Giovanni appeared on OLTL in the recurring role through 2012 and in the final ABC episode of the beloved series was the the ob/gyn who delivered Destiny Evans (Shenell Edmonds) and Matthew Buchanan’s (Eddie Alderson) baby into the world, whom they named Drew Buchanan II after Bo Buchanan’s (Robert S, Woods) late son. In addition, Vivian has been dating Shaun Evans (Sean Ringgold).

In addition to One Life to Love, Giovanni has very impressive credits having appeared in numerous TV series and motion pictures including starring in the TNT drama Major Crimes from 2012-18, ABC’s Designated Survivor 2017-19, the CW’s Black Lightning from 2019-20. Most recently, Giovanni appeared on the Fox series, The Resident and has a recurring role on the CW’s crime series, Walker from 202-2024.

HEALING ANNA

On today’s General Hospital, after Anna’s harrowing meltdown where she almost shot and killed Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) after seeing visions of “Peter August” (Wes Ramsey), Jason (Steve Burton) saved the day and talked Anna down from committing murder. Now, Dr. Nichols was introduced as a valuable staff member at the hospital.  Although, this marked the first time in the history of the show we have heard of her character.

So, do you remember seeing Kearran Giovanni on One Life to Live? Happy to see that Anna may have a qualified therapist in charge of her healing, unless the doctor turns out to be not on the up and up? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Anna Breaks Down in Front of Jason and Britt After Shots Are Fired

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Finola Hughes

The Wednesday, September 9 episode of General Hospital featured top-notch performances by Finola Hughes and Steve Burton, as Anna holds Jason and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) at gunpoint on Mount Emerson.

Anna is not in her right mind as hallucinations of Peter (Wes Ramsey) overtake her, egging her on to shoot and kill Britt. Jason begs Anna to put down the gun, but it’s clear Anna is speaking to someone who is not there, but in a direction that is just past Britt.

Suddenly, Anna screams at Britt, “You’re just like your father!” Anna also tells Britt that she knew Britt was aware that she was locked up on Spoon Island and did nothing to save her. Britt turns to Jason and tells him she had no idea Anna was on the Island, “until Cullum showed up in Port Charles.” That declaration gave Jason pause.

Courtesy/ABC

“PETER” TAKES A BULLET

Next, Anna is overcome with angst, filled with tears and screams out, “I won’t let you beat me!” She fires the gun where the imaginary Peter was standing, as Britt screams and Jason dove to cover her. Now completely shaken, Jason took the weapon from Anna and ordered Britt to leave the scene as Anna collapsed in Jason’s arms.

Jason was so concerned for Anna. She reveals she’s been seeing visions of Peter August since France. Jason shared his theory with Anna that she was manifesting her worst fears about Faison. However he knows deep down Anna would never have shot Britt. Jason promises to come back and clean up the area, but would take Anna home first.

Jason

Courtesy/ABC

ANNA ADMITS TO EMMA SHE TRIED TO KILL BRITT

At Anna’s, Jason brings her in the front door as Emma is there. Jason tells Emma (Braedyn Bruner) he would like to return and spend the night. A confused and worried Emma get the full story from her grandmother.

Anna explains she tried to kill Britt and she is not as well as she was pretending to be in France. Cut to: Jason cleaning up the site of Anna’s plot against Britt on Mount Emerson. He moves over and finds bullet casings on the ground and examines one of them.

The story climax also signaled the end of the run for Wes Ramsey, who has been showing up on episodes over the last several months as Anna’s dark side conscience. Now that Anna was able to break the psychological hold visions of “Peter” had on her, it ends this latest return of Ramsey’s.

So, what did you think about the scenes between Anna and Jason? Do you think Jason and Britt’s relationship will come to an end now that seemingly Britt revealed she knew Anna was held captive after Cullum came to town? Glad to know Anna won’t be haunted by visions of Peter August anymore? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Did Brook Lynn Deserve Chase Walking Out on Her?

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Brook Lynn

The marriage of Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) and Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) may have come to an end by the conclusion of the Tuesday, September 8 episode of General Hospital.

In story, confronted by Trina (Tabyana Ali), and in front of a room full of Quartermaines, Brook Lynn copped to being the other driver involved in the crash that scarred Jordan’s (Tanisha Harper) face and ultimately sent Curtis (Donnell Turner) to prison.

Chase, who thinks at this point Brook Lynn was covering up her involvement by protecting someone else in the family is shocked to learn it’s Brook Lynn who actually was the driver. Brook Lynn explains she never saw any evidence of a crash when she ran into Jordan’s car, so she didn’t stop to check on anyone. Trina and Jordan are outraged as is Chase.

Chase

Courtesy/ABC

CHASE PUTS BROOK LYNN ON BLAST

Soon, it comes out that Tracy (Jane Elliot) was involved in the cover-up, and tries to point out that Brook Lynn wasn’t responsible for causing the accident or Curtis punching Isaiah, but Trina says that Brook Lynn tore her family apart, and her father is in prison without the ability to see his newborn son. Trina storms out with Kai (Jen Austin Astrup).

Next, Chase goes on blast on Brook Lynn in front of her entire family. Chase starts to walk out the front door as Brook Lynn tries to stop him. At this point, Chase is all about being lied to, and he goes in on his wife, that they promised there would be no more secrets between them.

Brook Lynn digs a deeper hole for herself when she explained that she’d had a glass of wine before getting in the car to see Gio (Giovanni Mazza) and Trina perform at Charlie’s. She admits to being terrified that she’d lose any chance of adopting baby Phoebe, if she called the police.

TO THE GATEHOUSE HE GOES

Chase is furious that Brook Lynn framed Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) for what she caused and did. With that, Chase leaves Brook Lynn in the dust and heads straight to the gatehouse door to see Willow!

Cut to: Brook Lynn devastated on the staircase of the Q mansion and her dad, Ned Ashton (Wally Kurth) sitting with his daughter to try to comfort her when she decrees her marriage is over.

Now in the pick-up, take a look at the General Hospital teaser video for today’s Wednesday, September 9, episode below.

So, what did you think of how Brook Lynn’s life just blew up in front of her? Does she deserve to have Chase walk out on her for what she did? Do you want Brook Lynn and Chase to work things out, or are you betting by the end of this week Chase and Willow will have hit the sheets? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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