Characters you were surprised to see again

[MichaelGL]

Guiding Light 

Ed Bauer played by Peter Simon in 2002

Vanessa returning in 2002 for the anniversary episodes as well. 

Honestly 2002 had plenty of returns I was shocked at, including KT as Mindy. 

A deSORASED Susan 

Nola and Bridget Reardon for the last episode. 

[Soaplovers]

Add in Roger and Holly in 1988/9. 

My mom knew once Blake was revealed as Christina that Holly would be returning (and she was excited when she appeared at the end of the 1988 Xmas episode).

[MichaelGL]

Thats a good one too, no one saw either of those three returning in the 80s, especially considering how much the show had changed in a mere eight years. 

[vetsoapfan]

Yes, that entire plot was jaw-droppingly stupid, and continued to butcher the show's already-damaged credibility. When Dorian confirmed that there was doubt as to whether or not that version of Victor was in reality the REAL Victor, I was mollified that TPTB were at least trying to do damage control. It did not solve or erase the problem, but it was better than nothing.

Bringing back Aunt Meta absolutely shocked and thrilled me. The character's 1950 murder trial was the earliest plot in TGL's history that captivated me (and was one of the show's best of all time, IMHO). I doubt we would have seen Meta again if a star of Mary Stuart's stature had not been available, but we were lucky to have her back.

Another unexpected, shocking, but thrilling set of returns.

[Mitch]

All of those and to top it off, acknowledging the Reardon's ties to Company and the Boardinghouse,  (and Nola's snark on the Coopers) and actually allowing Alan and Ed to have a real conversation which didn't feel forced.

[Paul Raven]

Rosemary Prinz as Penny on ATWT in 85.

After saying she'd only return if there was gun to her mother's head or somesuch and after being gone for almost 20 years, when there had been plenty of times Penny could/should have come back.

[amybrickwallace]

When was Richard last on GH?

[AbcNbc247]

For the 50th Anniversary, at the Nurses Ball

[amybrickwallace]

Thanks. I remember that now.

[Paul Raven]

Days

Anna DiMera in 2007 after 21 years.

That was a Hogan Sheffer move I believe. Somebody was really looking at history at that point.

[I Am A Swede]

Jake MacLaine on B&B.

Sure, he hasn't exactly been front and center (

Please register in order to view this content

), but the mere fact that he showed up at all after something like twenty years was quite a jaw-dropping moment.

[Gray Bunny]

GL: 

Dinah Marler in 2004

Alan-Michael Spaulding in 2004 (with a ho-hum forgettable recast)

AC Mallet in 2005 

[koos]

I didn't really like any of those casting choices at the time. Maybe Bogue but then I recall growing to dislike him somewhat. Tognoni was way better on Y&R, imo. I think maybe I appreciated that they were trying to make her more than just the crazy, murderous version, but I just didn't enjoy her acting style. I was too young to appreciate the other Alan-Michaels but obviously that guy's version was completely different. I also didn't like Mandy Bruno, but that's another topic..

I had forgotten this, but it was kind of surprising to see Mascolo return to Days in 2006; I remember the feeling among some people after his 2001 departure was that he would never come back.

 

[Khan]

He probably SHOULDN'T have come back either.  Every time he did come back, Stefano just became that much more ridiculous.

[amybrickwallace]

I was surprised that Phyliis/Michelle Stafford was brought back to Y&R in 2000, as a purportedly stronger, more independent character.