Most successful soap returns

[BingCherry]

I would say it’s a tie between Roger Thorpe and Luke & Laura.  All these returns reinvigorated their respective soaps and brought a plethora of storylines and performances that matched, if not exceeded, each of their initial runs 

[Liberty City]

Harold Bishop's 1996 return to Neighbours.

[DramatistDreamer]

The first return of James Stenbeck, which coined the infamous “Hello Barbara” scene and became a big umbrella story involving a large portion of the cast.

[Liberty City]

Oh, that return was chillingly brilliant.

[Soapsuds]

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[Contessa Donatella]

Now I thought this would be you posting the promo & predicting Vivian's successful return! 

With Bo on DAYS when they switched from Peter Reckell to Robert Kelker-Kelly they'd been clever about the recast. They gave RKK a makeover to make him look more like PR than just good looking, right height, brunette with good hair & facial hair or not, whichever it was at the time.  Then they did the switch in the middle of a costume masked ball. And Robert's a capable actor so he fit & was called a success. There had been some doubt that anyone could "replace" Peter! But, then, when Peter returned you'd have thought he was a demi-god! His welcome was that warm. 

Edited August 28, 2023 by Donna L. Bridges
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[titan1978]

Hard to argue with either of those, and I agree that both shows were invigorated by those returns.

I think Marlena’s return in the 90’s on DAYS was equally as successful and integral. As messy as John/Roman was, it gave us Sami’s many issues, the affair storyline, and Belle. Much like Luke and Laura and Roger’s return, Marlena was connected to every character and story- either directly, through her family, through Stefano, and her friendships.

A later one that was maybe not as well written overall and certainly the show was in rocky shape but still helped rebuild something the show had lost was Angie returning to AMC and Jesse being alive. The two of them together really worked, and carried over well to the online show.

[Contessa Donatella]

The return was so dramatic, so visually appealing, just so darned soapy goodness! And, then it has that extra soapy irony that scabs killed him & scabs brought him back. 

[AMCOLTLLover]

Do recasts count? Coz then I would definitely say Helena Cassadine in the late 90’s on GH!

Taylor Hayes on B&B in the 90’s.

Tina Lord played by AE in 2008 on Oltl .

Atwt - Holden !! 

[soapfave06]

Andrea Evans returning as Tina Clayton on OLTL in 1985 completely reset and revitalized the canvas, ratings and and the trajectory of the show for years. 
 

I agree Debbi and Darnell back as Angie and Jesse on AMC was fantastic, the build up to their reunion at the train was insanely good, it’s a shame there wasn’t a long-term story planned for them as the actual Hubbard unit was complete, the casting on Frankie was phenomenal. I don’t know if they should have rushed them back together as they did and into a wedding with 4.5 months. 

[P.J.]

ATWT

James' first return

Holden 

Carly

Eileen Fulton's in '84 (I think)

Hal (93?)

 

Guiding Light

Roger

Phillip (96)

Reva (as much as I might hate to admit it)

Edited August 31, 2023 by P.J.

[Liberty City]

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[tiofmso]

Piggybacking off this. Paul Robinson returning in the final scene of the 2004 (or was it 03) finale. It led to a lot of really big things in the next few years.

[Contessa Donatella]

Near the end of GL when Grant came back. 

Near the end of AW when Charles came back.

[Melroser]

Though it was brief, Julie Osborn's return as Kathleen on AW was excellent. Bringing back Charles Keating at the same time brought many characters into the story. It also created the Kathleen/Cass/Frankie triangle. It was probably the first triangle where I couldn't decide between them.