22 minutes ago, Vee said:

Fill me in. I know very little about the Pikeman saga, other than that every time I tried to tune back in people seemed to stand around saying "Pikeman" for years on end with no actual movement (much like the saga of Cyrus, the world's oldest and most infirm mobster with family trauma). I do know Valentin introduced the issue of Pikeman the PMC/weapons dealer to Sonny in the first place. And I think the subtle ways they tied up all the dumb stuff of the past few months in the story (Brennan showing up in town, "Stone") is very smart.

I was in and out through that whole story. I believe Pikeman had something to do with Anna’s house burning down and her WSB story from the scabs. The public reveal of her time as a double agent, her search for evidence against Brennan, etc. which all played a part in her shooting Charlotte.

What I am curious about is if Valentin was Pikeman from the beginning, or if he took over after Brennan went to jail? My wish would be all along, and we get to see some dastardly stuff from now on.

1 minute ago, titan1978 said:

I was in and out through that whole story. I believe Pikeman had something to do with Anna’s house burning down and her WSB story from the scabs. The public reveal of her time as a double agent, her search for evidence against Brennan, etc. which all played a part in her shooting Charlotte.

As long as they find a place in there to reveal Charlotte was never Lulu's and it was all a gambit to attach himself to the Spencers for whatever reason, I'll take it.

Just now, Vee said:

As long as they find a place in there to reveal Charlotte was never Lulu's and it was all a gambit to attach himself to the Spencers for whatever reason, I'll take it.

Imagine if we got a very Helena type moment with someone hypnotizing her in a dark room with those Cassadine Tarot cards (another dropped story thread), and they pull back to reveal Valentin holding them up to her blank face, “Protect your King”.

1 minute ago, titan1978 said:

Imagine if we got a very Helena type moment with someone hypnotizing her in a dark room with those Cassadine Tarot cards (another dropped story thread), and they pull back to reveal Valentin holding them up to her blank face, “Protect your King”.

Oh lord! I'll take more of that nonsense so long as it gets that mutant child off the show.

5 minutes ago, Vee said:

That's how I feel, yes. I don't think he was necessarily miscast on paper - again, his most famous part is a a villain on AMC. But they wrote him as such a wuss from the start and have kept him in that vein for most of his run. JPS is capable of doing more with proper writing, what he is not capable of (IMO) is selling this bizarre, convoluted, ugly character as a romantic lead. And everything that's been done to try to put him over as one has been mortifying and hilarious to watch for me. But hey, his fanbase and Finola (and Frank) seem to love him. Either way if PM/EK have decided to finally write to his creepy strengths as an actor, good. Speaking of I'll be curious to see what @carolineg thinks of this twist.

 

I have to wait to watch on Hulu tonight, but from what everyone is saying I am excited about the twist.  I, too, felt Sonny was being ridiculous about not even talking to Jason and believing the worst, so now it's all starting to make sense.

And even if Valentin's days are numbered at least this gives him a bit more gravitas as a villain.  You know I have never found him anything other than a sad weepy mess.  

And I guess I'll just ask this because I am curious-did the Charlotte/Anna story ever have an ending?  Where is Charlotte?  Does she still hate Anna?  Is she still a psycho?  Was it dropped?  I am not advocating more Charlotte, but I don't recall if the story ever played out lol.

3 minutes ago, carolineg said:

And I guess I'll just ask this because I am curious-did the Charlotte/Anna story ever have an ending?  Where is Charlotte?  Does she still hate Anna?  Is she still a psycho?  Was it dropped?  I am not advocating more Charlotte, but I don't recall if the story ever played out lol.

I believe they've said Charlotte is in a private hospital or sanitarium getting help. Leave her there! I think she also 'dumped' Jake if they were ever officially dating, thank God. I'd like to know more about this burning Anna's house, etc. business or whatever.

I am also curious on your thoughts on the overall show lately, we've missed you. if you don't agree with me about it I promise not to bully you too much.

We're forgetting something else, BTW: Several weeks ago Ava claimed some nobody had bought Wyndemere off her. What if it's Valentin and they're in cahoots over there?

1 minute ago, Vee said:

I believe they've said Charlotte is in a private hospital or sanitarium getting help. Leave her there! I think she also 'dumped' Jake if they were ever officially dating, thank God. I'd like to know more about this burning Anna's house, etc. business or whatever.

I am also curious on your thoughts on the overall show lately, we've missed you. if you don't agree with me about it I promise not to bully you too much.

Oh good!  Hope Charlotte gets all the help she needs far, far away for a long time.

As far as GH overall, I had some real life stuff get in the way of me watching consistently, so I had to binge quite a few.  I am caught up with every show, but today.  I see positive changes and I have enjoyed Jason's return thus far, but I think I need more time to really evaluate.   There are definitely some more interpersonal scenes that feel more right and true to character.  I am, however, just used to GH starting stories great and petering out in the end.   At this point I see changes and am optimistic.   So I guess I basically have a non answer lol. 

I don't find the teen boys as awful as some although I do think they are very interchangeable at this point and I might have gone older with Jake, Danny, and Rocco at the very least.  I know you like Hudson West, but he's a bit up and down for me.  

53 minutes ago, VelekaCarruthers said:

So Mulcahey wrote today's breakdown and got separate credit for it?  I didn't see who wrote the script. Was it Kate Hall?

Yes, she was today's Script Writer.

8 minutes ago, carolineg said:

I know you like Hudson West, but he's a bit up and down for me.  

He's had his down days! And I feel you about finding time, it's been a busy/rough time for me IRL myself. Take care of you.

13 minutes ago, carolineg said:

I don't find the teen boys as awful as some although I do think they are very interchangeable at this point and I might have gone older with Jake, Danny, and Rocco at the very least.  I know you like Hudson West, but he's a bit up and down for me.  

I haven’t found them all horrible either because for the most part they are not actively in their own stories yet.

It seems like everything IRL is rough for a lot of people right now, myself included. Take care and I will personally wish harder for Vanessa to return.

 

1 minute ago, titan1978 said:

It seems like everything IRL is rough for a lot of people right now, myself included. Take care and I will personally wish harder for Vanessa to return.

I am waiting for the first shoe to drop on several contract exits or possible returns, personally. If JPS is out or Vanessa does, miracle of miracles, return, we will know real things are changing. I don't think you could've made Valentin into a Big Bad under Frank's sway. You take care too!

Edited March 29, 20241 yr by Vee

25 minutes ago, carolineg said:

I don't find the teen boys as awful as some although I do think they are very interchangeable at this point and I might have gone older with Jake, Danny, and Rocco at the very least.  I know you like Hudson West, but he's a bit up and down for me.  

Missed you & glad to see you back.

Me, I'm thumbs up on the kids, both in the casting & in the new writing using family so much. Danny is my new delight. But I also enjoy Aiden & Rocco even though I have trouble telling them apart. Jake is harder but it's likely because he is playing so angry & sullen. Also he's had much fewer lines. 

Days 1 through 11 except for Day 8, I've been very happy camper. On Day 8 all of a sudden it was short scenes again & lots of cutting back & forth. I felt like I was at a tennis match. 

Edited March 29, 20241 yr by Contessa Donatella
typo

Someone with more recall and regular viewing than me or titan over the last few interminable years needs to track all of "Pikeman's" big moves so we can examine them re: Valentin. Your service is appreciated! In the meantime I will check the insanely detailed GH wiki.

I'm kind of surprised that Valentin is all in on Pikeman but I guess I'm not all that surprised since he is a Cassadine after all. Also I'm probably a minority here but I don't really understand why people are so hung up on his origins to begin with and Valentin has always been a very fascinating, interesting and complex character, no matter if he's good or bad. And that's a pretty good quality to have in a soap character. Plus he has the charisma to pull it off. So personally I'm not as bothered by it as some other people might be. 

So if Valentin has been somehow manipulating Sonny's bipolar meds for quite a while now, I guess that could explain much of Sonny's odd and bizarre behavior over the last several months. But I'm not too convinced that Sonny was actually going to forgive Nina over the SEC situation if he wasn't getting screwed over somehow. He was always going to be pissed at her regardless, maybe not nearly as pissed as he otherwise would've been, but he still would've been really upset with her for not trusting him enough to say anything. It's just not in Sonny's character to let bygones be bygones. Also I really hope this is not a setup for Sonny and Nina to reunite because those two should NEVER, NEVER, EVER get back together under any circumstance. 

I also won't hate it if Ava ended up getting Nina killed somehow and we won't have to deal with her anymore. 

Edited March 29, 20241 yr by MissPhoenixGirl92

I don't think GH will have to wait 12 or 18 months to see if Nicholas Chavez wants to return.

He's been taping for Ryan Murphy, and it won't take the finished product for Hollywood to decide whether to cast him in other roles. I'm sure the word is already out as to whether or not he's any good and what kind of future he has in television or film.