7 hours ago, Vee said:

I think they were purely winging it, in part because of such BTS chaos. IIRC Gio was explicitly announced at one point as being for Trina, but there was only a hint or two of that onscreen before they just had him meandering around with both girls doing nothing for months. My suspicion is Korte, FV, etc. tried to reposition Joss since Dex had lost his very brief luster and thought anything and anyone was game. Then they moved on.

My further suspicion is that with the recent success of both Emma and Gio (and them together), Frank may have lost his all-consuming interest in Joss. It happens with him.

I could see the vision with Mansi a little earlier than this time last year when Kristina was basically the only smart person in several stories, seeing through Ava and standing up to Natalia while still delusional about her father. I thought that I finally found Kristina credible as a major lead at that moment, even if the surrogacy thing was still going (and about to get much worse). But it faded as soon as, well, everything happened.

I think the character and recast could recover, but it's gonna take either a lot of work or a long break. Or both.

Vaganos is a passable watch for a character who has been played out for over a decade. I would just let Molly go for a number of years. KV or Pullos or whoever can show up for visits from time to time but I wouldn't bring her back on contract any time soon.

I don't remember if Gio was announced as being for Trina or if it was just heavily speculated.

I could see the vision with Mansi too.  Kristina is unbearable these days and Mansi isn't likeable enough to overcome it.   I am not sure any actress would be able to overcome it.

Vaganos lacks all of the quirky charm Pullos/Molly had.  You know how I feel about Molly's quirkiness lol, but Molly is just a regular 20 or 30 something soap character now.  There is nothing special about KV or Molly at this point.

5 hours ago, Taoboi said:

And I would agree with that. And I know I made that VERY clear in the case of Alexa who fit in perfectly from her first frame. And I waxed poetic over her right up until her reunion with Laura. I can still wax poetic on her and her ability to lift up the writing when it irks me. I can say the same for Braedyn (hehe at the Natalia shade) as well. Such a great job of embodying aged-up Emma. I remember feeling like she did study her predecessor. As for Rory...I haven't talked too much him outside of his body but I love the direction he's taken Michael in so far...a direction Michael should have always gone in and definitely should have post-fire, not to mention post-affair reveal.

 

I also agree with Van and Kris V as well. I'm used to them now, but they are so different from Carnes and Pullos. It's Van for me more than Kris.

 

Same. I don't even love to hate her now. I just hate her on my screen. And it's so funny because I liked her and Blaze together. Not I just 'ugh.' 

Braedyn looks odd when I spell it out so I wasn't positive I was spelling it right lol.  I always was holding out for Brooklyn Rae Silzer to come back when she grown, but I am so glad the show hired Braedyn.  She's a great fit for Emma and has a ton of charisma.  I see why Frank might be losing interest in Eden/Joss because Braedyn/Emma are much more likeable.

Van doesn't bother me anymore either.  His take on Lucas was jarring at first.  He plays a more lighthearted almost goofier version of the character.  It works great with his friends and family, but some of his scenes with Brad didn't feel like they had the seriousness they should have.

As for Kristina V. she's perfectly adequate.  Molly is now an uptight, type A woman.  So what?  Boring......At least Kristina isn't 40 like her predecessor lol.  The bar was so low with all the temp Molly's that I think we believed Vaganos was better than she is.

7 hours ago, Taoboi said:

And I would agree with that. And I know I made that VERY clear in the case of Alexa who fit in perfectly from her first frame. And I waxed poetic over her right up until her reunion with Laura. I can still wax poetic on her and her ability to lift up the writing when it irks me. I can say the same for Braedyn (hehe at the Natalia shade) as well. Such a great job of embodying aged-up Emma. I remember feeling like she did study her predecessor. As for Rory...I haven't talked too much him outside of his body but I love the direction he's taken Michael in so far...a direction Michael should have always gone in and definitely should have post-fire, not to mention post-affair reveal.

 

I also agree with Van and Kris V as well. I'm used to them now, but they are so different from Carnes and Pullos. It's Van for me more than Kris.

 

Same. I don't even love to hate her now. I just hate her on my screen. And it's so funny because I liked her and Blaze together. Not I just 'ugh.' 

People keep bringing up how she was different when they were together. I think it's because she was mature then and only then! The rest of the time immature, impulsive & so much like her parents, the worst of each.

About Final Molly, I have no confusion. I think the actress is a rare find.

Also, I don't agree at all that Frank or anyone is tired out with Joss. Her story as a WSB recruit is front burner & looks to continue for quite a while. Just this week we heard some of her reasons for doing this. Speaking of that, I am beyond tired of people dragging Joss for her opinion on Sonny. She is entitled to that as she lived it for many years. And, she has had people hurt because of him. I figure she lives in fear for other people who might be hurt directly or indirectly because of our favorite narcissist.

Which brings me to t Madam Wu. I mean, did that go by in a flash?! Haven't seen her in I think 6 months & that was all we got?!!

Edited July 3Jul 3 by Contessa Donatella

I’m loving Van Hansis. It’s nice to have a gay male character who is neither a goofy sidekick nor super-masc. I hope they put him on contract and continue developing this star-crossed romance with Marco.

3 minutes ago, bossruen said:

I’m loving Van Hansis. It’s nice to have a gay male character who is neither a goofy sidekick nor super-masc. I hope they put him on contract and continue developing this star-crossed romance with Marco.

I'm not sure he wants a contract. He lives in NYC with his husband, so he commutes. So far, it seems to be working both for him & for the show. Recurring is not actually a curse word. But, really, I have no idea what his thoughts are about any of this. For all I know he might crave a contract. Whatever I am just glad to have him & he seems so much like a Spencer. He just fits. Don't you think so? I can imagine him talking to Bobbie, for example. And, me, too, when it comes to the pairing. As a matter of fact I also quite like Marco.

1 hour ago, carolineg said:

I don't remember if Gio was announced as being for Trina or if it was just heavily speculated.

I feel like it was a little bit of both from what I remember. 

 

1 hour ago, carolineg said:

Vaganos lacks all of the quirky charm Pullos/Molly had.  You know how I feel about Molly's quirkiness lol, but Molly is just a regular 20 or 30 something soap character now.  There is nothing special about KV or Molly at this point.

Really? I feel Vaganos has...well had...some quirkiness within her uptight-ness. At least pre-Cody. Now any attempt at quirkiness comes across as forced.

 

1 hour ago, carolineg said:

Braedyn looks odd when I spell it out so I wasn't positive I was spelling it right lol.  I always was holding out for Brooklyn Rae Silzer to come back when she grown, but I am so glad the show hired Braedyn.  She's a great fit for Emma and has a ton of charisma.  I see why Frank might be losing interest in Eden/Joss because Braedyn/Emma are much more likeable.

Van doesn't bother me anymore either.  His take on Lucas was jarring at first.  He plays a more lighthearted almost goofier version of the character.  It works great with his friends and family, but some of his scenes with Brad didn't feel like they had the seriousness they should have.

As for Kristina V. she's perfectly adequate.  Molly is now an uptight, type A woman.  So what?  Boring......At least Kristina isn't 40 like her predecessor lol.  The bar was so low with all the temp Molly's that I think we believed Vaganos was better than she is.

Same. I was holding out for BRS as well. It's so rare now to see an kid grow up naturally on screen on soaps now. She was going to be rare. And I was ready to not like the recast. But...Braedyn really comes across for the most part like an older Emma. So she won me over. I wouldn't say that yet since I do feel Frank will keep Joss vs Emma going. And it's not the first time Frank has simply forgot Joss only for her to rise like a phoenix in story. It's how we got this Alias story where Emma should be.

 

I also agree. I like a more serious Lucas, but I have gotten used to Van's version of him.

 

Lol. That was such a crazy year of Mollys.

8 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

I feel like it was a little bit of both from what I remember. 

Probably.  

14 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

 Really? I feel Vaganos has...well had...some quirkiness within her uptight-ness. At least pre-Cody. Now any attempt at quirkiness comes across as forced.

 

Idk.  Maybe KV tried?  It always came off a little bitchy and obnoxious.  Not that young Haley Pullos wasn't obnoxious lol, her weird quirks were just more specific.

16 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

Same. I was holding out for BRS as well. It's so rare now to see an kid grow up naturally on screen on soaps now. She was going to be rare. And I was ready to not like the recast. But...Braedyn really comes across for the most part like an older Emma. So she won me over. I wouldn't say that yet since I do feel Frank will keep Joss vs Emma going. And it's not the first time Frank has simply forgot Joss only for her to rise like a phoenix in story. It's how we got this Alias story where Emma should be.

 

Yeah, I really liked BRS.  She wasn't the strongest actress, but she grew up into a lovely woman.  I think she's entirely given up acting and is focusing on school, so she was probably never a real long-term option.  Braedyn really has such charm.  She's a great find so Frank will probably waste her.

And, yes, I assume Joss and Eden will rise back into prominence at some point.

18 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

Lol. That was such a crazy year of Mollys.

The year of a million Mollys lol.  I still don't think Haley could have done that story so I am not even sure why the show kept pushing it.  The show would have been much better served giving Molly and TJ a happy ending out of town when Haley got arrested.  It's not like GH cares about Tajh Bellow or anything.

Nicole Paggi is filling in again as Maxie Jones

Edited July 3Jul 3 by John

5 hours ago, carolineg said:

I always was holding out for Brooklyn Rae Silzer to come back when she grown, but I am so glad the show hired Braedyn.

I wasn't! Nice girl, but she was sickeningly sweet and not a great actress. I was counting the days til they recast.

Bruner was perfect to me because her Emma was dry, spiky and the anti-Robin - you are not going to succeed with a clone of an iconic heroine like that, what would be the point or interest? The child would have to be different. People got pissed about it initially but it was always the move in my mind. And she is great with Finola.

Van Hansis is good with LW and Becky so I let him ride. I think he does well with the new romance. Any high drama scenes, uh, we'll see if he improves lol.

And yes, any kind of individuality or quirk is gone with KV. But Molly should've been retired and sent offscreen long before Pullos' DUI - the character was an afterthought and worn out from so many years on canvas doing nothing. Still is.

I think it was in print at one point that Gio was going to take an interest in Trina, before or right after he first appeared. That bore out with a few very brief hints onscreen before they scuttled it.

Credits for Thursday, July 3, 2025:

Created by: Frank & Doris Hursley
Executive producer: Frank Valentini
Head writers: Chris Van Etten, Elizabeth Korte
Writers: Emily Culliton, Scott Sickles, Cathy Lepard
Director: Jillian Dedote

Rocco and Lulu on Monday is gonna be great

So glad they aren't dragging this out

2 minutes ago, Vee said:

I wasn't! Nice girl, but she was sickeningly sweet and not a great actress. I was counting the days til they recast.

Bruner was perfect to me because her Emma was dry, spiky and the anti-Robin - you are not going to succeed with a clone of an iconic heroine like that, what would be the point or interest? The child would have to be different. People got pissed about it initially but it was always the move in my mind. And she is great with Finola.

Ha!  I knew you weren't holding out hope for BRS.

The show did a great job casting Bruner.  I hope at some point we get to see her interact with KMc.

11 minutes ago, Vee said:

Van Hansis is good with LW and Becky so I let him ride. I think he does well with the new romance. Any high drama scenes, uh, we'll see if he improves lol.

 

Yeah, it's the high drama I get stuck on with him.  Van isn't awful.  He's just a very different Lucas.

17 minutes ago, Vee said:

And yes, any kind of individuality or quirk is gone with KV. But Molly should've been retired and sent offscreen long before Pullos' DUI - the character was an afterthought and worn out from so many years on canvas doing nothing. Still is.

For me Molly actually mostly existed off screen before Pullos' DUI.  So I never really thought about her post-twee kid years.  She'd just pop in, do a scene with the "DAVIS" girls, say her and TJ are great, and live in the other non-filmed part of Port Charles lol.    I still can't believe the show was really going to do the surrogacy story with HP.  

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth but some nice square-cut swim trunks instead of this knee-length situation would make Gio look taller.

14 minutes ago, carolineg said:

For me Molly actually mostly existed off screen before Pullos' DUI.  So I never really thought about her post-twee kid years.  She'd just pop in, do a scene with the "DAVIS" girls, say her and TJ are great, and live in the other non-filmed part of Port Charles lol.  

Nor did I. People suddenly acting like oh, she's so indispensable, she can't leave now apparently don't remember most of the last 13 years. Molly was doing nothing and she's still not really relevant, only with an even less unique actress than the last one.

Do I think there is a unique character there to bring back someday? Absolutely. But not with this actress, maybe not with Pullos either and not until she's been gone at least a few years. You don't hang around the show as human furniture for over a decade and not get played out.

I’ve actually enjoyed all of the GH recasts we’ve gotten since I started watching again last year. All I ask for recasts is that they have chemistry with their costars and they all do thankfully.

I’m definitely in the minority but I prefer Van to RC as Lucas. Van feels way more alive and vibrant.

Edited July 3Jul 3 by Antoyne

4 hours ago, Taoboi said:

... Braedyn really comes across for the most part like an older Emma. So she won me over. I wouldn't say that yet since I do feel Frank will keep Joss vs Emma going. And it's not the first time Frank has simply forgot Joss only for her to rise like a phoenix in story. It's how we got this Alias story where Emma should be.

This never fails to amuse me. Fill-in-the-blank should have been the WSB agent, not Joss.  Suggestions have been Emma, Trina, TRINA?!! ... When all you need to do is think back to Dec. Jack meeting Joss, they talked into the night, I saw it then, that moment, you could see his wheels turning, Joss recruit her, Joss recruit her, Joss recruit her .... 

4 hours ago, Taoboi said:

Lol. That was such a crazy year of Mollys.

4 Mollys in 4 months! Who does that? That was indeed some crazy shi*t.