General Hospital diversifies in the mist of the storm

Port Charles is changing

Long-time viewers of General Hospital grew up watching the show during an interesting era. Although America was a melting pot the majority of the characters on all the soaps during the 1960s and 970s were all white. Occasionally there would be a black or Asian to pop up noa and again but none of it really took root. Frank Valentini said not long ago that the show should reflect the world and it looks like they are trying to do just that.

There is a lot of controversy right now with Steve Burton and Ingo Rademaker being fired and now Rademacher has filed a lawsuit against ABC. Many viewers don't believe he stands a chance of winning against the giant Disney who owns ABC but the fact that he did it is big news. Some viewrs are calling for Nancy Lee Grahn who plays Alexis Davis to be fired because she has been outspoken on several issues and yet in the midst of the storms Port Charles is diversifying.

General Hospital evolves

Donnell Turner arrived in Port Charles a Curtis Ashford with only a connection to Jordan Ashford (Briana Nicole Henry) who had been married to his brother Tommy and their son TJ Ashford (Taj Bellow). He was a confidant to Nina Reeves and worked with Drew Cain (Cameron Matthison). Now Curtis has Aunt Stella Henry (Vernee Watson) and his father Marshall Ashford (Robert Gossett) in town, and he is dating Portia Robinson ((Brook Kerr) whose daughter Trina Robinson (Sydney Makayla) might be his biological child.

Marshall continues to say that it does not matter about blood and that TJ is still his grandson. This is obviously to push the narrative that is popular today about blended families. Kristina Corinthos Davis (Lexi Ainsworth) Rebeca Hern came out as bisexual and dated both men and women. That storyline was dropped and right now she is spending her time trying to micromanage her mother Alexis Davis.

General Hospital is finding its way

General Hospital had a popular couple with Lucus Jones (Drake Hogestyn) and Brad Cooper (Parry Shen) but they broke up after Lucas found out that Wiley was really Nelle Benson's (Chloe Lanier) son with Michael Corinthos (Chad Duell). Felix Dubois (Mark Anthony Samuel) was a gay character but never had an onscreen romance and like Lucas, he has disappeared from the screen.

Transgender actress Cassandra James has been added to the cast as Dr. Terry Randolph who is also transgender and recently led an exercise workout with Portia and Liz Webber (Rebecca Herbst). The Asian Quarter is now front and center with Lydia Look getting more air time as Selina Wu the aunt of Brad Cooper. Some GH fans believe that she is going to have her nephew become part of her mob business but others do not believe he can cut the mustard.

Brad Cooper may be working for the mob

Now that Brad is out of jail he and his aunt both have had confrontations with Michael and there will probably be more to come. There will also be issues with his best friend Britt Westbourne who was warned by Selina to stay away from Brad. It's clear that Selina has plans for her nephew and there will probably be a lot of humorous moments as the plot unfolds and Brad decides what he will do.

For some viewers, these changes are difficult because they have been watching the ABC soap for years and were content with the way things were. This does not necessarily indicate that they are racist or transphobic but had not been used to seeing different lifestyles play out on the screen. As an African American, I never questioned why there were not more people of color in Port Charles or why those who did show up disappeared as quickly as they came.

General Hospital has a new normal

I did not give it a second thought when the Wu family arrived on the scene then vanished and it never occurred to me that a real transgender actress would be playing one on General Hospital. It seems like Frank Valenti and his team are now attempting to put down some roots for the new normal on the show and time will tell whether or not it works out. Some viewers have said on social media that they desire to see Terry with a love interest and who knows that might be in the near future.