Michael Easton’s Finn was hit with a double-whammy.
Plot developments call for actors on daytime to make immediate and dramatic shifts. Case in point: General Hospital’s Michael Easton, who plays Dr. Hamilton Finn, went from loving and wanting to support Elizabeth Webber Baldwin to not being able to be in the same room with her after finding out she played a role in his wife’s death. For his portrayal of a stunned widower, Soap Hub bestows Performer of the Week honors for GH on Easton.
Michael Easton – Performer of the Week
Liz (Rebecca Herbst) has been going through a difficult emotional moment, and Finn has been trying his best to support her. She was pushing him away, and Finn had a hard time understanding it. Who wouldn’t want to support someone they care about? Liz might have been preventing Finn from approaching since she secretly knew she contributed to the passing of his late wife Reiko.
Finn first worried about Liz’s well-being as he patiently listened to her recount her teenage experiences, including the argument she had with Dr. Jeff Webber (William Moses), the physician who was having an affair with her father, and how she fell down a flight of stairs. What happened to this woman, do you know? Liz said that she had passed away and that it was Liz’s fault when Finn questioned.
Reiko might not have had the blood transfusion that caused her to develop Blackwood’s Syndrome, which proved fatal, if she hadn’t fallen. Prior to learning all the details, Finn had made an effort to reassure Liz by saying that she wasn’t to blame because it sounded like an accident. Liz continued by saying that she went through a worse struggle after her parents attempted to zap her memory using their medical knowledge. Finn was enraged by the 25-year absence of Liz’s father and mother (Denise Crosby).
But when Liz disclosed that the doctor in issue was Reiko, Finn’s wife, everything changed (Mele Ihara). Naturally, Finn was in disbelief. Liz’s champion vanished in an instant, and in his stead stood a man who was directly confronting the person who had stolen his wife from him.
After Liz’s revelation, Michael Easton’s Finn was depicted as being in denial. He had to deal with the fact that Reiko had misled him about what had happened after his wife’s fall, in addition to the fact that Liz was to blame for his wife’s death. Along with Jeff, she was being unfaithful to him. Betrayed sentiments swept through Finn’s face. In his attempt to stand by Elizabeth, he visited her house, only to have his support for her undermined.
“My wife and I were happy,” shared a despondent Finn. Liz told Finn she was sorry. “So am I, Liz,” Finn replied as he took his hand and held her head. “So am I.” Realizing there was nothing else to say or do, Finn walked out the door and out of Liz’s life. We’re not sure the timeline properly tracks (is there that much of an age difference between Finn and Liz?) But one thing is undeniable — Michael Easton gave a powerful performance in these compelling episodes.
Honorable Mention: We love seeing Genie Francis and her character — Port Charles mayor Laura Webber Collins — back in action. It was a treat watching her the GH star spar with Victor Cassadine (Charles Shaughnessy) and revisit her complex relationship with her half-brother Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober). We couldn’t help but chuckle when she put son Nikolas Cassadine (Marcus Coloma) in his place a bit after he asked how his grandmother Dr. Lesley Webber (Denise Alexander) and her beau Marcello were doing. “You have a phone, Nikolas,” Laura cheerfully pointed out to her firstborn. “You can tell them that yourself.” Ha!