More Than a Decade After Jonathan Jackson’s Last Regular General Hospital Appearance, the Time Is Perfect for His Return as Lucky Spencer — Here’s Why
They say that change is good. But it sure didn’t feel that way on December 23, 2011, when Jonathan Jackson was making his last appearance as a General Hospital regular.
Though the Emmy magnet would return as Lucky Spencer just four years later, to help usher on-screen father Anthony Geary (ex-Luke) into retirement, for all intents and purposes, Jackson was done.
The way they were…
Lucky’s ‘So Long’
In the story unfolding at the time, his character was reeling from the death of wife Siobhan and the “death” of Jake, true love Elizabeth’s son with Jason (that Lucky loved like his own). Returning to a church in Ireland that held special significance for him and his late missus, Lucky recalled, “Last time I was here, I was looking for a sign, some kind of message, and I got one. It saved my son’s life, gave me hope that maybe You do exist… maybe there’s some unseen presence of love and goodness shining down on us.
“But,” he went on. And it was a big, important “but.”
“But I still don’t know why You chose to save [my son] Aiden and not Jake,” Lucky admitted. “I’m not trying to be ungrateful. I just… I can’t keep going on like this. I need something to believe… something to really, really believe in… and a direction to follow.” (You can watch the scene in full below.)
Why We Need to Get Lucky Again
Regular viewers of General Hospital know, of course, that Jake turned out to be no more deceased than Robert, Anna, Jason, Ric, Laura (who technically vanished, then years later, played dead) or Duke (at least the first time). But for the moment, that’s beside the point. The point, on this pivotal anniversary, is that the ABC soap needs Lucky back.
Why? So glad you asked.
For one thing, as far as we can tell, his original portrayer is available. The Nashville alum has a couple of movies in the works, but they are both in post-production already. Heaven knows that Jacob Young (better known as All My Children pot-stirrer JR Chandler) and Greg Vaughan (aka Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives) were superlative substitutes. But if the show, and viewers, can get back the o.g. Lucky, why wouldn’t they want to?
There Are Some Dance Cards Waiting to Be Filled
Furthermore, since Sam has drawn a line in the sand where smooth criminals like Jason (RIP) are concerned and gotten involved with Dante, how fantastically complicated would it be, were Lucky to return to Port Charles and throw sparks anew with his old flame? Instead of having to choose between a good guy and a “bad” one, she’d have to choose between a good one and an even better one.
Lucky’s return would also make a marvelous mess of former wife Liz’s life. She’s formed a strong connection to Finn. However, we wouldn’t mind seeing how the doctor reacted to an awakening of old familiar feelings for her first love. Heck, we wouldn’t mind seeing how she reacted to that, either!
“You… me… Lucky, it just makes sense. Hot, hot sense.”
What do you think, General Hospital fans? Would you like to see Jackson return as Lucky? And if so, what storyline would you thrust him into?
