Michael was never who we expected on General Hospital, was he? We’re talking about Carly and AJ’s son. The grandson of Monica, Alan, and Bobbie (plus Corbin Bernson, but nobody remembers him). The nephew of Luke and Jason. This kid should have been, dark, complicated, and a driver of story. How did he turn out so…lame? And what could possibly break him out of his dull persona? We know!

Nature Versus Nurture

Carly (Laura Wright) is a horrible person. AJ (Sean Kanan) was no saint. Alan (Stuart Damon) tried to kill Monica (Leslie Charleson). Bobbie (Jacklyn Zeman) was once a schemer bar none. Luke (Anthony Geary) was a non-conformist (and a rapist, but few people want to remember that), and Jason (Steve Burton) is a hitman.

The point is Michael’s (Chad Duell) DNA is filled with complicated people. So how did he turn out so…simple?

Nurture Versus Nature

And let’s not forget Michael’s beloved stepfather. Sonny (Maurice Benard) is a mob boss, a killer, a blackmailer, and the best temper tantrum thrower in Port Charles. Plus, thanks to Sonny, Michael got shot in the head and spent his entire puberty in a coma. When Jason suffered a head injury, he went from a goofy-sweater-wearing medical student to a black T-shirt-wearing mafia henchman.

But Michael got a head injury…and came out more of a goody-goody than he’d been as a kid? (That tiny redhead was a terror determined to follow in Sonny’s criminal footsteps!) So, no nurture, either.

Down The Go

Michael also had several girlfriends killed, was raped in prison, and manipulated by Nelle (Chloe Lanier), who kept his son from him. Nah, still nothing. (There was a split second when Michael was mad at Sonny and took Avery away from him. But that didn’t last, and now nobody remembers it.) It was beginning to look like nothing could possibly make Michael interesting. Until…

Kiss and Tell

Until his beloved, perfect, miracle Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) was caught kissing Drew (Cameron Mathison). How could Willow even consider cheating on the perfection that is Michael? Could this punch in the face finally be the thing that turns Michael into the man he was born to be? We can only hope!