General Hospital Performer of the Week: Rory Gibson as Michael Corinthos

It's very rare when a soap can re-introduce a character with a recast as smoothly and seamlessly as General Hospital has re-introduced Michael. Rory Gibson made his debut with one line in one scene two weeks ago and has already taken GH and Port Charles by storm as legacy character Michael Quartermaine Corinthos.

Embodying Michael

Gibson slipped right into Michael's skin on General Hospital | Image: ABC

Gibson has become Michael in just nine short episodes. While we take nothing away from Chad Duell and his 15 years playing Carly's (Laura Wright) oldest son and Monica Quartermaine's (the late Leslie Charleson) only biological grandchild, Gibson has swooped right in and made the role his own in the blink of an eye. He feels as comfortable in Michael's skin as if he's been bringing the character to life for years.

GH was wise to feature Michael every day since his debut, as it has allowed the audience to connect with the character almost instantly. He returned during a major moment and was planted right into a major story, meaning Gibson had to work hard and fast to make sure his presence felt natural. He has certainly succeeded.

We believed him when he was on the witness stand explaining his life with Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and how there was always something off about her and their relationship. He was both pained and confident at the same time.

Into the General Hospital fire

Michael was grateful to Willow | Image: ABC

When Michael rushed to Sasha's (Sofia Mattsson) side and saw her through a quick labor on the floor of the courtroom during an interrupted custody hearing, we could feel his fears, but also his affection for Sasha. Gibson was then forced to perform some adrenaline rush scenes as he held Sasha while she gave birth to his child.

The sheer joy and emotion on Michael's face as he saw his daughter for the first time did our hearts good. If Gibson had not already embodied Michael during the previous seven episodes, the scenes right after Sasha and Michael's baby was born might have fallen flat. Instead, we believed this was Sasha and Michael welcoming their child into the world, and not Sasha with some stranger calling himself Michael.