Favorite Returns

Top 5 Returns

5. All My Children's Jesse & Angie Hubbard - 2008: I'm glad AMC has brought back two characters from so long ago; it's a great way to connect the past and the present. I was born in the 80s, so I didn't get to see this supercouple in their heyday, but I've known of them for quite some time. I'm happy I get to see them in action together and see what I missed out on from their first time around. So far their return has been enjoyable and exciting. I expected TPTB to fudge it up somehow, but that's not the case. I love that their son is the reason for them to be in Pine Valley again and to reconnect. The moment they finally reunited (at the train station) was tear-jerking and memorable. Darnell Williams and Debbie Morgan are quite a match. I can't wait to see Jesse & Angie team up with Tad to take on the men who Jesse has been running from.

4. One Life To Live's Gabrielle Medina - 2001: This was really exciting for me. She had been gone for ten years, and I was too young to watch when she was on. I had known about her and her relationship with Max Holden for a while. I was always intrigued by her and thought I'd like her. So I was glad she returned, and it surprised me. Asa Buchanan had a mystery bride, and it turned out to be Gabrielle! I remember the moment Max lifted the veil, and there she was with her hair extremely short. I saw the sparks between her and Max instantly, but unfortunately, they never were a couple again. I think it was a marriage of convenience between her and Asa, but it's that first moment of her return that made it so notable.

3. All My Children's Maria Santos - 2002: Maria was my favorite character in 1996 and 1997 when I began watching soaps. Her "death" devastated me, but I always hope she would return. And she finally did...five years later. It was really exciting and emotional for me. AMC botched her return completely with that dumb amnesia, "Maureen Gorman" story, but it meant a lot just the fact that she was back. And we all knew she was really Maria; she had to be. It was only a matter of time before her memory came back. I just didn't think it would take so long; she was involved with Aiden and had been with Zach. It was frustrating, but eventually there was a huge payoff. The story became exciting when her memories came flooding back to her. I cried when she reunited & reconnected with Edmund and her children. Maria was finally herself again, and she was back with the love of her life. Because of that, her return was wonderful.

2. General Hospital's Laura Webber - 2006: This was the moment every GH fan was waiting for - Laura to wake up from her catatonic state and reunite with her loved ones. Granted, her return only lasted a month, and now she's back to her state. But it was worth it! I cannot forget when Laura finally "woke up" (so to speak) and was her same old self with Luke, her children, Lesley, and others. It was wonderful to see her with Lulu since the last time they were together, Lulu was still a child. Her time with her children was so special, and I loved how she and Luke reunited immediately. They had such a beautiful wedding; it meant so much to me since I didn't see their unforgettable 1980 wedding. When the catatonia began coming back, it was nice that she wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas before she was gone again. And when Laura had to say goodbye to Nicholas, Lucky, Lulu, and Luke... Wow! That was quite an emotional episode for me and many viewers. I'll never forget Luke saying, "Wherever you are, I'm right there with you." And she was at that famous 1st wedding of theirs. How sweet yet sad. Laura will always be Luke's angel.

1. All My Children's Dixie Cooney - 1998: This was when she returned the first time. She had left Tad, divorced him, and moved to West Virginia with Junior. I didn't get to watch much of her before she left, so I was glad to read about her returning in the summer of 98. And thank God she did! Her return was not momentous, but it lead me to have a new favorite character. I became a Dixie & Cady McClain fan almost instantly, and I'm still a huge fan today. Dixie's story improved as the months went on... When she and Tad got into each other's orbit again, I saw the chemistry and wanted them back together so bad. I became a diehard Tad & Dixie fan, and it seemed like forever for them to get back together. That story was good; it mimicked the movie, An Affair To Remember. They had to meet at the top of a building, but she had health problems that prevented her from showing. It took 3+ months of Tad & Dixie thinking they didn't want to be with each other when they secretly did before Tad FINALLY learned she was sick. And they had a beautiful reunion in New York City. It was an agonizing story, but it was well worth the frustration. It was good storytelling, the best T&D story I think I ever witnessed. And it happened thanks to Dixie (and Cady McClain) returning.