On General Hospital Oscar leaving due to a cancerous brain tumor is the hottest soap story to come up in eons. Not only is it a sure-fire ratings hit, it’s a mega popular storyline for fans, and one that is drawing multiple characters to the screen. What’s not to like?
This storyline even has a throwback feel to one of the most popular plots in GH history, with fans speculating that Oscar (Garren Stitt) leaving GH is akin to Robin/Stone 2.0.
If that’s the case the writers have mighty big shoes to fill. The tragic love story of Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough) and Stone Cates (Michael Sutton) was a groundbreaking story that reverberates to this day.
Young and handsome Stone debuted in 1993 and was eventually taken in by Sonny (Maurice Benard). The teenager wasn’t exactly blue blood and when he and Robin began dating her uncle Mac (John J. York) threw a fit. But their wrong side of the tracks love was hard for fans to resist and soon their intimate and loving relationship became front burner.
Stone didn’t know he had HIV when he and Robin had unprotected sex. Robin eventually tested positive for the virus and Stone died of AIDS. In the days and months leading up to his death a dramatic storyline unfolded that was as much about tragic young love as it was a PSA.
The annual Nurse’s Ball was an outgrowth of this plot, and Robin is living testament to the power of living strong with HIV.
The Robin/Stone story is an epic one in soap opera history and it is a lot to ask of the Oscar and Joss (Eden McCoy) storyline in comparison. But the writers have lots of time to decide how to handle the unfolding drama of what looks to be Oscar’s death. Here’s hoping that they create a storyline that is enduring and touching.
General Hospital airs weekdays during the day on ABC.