Rating the Replacement: How Rory Gibson Has Mastered GH’s New Michael

General Hospital’s Michael Corinthos has been a front-and-center member of the Port Charles community for decades. So when Chad Duell opted to exit the role, the character’s future was a big question mark. Would the actor cast as his replacement fit into the Corinthos and Quartermaine clans? Could he embody Michael’s unique blend of sensitivity, discernment, and toughness? Would his version of Michael jibe with fans’ vision of the character? So far, the answer has been a resounding “yes” on all fronts.

Mr. Cool, Calm and Collected

Gibson, who’d already learned the daytime ropes as Noah Newman on The Young and the Restless, hit the ground running when he surfaced at GH’s annual Nurses’ Ball, scooped up his son, Wiley (Viron Weaver), and headed to his mother’s home where he reunited with his daughter, Amelia.

He was composed and self-assured, relaxed and in control. His first scenes with young Weaver were tender and real; their father-son bond was instant. It was as if Gibson had been portraying Michael for years and not just a few short minutes.

Women in His Life

As he began interacting with familiar faces on the GH canvas, particularly the women in Michael’s life, Gibson excelled at every turn. His initial scenes opposite Sofia Mattsson’s Sasha had a natural ease as they discussed their soon-to-be-born baby. There was an obvious spark between the twosome that could bode well should the soap opt to reunite the former couple.

Meanwhile, Gibson’s face-to-face moments with Katelyn MacMullen’s Willow, Michael’s cheating wife, have been filled with raw realness—from initially refusing to let her see their children to insisting she dump Drew (Cameron Mathison) to ultimately coming together after Sasha gave birth to Daisy. The gamut of emotions experienced between the two actors in a couple of short weeks has solidified a past that the new scene partners never actually shared, which is testament to Gibson’s perfect fit in the role.

Gibson’s connection with his GH family members has developed seamlessly, too. His early work with his  TV sisters, Eden McCoy’s Joss and Kate Mansi’s Kristina, has been easy and effortless. You immediately felt their strong sibling love.

As for Gibson’s early scenes with Steve Burton’s Jason, Michael’s devoted uncle, they were surprisingly right on point and solidified the special relationship viewers have long loved. The ride or die bond between the pair was palpable from day one, when Michael thanked Jason for taking care of Sasha and pretending to be her baby daddy, and Jason promised his never-ending support to both of them.

Last, but not least, Gibson’s work opposite his powerhouse  TV parents, Laura Wright’s Carly and Maurice Benard’s Sonny, has been magnificent. The chemistry he’s shared with Wright has been amazingly simple, yet powerful from the get-go.

They’ve magically fallen into a perfect mother-son groove. And upon finally sharing scenes with Benard, at Sasha’s bedside, after she gave birth to Michael’s daughter, Daisy, Gibson yet again delivered. After Sonny apologized for his son getting caught in the bombing meant to take him out, the pair shared a heartfelt moment. Gibson was the perfect mix of strength and gentleness, as Michael noted that he didn’t blame his father and pledged his love and allegiance to him, perfectly capturing the essence of his character.

All of the above has meant recast success for GH. That’s why Gibson easily earns an A+ for his efforts. He’s slipped into Michael’s shoes and made the character his own in record time.