Why Sonny Corinthos Still Rules General Hospital: The Godfather of ABC

Consider that if you tried telling someone who doesn’t watch General Hospital (GH) about Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard), they would most probably think you were referring to a high-end villain from an HBO series. But, he’s not really like that at all.

The Lovable Gangster

As ABC soap fans know, Sonny’s a gangster. He controls all the waterfront illegal activities in Port Charles. Plus, his murder victim number is so high that he probably needs a spreadsheet just to keep track of them. However, here we are, years later and in fact, he’s seen as the local grumpy, caring grandpa.

Interestingly, it’s the classic GH riddle. Basically, how the heck did the “bad guy” turn into the moral compass? Well, the first applies to the business model that Maurice Benard portrays. Actually, the scriptwriters seemed very clever with that. To keep the character likable, they gave him a “code.” Yes, he’s a gangster, but he sets a strong limit and won’t deal with drugs.

In fact, there simply won’t be any drug selling in his territory. Sonny Corinthos is an “importer” and runs Corinthos Coffee as a cover. By painting his offenses as if they were without victims, or at least unseen, the ABC show lets the viewers fall in love with him. So, GH fans don’t see him as a monster. Instead, he relates as a guy who just provides “security” at the docks.

The Real-Life Bipolar

Then, there’s the real-life Maurice Benard element. Interestingly, it’s almost impossible to discuss the mob boss character without some empathy. After all, he brings some vulnerability to the role.

In particular, the choice to disclose Bipolar Disorder in the character reflects his personal experience. Sometimes, it’s raw, but it’s very real. And, that completely changes the scenario. Somehow, it makes his character seem more believable and down to earth.

Immediately, he became more than just a gangster in a black t-shirt. He was a mentally unwell man. So, the General Hospital audience didn’t just observe him, they cheered him on. And of course, you can’t ignore the family dynamic of Sonny Corinthos.

The Family Dynamic

The guy’s a very loyal patriarch, even when his children such as Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) or Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) have good reasons to be against him. Volatile, if he’s not sad about his dad, Mike Corbin (Max Gail) and his Alzheimer’s, he’s getting into another crazy fight with Carly Spencer (Laura Wright). Actually, the furniture might get wrecked, but viewers can’t take their eyes off him.

Of course, speaking about Carly Spencer, that seems like the essence of the puzzling character. Even when they’re “done,” they really never stop. Aren’t they just the toxic gold standard of soaps?

PCPD Seems Ineffective

Meanwhile, the Port Charles Police Department seems laughable most of the time, because the plot requires it. In reality, if the police were really competent, the “coffee importer” would be in Pentonville for life. However, on the show, the law mostly seems considered a nuisance. At the same time, Sonny’s style of “street justice” is what actually ensures the peace.

Really, it’s a twisted and strange world on GH: a place where we forgive the murders and the abductions just because he’s “our” gangster. He’s the one who takes care of his family. And, gets great praise for it.

Fans Love Him Just As he Is

The Sonny Corinthos paradox seems successful simply because we don’t want him to be holier-than-thou. What we just want is the man in the black t-shirt, with his charming smile, leather jacket, warts, and all.

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