Réal Andrews cut open a figurative vein as Taggert learned the truth about his daughter Trina’s paternity on GH.
We don’t see Réal Andrews on our screens as General Hospital‘s Det. Marcus Taggert as often as we’d like. But when we do, the actor delivers the dramatic goods. The news of Trina’s paternity wasn’t great news for Taggert but Andrews shined as a father who was devastated to learn the biological origins of the daughter he raised.
Réal Andrews – GH’s Performer of the Week
Before the paternity test results were revealed, Taggert lovingly comforted Trina (Tabyana Ali), who didn’t want to hurt the only man she regarded as her father. The lawman informed Trina that no matter what the results were nothing was going to change the fact that he was her father and she was his daughter.
Taggert reflected on the moments he shared with Trina throughout her childhood including him singing lullabies to her, taking training wheels off her bike, and more. “You’re always going to be a part of my life and I’m always going to be a part of yours…if you end up being a part of another family, it doesn’t mean you’re not mine,” Taggert said, taking his daughter into an embrace.
Taggert was putting on a very brave face, however. After Trina read the results to herself, she emotionally shared that Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) — not Taggert is her biological dad. Instantly, Taggert was forced to live the scenario he said wouldn’t change a thing. Alas, change came anyway.
Putting his daughter’s feelings first (like any loving dad would do), Taggert put on a very brave face repeatedly telling Trina that it was “okay.” Trina told Curtis she wasn’t looking for a “replacement father” but those words could only provide so much solace to Taggert. “You could do worse — having two dads, especially one as good of a man as Curtis,” said Taggert, who then excused himself so Trina, Curtis, and Portia (Brook Kerr) could talk — and so he could be alone.
When Taggert finally found privacy inside a General Hospital elevator (it must have felt like an eternity waiting for the doors to open and close), he let his feelings of grief and loss explode. First, Taggert unbuttoned his shirt and fanned himself with his hands in an attempt to breathe as it must have felt like the air was sucked out of his lungs. The actor even added a tremor to his hand as if he was holding back an eruption of emotion. And when it came, he treated the elevator wall like a punching bag and then, Taggert slumped to the floor unable to contain his grief. Bravo!
Soaps have been known to change paternity tests and as Selina Wu (Lydia Look) offered to swap the results if Curtis wanted, the show has definitely left the door ajar to revisit this story beat. If GH chooses to reverse things (and right now, we have no reason to suspect the show will), we have no doubt that Réal Andrews will entertain us by playing Taggert’s joy just as he’s done by portraying his sense of deep loss.
Honorable mention: We can’t say we were happy about Olivia’s (Lisa LoCicero) initial doubts as to whether or not her husband Ned (Wally Kurth) called the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Carly (Laura Wright) and Drew (Cameron Mathison). However, it sure was great watching Olivia become once more Ned’s protective partner as she told Sonny (Maurice Benard) that if he didn’t believe her husband, he should certainly believe her! LoCicero embraced Olivia’s new stance and stood up to the coffee importer. If Olivia’s in your corner, you’re going to be just fine!