This ‘General Hospital’ Character Has Evolved Into a Fan Favorite Beyond the Plot Twist

Some soap opera plot devices never seem to go out of style. From affairs to wedding shockers and, of course, pregnancy twists, these elements remain the backbone of the genre and have been utilized time and time again. While General Hospital has avoided becoming too stereotypical thanks to its continuous efforts to take on biting social issues, it’s unavoidable that the beloved show would have to dive into such stories.

However, even after the recent reveal of his true identity, Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza) has proven himself to be much more than a formulaic plot twist. Over the last year, he has grown from a likable, doe-eyed kid to one of the show’s greatest modern characters, thanks to his fascinating character development, nuances, and Mazza’s undeniable talent.

Who Is Gio Palmieri?

It’s almost amusing now to reflect on Gio’s entrance on General Hospital. Introduced at Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) just over a year ago, Gio didn’t necessarily seem like a permanent addition to the long-running daytime drama. Said to be Brook Lynn’s cousin on her mother, Lois’ (played by the iconic Rena Sofer) side, audiences soon learned that Gio had connections to many of the series’ most integral characters, like Sonny Corinthios (Chad Duell). However, over the last few months, it became clear that Gio wasn’t who we thought at first.

With the return of series’ icon, Laura Spencer’s (Genie Francis) daughter, Lulu (Julie Berman), a suspicion began to arise surrounding Gio’s true identity. Lulu hasn’t been convinced that Gio’s deceased mother, Camilla, was the woman who gave birth to him, and, after some digging, Lulu recently discovered that Brook Lynn got pregnant as a teenager, gave birth to Gio, and Lois arranged for Camilla to adopt him. While Brook Lynn remained ignorant of the fact that Gio was her son until the episode that aired on Friday, May 23, it should be noted that the writers carefully developed Gio before any of this drama ensued, and thus, avoided a stereotype of his character.

Gio Has Become One of ‘General Hospital’s Best Characters

As previously stated, Gio arrived in Port Charles more than a year ago now, and, in that time, the writers behind General Hospital really nourished his character instead of immediately setting up the plot twist. While other soap opera characters with similar arcs are often introduced for the sake the drama that comes with them, we as viewers have really gotten to know Gio, and he has quickly become one of the best modern GH additions. Despite his character largely being linked to the Brook Lynn/Lulu drama, he is beautifully nuanced and likable.

He’s become a real member of the community, taking part in Port Charles’ political drama, building beautiful relationships with the characters, and even winning the heart (and more importantly, respect) of the famously stingy Tracy (Jane Elliot). His relationship with Sonny is absolutely gorgeous and has even allowed further development for the GH veteran.

In fact, his stories are often a bright spot among the drama. Over the last year, as audiences have had to sit through the never ending Drew (Cameron Mathison) and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) drama, Gio’s storylines have been both biting and positive, such as when he helped Tracy save her parents’ graves from being desecrated. But we can’t talk about Gio’s success without talking about the brilliant actor who blurs the lines between fiction and reality.

Giovanni Mazza Is an Incredibly Skilled Actor

Thus far, Gio is one of the few characters on General Hospital to be played by a single actor: Giovanni Mazza. The 20-year-old actor has more than proven himself worthy of the role, playing all of Gio’s complexities to perfection. But what’s surprising is how skilled he was from the moment he debuted the role. Mazza had a few credits to his name when he joined General Hospital, but the role marks the first time he has been cast as a series regular in a major television production.

One needs to look no further than this year’s Nurses Ball to understand just how talented Mazza is. Like his character, Mazza is an accomplished violinist and goes from a joyous performance of “Glow” to a heart-wrenching outburst upon learning his true identity within the course of one fictional evening. Not only is Gio’s revelation the first time we’ve been able to see this side of the character, but it is also completely convincing and one of the show’s best performances of the year, an accomplishment that can only be credited to Mazza. Much like General Hospital’s Nicolas Alexander Chavez before him, Mazza’s performance makes Gio’s arc so much more than a traditional soap opera twist, and he’s contributed greatly to Gio becoming one of the show’s best modern characters without question.In all honesty, Mazza’s performance has reinvigorated our excitement for the storyline. It could have easily become another pregnancy-based twist, but after seeing how dark Mazza is willing to go with this character, the possibilities are endless for a whole new side to the already beloved character.

Gio has had quite the journey since arriving in Port Charles. Going from a seemingly random addition at Brook Lynn’s wedding to one of the most interesting and integral characters on the show is certainly not an easy task, but both General Hospital and Giovanni Mazza have pulled it off brilliantly. Thanks to the series’ slow-burning approach to the character, we’ve really gotten to know and love Gio, and he’s easily become one of GH’s best modern characters.

Additionally, Mazza’s skills as an actor and violinist have not only helped the character feel fully formed, but it has also helped him avoid becoming a run-of-the-mill soap opera stereotype. He’s not only charmed the people of Port Charles, but he’s also intrigued viewers. Now that Gio, Brook Lynn, and pretty much the entire town know who he really is, we really can’t wait for the twist to continue to play out. What’s next for Gio is anyone’s guess, but let the record show that General Hospital and Mazza have the character in good hands.