Soaps
‘B&B’s’ Carter and Hope, ‘GH’s’ Jason & Anna, and 10 Other New Soap Romances of 2024, Ranked
General Hospital’s Trina (Tabyana Ali) and Spencer (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) barely rang in the New Year back in January when their romance was cut short after he died, saving her life from evil Esme (Avery Kristen Pohl). The legacy of #Sprina, as the couple is affectionately known as, is a reminder that soaps are all about romance.
Here’s a look at some of the pairings soaps came up with in 2024. Alas, the course of true love never runs smoothly in daytime. Will any of these duos be together a year from now?
12. Trina and Kai, General Hospital
After nearly a year of mourning Spencer, Trina is on the verge of finding love again. The show has cast Jens Austin Astrup as Kai, a fellow Port Charles University student, who happens to be the school’s top athlete. Kai and Trina have sparred over his commitment to his studies. There’s something about Kai that gets under Trina’s skin. Clearly, there’s a spark. As we head into 2025, we’ll see if Kai is the man who can help Trina move forward with her love life.
11. Deacon and Sheila, The Bold and the Beautiful
Deacon (Sean Kanan) and Sheila (Kimberlin Brown) took their relationship to a new level in 2024. Anyone who wrote these two off as a pair of castaway baddies had to sing a different tune once they saw Deacon move mountains to find Sheila after she was presumed dead. Deacon proved beyond a shadow of a doubt he loved Sheila.
The naughty nurse has maintained she’s only just wanted to be loved and she’s certainly found that in Deacon. The two got married earlier this year and the honeymoon appears to be going strong. Deacon has found a purpose in loving Sheila. He truly believes there’s something inside Sheila that’s worth loving.
Ironically, two B&B characters who’ve danced outside the law (well, Deacon’s danced outside it – Sheila practically lives outside the law) have the best relationship on the show. What they need in 2025 is a storyline.
10. Victor and Nikki and the Newman Ranch, The Young and the Restless
Victor (Eric Braeden) and Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) aren’t exactly a new romance but we watched them fall in love all again – with their home. Over a decade ago, the beloved Newman ranch was destroyed courtesy of Sharon having a mental break and causing the place to be burned to the ground. Then, the premiere supercouple of Genoa City moved into a new home that didn’t have the grandeur (not to mention staircase or front door) that their previous home did.
And while it’s true that we’re not supposed to love “things,” it’s also been said that “home is where the heart is.” So, as part of the show’s 13,000th anniversary celebration, the show brought back the couple’s familiar, old set. It’s not an exact replica of the previous ranch (the doorway’s on the other side, for example) – but why quibble? Y&R treated viewers to a fun-filled flashback episode of Victor and Nikki enjoying happier days in their old abode to remind us just how much a part of their lives the ranch was – and is. Now, they’re set to make happy memories in their new one.
9. Thomas and Paris, The Bold and the Beautiful
Viewers had hope for Thomas (Matthew Atkinson) and Hope’s (Annika Noelle) future on B&B. The two made a great team in the boardroom – he was the lead designer for Hope’s Forrester Creations division, Hope For The Future. Kissing in Italy was one thing, but Hope couldn’t bring herself to giving Thomas a positive answer to his marriage proposal.
Was Hope only attracted to him because she’d been sidelined by Liam (Scott Clifton) one too many times? Or could Hope never forget that Thomas knew her daughter Beth was alive and he decided to keep that knowledge from her for fear of losing Hope to Beth’s dad, Liam? Doesn’t Thomas know it’s about putting the needs of the person you love before your own?
After realizing there was no hope for a future with Hope, Thomas opted to do what many other B&B characters have done when they leave the canvas – move to Forrester International. Thomas may not have Hope but he’ll always have Paris. We’re not talking about the city. Thomas has found love with Paris Buckingham (Diamond White). He came back to Los Angeles just long enough to share this information with the relevant parties.
8. Jada and Rafe, Days of our Lives
Rafe (Galen Gering) hasn’t always been lucky in love. His relationships with Sami (Alison Sweeney) and Hope (Kristian Alfonso) didn’t have staying power. Sami just has too much drama going on (does she even have an OTP – One True Pairing?). Also, Rafe was never going to win with Hope as long as her one and only true love has always been and will always be Bo Brady (Peter Reckell). But with Jada (Elia Cantu), Rafe stands to have something lasting. These two seem to be in conflict over work, but that’s surmountable – we hope. Will wedding bells ring for these two? Stay tuned.
7. Sally and Billy, The Young and the Restless
It made sense to pair dynamic Sally (Courtney Hope) with tortured Billy (Jason Thompson) after their respective partners, Adam (Mark Grossman) and Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan), fell back into bed after bonding over taking care of their son, Connor (Judah Mackey).
We’ve been rooting for Sally ever since she lost out in love over on Bold and the Beautiful. (Remember Wyatt dumping her not once but twice?) Victor (Braeden) was no fan of Sally’s when she was involved with his son – and he’s never been a fan of ‘Billy Boy’ Abbott. It’s fun to see these two have a common foe in Genoa City.
One problem these two are going to have is coming up with a “smush” name – that’s when soap viewers take parts of the couple’s names and blend them into one. Would Sally and Billy be called, um, ‘Sally’ or ‘Billy’?
6. Carly and Brennan, General Hospital
Carly’s (Laura Wright) love affair with Drew (Cameron Mathison) came to an end once BFF Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) came back from the dead (again). While reuniting with ex-husband Sonny (Maurice Benard) is always a possibility, Carly began flirting with danger courtesy of her relationship with Jack Brennan (Charles Mesure). Faster than you could say Beecher’s Corners, the show’s writers took Jack from threatening bad guy to Head of the WSB, Port Charles field office.
When Carly needs something to get done, she turns to Jack. He’s got a winning smile and he makes things happen. Carly and Jack have terrific chemistry. How ironic that after all her years with the mob, she might end up with a man who fights for world security.
5. Will and Electra, The Bold and the Beautiful
Will (Crew Morrow) and Electra (Laneya Grace) have all the elements needed for a young love story on soaps. They’re both firmly ensconced in the show’s existing families; his parents are Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) and Katie Logan (Heather Tom). Meanwhile, Electra is connected to B&B’s premiere clan – the Forresters – as she’s Eric’s (John McCook) great-niece.
The couple has some current conflict as Electra’s stalker Remy Pryce, played by Christian Weissman, has shown up in town. But we foresee much more for Will and Electra in 2025. A romantic foil? Corporate intrigue? Stolen designs showing up in advance in fashion publications belonging to Will’s dad? The future’s wide open for these two.
4. Leo and Ravi, Days of our Lives
To say Leo’s (Greg Rikaart) has been unlucky in love would be an understatement. No matter how much he wanted something to happen with Xander, Leo was wasting his time if he wanted a future with him. After a failed relationship with bisexual Dmitri (Peter Porte), Leo actually passed on having sex with sexy newcomer Kerry (Derek Yates) because he felt he needed to feel something more intimate before being, well, intimate with him.
Enter Ravi (Al Calderon), who just happens to be Gabi’s (Cherie Jimenez) cousin. Despite a promising start, Leo let his past insecurities muck things up. Still, getting past miscommunications and mishaps are all part of being in an adult relationship, right? It’s quite possible that Leo’s finally met the true love of his life. Stay tuned.
3. Jason and Anna, General Hospital
Strange things happen when secret agents and enforcers for the mob go on rescue missions. Jason (Burton), a man of few words, and Anna (Finola Hughes), a secret agent extraordinaire, were captured and about to be killed during their efforts to bring home potential organ donor Lucky Spencer (Jonathan Jackson).
Frustrated over not being able to undo Jason’s handcuffs, Anna became disheartened. The end seemed near. In a surprise move, Jason went in for a kiss with the mother of one of his dearest friends (Robin, played by Kimberly McCullough). Was it to distract their captors? Or was it to share a sweet moment that neither would forget before being bumped off? Both? It doesn’t appear if this dynamic is going to be explored further anytime soon but we would love to be there when the story is relayed someday to Robin.
2. Cody and Sasha, General Hospital
If there was ever a soap opera heroine who deserved some happiness in her life it was Sasha Gilmore Corbin (Sofia Mattsson), widow of the late Brandon (Johnny Wactor). Cody (Josh Kelly) was aware that Sasha had been through a lot in recent years. (She and Brando lost their son shortly after his birth.) Slowly, we saw Sasha and Cody take baby steps toward romance after he rescued her from being falsely committed to Ferncliff.
Fate, as usual, had other ideas. The couple recently learned that they are closely related cousins as their fathers (hers is Robert Scorpio; his is Mac Scorpio) are brothers. Oops. Unless there’s another twist in this tale, Sasha and Cody are going to have to find other loves. Our money was on Sasha being a Quartermaine given her resemblance to Sherilyn Wolter, who played Celia Quartermaine back in the 1980s. Hmmm…didn’t Celia marry her cousin Jimmy Lee (Steve Bond)? Maybe there’s hope for these two yet!
1. Carter and Hope, The Bold and the Beautiful
Forrester Creations COO Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Hope For The Future founder Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) are a power couple both in and out of the boardroom on B&B. Neither have had much luck in the romance department over the years. She was always fighting Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) for ex-husband Liam’s (Clifton) affections – even after they were married. Carter may have been so eager to start a family that he rushed into a few romances that were ill-advised, so it wasn’t too surprising when they’d come to an early end.
However, these two fashion players have found each other – and a common goal. They both want to make their mark at Forrester Creations and now, thanks to some maneuvering they’re in the power position. Saint-Victor and Noelle sparkle on-screen. She’s with a man who doesn’t have any emotional past with Steffy. He’s met a woman who is filled with goodness and compassion – not to mention ambition. (Don’t we all deserve to have that in our lives?)
The only “problem” Hope and Carter someday may have is who will officiate their wedding as that happens to be his part-time gig on the show?
