GH Spoilers: Critic’s Corner: Why Is the Character Of Austin Flailing In The Wind?

General Hospital (GH) spoilers tease Austin Gatlin Holt (Roger Howarth) was obviously meant to be more than just a doctor jogging past when Maxie Jones (Kirsten Storms) was a damsel in distress and in need of an obstetrician. As Maxie gave birth to Bailey Louise Jones (London and Jett Prinzo-Berendt) in the forest, and Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) came along and clubbed him over the head, we knew Austin’s character would become a pivotal role in Maxie’s life. At least, that’s what we thought.

General Hospital Spoilers — The Peter Austin Drama Ceased To Exist

Austin’s primary role in the beginning of his time in Port Charles was coming in on the heels of a conspiracy between BLQ and Maxie to hide Bailey Lou’s identity. Austin was never supposed to start working in Port Chuck and potentially expose their plot. It was convenient when Maxie coupled up with him, somewhat securing her story she had fed to the police.

We thought Austin’s story was headed for something more interesting than mere corruption. It doesn’t appear he was targeting Maxie, since they met by chance and he couldn’t have predicted she would have been there. Could he have ties that go back to Peter? Maybe, but fans are hoping not because they’re done with Peter’s damage for now and rejoiced when Felicia Scorpio (Kristina Wagner) took him out.

GH Spoilers – Hint He Has Peculiar Family Ties

When Austin first came to town, we found out he was chasing after the Quartermaine name — something he felt his father, Jimmy Lee Holt (Steve Bond), was entitled to. However, he caved when the battle for it became bigger than what he felt it was worth. Why did he give in so easily and never speak of it again? Is this going to be a part of a bigger storyline down the road, or did the writers just pivot out of the blue because no one was loving the Quartermaine entanglement?

We would’ve embraced a plot that brought any element of Edward Quartermaine (John Ingle) back to life, in spirit, but this one really fell flat. On the flipside, Austin’s quirky cousin, Mason (Nathanyael Grey) has also come to town, and he continues to force Austin’s hand in performing unethical medical treatments he isn’t in favor of, all at the behest of an elusive “boss lady.” Fans are growing tired of waiting for this mystery woman to reveal herself, especially because it sounds like a Helena Cassadine (Constance Towers) type.

General Hospital Spoilers — Blackmailing Daian Spinelli Was Quite the Spin

Austin showed a more sinister side of himself when he blackmailed Damian Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) into running the Society Setups algorithm on him and Maxie to gauge how fit they were for one another. Moreover, when he blatantly admitted to what he did, it seemed almost as though he wanted Maxie to get mad at him. Could he be trying to get to walk away before she risks getting caught up in his family drama?

General Hospital Spoilers — His Medical Role Has No Purpose

When Austin revealed that he knows so much about autism because his brother was diagnosed with it as a child, we thought that might have been an opening to start discussing life on the spectrum. With a reported 1 in 59 to as many as 1 in 36 American children are said to be diagnosed with Autism, this could have been another storyline GH could have capitalized upon that viewers can relate to, but that lead also dried up and Austin never spoke of it again.

GH Spoilers – Hint This Relationship is Dull

Fans want more for Maxie. They long for the days that Nathan West (Ryan Paevey) swept her off her feet. Regardless of what the GH writers are thinking up for these two, fans are growing more upset with Austin’s lack of purpose on the show — even as it amounts to being nothing more than Maxie’s lackluster boyfriend. Viewers miss Franco Baldwin (Roger Howarth), and they’re not sure his exit, coupled with Austin’s introduction, was the right move. Stay tuned for more General Hospital news and spoilers just ahead.