Who knew that this was the dynamic duo that we — and General Hospital — needed? We sure didn’t, not until the amazing series of scenes in which Jane Elliot’s Tracy confided in Vernee Watson’s Stella that “I don’t have a lot of deep meaningful relationships,” and one of the few that she does have — in other words, Gregory — “He’s otherwise occupied.”

What followed was a spectacular getting-to-know-you-better conversation, the kind that real people in the real world might have as they search for connection. It was also a sure sign that new headwriters Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahey recognize that characters of a certain age are just as full of potential as the ones that would qualify as “young and restless.”

That’s not a diss of the kids, to be clear. We love Joss and Dex (though their breakup is another matter altogether!), and Trina and Spencer (come back, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, come back!), and next-gen couple Cody and Sasha, and the fact that Jason’s teenagers are being given such a big role to play in his resurrection. We just love seeing more mature characters put front and center instead of out to pasture.

But we digress. By the time Stella said she’d be happy to leave Tracy “humbled” in a game of matchstick poker, and the two of them settled on backgammon instead, we were all in — and excited about the prospect of this friendship really blossoming.

We weren’t alone in our enthusiasm, either. On X, Sipping Spilt Tea cheered that “Stella and Tracy have finally met their match in each other.” Sandra D thought the duo was “so cute together.” Luv Bytes dubbed the pairing “Trella” and suspected that they “are going to make really good friends.”