Brown and Benard shine in tackling life's brutalities, and yet, we had forgotten just how good they were when left to do nothing but ravage one another in each of the rooms occupying Sonny's penthouse. Yes, we are well aware that Sonny and Carly are about overt sexuality, but as gifted as Benard and Brown are, they need to suffice as simply more than a supercouple. And GH made sure they did just that when a volatile Sonny, mentally and physically, inundated an unrelenting Carly.

So involved were the performers in each of these confrontations—Sonny announcing their marriage was over, and later, Carly pleading with her husband outside of a church—that all vanities were forgotten. Brown, as Carly, shook uncontrollably, and like her alter ego, emoted tenacious dominance (choosing to come thisclose to Benard's face) and withering subservience (cowering to her co-star's glare). Also impressive was Benard, whose deft interpretation of Sonny's demons continues to equally daunt and amaze. It was thought unlikely for the actor to ever top the performances given following Brenda's betrayal and Lily's death, but Benard silenced such notions with this recent material. It was unsettling to watch an enraged Sonny shove Carly, but Benard injected a morality that would absolve Sonny of this indiscretion.

Brown and Benard brought the world's complicated ugliness to the forefront, and managed to paint a beautiful picture to the contrary.