heads to London and bumps into Ava Jerome. Nikolas and Ava are briefly kidnapped, but escape and head to Cassadine Island. Jason and Sam find him there, trying to track down Nikolas to clear Jason's name. The group then meets the mysterious Theo Hart, who claims to be a fisherman taking shelter on the island because of the storm. As the storm clears, Theo leaves and Nikolas is reunited with Laura and Lulu, who have come to the island looking for him after Spencer revealed that Nikolas is alive. As the group prepares to leave the island, Theo returns wielding a gun and reveals himself to be Nikolas' bastard uncle Valentin Cassadine. Valentin forces Nikolas to sign over the Cassadine estate to him, then proceeds to shoot Nikolas, causing him to stumble off the balcony into the waters below, leaving him presumed dead. In late 2019, Nikolas returns to Port Charles. Reception Viewers and critics immediately loved the Nikolas character and his introduction. Christopher was praised for the "depth and sensitivity" he brought to the role of Nikolas and Soap Opera Magazine hailed Christopher as "the find of the summer." Stephen Nichols said Christopher's inexperience worked in his favor as it brought a "childlike quality" to the character. Soap Opera Digest awarded Christopher as the "Rookie of the Year" in 1996 and said Christopher joined the cast with a "bang." Christopher was also nominated for the Soap Opera Digest Awards in the "Outstanding Newcomer" category which he won. Another article described Christopher as the "Soap Opera Discovery of 1996." Christopher's portrayal was said to have rivaled that of his onscreen mother's portrayal of Laura since she joined the cast in 1996. In 1997, Soap Opera Magazine listed Christopher as one of the 60 Most Beautiful People in daytime. Christopher's portrayal of Nikolas after his shooting in front of Luke's "masterfully portrayed." In 1999, TV Guide's Michael Logan criticized the writers for never investing in a "worthy" romance for Nikolas. References External links Character profile at Soapcentral.com General Hospital characters Fictional businesspeople Fictional princes Fictional Greek people in television Fictional characters who committed familicide Male characters in television Fictional offspring of rape Fictional characters incorrectly presumed dead