when jackson was hired to reprise the role in 2009, his return was highly anticipated, but accompanied by controversy as vaughan was let go in order to bring jackson back. fans had a bittersweet reaction to the switch. the network promoted jackson's return with the phrase, "elizabeth's first love is back!", which angered some of vaughan's fans. however, ratings rose the week jackson returned, and his performance was well received. jackson was nominated for the daytime emmy award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series in 2010, only having been with the show for three months of 2009. jackson's return changed the dynamic of the elizabeth and nikolas affair storyline, which had a negative reception from fans who thought it did not align with the history between herbst and jackson. the scenes in early 2010 where lucky confronts elizabeth and nikolas about their affair received praise. that april, "we love soaps" named jackson no. 26 of the top 50 greatest soap actors, damon l. jacobs commenting: "from that first scene as lucky in the canadian diner, to his recent scenes of betrayal railing against elizabeth and nikolas, jonathan adds a profound depth and spiritual gravity to the scripted words that is far beyond his years. his piercing bloodshot eyes shoot daggers far more deadly than sonny's guns, and his smile encapsulates all that was celebrated about luke and laura's connection." michael logan of "tv guide" named jackson the best actor of 2010, referencing the affair confrontation when stating: