When you combine superb direction, writing, production, and acting in a special episode of a daytime drama, viewers can see and understand the thought and care that went into it.
This was more than on display during Thursday’s highly-anticipated ‘Alexis-Centric’ episode honoring the 25th anniversary of Alexis’ portrayer, two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Nancy Lee Grahn, on General Hospital.

Courtesy/ABC
In the story, symbolism was apparent and used for dramatic impact and it worked beautifully throughout, and best of all, Nancy received a script worthy of her immeasurable talents, and showed us once again why she remains one of the gold standards of our genre. If you have not seen the episode DO NOT read any further as it contains spoilers.
It begins with an emotional Alexis looking at her mother’s watch which was still frozen from the time of her death. While playing one of her mother’s records very loudly, she recalls Mikkos Cassadine kissing and dancing with her mom as a young Alexis (Natasha) looked on from the staircase. When Sam asks her about it, Alexis shares that she sees the watch as sort of a representation for her own life being frozen over the last three years; which has included Alexis’ battle with booze taking over her life and her being disbarred, when being a lawyer was the way she identified herself and what gave her purpose.
Overwhelmed and anxiety-ridden, Alexis hightails it to Kevin’s office for a therapy session knowing she is going to Pentonville in the morning to serve her sentence. She says she does not know who she is anymore. Then, Kevin asks her how she spent her day thus far. She flashes back to lunch with the good men in her life, Finn, Valentin, Jax and Ned. Valentin tells Alexis she is proud of her for honing up to her mistakes.
Back at the therapy session, Alexis she was an attorney who stood for something and her life has derailed, and that she was a fighter, an idealist, and an advocate. She knows she has to find a purpose in prison to make it through the three-year term and asks Kevin to help her find one.
Kevin wants to go back to when she was a little girl and her memories that are flooding back to her of Mikkos and her mother. Just then, the younger version of Alexis is huddled in the corner of Kevin’s office, an image of her from the past. Alexis tries to come to terms with her father and the choice of dangerous men and relationships that have marred her own happiness … recalling Julian holding a knife to her throat like Mikkos did to her mother. She says he was one of the toxic men in her life, but Kevin reminds her all of the men in her life were not toxic.
Alexis starts with Ned as one who was good for her saying he was always stable, but she ruined that by recently sleeping with him and putting a wedge in his marriage to her long-time friend, Olivia.
We then flashback to earlier in the day, where Alexis ends up in an almost confrontation with Olivia. However, Olivia tells her she misses the Alexis Davis she used to be and to get her back.
Now back with Kevin, a guilt-ridden Alexis relays she feels responsible for Neil’s death. Kevin interjects she is not, nor what happened with Julian. When Kevin attempts to bring up Mikkos again, Alexis rejects it and is angry that he is making her problem about daddy issues; like so many other women. She vehemently shouts that the men in her life do not define who she is.
Then, Alexis flashes back to hurtful memories she has buried of a young Natasha witnessing Mikkos calling her mother a “greedy little bitch”. She recalls it was on Christmas Eve and that Mikkos stopped by to give them gifts. That is when he presented her mother with the watch. However, things took an ugly turn when he tried to leave, and she threatened to tell Helena all about her and Natasha. Next, Mikkos slapped her and that is when the watch shattered. As all this was going down, a young Natasha watched from the stairs and was horrified that she couldn’t stop her father from beating her mother and remembers how helpless she felt.
However, Alexis reveals to Kevin she thought this would be the last of Mikkos coming by, but he returned on New Year’s Eve and her mother took him back into their lives. Alexis is beside herself that she could not protect her mother, but Kevin reassures her to remember she was just a child.

Courtesy/ABC
It is then we come to the crux of the story. Alexis looks over in the corner and sees her younger self crying. She goes to her younger self and tells her nothing that happened was her fault, and that their father was damaged and cruel. She tells the young Natasha this shouldn’t have been her burden to carry alone, and that she deserves to be happy. Then in the moment of strength and coming full circle, Alexis introduces herself to the young Natasha, “I’m Alexis Davis, a fighter, an advocate, and an idealist … and I will take care of everything from her on out.” In that moment, Alexis embraced herself, and forgave herself, so she could move on with her life.
Alexis then flashes back to earlier that night, as the Davis girls gather for a faux graduation ceremony so Alexis could see Molly in her cap and gown and they hug. Back in her session, Kevin remarks that Alexis has repeatedly defined herself as a fighter, an idealist, and an advocate, and reminds her she has three daughters who have those qualities, and that all she needs to be is Alexis Davis.
Then, we get a heart-warming montage of Alexis though the years in honor of Nancy’s 25th anniversary with GH.

Courtesy/ABC
As the episode concludes, it is the next morning, and Alexis enters Pentonville and enters her jail cell. There she meets her fellow inmate, who is studying law books to prep for her upcoming parole hearing. Alexis introduces herself as “Alexis Davis” and as someone who can help her. We then go back to her mother’s watch which now begins ticking at Alexis’ home. The show fades to black.
Kudos to Daytime Emmy winner, Phideaux Xavier for his outstanding direction, head writers: Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor and script writer, Scott Sickles for the thoughtful episode, EP Frank Valentini and his production crew for putting it all together, and the one and only Nancy Lee Grahn for a performance that will be remembered as a classic.
Share your thoughts on today’s on Nancy’s ‘Alexis-Centric’ episode via the comment section below.
so happy to hear this !
awesome, I always loved her character on GH. She was one of my favorites.
Best news ever!!!!!
It’s about time! Lesley not being mentioned the past few years has been awkward, as she should have been there for her family when Nikolas died.
Wednesday’s show did a good job of foretelling upcoming storylines. Nathan’s father, Brit’s return, Lulu’s job are on the way. Even Sam’s one-liner about Danny’s obsession with Annabelle II set her family up to move into the Q mansion. Danny can play with his Uncle Leo?
Man Landers has pronounced officially over and Andre seems to be wrapping up. Onward and upward!
And with the end of “Man Landers,” can we now see Nurse Amy to the door, too??? Unless she is being set up as a loony tune with a “Fatal Atttraction” for expectant babydaddy Nathan, she basically has no purpose except to hound poor Chet for the rest of days. Dude deserves better than that!
It’s nice to see vets return…especially as some of the vets still on the show do not get any respect or can’t keep a relative— poor Liz Weber- 2 sisters, a brother, a father and mother, a grandmother and she’s on her own with three boys. No one visits, no one calls. I’m glad Laura is getting ANOTHER family member visiting.
You seem to forget, the boys are taken care of a lot by “Grams” Audrey.
Danny and Scout are taken care of by Chief of Staff and Heart Surgeon 70 year old Monica…but we see her on screen. Gram is only mentioned as a plot device to explain the boys off screen. That isn’t family. Even Ava mob princess has family. Even Nelle is distantly related to Carly! Poor Liz.
Rachel Ames who played Audrey is almost 90. Perhaps she’s retired? 😉
Yes, always! And she and Genie will have some heartwarming scenes. She’ll love Kevin with Laura. And will Jonathan Jackson (“Lucky”) be back now that Nashville is cancelled? We need some more family for Laura!
Yea! Lesley is coming back! It’s about time! I’ve really missed her!
This is wonderful news!
Now that’s the best Christmas present GH could give me!
Great to have her back! Interactions with Monica, Lulu and Elizabeth are required.
Can’t wait to see “Lester” back. Hope we see some more good Monica vs. Lesley scenes like this one from 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR6_DiNnAHk
I will make a point to see this.
This is WELCOME NEWS!!! Whenever GH decides to honour its history, the show is on the right path. Sadly, these “episodes” are few and far between. Anyone lucky enough to have seen Ms. Alexander as Lesley Williams Faulkner Webber at any time during her long and storied tenure was indeed lucky and had great viewing experience! I remember when Ms. Alexander was one of the first “soap hoppers,” as she left DOOL to create a new role on GH. She was front and center from day 1. She always entertained… To have Ms. Alexander on screen again with Genie Francis… Read more »
EXACTLY, Brother!!!!!
Later.
I am so glad to hear this. I always wondered why Leslie wasn’t around when some of the older characters were brought back. I want to see some scenes between her and Monica and talk about some of the past they had when they weren’t quite so friendly with each other. Anything to bring Monica into story.
Me too, James. I propose that Leslie stays in the Quartermaine mansion as a house guest and we viewers will be privy to witnessing witty tet e tets transpire between Monica and Leslie.
Monica will always be that “tramp” who had a torrid affair with Leslie’s husband, Dr Rick Webber.
Yes!
Still wish she had return to Days 50th two years ago and revealed to be Ann’s mom,,,anyway, she will be back for Laura’s wedding?…will Scotty catch the flowers again like he did when Laura married Luke???
(Smile) and touche!
Makes sense if she’s going to attend her daughter ‘s wedding.
Can’t wait. She needs to stay. Leslie and teen Laura is what got me watching years ago
Those were the best episodes – when Genie took over the role. Their mother-daughter relationship is really one of the best in soap history!
Leslie is running the Russian clinic where Jason was held prisoner!!!
Yeah, there’s a snowball’s chance in my back yard that could happen… but if they really wanted a “shocking twist”, that would do it, wouldn’t it?
(now watch the fan fiction sites run with this rumor……)
This is great. I have missed her and appreciate GH having her home for the holidays!
Always loved her. Very happy to see her back, hopefully for good!
Yea!!! Love Denise!
God I wish she would come back to DAYS as Susan! Give her a juicy storyline with her daughter ANN MILLBAUER and her old nemesis JULIE!
IVE BEN WAITING FOR DENISE EVER SINCE GENIE RETURNED THIS LAST TIME..THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THESE 2 ACTRESSES IS AMAZING ,IM GLUED TO MY TV WHEN THESE 2 SHARE SCENES,,,WHAT A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT TO THE G,H FANS,,
AN DRAMATIC STORYLINE FOR THESE 2 STELLAR PERFORMERS WOULD BE THE ANGEL ON TOP OF THE TREE BUT ILL SETTLE FOR A FEW SCENES,,WELCOME HOME DENISE
I’m hoping her return is more than just for a bit. Four of her veteran co-workers had 40 year anniversary’s this year (Leslie Charleson, on consistently even if recurring as of now; Genie Francis, Kin Shriner, Jackie Zeman), and if GH has gotten one thing right it’s little salutes to the show’s history here and there, some better than others. Monica and Lesley have patched things up and it would be nice for Lesley to see certain aspects of Monica that have made her more like Lila than the Monica of old. Denise’s daytime career goes back to the early… Read more »
It would be good to see her again……long overdue I think
She looks too young to be Laura’s mother.
Delighted! Hope she has scenes with Laura, Lulu, and Monica, too. And wouldn’t it be fantastic to see Audrey back for a few days?! Would LOVE it! And what about Gail? Leslie, Monica, Gail and Audrey playing bridge one night, discussing how their families have changed over the years….cue the flashbacks. Love it!
Rodd, awesome commentary! I totally agree with your suggestions. Having Audrey back, for whatever reason, would be wonderful. And we haven’t seen Gail in far too long. The bridge seen you promote would be gold! Akin to the Golden Girls…
Are you reading, GH producers and writers?
Hopefully she won’t regress 40 years as written by Ron Carlivati!
I love this. Family members should turn up for big events, like weddings and funerals.
Awesome! Hope Lesley and Monica Quartermaine go a few rounds!
Denise Alexander is Soap Opera ROYALTY! She should be given a contract! Any scene she is in is interesting! And her and Genie together is the best!
It would be nice to see her stay and back at GH.
She’s been babysitting Audrey Hardy.
So loved Leslie back in the day, with all her SLs and family troubles. A beautiful lady!
I am so happy to hear Denise is coming back. She was the reason I got hooked on GH. I so wish they would bring her back for good. She is Soap Royalty. I am so happy.
Really looking forward to Denise Alexander’s return – she has a great presence and warmth about her that she brings to her role, along with alot of conviction. Similar to Genie Francis in some ways.
I have never heard of or seen a Denise Alexander (Lesley Webber)..
She is just another Newbie to me..
She should not be. She and Scotty Baldwin are the only two characters left on the show currently (that I know of) that were created by Frank and Doris Hursley, the duo responsible for creating GH in the 60s. However, while other actors have portrayed Scotty prior to Kin Shriner, I don’t think any other actress played Lesley.
She’s far from a newbie. Since Rachel Ames is retired, Denise is most senior cast member who can return a she debuted as Lesley in 1974. Laura’s mother, Lulu’s grandmother, great-grandma to Spencer, Aiden, Rocco and Charlotte. Former nemesis of Monica. Lots of connections to the current canvas.
Id like to see Laura reflect some on her her growth as a person and and as a romantic Partner by having a rewardingg couple of scenes with Leslie and or Bobbie reflecting on her History with Luke as a way to honor the Myth that is Luke and Laura’s past with respectfully
Denise Alexander has been woefully misused every since Lesley was brought back from the dead all those years ago. I grew up watching her powerful performances in the 80’s, and was underwhelmed by the way she has been written. A disgrace to Ms. Alexander and her talents.
She was a wonderful actress in her time as Lesley Webber, mother to Laura and grandmother to many. The last time she was on, she had trouble walking, but still lovely at her age. You can always check her out on Google or Utube, if you are interested. It’s always fun watching the old shows from way back, especially ones you missed. I was watching the one when Jason came back from college, and a lot of the old Luke & Laura ones. What fun!