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.
Skye and LORENZO, or w/Luke, and definately w/Jax.
Ned and Lois.
Bobbi and Scotty.
Yes, yes, yes, I think it did hit the mark. I really dreaded knowing Katie was going to be doing her own special on her talkshow and then she would be doing the 20/20 special but I was pleasantly surprised at her enthusiasm for #GH. Having been for a tour of the studios and watching them taping scenes, I can tell you she was genuinely happy to be there. As for my all time favorite couple, it is Luke and Laura always, but there are so many others that I love to list them here. Thank you Michael Fairman, for… Read more »
Sonny and Brenda is my all time favorite super couple from GH or any other soap or prime time show. They’re the best and yet to even remotely topped.
Sonny and Brenda were my favorite couple too, Sandi.
Don’t think I’ll ever forget him leaving her standing in the rain. 🙁
The original supercouple: Steve and Audrey!
So easy Luke and Laura
My favorite couples are Frisco&Felicia. My wish is for them to be a couple. But, my wish usually don’t come true. I also want Maxi and Spenilli, Robin and Patrick and Anna and Robert and Luke and Laura. I luv chemistry with jack and Kristina. Please, give the fans what they want Frisco and Felicia back together :(? Guess, I won’t be watching GH after this. Why bring Frisco back and not be with Felicia and be with his family. So wrong giving fans false hope :(.
tashafz36
Nik and Emily or Todd and Carly
I am sorry… I was raised if you can’t say something nice… but… I can’t take anymore Katie! At least on this news based special, which I watched the whole thing… someone was able to keep the “all about Katie” in check a bit more than her show where it went rampant! This was a much better tribute to GH and I was happy I got the chance to see it! The show, the cast and the crew deserve to have all of the attention and to be celebrated… they are truly special and very talented and they bring such… Read more »
Having thought more about your original question Michael and the glorious response from Genie and Tony about if Luke and Laura getting together again about having it be “what it is” and not “what it was”… which was so inciteful and very true! We all would like to hope that true love with a super couple like Luke and Laura would win out! However being 50 something and having watched this show for most of it’s years… if they do get back together at this stage in their lives it can’t be the same. This chance of theirs right now… Read more »
Carly and Todd (or Ted, Tom, Theo, or whoever he becomes)
they’re my favorite current, defintely. I miss Roger!!
Rick and Lesley Webber are my all time favorites! The first scene I ever watched of GH was Lesley on the stand for killing David Hamilton. I was hooked on them from then on. They were amazing!
I liked the recent Spinelli & Kevin encounter. Not all couples have to be romantic.
Lucy and her duck!
lol!!
Luke and Laura was my favorite soap couple ever. No one else even holds a candle. I remember the first time I ever saw the. It was summer and school was out. I was about sixteen tears old. Never really cared for soaps. I had it on General Hospital. They were on the run. Wow the way he loved here. Every woman wants to be loved that way. The most beautiful soap love story ever written and acted by Tony Geary and Genie Francis. Thank you both for making my day many of a time. I still think Luke and… Read more »
Regina, I hope they get back together too!!! Tony and Genie’s chemistry is unmatched. After all this 50th Anniversary stuff, I’ve had to submerge myself in youtube vidoes over the weekend watching classic L&L – omg – that brought me back!! Just a passionate, fabulous love story!
I just had a thought about a missed opportunity on GH’s part. I think they need to bridge the on-line/web medium and have you Michael Fairman do a 50th Anniversary web based tribute! We know you would do GH justice! You know what we the loyal fans are interested in and you are one of the most loyal fans. You could have done such a great special and we would have gotten great questions and lovely interviews… and isn’t that what we all want? I know I do… GH you missed a huge opportunity to not get Michael to do… Read more »
theres no ” super” in super couple without the originals Luke and Laura, but i also loved Liz and Lucky the teen years, before he “died” they were so pure and innocent. Duke and Anna also, and Patirck and Robin.
Robert and Holly. This supercouple had higher ratings than every other supercouple except for Luke & Laura. However, they always seem to be forgotten by the media and current GH. It was a travesty that Robert and Holly weren’t on GH during the 50th anniversary celebration.
Robert and Holly and Robert/Anna
Lante / Julie Marie Berman & Dominic Zamprogna
I have loved Luke&Laura Frisco&Felicia Luke&Holy Bo&Hope Reva&Josh Vicky&Ryan Betsy&Steve
But Lante is the BEST of THEM ALL the chemistry between JUDO is out of this world
the perfect love story & they were so natural all the little things they did, always holding hand, they made us beleive.
Will miss them always.
#JUDOLANTEFAN4EVER
Christina
It was great!!
My absolute favorite supercouple are Sonny&Carly!! Carson4ever<33 I also love Jason&Sam,Lulu&Dante,Patrick&Robin,Nicolas&Emily and of course Luke&Laura
Frisco and Felecia, are my fav couple. Or maybe, Anna and Duke. Too many to chose from. Nice to see 20/20 tribute to GH. There were some fun parts but overall I thought it was lackluster. I was expecting more of a retrospective, clips from the early days, hearing from past actors, etc…..I don’t think Katie hit it out of the park, much was a repeat from her Katie episode with GH actors. And I certainly could have done without the footage of Katie taping her scenes. I wanted true GH history! Gloria Monty, Ron Carlivati and others speaking on… Read more »
I wasn’t happy when I heard Katie was hosting the special, and I agree with other posters that it was a rehash of her talk show. I definitely could have done without seeing her tape her scenes, could’ve done without showcasing past stars like Demi Moore and the like. They are barely a part of the history! It was basically a rehash of the same old stuff you’d see on any other special about GH. True soap viewers watched that and got nothing new. Very disappointing!
Well, this is a no-brainer: Drumroll please ….. Luke & Laura! Best daytime couple EVER!
THE COUPLE THAT IS A 10!!!!
J-A-S-A-M
THEY WERE GREAT!!!
Rick and Lesley Webber by far were and always will be my favorite couple!!! So much chemistry between them, what great actors!!
Jjason and Sam. GH may be trying to avoid mentioning them these days, but that won’t make us forget. Sam and Jason are, and always will be, a supercouple.
The Morgans forever. Kelly and Steve had the chemistry to make it work.
liz and lucky before he “died” also loved early days of liason.
Dante and Lulu, Dominic Zamprogna and Julie Marie Berman and Luke and Laura.
Robert & Holly Scorpio by far!
Robert and Holly – great chemistry, sophistication, humor and oh those sauna scenes!
Sonny & Brenda!!!!!!!!!!!! My 2nd fave is Lucky & Liz(the early years), 3rd would be Jax & Brenda!!!!!!
Frisco and Felicia! However the return storyline was a complete disappointment. It’s an insult to the history of the characters and legions of fans. They brought him back to further destroy the character. Not impressed.
That is not a fair question they had each decade lots of good couples I think what helped the Luke & Laura craziness was Liz Taylor being such a fan etc. But TG & GF are right you can enjoy the past but I think the decade in the 2000’s kinda of ruined that chance of getting it back. Laura has been off the canvas for so long and Luke has went other directions. You do not always end up with the Love of your Life. Congrats GH on 50 I hope you have future success!
Ill-fated all of them but they were:
Scotty and Laura
Brenda and Sonny
Robin and Stone
Elizabeth and Jason… the most lasting of which are Robin and Stone
As much credit should be given to Tony and Genie for putting GH on the map, Frisco and Felicia were my favorite couple. Her Morrocan belly dance is STILL one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen on TV. They also win the race for getting married in real life-Game over…
all time favorite- Frisco & Felicia but there were many couplings that I’ve really liked: Stone & Robin!!! Anna & Robert Anna & Duke (the first time around!) Felicia & Luke (and Felicia & Tom Hardy had some very risqué encounters! surprised those got on the daytime showing!) Jax & Chloe Jagger & Karen Scotty & Dominque and Scotty & Lucy Sonny & Brenda Sonny & Alexis (she was so funny when she was around him!) Jason & Brenda’s wedding in Vegas had to be the funniest Spinelli & Ellie – I’ve watched their ‘Blinded Me with Science ‘ skit… Read more »
oh, and some more!
Emily & Nik
and Emily & Sonny – was good for a while!
Elizabeth & Nik
Elizabeth & Lucky, a few times
Elizabeth & Jason! of the three, I liked her with Jason the best.
but also liked Jason with Robin!
and another great couple… Lila & Edward!
and short lived as the pairings were, I really liked Todd & Carly together, and Star and Michael…. be interesting if they become couples again after Roger and Kristin come back in new roles.
same for Michael Easton. Who will they be. Who will they be involved with?
Robert and Holly Scorpio were always my fave couple. Their scenes together were so romantic and exciting. Probably due to the couple’s real life relationship.
Felicia – Carlivati – Valentini have destoyed F&F story.
I hate them.
I stop wathcing GH forever.
All F&F fans could stop watch this show.
Luke& Laura, Robert & Anna,………..
Fav supercouples Jasam and Lante!!
Patrick and Robin, hands down! I also loved Nikolas and Emily!
Duke/Anna are definitely the top supercouple for me…loved Frisco/Felicia, too. I didn’t see a lot of Robert/Holly, but I think I would enjoy their story.
Frisco and Felicia. Guess what though? They are no longer and I have moved on. In fact, I basically moved on from them when he left the show the first time in 1987. Fans on twitter went absolutley ballistic after the April 8th show. Even going so far as to blame the actors involved in that storyline for JW and Frisco’s exit. Now they hate Mac and Felicia and even make snide remarks about KW and JJY. These fans need to grow up and seek help.
I have watched GH since I was 18 in 1975. My all time top 10 supercouples are:
1.JASON AND SAM
2.Lucky and Elizabeth
3.Luke and Laura
4.Sonny and Brenda
5.Robert and Anna
6.Stone and Robin
7.Spinelli and Maxie
8.Frisco and Felicia
9.Alan and Monica
10.Jax and Carly