General Hospital
GH's Head Writers Shelly Altman & Jean Passanante Preview To Look For Renewed Connection Between Jason and Mob Boss Sonny!
Photo: MauriceBenardTwitter
Now that the groundwork has been laid for Jason to have his memories back, GH head writers Shelly Altman and Jean Passanante are set to prove that the year and more long wait that viewers endured for Jason to remember his connections to the past will be worth it. In an interview with TV Line, the scribes point out what having his memories back will do to certain relationships.
As for what it does to Jason and Sam (Kelly Monaco), Passanante notes: “Remembering everything gives him the history he felt but couldn’t fully understand until now.” Next on the list for the head writers is to put Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Jason back in each other’s orbit. Will it be as mob enforcer and mob boss/friend?
Altman revealed: “That’s the one deep relationship he had yet to recover — his bond with Sonny. So Jason will want to reach out to him in a way he hasn’t been able to since his return. He also (now) knows that he can call on Sonny for help if he should need it in the future, And rest assured, he will one day need it.”
Passanante was quick to point out: “Jason will have to come to terms with that (violent) past. But remembering doesn’t mean he will suddenly revert to the man he was before he was presumed dead.”
So, are you glad that the head writers are finally bringing Sonny and Jason back into each other’s world? Do you hope Jason will t end up being Sonny’s enforcer once again? Share your thoughts on what the head scribes share in the comment section below.
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the only real relationships… I’ve seen… since Billy Miller debuted on General Hospital 3… that come to mind 1. Liz 2. Lil’ Jake… and that was w/ the original James Nigbor 3. Monica LOL in exasperation CRINGEWORTHY brotherly bonding love … oh I get it… R – E – A – L- l – y ROLLING LOL… throw in Carly and this threesome is all GH “wants” YIKES Billy Miller must be out of his mind all his memories are ON…. REELING the fullout focus is going to be on him giving the actors who portray Sonny and Carly… an… Read more »
I guess I should be thanking the soap gods… that Liz was not a part of … or even mentioned
for this momentous ginormous entourage… “he’s back”
this unveiling… “All hail… ” the wonderment of
I think Liz needs to pack up “nu little Jake” things… and just dump him at Sam and Jason doorsteps
and adopt James Nigbor and move ON
Hi Franco
Liz is such an important part of his story – she should have been included, including the revelation that he fell in love with her very recently. I hope this is dealt with in a very real way.
Billy Miller has been sleep walking since he came to GH! God you can have him
I have heard that he gets his memory back and finds a necklace at the Quatermaine estate!!! Yawn
You know hanging in a chandelier that no one has cleaned for thirty years. Think Y&R
Liz was a one night stand not some grand love affair. I look forward to watching all the friendships mature w billy Miller… I have loved him making the role his and the lack of memories allowed that to happen! I’m never sure what to say to nay Sayers the I’m so done w gh if this happens people! I’m not sure why they expect a daily show to have each story be as thrilling and exciting as their favorite episode??? But for longer than any other tv show the soaps have survived and I’m grateful!
I couldn’t be more thrilled with today’s episode and the direction of Jason Morgan! Bravo! It was beautiful and I loved seeing history finally being taken into account! It’s a must so excited for what coming next
Good news, Amy. You don’t have to wait. Just watch all the episodes from 2000 to 2012 on youtube. You’re welcome.
is this their way of saying that they are bringing back the awful 4some back full time to the air and the show will revolve around them always being right and everyone else being wrong? if thats the case why not bring back jill fare phelps and bog guza jr., because seriously, atman, passanante and valentini aren’t doing anything more original or fresh, or improved.
I totally agree! I’m very close to being over GH!
I agree…its a rehashing of what has been done to the bone before…it would be a nice change if we had Dr. Jason Q who doesnt get along with Dr. Hamculberry Finn and becomes suspicious of Finn and his girlfiend Lizard Roxie then goes to Sonny for some help looking into Finn’s past…Finn discovers what Dr.Q-Tip is up to and one dark night Jason is seriously wounded when attacked by a group of Roxy’s lizard friends-lol
And maybe Liz is in on it too and Finn has her turned into a Liz-ard…lol
What Show are some of you watching? Liz was never the love of Jason’s life! Lucky & Liz yes! Liz hid Jason’s identity for 7 months! Jake Doe loved Liz only because he didn’t know who he was! Jasam is the real deal!
I agree also..These two writers need to go..They done nothing original since replacing the previous head writer and they are rehashing the same old..Someone mention on this blog, that we need new and young writers on the soaps, which I so agree…New ideas and innovative plots..BTW, Billy Miller is a ok actor but in my opinion was not a good choice to play Jason, just saying!
Bye, bye GH., they have finally killed you
Absolutely, Altman and Passanate are the worst.
This Jason story represents maybe the single greatest missed opportunity in soap history. It’s taken what seems like 2 years for the character to go from Point A to…Point A? There was so much potential for good soapy drama that has been squandered. The simplest and most satisfying thing would have been for Jason to have reverted to his original Jason Quartermaine identity, putting him at odds with his Sonny / Carly / mob past and also at odds with himself, while exploring his emotional connection to his Quartermaine family. As it is he has been kept at arm’s length… Read more »
I absolutely agree.
And I’ve got five dollars that says another head whacking a year from now because it’s been twelve months from the last head whacking.
This has been pointless. A year of who am I? Another year of I don’t remember… I pity the actor who has this one dimensional nonsense. He deserves better. So does the audience.
MAJOR MISSED OPPORTUNITY EXACTLY! Mister Media has the story we would all watch!! real conflict, real emotion, real drama!!
It only took them 2 years LOL
I want new writers, it is time for new and improved..
I’d love young writers with new outlooks, someone of the this media era.
;; youngblood;;
Yay! Just in time to delete GH from my DVR queue. Hasn’t the Sonny horse been beaten to death yet? This is why I quit the show last time.
Early Emmy reel for Billy Miller & GH! BRAVO ! GH crackling on all cylinders. The 3 other soaps pale in comparison….
Yes they do! We r so fortunate that gh has legacy characters and a group of people who care about the genre! I miss soapnet Disney sure goofed up taking that away! They could run all Jason weekends to show or highlight big memories those were great shows!
Que4u…Really appreciated your comment above about not knowing what to say to the nay-sayers and their expectations for a daily show. Especially those who harp the same issues all of the time. Save yourself the trouble. You can’t hit a home run everyday, and not every character is going to be a favorite to everyone. But like you I just am glad we still have GH to watch, and right now I’m enjoying most episodes. Must admit that I am tired of what seems too many bad guys and Corrinthos who don’t have to pay for their crimes.
Nothing could be more boring than the dull drab redundant Jasam story. Please spare me, my time is so much more valuable, call me when its over.
Today’s episode was brilliant!!! Well worth the wait. I’ve watched gh since the beginning and was happy to see Jason interact with those who he has strong ties to. The writers did an excellent job and left me waiting for what’s ahead!!!
I agree it was a fun show to watch!
Today was awful. Nothing about it was enjoyable. After two years of begging and hoping for Jason’s memory to return and the REAL Jason Morgan to be returned.. I’m very disappointed. BM still falls flat as Jason and always will. Recast. Move on. Kill Jason. Idc, just end this shit.
Couldn’t have put it better.
I’m really looking forward to the return of the friendship between Sonny and Jason. They were always there for each other through the good and bad times. I really want to see Jason back as his partner. He needs to realize it is safer for Sam and Danny him in the mob. He can put his family first. Sam loved and accepted him mob and all. Don’t erase that part of Jason Morgan’s history with Sam and Sonny. About time we have the two most talented actors Billy and Maurice sharing scenes. We want more Sason and of the bromance.
Yes, I love friendships about two men who kill people for a living.
And run a mysterious mob operation that supplies the town with what, precisely? Coke? Pot? Ecstasy? Addiction and profiteering from drug sales is completely stand up!!!!!
Sonny makes a big deal out of not running drugs or letting anyone else run drugs through port chuck! That said its not real so we can enjoy the guys friend ship… With out worrying about them killing everyone
Lisa Hauser = Jill Farren Phelps.
lol
To answer your question, do I want Jason to be in Sonny’s orbit, I will have to say no. I am so tired of the mob, I cannot see straight. Every time the fans say that we want less mob, TPTB add on more mob characters. The mob families are numerous. We have Sonny’s, Julian’s, and Johnny is controlling his from jail. At this point you might as well add Nikolas to the mob fray because he is going around ordering hits on people and is turning himself into being someone Helena would be proud of. He now runs the… Read more »
Well written. You are not alone.
100% agree
I will wait to see how the story plays out before condemning the writers and that comes from a fan since the beginning!
I am glad Jason is finally getting his memories back! And I love that Jason will begin to understand his friendship with Sonny. He was such a huge part of Jason’s life since he decided to be Jason Morgan. As for Jason and Sam… I have always loved them and felt Jason could truly only be himself with her. Loved their scenes today! They were phenomenal. Can’t wait to see what Jelly come up with next!
I can’t wait for Jason to finally be back as Somny’s business partner. Carly best friend, and Sam’s husband and Danny’s father. I love all the mob war stuff on GH. It’s been going on since the late 70’s when Luke came on the show. I think the mob makes GH different from the rest of the soaps. It makes it interesting! I love the action and shootouts. Everyone says they are sick of the mob on GH but it’s been apart of the show for decades!!
Yeah Jason and.Sonny…they balance each other!
Today the stars aligned, Jason knows all the truths. Despite some moaning from others Jason belongs with Sam. There will always be complainers but the truth is in the ratings. Jasam is what it should have always been. The connection they have is like no other. BM was the perfect fit! Jasam is finally back!!
I liked Jake because while he had an essence of Jason, he wasn’t full on Jason Morgan. I have watched GH since I was 7 in 1971 and I have never considered abandoning the show until now. Listening to characters and fans say that Alexis is a hypocrite for defending and loving Julian and his “awful mobster” lifestyle as they all defend head mobster Sonny/Carly and all have fond memories of mobster Duke is making me ill. I can’t continue to watch as the show canonizes Sonny and family despite killing and terrorizing others in town. Sonny killed a mob… Read more »
The job I thought was to provide a diagram,story concept that engulf the cast of major characters in a drama and provide the listner, viewers in this case with a meaningful dramatic view, or life, i.e, as in the BB, the task of this past year the Transgender former life of Maia, the complete history of the character, and everything that comes with telling the viewer of her life, parental history, her father’s dramatic past,being, etc,etc.siblings relationships, and explain how we understand her psychosis, why she is driven, and the relationships ,why she does what she does at Forrester, etc,… Read more »
TUNING OUT….. I’m disappointed. I was hoping women writers would figure out the viewers want a lot less mob . Even if I don’t like a character, they should be watchable. Saint Sonny, cyborg Jason and their hypocritical moll are tiresome.
I am very disappointed in the way Jason’s return has been handled up to and including this latest fiasco of a dramatization! It made no sense that the whole time he was Jake he,and Sam never showed any sign of romantic feelings for one another and as soon as he’s revealed as Jason, and mind you it wasn’t because he remembered, all of a sudden he and Sam are,all over one another. Didn’t make sense then and I still don’t buy it. I don’t think Billy Miller and Kelly Monaco have a tenth of the chemistry that he has with… Read more »
The only time I’ve ever quit watching “GH” altogether was the mid-2000s, when the entire show was about Sonny/Carly/Jason/Courtney. If we get something similar again, I’m out.
Loved Monday’s show and the fact that Liz wasn’t involved at all. Its about time he figures out that he loves Sam and wanted a life with her for years and all that it meant to him. Robin was very fitting since she did save his life and all and taught him how to love…. cant wait for scenes when Robin is there in the flesh. Carly was just too funny, love her and Jason’s connection and really , really hope that Jason now understands his connection with Sonny. I look for him to need Sonnys help soon because I… Read more »
His connection with Sonny? Sonny befriended and took under his wing a young man with a brain injury so severe he lost his love and ties to a family that adored him and a chance at fulfilling his potential as a doctor SAVING lives, not taking them. While Sonny claimed to love Jason, he sent him into the line of fire from an age younger than his own sons, Michael and Morgan, who he wont let near his business. Sonny loves his children and fought tooth and nail to keep them…yet stole Jason from Alan and Monica, Avery from Ava… Read more »
Not too wild about it if Jason goes back into the mob. Done with that scene. I’l buy it if Jason and Sonny have a friendship of “I’ll be there for you when you need me” but not as an enforcer. BM’s portrayal of Jason is definitely not stone cold; he emotes a lot, so I think this Jason needs to be on a different track.
Honestly, I really like the new Jason and I am tired of this whole mob boss thing. I think it’s cool if they can reconnect as friends, but piss on Jason being Sonny’s enforcer. He’s nobody’s punk. On another note, I’m I getting it wrong, or have they re-written history? Wasn’t it Hornsby who shot Sonny? That’s what I recall when he first recruited (or should I say blackmailed) Ava into working with him. He made her go to the crime boss meeting and present a name, which she picked on the spot. And finally, I HATE how Sonny acts… Read more »
Yeah, the stories are seriously perverted–and skewed. I remember when the good guys won once in a while (even if they themselves might have gotten a little dirt on themselves). Who to root for on GH?
And I pointed out before, this Sonny/Jason bromance, how does that work when Jason finds out Sonny killed his brother?
Exactly! I guess he already knows, but maybe remembering his brother will make him angry about it.
Jason finding out… about Sonny killing AJ… may very well be the catalyst in turning… Jason Quartermaine… and HOPEFULLY
this gives Billy Miller a new lease on life
back to AJ: this will help Jason along in moving forward… out of the mob… and in to the Q
what better way for the whole shebang to lay waste and move on !
Please already
that way every one gets some satisfaction out of this
it’s a sinkhole if GH continues
this dreary 4some.
Sonny Carly Sam and Jason
Timmm, I can tell you how it will turn out……Jason will be angry for about two episodes, then Carly and Sonny will get it through to him that AJ was a bad man and deserved to die. All will be well then with the trio of terror.
Yes, I seem to recall Paul shot Sonny. I thought we actually saw it during a recount or memory from Paul. As for hypocrisy, it galls me each time I need to hear the ridiculous dialogue between Sonny and Carly as they judge others. The absurdity of Carly judging Alexis for defending Julian…as if Carly hasn’t done and wouldn’t do anything to protect Sonny, including lying to Michael about Sonny killing AJ. And suddenly. Julian is weak ? His own daughter Sam tells Michael her father is no match for Sonny? Since when? Doesnt he have a “family” of soldiers… Read more »
Needs remember his past, but not return to the way he violent ways.
I want the bond back between sony and Jason for sure. The show has been week without it. It has taken to long for Jason to remember in my opinion. PLEASE keep Liz out of it. I would love Franco to die and give Roger a better role for him, his talent is being wasted!
Personally, I don’t want Jason back in the mob, he’s better as he is with a mind of his own and not a liking for violence. When he returned as Jake , he remembered Liz and called out Jake, that was the start of what could have been an epic love story. Yet, you had to change it, make Liz lie to him while loving him, he loved her and the boys, he was funny , loving and compassionate. That story should have been great and then give him his memory back and let him sort through it all. I… Read more »
I agree Jason and Liz should of had their time after all these years she loved him. He loved her also. So why not let them have their time would of been a great love story.
This was not history. History would have been Emily, Edward, Lila, And AJ. They could have easily put the ones who have died (IRL) in without showing their face. Emily was a HUGE part of Jason’s memory. I wasn’t impressed with it at all but as a gh loyal fan I am hoping for more “history” with Jason’s memories.
Ok, it’s back to the trio of terror. I don’t have to watch. So much for exploring the Quartermaine side of Jason. I hate you, GH.
I’m hoping they reconnect. Maybe Sonny will be influenced by Jason in a good way. Anything is possible.
I’m done dvr’ing this show. Terribly disappointed, so I’m done.
I have been saying for months that Jason and sonny need to go back to being best friends and I love the mob Stories and it time for Jason to stand up for sonny I love Carson and I want Carlos take down
Again, I say: What a great opportunity TPTB missed when they made Carlos a criminal. He has so much charisma and sex appeal; he’s the kind of actor that was once a staple of GH–relatable, energetic, magnetic, mesmerizing. But, no, TPTB turned him into a thug–UGH!
I agree Nancy. There is something about Carlos that makes me think of the old GH and all of those magnetic and mesmerizing characters that were decent people that you rooted for. Why must everyone be tied to a mob family. I don’t root for them. I root against them, but the problem is that this show is written for the mob-related characters to shown in a good light. Ugh, I’m done with this show.
for however long Carlos is on our telee… i’m just glad to see posts who like, Jeffrey Vincent Parise… ACTING I howled @ yesterday ep Carlos goes all Cro magnon grabs that rock…. “let he who has sinned cast the first stone” Anna ask Jordan… “how did Carlos get out of the handcuffs…. did he have a weapon” LOL going back… I laughed when Paul… puts on the table that paperclip and pen… Carlos expression… he’s priceless… just lends himself… present able and has a sexiness that’s wow in all honesty I thought… this is the best part of GH… Read more »
“let HIM who is “without” sin… cast the first stone”
Nancy…Trying to imagine what other kind of character Vincent could play on GH. Even when he cleans up as a priest, or guru on Mad Men, he still has a bit of a dangerous, scruffy look. And this coming from someone who loves his acting. Frustrating!
Nancy…I HEAR YA’!!!!! AGREED!!!!! Oh…as far as I’m concerned, those bone-heads at GH gave a wonderful and versatile actor like Jeffrey Vincent Parise nothing but crappy, dumb and EVEN MORE UNWATCHABLE material to work with!!!!! And, Rose is SO RIGHT ON…FRUSTRATING!!!!!!
Have a good one, Nancy.
Not bad enough everyone’s a murdering pig, but now the unholy three will be back ? I’m done. Finished. Cleaning up my vcr, and that’s it. I shut this show off before when tptb unholy three ruined it. I think ABC is trying to get us to shut the show off , so they can cancel it. They they succeded with me.
I remember these two ruining the end of ATWTS, so who knows this could be their job !
I totally agree. Passanante and Altman are horrible writers. They have made GH unbearably dull and pointless. I am so bored and only watch when my favorite Roger Howarth is on.
BTW, it has gotten so bad that I wish they would kill off Franco and bring Roger back in a role more worthy of his immense talents (a la Todd Manning). They killed ATWT and are destroying GH now too.
And, just to think Ron Calivati got canned for this disaster!!
The end of ATWT was horrible. And that disaster was nowhere near as awful as what happened to GL. Madre mia, when shows turn, I get very nervous. The repercussions can prove fatal.
So peeps, Fluke wasnt that bad after all? This Jason memory story is so bad. It has been milked to death! AND, not to dismiss some of the Jason Morgan fans BUT most of us wanted Jason Quartermaine back! Him going home would have had a ton of stories attached. No we have to watch Sonny pull Jason’s strings again to clean up Sonny’s messes and try and protect his two moronic sons! DEADnte gets a pass. Even though he is clueless, he went off and became a man!
I was so bored by the Jason memory flashback / hallucination episode, that I actually stopped watching with only nine minutes left to go on the DVR recording. I chose nine minutes extra sleep over finishing this slug of an episode.
It really WAS boring–and interminable! I walked away and back many times.
two things… well… practically the whole ep just did me in but… I didn’t think it was … right… for Michael and Sam to be talking about how they missed the Jason of ole when they tried talking to him… about his past… their was no connection… ??? AND Sam is head over heals in love with him? and Jason in return…. ??? the metamorphosis that triggered his comeback… (ala Bo return on DAYS) that motorcycle… with our lord and savior “Sonny”… in commanding stance complete with pinky ring at a moments notice menacing leer J & S Neatly bow… Read more »
hey Patrick ..
”Sam singing a lullaby” .. it was not needed we were already asleep ..ahaaa!
So su0000–here I go again actually agreeing with you! Wow! I can’t believe it, can you?
No, I can’t believe it! LOL
gotta luv when you agree with me 🙂
( have a great one, Nancy! …
“We were already asleep.” Lol!
Sonny and Jason redux is the WORST possible news. I have always loathed Sonny, and the character of Jason Morgan is a smarmy, self-righteous cartoon no matter who is playing him. As much as I pity Billy Miller being stuck in this thankless role, I pity the viewers, whose fingers have to be sore from ffing his scenes, a whole lot more. The writers should have left Jason at the bottom of the harbor, then had Sonny and Sam (one of the dullest characters in the history of soaps) follow him. UGH.
I have to assume your fingers are sore from ffing. Hard to know what transpired when you do and comment on it.
I agree, Rose. How can one judge scenes without watching? I’ll tell you, though…even if a story is dull, I enjoy watching these wonderful actors doing their best to make it work. This is especially true of Billy Miller, Finola Hughes, Laura Wright, Maura West and many others . They give us their best regardless of the sometimes repetitive stories and/or corny dialogue.
Great he finally has his memories back – do I want Jason Morgan mob enforcer 2.0 ?
Um….no !
Personally I’d like to see him deal with what he knows and take a different path….not necessarily as Dr.Jason Quartermaine either.
Boring! Would have never guessed it was May sweeps!
Jason connecting with his Quartermaine roots would be refreshing. Jason and Sonny, and all this Sonny is a “good” mobster stuff got old years ago.
Yes! I can’t wait for their renewed friendship !!
Yes!
I think Liz and Jason have more passion together. Sam is just there, I feel Jason’s love for Sam has been pushed , forced. I wanted Jason to have his memories by not this forced thing with Sam I’m seeing, there’s really no chemistry at all. They are boring together.
RC left GH; Jul 24, 2015..
It’s going on near a year of J&S, and their year long build up to Jason’s reveal,= and it stunk, it was lame..
It was downtrodden, limp, uneventful, anticlimactic, considering a year build up to the awaited huge moment, the Jason reveal..(it was horribly dull)
And- to add to it, it’s sweeps!
I gotta say; I can’t imagine GH getting worse than it is… (but I’m sure it will 🙁
I was imaging something spectacular!
I guess you didn’t like it huh? Welcome to the WTF club. Who wants to take bets on how much longer the show will be on, ? Not wishing for it. Just seeing the writing on the wall.
Oh goody. Just what I have been waiting for throughout this entire saga of Jake/Jason and his long-lost memories . . . NOT. Seriously? This is the way they’ve decided to go? What happened to all the talk (BS would be a better term, I guess, as it turns out) about how having women writers would bring back the romance, etc.? If mob-mob-mob is what TPTB want, they should hire back Guza, who at least did mob-mob-mob skillfully, much as I disliked it. This is the worst of both worlds; not only do we get mob-mob-mob, but it isn’t even… Read more »
Second the emotion: WHERE IS LAURA????
It’s as I predicted with Laura. I knew that we wouldn’t see her very much. This supposed storyline with Helena’s gift is going nowhere. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Laura in September and they tell us what happened, offscreen.
Yes, yes yes!!!
Yes I love GH
Yes I love the mob scenes
Yes it’s great story lines
Yes, take out Sam and Elizabeth
and give more story to Anna, Carlie, Haley, Max and Lulu
I want all of Jason’s memories to come back to him and for those memories to become integrated in his psyche. It’s insulting and incredulous that the writers would have us believe Jason would still have retrograde amnesia from the accident caused by A.J. yet able to remember everything from the time he became Jason Morgan. Jason needs to know it all, including his calling to become a Doctor- A man who would have dedicated his life to saving people instead of killing them. He needs to not only remember , but to truly connect emotionally to all of those… Read more »
AJ did not cause the accident. Stupid Jason jumped into the car with someone he knew was drunk to stop him. Who knows if he hadn’t done that there might have not been an accident. Who is so dumb as to get in a car with someone driving drunk .they caused this themselves. I guess Guza needed some way to put all this on AJ.. We know poor little saint Jason was not to blame. I don’t think Jason will ever stop being the mob killer. Just thinking about this made me shut the show off.Same church , different pew… Read more »
I’ve been watching the show from the beginning-
Jason was a passenger in the car that a drunken A.J was driving. A.,J caused the accident. Ned covered for him.
Let’s continue to renew the connection between Jason Quartermaine and his legacy family-have him become a doctor, run ELQ with Tracy, etc.
Can GH just admit it made a HUGE mistake in replacing Ron Carlivati with Jean and Shelly and bring him back already…?
I completely agree Alan!
Agree that replacing Ron Carlivati with Jean and Shelly was shortsighted. Ron’s writing was the best and the Academy agreed as many of the reels were his writing! Bring him back in some capacity.
ABC: You cancelled All My Children and One Life to Live. Don’t screw this up with GH!
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GENERAL HOSPITAL: “I’m Alexis Davis, and I’m a Fighter, and an Idealist, and an Advocate”; Nancy Lee Grahn Gives Masterful Performance In Special Episode
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.
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