When a soap opera does something absolutely brilliant, it needs recognition. For nearly two years, “General Hospital” fans have waited for the Jason Morgan we were promised when Billy Miller took over the role. A lot has happened during that time as Jason was there, but his memories weren’t. Jason and memories have been a running theme on GH for 20 years, so it was only appropriate that when Jason recovered his Morgan memories, that GH offered one episode about just that.
Yes, it was part of the umbrella story of Carlos’s escape, Dante’s injuries, and a crashed, gas-leaking van. However, it all tied together in the most incredible GH way. The mob is as running a GH theme as Jason’s memory-impaired brain as characters remain caught between accepting the mob life and resisting it. Jason has resisted the mob since he learned who he was last fall and he did that by resisting his memories. They were always there beneath the surface, but how can anyone blame him resisting them?
It was the mob that took Jason away from his family and placed him in Helena’s clutches the same night he brought his family home. Couple that with a head injury that rivaled the one from 1996, plus a new face and voice, and you might want to re-invent a whole new life. But, GH showed us since 2014 that you are who you are. Jason resisted being Jason, but he was always really there.
Today, he came home. Not in the literal sense, but we saw the Jason we’ve longed for since he disappeared off that pier nearly four years ago. GH was right not to use flashbacks because it wouldn’t have worked with re-created scenes. Instead, Elizabeth Korte–the writer who penned today’s episode and helped shape Jason Morgan over the years–chose to use the present. She also made sure to remember Jason’s experiences, since he disappeared in 2012, will become a part of an updated Jason Morgan.
Yes, there were a few surprises along the way. Spoilers indicated only four people would come to Jason in his mind–Robin, Carly, Sonny, and Sam. Constance Towers re-appearing as Helena was a shock, but also fit perfectly as she was so much a part of Jason’s return with Miller in the role.
We also didn’t expect to see all those roadside scenes juxtaposed with Sam (Kelly Monaco) and Michael (Chad Duell), but it also fit. Michael was such a part of Jason and that fact has barely been used since Jason returned as Jake Doe. From birth, Michael gave Jason a purpose he never found as Sonny’s right hand. Carly handed him a baby and he cared for a life, doing what he had to do all those years ago. Today, Dante’s life was in his hands, and he did what he had to do, with a little help from his memories.
As each person came to Jason in his mind and spoke of the past, we knew Jason was remembering because their words came from Jason’s brain and not from actual reality. And yes, we rejoiced in him telling Sam he loved her (and can’t wait until he does it for real), but the pivotal moment came when Jason himself described in vivid detail the night he met Sonny. That scene aired decades ago when the Jason Morgan character had only recently emerged from the ashes of Jason Quartermaine.
Today, the Jason Morgan character emerged from the ashes of Jake Doe and Billy Miller OWNED it. We will never forget Steve Burton, but today, Billy Miller made Jason Morgan his own.
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