Nearly 20 years ago, one complicated night changed the lives of Jason Morgan and Elizabeth Webber forever. The 2006 “General Hospital” storyline ultimately resulted in the birth of their son, Jake Webber, and added another chapter to Jason and Elizabeth’s already complicated history.
However, while some longtime fans still consider “Liason” one of Port Charles’ great missed romantic opportunities, others insist the relationship has been overhyped for years. Read on to see why this classic storyline still has “GH” fans divided two decades later.
One Messy Night Changed Jason and Elizabeth’s Lives Forever
“GH” stars Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson recently took to their Stone Cold and the Jackal social media pages to share another “On This Day in General Hospital History” throwback.
The duo revisited Jason and Elizabeth’s memorable 2006 encounter, writing, “2006: Elizabeth and Jason made love. As the duo readied for round two, Sam McCall approached Jason’s door…”
However, plenty had happened before Elizabeth ever arrived at Jason’s door.
As longtime “General Hospital” fans may remember, Sam nearly died after being shot by Manny Ruiz. Sam’s mother, Alexis Davis, subsequently blamed Jason and his dangerous lifestyle for what happened and pressured him to end his relationship with her daughter.
The breakup ultimately sent Sam down a destructive path. In an act of revenge, she slept with Alexis’ husband, Ric Lansing. Unfortunately for Sam, Jason witnessed the encounter through the window.
Elizabeth was dealing with a relationship crisis of her own. Her husband, Lucky Spencer, had developed an addiction to pills and was having an affair with Maxie Jones. Hurt by what was happening in their respective relationships, Jason and Elizabeth turned to each other for comfort and ended up sleeping together.
The encounter ultimately had consequences that would permanently connect the two characters.
Elizabeth became pregnant with Jake Webber. Although Lucky initially believed he was Jake’s biological father, the truth eventually came out that Jason was actually his father.
Regardless of whether viewers consider that night the beginning of a great love story or simply two heartbroken people making a complicated decision, Jake ensured that Jason and Elizabeth would remain connected long after their 2006 encounter.
Some ‘GH’ Fans Say Liason Was Never a Great Love Story
Nearly two decades later, “General Hospital” fans remain deeply divided over exactly what Jason and Elizabeth’s night together represented.
For some fans, the continued romanticization of Liason has never made much sense.
“One night stand = not a love story,” one viewer argued.
Another fan was even more critical, calling Jason and Elizabeth “the most over hyped affair in the history of GH love stories.” The viewer argued that Liason fans repeatedly revisit a relatively small number of scenes from what they considered a short-lived relationship.
Others pointed directly to the circumstances surrounding Jason and Elizabeth’s night together as evidence that it shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as the beginning of an epic romance.
One fan noted that Jason had just been devastated by seeing Sam with Ric when Elizabeth arrived at his door. From that viewer’s perspective, Jason slept with Elizabeth because he was angry and hurt rather than because he had suddenly decided she was the love of his life.
“The only reason he slept with her was because Sam hurt him with Ric by sleeping with him,” the fan argued, adding that they were happy Jason and Elizabeth never ultimately reunited.
For those viewers, the circumstances surrounding the encounter matter. Jason had just witnessed Sam’s betrayal, while Elizabeth was watching her marriage to Lucky fall apart. Rather than seeing the night as proof of an inevitable Jason and Elizabeth romance, they view it as two heartbroken people seeking comfort from each other during an emotionally difficult moment.
Liason Fans Still Think Jason and Elizabeth Deserved Their Chance
Other longtime viewers remember the exact same storyline very differently.
For Liason fans, Jason and Elizabeth’s history represents a romantic opportunity that “General Hospital” never fully explored.
“This was when GH writers knew how to write. The best love story never completely told. They were the best!” one fan declared.
Another viewer similarly remembered Jason and Elizabeth as one of their favorite pairings from that era, while others credited Steve Burton and Rebecca Herbst for making the relationship work on screen.
“To this day, I still miss Liason. Steve and Becky had such great chemistry together,” one fan commented.
For some viewers, revisiting the storyline also highlighted what they believe has changed about “General Hospital” over the years.
One fan argued that the soap did a better job during that era of establishing the emotional motivations behind its couples. Whether viewers loved or hated a particular pairing, the fan felt the stories behind the relationships were clear and carried genuine emotion.
Another viewer specifically lamented the lack of interaction between Jason and Elizabeth today, arguing that the soap has failed to properly acknowledge their decades of history and Jason’s relationship with Jake.
The current direction of Jason’s storyline has also given some Liason supporters renewed hope.
Since returning to Port Charles, Jason has been attempting to leave his old life behind and become a more stable presence for his family. For some fans, removing the danger surrounding Jason’s former lifestyle also removes one of the biggest obstacles that historically stood between him and Elizabeth.
“If he’s leaving the mob, it’s BEYOND TIME they get together and it sticks!” one viewer declared.
Nearly 20 years after one complicated night changed Jason and Elizabeth’s lives forever, “General Hospital” fans still can’t agree on what Liason really was. For some, it was a rebound hookup that has been romanticized ever since. For others, Jason and Elizabeth remain the great Port Charles love story that never received a fair chance.
Either way, the fact that fans are still passionately arguing about Jason and Elizabeth two decades later proves one thing: Liason certainly hasn’t been forgotten.
