Over 30 years ago, General Hospital rebooted the character of Jason Quartermaine, played by Steve Burton, giving the character a brain injury following a car accident. When Jason came to, he was a different man.
He adopted the name Jason Morgan (Morgan being his grandmother Lila’s maiden name) and went to work as an enforcer for mobster Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard), taking on the nickname “Stone Cold” as he lived outside the law.
Now, GH is giving Jason another epiphany as he realizes that he needs to get out of the mob for the sake of his son, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn).
In a series of heartfelt scenes, Burton dug into the material and shined as Jason explained to Sonny that he was leaving, which Sonny wasn’t fully happy about (though he understood), and much to the joy of his aunt Tracy (Jane Elliot), who was cautiously thrilled over the news.
As Jason explained to Sonny why he was leaving, Burton’s character recapped all the expository dialogue related to Cullum’s (Andrew Hawkes) shooting and how he ended taking the fall for the actual shooter, Rocco (Finn Carr), Sonny’s grandson.
Jason and Sonny’s loved ones have been caught in the crossfire because of their mob activities for decades. No matter how many times, Sonny has insisted, “I’d never hurt my kids,” his kids, in fact, have been hurt.
ABC
Now, Jason is looking to avoid that in the future. “I’m sitting there wondering, ‘What the hell have I done to my kid?’” Jason rhetorically asked Sonny about watching his son, Danny, pound on the security van that drove Jason off to where he was incarcerated for months.
For once, Jason wasn’t blaming various villains involved in his life — he was taking a good look at himself, and he didn’t like what he was seeing.
“Something just breaks inside of me,” Jason recounted to Sonny, as Jason’s eyes began to fill with tears. “I promised myself I’m going to do better. I have to do better. I’ve failed my son too many times. And I can’t do it again. I won’t.”
Sonny pointed out that their latest adversaries were out of the picture, and in the past that would have been enough for Jason to go back to his job as Sonny’s top security chief. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. But what would happen when the next villain came along, and heaven forbid, Danny or someone else close to Jason became a casualty?
There was clearly a monumental shift going on in Jason’s life, and Burton played the full intensity of that. Nothing’s forever in soaps, but this time, we believe Jason is truly making a change in his life.
“I can’t kill for you again,” Jason told Sonny. He pointed out that he had to make a break “before Danny wants to follow in my footsteps.”
Sonny informed Jason that Danny had already tried that by coming to him while Jason was in WSB jail. That just reinforced Jason’s commitment. “This is my last chance to be a true father to him before he doesn’t need me anymore,” Jason stated. “I’m out.”
Leaving the mob wasn’t just giving up a job. Jason was saying goodbye to the man who gave him a job and a family after Jason woke up not knowing who he was. Burton showed that breakup scenes on soaps aren’t just reserved for romantic couples, as Jason bid farewell to Sonny.
“You were my friend,” Jason said. “You became the brother I needed and always wanted. I just wanted you to know how grateful I am for that.”
Later in the week, Jason returned home to the Quartermaine mansion and shared the news of his break with Sonny with his aunt Tracy, who was understandably hesitant to believe that this time Jason and Sonny had split for good.
The irony that Jason came to this decision following the deaths of his parents, Alan (Stuart Damon) and Monica (Leslie Charleson), was not lost on him. Burton played his character barely able to get the words out as Jason lamented that this news came after their passings.
“I’ve been thinking a lot…about Alan and Monica,” Jason softly said.
Tracy noted that her brother and sister-in-law longed for this day, ever since Jason entered Sonny’s world. “I just wish I could tell them I’m sorry…for all that worry I put them through,” Jason said, beating himself up.
There were times after Jason’s accident that Tracy almost comically spoke to Jason in a louder voice, as if to indicate that she thought his ordeal had left him either partially deaf or brain-damaged. She reveled in making those subtle digs — and they weren’t always subtle.
However, Elliot’s Tracy had nothing but support for Jason in this moment. “You had to get there in your own time and in your own way,” she supportively shared. Tracy added that if they were there, Alan and Monica would be so happy and so grateful.
Jason feared that making this decision could be too late. But, again, Tracy assured him that it was not. She said that she had changed — “and so could you.”
ABC
We doubt that Jason and Sonny will be out of each other’s lives entirely, despite Jason’s decision to leave his employ. However, Burton committed to these scenes in a way that left no doubt that there’s been a permanent change in their dynamic.
The actor will find out if in October he wins his third Daytime Emmy for scenes he played last year. While 2026 is not over, we suspect that these recent scenes are going to be on next year’s reel for the fan favorite.
Kudos must go to Benard and Elliot who brilliantly supported Burton in these powerful scenes.
Burton is celebrating his 35th year as Jason on GH and is continuing to find new levels, new dimensions, and new beginnings to his character. Bravo!
General Hospital, Weekdays, ABC