General Hospital packed a lot of drama into its 2025, as Port Charles was rocked by the passing of Monica Quartermaine (Leslie Charleson) and the revelation that Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) shared a son in Gio (Giovanni Mazza), Cyrus’s (Jeff Kober) death at Josslyn’s (Eden McCoy) hands spun her into a new life as a WSB agent, and Drew (Cameron Mathison) barely escaped with his life after pissing off most of the town. Keep reading for Soap Opera Digest‘s perspective on the highlights and lowlights of the GH year.
Biggest Tearjerker: Monica’s Passing
Leslie Charleson had been a mainstay as fiery Dr. Monica Quartermaine since 1977, so the show needed to go all-out to honor its longest-running actress when she passed away in real life — and they did. Monica was found having passed peacefully in her bed by her son Jason, in a stirring performance by Steve Burton, which was fitting as he is the last surviving member of her immediate family (RIP Alan, AJ and Emily). He broke the news to Tracy — shout-out to Jane Elliot (Tracy), who was flawless throughout this arc — and they shared their private grief before word spread to her many loved ones and hospital co-workers. Flashbacks reminded us what a powerhouse Monica was, highlighting her battle with breast cancer and her raucous fights with husband Alan. Monica’s memorial service stretched over multiple episodes with characters including Ned, Elizabeth, Laura, Jason, Michael and Tracy sharing touching stories of the doctor and family matriarch who had touched so many lives. Other highlights included the gathering to hang Monica’s picture on the G.H. memorial wall next to her beloved spouse, and Jason’s less public good-bye to his mom. But the farewell to this memorable character would not have been complete without some final juicy drama; after all, Monica anchored some of the show’s all-time most tantalizing tales. So in came Monica’s previously unknown sister Ronnie (Erika Slezak) to “inherit” the Q mansion. Tracy exposed that for the scheme it was, and, in the end, learned she had been left the cherished house that belonged to Monica. (All together now: Alan gave it to her!)
Worst Vanishing Act: TJ
TJ Ashford met Molly Lansing-Davis as teenagers all the way back in 2012, and they grew into an appealing yet unconventional duo who did what most soap duos don’t: stayed together. While there were some blips in the road, ranging from infidelity (Molly slept with Brando) and infertility (Molly had endometriosis) to occasionally overbearing mothers (Alexis for her, Jordan for him), it seemed like there was nothing they couldn’t overcome — even multiple recasts for both characters. He became a doctor and she became a lawyer, classic soap professions with lots of opportunity for drama. But when the drama came, it left TJ in the dust. Kristina agreed to be Molly and TJ’s surrogate but ultimately, the baby died, and the loss tore the duo apart. At the end of 2024, Molly and TJ, who had been domestic partners since 2021, reached the sad conclusion that their visions for the future were too far apart for them to move forward as a couple and that they needed space. What fans didn’t realize at the time that said space would translate to a full-on disappearance by TJ, who did not make a single on-screen appearance in all of 2025. The character had been on the show for years and was the founding member of the Ashford family, but didn’t even merit an on-air good-bye?! Molly doesn’t seem to remember TJ’s existence as she flirts like a high school girl on a first date with Cody. Heck, Jordan barely mentions her only son! Viewers were invested in the bighearted TJ, most recently played by the talented Tajh Bellow, and the complete erasure of this character is both baffling and unfortunate.
