Last week we looked at fans’ reaction to GH’s Jax and Skye and why they so desperately want that steamy romance back on their screens. But the “General Hospital” runner-up was the couple we all probably expected to steamroll through this Couples Sweepstakes.

After all, their fans took out an ad (or maybe two) in a national magazine just to proclaim their love for their duo and demand their return. They’ve made it clear in all kinds if ways just how betrayed they feel that their couple never really got off the ground. Who am I talking about? Why, Liason, of course, which consists of hunky mob enforcer Jason Morgan and his one-time love interest, sassy waitress/artist Elizabeth Weber. I think you all probably know by now (especially if you read my column about Jason and Courtney) that I am not fond of the Jason Morgan character. Criminals are not my cup of tea and I certainly don’t consider Jason in any way, shape or form a suitable romantic hero. I wanted to make that clear, because last week people assumed that the readers’ opinions were mine. Au contraire! These “couples challenge” weeks are not about me. As we move into a long, hot summer, I’ve turned my column over to the fans and what they like. And they certainly like Liason, if my mailbox is any indication.

When it comes to what they like about Liason, my correspondents came back to one thing again and again. Chemistry, chemistry, chemistry... Oh, and did I mention chemistry?

Michelle calls the Jason & Liz chemistry “amazing and explosive,” while Teresa says, “These two share so much with a look, they don’t need words. Every moment they are together, it’s magical. Even when they are angry, it can’t be denied there is a strong connection of electricity in the room.”

Debbie tells us, “Their chemistry has just gotten hotter and hotter. They light your television on fire when they are on screen together. You catch your breath when they have ‘stolen moments.’ You rewind your tape to find yourself catching your breath again and again and again. The unbelievable chemistry and the ease with which these two act together says it all.”

Jules B. agrees. “They had it when they started 3+ years ago — that very first scene together at Jake's in August of 1999. And it caught everyone's attention...especially the actors themselves who seemed pleasantly surprised at the outpouring of attention they garnered at the time. And the scenes built up, and their relationship played off it.

“Elizabeth & Jason connected,“ Jules continues, explaining where that chemistry came from. “They bonded. They became friends. Close friends. Then Elizabeth found Jason shot and bleeding in the snow, dragged him back to her studio, and nursed him back to health. And you know what struck me during those scenes? How much they were always touching each other. They were in a natural comfort zone...Elizabeth was always feeling Jason for fever, they were holding hands a lot. Leaning on each other. Touching each other as they talked.”

When it came to scenes they enjoyed, the Liason fans most often noted Elizabeth caring for Jason when he was shot. They also mentioned the motorcycle rides and the “painting the wind” interaction, as well as the two sharing a special Christmas. Several people spoke about the friendship between the two as a strong basis for their romantic relationship,

“Who would have thought that the lonely artist in mourning and the mob enforcer living in 'nothing' would become friends?” asks Jenni. “Jason and Elizabeth were already my favorite characters at the time, but it never occurred to me until that first episode at Jake's in August 1999 that they would ever become friends or something more than that.  But the spark was there from that first moment and the spark continued to grow. I felt Elizabeth and Jason's connection from the beginning. I felt their intensity, their edginess and their connection, and I loved the natural, slow progression of their relationship.  It made them real and relatable.”

Jules B. also starts with friendship to chart the path of this romance. “They became more than friends,” she says. “They developed an attraction to one another. The touching stayed, but became charged with electricity. Jason left town. Jason came back a year later and walks into Kelly's (clean shaven and newly shorn) just to find Elizabeth — they lock eyes — and it's still there! It's always been there! You can't fake chemistry. And chemistry between people in love is magic. Jason has that certain twinkle, Elizabeth has that certain way of looking at him as if she's breathing him in and drinking him up.”

Breathing in... Drinking up... Well, I can’t speak for Jason and Elizabeth, but your writing certainly has chemistry, Jules!

A different Julie offers this explanation of her love for Liason. “Even now, when I look at them,” Julie H. writes, “I see two people who have slapped walls up around their hearts and retreated because they are afraid of being hurt again. Yet when they're together, when they look at each other, I can see the longing and the hurt. I can see the conflicting need between the desire to be whole again with the other person and the instinct to step back and stay protected. Even when they are hurting, even when they are lashing out at each other, Jason and Elizabeth grab me by the heart and pull me along with them”

Clearly, the people who are planning long-term story arcs at “General Hospital” have not been kind to Liason fans, since the pairing was dumped and replaced with Jason & Courtney without a whole lot of fanfare (no pun intended). So the pressing question has become whether the Liason fans still have hope. Do they think their couple has a future?

Of course they do. “I'm looking forward now — waiting and writing, and fighting and hoping for the day when General Hospital will reunite Jason and Elizabeth and let them work through the pain and the hurt once again to bring this relationship to the next level of trust and respect and honor and love,” offers Julie H. “It hurt when this story was stripped down but, when I look at the remains, all I can think about is the phoenix rising up from the ashes stronger and better than ever before. If I had to say what I want for the future, I would have to say that I look forward to them rebuilding the trust and the honesty. I want to see Jason realize that Elizabeth is the only woman he could ever trust. The only one that has every accepted him for who and what he really is. I want him to step up to the plate and actually fight for her instead of stepping back and being passive. I want Elizabeth to demand the same honesty and honor and trust that he does and have the courage and the spirit to stand by it. There is so much more out there for this couple. So much more emotion and adventure. Their story hasn't ended. it's just beginning a new chapter.”

Who knows, Julie? With those writing skills, you may be able to get a job at GH and write the show your way, anyway!

Other classic GH couples who received a few votes were Frisco & Felicia, Stefan & Laura, Jason & Robin, Anna & Robert, Robert & Holly, Sean & Tiffany and of course, the greatest couple ever in the history of daytime TV — Luke & Laura.

As for All-Time Least Favorite Couple, I’m afraid there was a good deal of unanimity on that one. Jason & Courtney. Yikes. Whole lotta hatin’ goin’ on. Words like “annoying” and “ridiculous” and “nauseating” were bandied about with alarming frequency. Best not to go there...

So that finishes up the General Hospital portion of our challenge. Next week — who do you think will be the Most Wanted Couple from “One Life to Live”?

*** Please note the views expressed here are those of the author and not the site.