>>212451613
The 1996 season of General Hospital was a frustrating low point for longtime fans, primarily due to convoluted storylines and poorly handled character arcs that felt like a betrayal to the show's legacy. One of the most glaring issues was the complete derailment of Laura Spencer’s character, who, after years of being a strong, complex heroine, was reduced to a meandering, indecisive figure in the tepid love triangle with Stefan Cassadine and her long-absent husband, Luke. Instead of capitalizing on the Cassadine-Spencer rivalry with real emotional stakes, the writers leaned into gothic melodrama—introducing Wyndemere, secret tunnels, and Nikolas Cassadine as a moody teen brooding over half-baked daddy issues. Meanwhile, Sonny Corinthos’ storyline became increasingly bloated and self-indulgent, drowning in mob clichés and unearned gravitas, while Jason Morgan’s post-accident transformation into "Stone Cold" was rushed and borderline cartoonish, stripping the Quartermaine family of its core dynamics without meaningful payoff. Even beloved characters like Monica and Alan were stuck in repetitive loops of addiction, cheating, and scandal that no longer shocked—just exhausted. Overall, 1996 was a year where the show lost touch with its emotional roots, opting for style over substance and leaving many fans disillusioned.
