General Hospital Commentary: Honey, I’m Home

Drew is up, walking — and plotting revenge. Jack might have bought Nina and Willow some time, but can he keep their wicked ways contained? Jason reunited with Carly and Sonny, but are things about to change? Let’s get into that and more in a brand-new General Hospital commentary for the week ending July 31, 2026

Dear Readers, General Hospital certainly kept me glued to the edge of my sea this week. How about you? Tamilu shot me the following text message on Wednesday (July 28), “Liz, you are going to have a lot of fun stuff to write about this week!” I quickly replied, “I’ve already started!” Again, this was on Wednesday. Wednesday. We had two more days to go. My notes were over 1,200 words when I opened my document this morning to start cobbling this column together.

This wonderful show gives us an abundance of riches to dish about each and every week. Naturally, I’m kicking things off with the scene that so many of us have been anticipating since we learned that Willow had run out of serum to inject Drew with.

War of the Cains

I had to work on Tuesday (July 28), so I didn’t get to watch General Hospital until I got home. One of my friends, Laura, who also watches, text messaged me to tell me that she had loved the episode. “Ooohhh…today’s episode of General Hospital was great!” she exclaimed. I was excited.

Admittedly, I had high expectations for Drew to go scorched earth on Willow. He had spent so many loong months a prisoner in his own body and shooting daggers at Willow with his eyes, all the while the little lunatic spun ridiculous excuses to defend the indefensible. In recent months, Willow also managed to suck her mother into Willow’s vortex of mayhem. Not a hard task since Nina herself is unhinged and prone to violence. Still, the way that Willow went about it just showed another layer of Willow’s evilness. Willow has no loyalty. To Anyone.

And Then There’s Jack

Jack is dead to me. Dead. This man cannot get off my television screen fast enough, and it just might be Josslyn who takes him down. More on that in a bit. I’m done with Jack for a whole host of reasons, but mostly because he has become Willow’s chief enabler by constantly covering up her crimes. He uses the excuse that it’s because Congresswoman Cain is a good friend to the WSB, but it’s clear to me that it’s because he’s now sweet on Nina.

From where I’m sitting, I get a strong sense that Jack is far more into Nina than she is him. Oh, she likes the attention and his ability to cover up Willow’s crimes, but what happens when Jack can’t help Willow? I also have a big issue with Jack seeing Nina as some kind of savior because she came to his aid when Cullum strapped Jack to a bed and nearly killed him with carbon monoxide. Jack wouldn’t have been in that position if Nina hadn’t injected Jack with the paralytic in the first place. Recently, Nina and Jack took things further and slept together.

Jack is now Team Killow all the way.

Honey, I’m Home

Back to our swamp creature Drew, who arrived home dripping lake water and mud all over the floor. Drew’s entrance was perfection. The look of shock and horror on Willow’s face had me grinning from ear to ear. Here it was. The moment I have been waiting for ever since it was clear that Drew would eventually recover from his locked-in syndrome. The daggers of hatred that Drew continually shot Willow transformed into rage as he finally faced his tormentor. It was sublime. Both Cameron Mathison and Katelyn MacMullen were flawless in these scenes. Each has incredible footage to submit next year for Emmy consideration. Both were phenomenal.

I loved the showdown between Drew and Willow, and I took pleasure in Willow’s terror as she realized that she was about to lose everything. The life she built, her kids and her freedom. Drew also vowed to take down Nina, who had just tried to murder him by shoving his wheelchair — while he was strapped in — into the Quartermaine lake. Finally, justice! I was so ready.

*Record Scratch*

Enter Jack and Nina. Literally.

With a few strokes of their poisoned pens General Hospital’s writers ruined a perfectly wonderful scene. Jack whipped out his file folder like it was a magic wand and threatened to expose Drew for campaign finance violations, and all manner of federal crimes that would land Drew in jail for a very long time. Even then, Drew admitted that it would be worth it if it meant that both Willow and Nina would be locked up too. I wholeheartedly agreed with Drew, but the writers did not. That’s when both women chimed in to reminded Drew of poor Scout. Drew quickly capitulated.

I’m so over this. Drew, Willow, Nina, and Jack too, keep getting away with their crimes and transgressions. On top of that, it appears that Drew is more hateful than ever. I feel so incredibly let down as I watched Nina and Willow cackle in glee over their victory to silence Drew.

The Golden Rule

A golden rule of good soap writing is to make sure good and justice prevail in the end. Villains can run amok, but they eventually must be vanquished. The white hat brigade always wins in the end. For over two years many viewers have been waiting and anticipating the day that Drew, Willow, and their coconspirators faced justice. But time and again, the writers have denied us this boon. At some point people are going to get tired of it. I fear that time is now. I had so many replies to my social media posts across various platforms about this twist and the overwhelming majority expressed frustration that the writers continue to drag things out.

Willow and Drew need to pay for all the horrible things they have done.

Second Chances

And before anyone comes at me with Drew suffered locked-in syndrome for months, I don’t care. He’s rotten to the core and deserved that and more. I don’t know why the powers that be at General Hospital didn’t take this opportunity to reform Drew, but they didn’t. He’s more detestable and unlikeable than ever, so he can go kick rocks right along with Willow.

The same goes for Nina. She’s no victim. She is complicit and just as vile as her daughter. The Nelle and Willow apples didn’t fall far from the Nina tree. Shoving Drew in the water and leaving him to drown is attempted murder not a mistake. Definitely not a moment of desperation as she tried to paint it. In fact, it was premeditated because we all saw Nina eyeballing the lock on Drew’s wheelchair earlier. Nina deserves to be standing right next to Willow when Willow stands trial.

Silver Linings

There was something good that came out of Drew’s miraculous recovery. Trina and Kai realized that they must do something to safeguard Wiley and Amelia. It’s true that Willow and Drew are divorcing, but if Willow follows through with her threat to take Michael to court for more time with the kids, I’m hopeful that Trina and Kai would act. I know that Willow can’t be tried again for shooting Drew, but I can’t imagine that it would go over well in family court to know that she handles her problems with a gun and two bullets in the back.

Plus, Liz knows there was something very fishy about Willow’s reluctance to help Drew communicate. Will she keep asking questions? I would love that.

Chase-ing Love

Also working against Willow is her need to have a man at her side to support her. People are warning Brook Lynn that Willow is on the prowl for a new man. Given Willow’s track record of needing rescuing and Chase’s propensity to play Knight in Shining Armor, there’s a good chance that Brook Lynn will be heading to divorce court by Fall. I’m okay with that. Very okay with that. Chase might be singing a different tune now, but it wasn’t that long ago that he was all about Willow and putting her needs ahead of his own wife. His newfound commitment to his family hasn’t been tested yet. I don’t hold out much hope that Chase will do the right thing if it is.

Plus, Chase needs to learn the truth about how wrong he’s been about everything. That man owes Michael the biggest apology for every time that Chase falsely accused Michael of shooting Drew.

Agent 99 Josslyn Jacks

Josslyn’s promise to be the best agent possible and trust Jack’s judgment is about to be tested too. I knew that as soon as those ridiculous words left her lips. Will Josslyn realize that her boss is aiding and abetting a would-be killer who tried to frame Josslyn’s own brother for attempted murder? I really can’t see Josslyn putting her faith in Brennan if it hurts Michael, and Willow made it very clear that she intends to take Michael to court for more time with Wiley and Amelia. How long before Willow asks Brennan to help with that?

Top Not Secret

So, am I to presume that Josslyn’s days of working undercover are over? I’m confused how one can be an undercover operative for a prestigious agency like the WSB yet openly acknowledge to anyone and everyone that they are a WSB agent. All it would take for the enemy is to do a Google search of Josslyn’s name and/or image and “WSB Agent” would pop up. Perhaps if she had said she took a clerical job as Jack’s assistant, it might work, but Josslyn is marching around town looking like she’s about to report for a shift protecting the president. Nothing about her is subtle.

Why So Serious?

I appreciate that Josslyn has a new life mission, but has anyone noticed that she has lost all of her personality? She’s unyielding, guarded, and cold. There’s no happiness in her. I know a few people who served in the military. They cherished time with their family and loved ones. They found joy in those special moments. Josslyn acts like family is a burden. It’s weird.

I realize that she cut a deal to free both Valentin and Jason, but her motives weren’t entirely pure. At least not with Valentin.

Love, Port Charles Style

Love is in the air. I sensed perhaps a little crush between Rocco and Scout, then there are kissing cousins Danny and Charlotte, and of course lovebirds Jason and Britt. This week, Jason and Britt exchanged declarations of love, but to be honest, they could have been ordering plain cheese pizza. There was no passion.

Reunited, And It Feels So…Blah

Maybe I’m just too demanding, but I expected more from two lovers reuniting for the first time after a traumatic event. Did they even kiss? I can’t remember because that’s how forgettable their first scene together was.

I think in Jason and Britt’s case that it’s not the actors; it’s the characters. And the General Hospital writers who have spent more time writing their breakups than their make-ups. It’s too much, especially since Britt is not a likeable character on her best days, and even less so these days. Even now, she plays victim and blames everyone except herself for the choices she has made. Would it have mattered that Britt was lied to if Cullum had succeeded in using the cold fusion weapon? No.

I know that Britt had acted under the mistaken belief that she was prolonging her life and keeping an inevitable and horrible death at bay, but it was still a choice. Ironically, had she shown a backbone and walked away, she would have quickly discovered that she was fine. Britt needs to take responsibility for that, and to stop using that chip on her shoulder as a shield to hide behind.

Until then, I really have no interest in Jason and Britt. Or anyone and Britt.

Killer Chemistry or Chemistry Killer?

I have no problem with gray character romances. They tend to be spicier and far more interesting. Weeks ago, before Nina tried to drown Drew, I thought Jack and Nina had potential. My hope was that Jack would be there to help Nina pick up the pieces once Willow was carted off to jail. Maybe even help her see Willow for who Willow truly is. Instead, Jack lost his mind and is now in league with Nina and Willow.

There’s nothing likeable about Jack and Nina. They appear to bring out the worst in each other, and they both belong in prison right next to Willow.

“The Role of Ethan Lovett”

Why, oh, why did General Hospital recast the role of Ethan Lovett before Ethan and Ava hit the sheets? What were they thinking? Not only did they change Ethan midstream, but they wrote out some of the things that made Ethan so delightfully charming. Gone is his sexy accent, his groovy fashion sense, and that twinkle in his eye. Also gone, is the chemistry between Ethan and Ava. it was like watching two strangers hook up for a one-night stand.

If Ethan and Ava couldn’t have canoodled before Nathan Dean exited the role then they should have waited until Christian and Maura shared more than five minutes of screentime together.

Put Me In Coach

Dante is crushing on Liz, and Ric can see it from 30 yards away. Elizabeth is my favorite character on the show, and I do love Ric, but I’m not on the LiRic bandwagon. Ric is better suited for someone like Ava. Those two have oodles of chemistry.

Sadly, Ric has never been one who handles jealously well. Further complicating matters is the family connection between Ric and his nephew Dante. There’s lots of soapy potential here, so the writers would be fools not to go down this messy road. Time to get the popcorn! 🍿

I See Dead Peter

Anna continues to have visions of Peter, but now Peter is urging her to kill Britt because that’s the only way that Anna can ever truly be safe from Faison’s reach. The same goes for all of Anna’s loved ones. Why she would listen to Peter — arguably Faison’s most twisted offspring — is beyond me. Then it occurred to me. Could Cullum have planted Peter as a kill switch of sorts to make sure both Cassius and Britt were killed if Cullum should fail in his mission? Cullum was certainly evil enough to have an insurance plan for revenge.

Business As Usual

I feel sorry for Anna. She’s surrounded by people who love her, but no one really is paying close attention to her. A month ago, Anna was in a French sanitarium where she had a tentative grasp on reality, and today she’s back in the driver’s seat as police commissioner and seemingly living life as usual. Except just look at her and you can see she’s not okay. She’s wound as tight as a coiled spring and constantly on edge. During several conversations, she’s practically jumped out of her skin when she suddenly had visions of Peter lurking in the background. No one says anything, and they all let Anna brush off the occasional red flags that pop up.

I don’t know where our General Hospital writers are headed with this storyline, but I don’t want Anna gunning for Britt. I’d much rather Anna set her sights on taking down Jack Brennan.

Port Charles Potpourri

Some quick thoughts about other things going on in and around Port Charles.

Attack Of The General Hospital Clones

Seriously, someone at General Hospital has a definite type. This week the role of Ethan Lovett was suddenly recast when Christian Howard took over for Nathan Dean. My first impression, “Are Cody, Detective Joe, and Ethan triplets separated at birth?” Then that guy that rattled Ethan — Pheobe’s biological father? — popped up. Quads!

A New Beginning

Serena (now played by Kelly Kruger) returned to Port Charles and revealed that she had lost all of her trust fund money to bad investments and shady people. Lucy seized the opportunity to enlist Serena’s help to gain back control of Deception. I have so many issues with this. Serena was always the best of Scott — and to a lesser degree Lucy because Lucy is not Serena’s biological mother. Yet, in Serena’s first scenes you wouldn’t necessarily know that.

I can’t stand Lucy, so I definitely don’t want to watch her corrupt sweet Serena. I want to see Serena reunite with Scott and meet her brother Cody. I’d love to see Serena explore her roots now that she’s an adult, and maybe find some romance. I definitely don’t want Serena’s story to be all about Lucy.

End of An Era?

As Friday’s (July 31) episode drew to a close, Jason told Sonny that it was time for Jason to retire. Sonny was shocked, but I’m a little more jaded. I know Jason. If Sonny is ever in trouble, all Sonny has to do is throw up the Enforcer signal and Jason will come running like the dark knight that he is. Jason could never stand by and let Sonny fall if it’s in his power to help his soul brother. Same goes for Carly. Plus, technically, Jason is still an equal partner in Corinthos Coffee which is a legitimate business. Is Jason planning to retire there too? Jason doesn’t strike me as a life of leisure kind of guy.

Danny will only be a kid for another two years, and judging from his behavior, he’s going to strike out on his own as soon as he can. Sadly, Jason’s choice is a bit too little too late. I don’t expect it to last, especially if danger comes calling for Sonny.

What General Hospital Viewers Are Saying

We love reading what other fans have to say about the show, so please scroll down to the Comments section and share your thoughts. It’s at the bottom of this (and every) column.

The Good, The Bad, and The In-Between

“Portia’s baby isn’t the first Black baby born on [General Hospital]. He is the first Black baby born ON SCREEN on GH. (Decades ago, Brian and Claudia Philips had twin daughters, but the births weren’t shown on screen.)” — Panhandlerann

“I have tried over the past few years to like Nina. I see her make progress and be a better person, and then she does something despicable. I’m tired of her taking one step forward and one step back. She doesn’t get worse, but she doesn’t get better either.” — Ryan

“It defies logic that Drew would divert money from the esplanade project to his campaign when he is super wealthy and doesn’t need the money. Furthermore, a congressman would not have any control over the money. The money is allocated and goes to the city where city officials take over.” — JDF

Viewers had a lot to say about the role of Ethan Lovett being recast

Jack Is Smitten with Nina

Before You Check Out

If you are a Beyond the Gates fan, be sure to check out Dan J Kroll’s weekly commentaries and podcast. It’s a must read and must hear for all those in love with Fairmont Crest.

Happy viewing,

Liz