Soap operas thrive on villains. They are the characters who stir the pot, ignite the conflicts, and give audiences the kind of drama that keeps them glued to their screens. Over the years, General Hospital has delivered plenty of unforgettable villains—Jerry Jacks with his suave cruelty, Franco with his unpredictable darkness, and Nicholas Cassadine with his cold and calculating nature. But none have quite matched the sheer impact of Cameron Mathison’s transformation of Drew Cain into one of the most universally despised figures in the show’s history.

When Mathison stepped into the role of Drew Cain, fans expected a continuation of the character’s familiar identity—a misunderstood but ultimately noble man with a circle of friends who trusted him. Instead, Mathison flipped the script. His version of Drew wasn’t just flawed; he was destructive. He became, in every sense, a human wrecking ball in Port Charles. Alliances crumbled, relationships collapsed, and his actions left devastation in their wake.

The brilliance of Mathison’s performance lies in the intensity with which audiences responded. Unlike Franco or Jerry Jacks, both of whom carried an undercurrent of charisma that made them polarizing—loved by some, hated by others—Mathison’s Drew was met with near-universal disdain. Viewers didn’t root for him, didn’t justify his decisions, and didn’t excuse his betrayals. They loathed him. And that, paradoxically, is what made the portrayal so memorable.

In the world of daytime drama, hatred is not always a bad thing. In fact, it can be the mark of an exceptional performance. A villain who is loved and hated simultaneously can be compelling, but a villain who unites the audience in outrage is rare—and powerful. Mathison’s Drew did exactly that. He became the character fans couldn’t stop talking about, not because they wanted him redeemed, but because his presence made every storyline more explosive.

For longtime viewers, Mathison’s Drew recalled past greats who brought darkness to Port Charles. Billy Warlock’s AJ Quartermaine delivered a sinister and twisted take on the character, while Tyler Christopher’s Nicholas Cassadine leaned into cruelty and unforgiveness that made him chilling. Yet even these memorable performances carried shades of complexity that invited sympathy from some corners of the audience. Mathison’s Drew had no such buffer. His portrayal was stark, unforgiving, and ultimately unforgettable.

Turning Drew into a villain also carried another layer of shock value. Unlike Franco or Nicholas, who always flirted with darkness, Drew had been seen as one of the “good guys.” He was a soldier, a brother, a father figure—someone fans wanted to trust. To twist that foundation into something cruel and unrecognizable was not only bold writing, but it also gave Mathison room to flex his skills in ways audiences hadn’t anticipated. It was a gamble that paid off.

Week after week, viewers tuned in not to see if Drew would be redeemed, but to see just how far he would go. Would he betray another ally? Would he tear down another relationship? Would he inflict more chaos on a town already plagued with secrets and scandals? The unpredictability of Mathison’s Drew made every scene a must-watch, and the reactions online spoke volumes. Fans didn’t just dislike him—they united in their disdain, creating a collective experience of shared frustration that ironically made Drew one of the most compelling figures on the canvas.

That’s the mark of a great villain. They don’t just cause trouble for the sake of it. They drive the story forward, force other characters to grow or unravel, and give the audience an emotional anchor—whether it’s fury, disgust, or outrage. In this regard, Mathison’s Drew may go down as one of the most effective villains General Hospital has ever produced.

It may be years before the soap delivers another villain who captures the same level of universal hatred. And when that happens, comparisons will undoubtedly be made to Mathison’s Drew Cain. Love him or hate him—and let’s be honest, most fans hated him—Cameron Mathison delivered a performance that carved out a place in GH history.

Port Charles has always been a town where heroes and villains collide, where lines blur, and where redemption is sometimes possible. But for a time, Drew Cain stood as a character who defied redemption, who tore down everything in his path, and who became the villain audiences could never forgive.

And maybe that’s why he’ll be remembered as one of the greatest.