General Hospital
Who is ‘General Hospital’s’ Ryan Paevey Playing if Not the Real Nathan West? Theories Continue as Viewers Await a Story Twist
When Ryan Paevey returned to General Hospital on-screen this past September as a very much alive Nathan West, viewers were thrilled to have him back to the ABC soap opera after a long seven-year absence.
Now, after some of interesting looks shot back and forth between Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) and Nathan while inside Lulu’s (Alexa Havins Bruening) house on the Friday, December 19 episode, isn’t it slowly becoming apparent that this can’t be the real Nathan West? In fact, Jack emphasized to Lulu she better watch her back, because Nathan is, after all, the son of the notorious Cesar Faison.
However, Lulu fired back that Cesar shot and killed his own son and is nothing like his father. Or, is he? The story of Nathan’s return has been in slow burn mode for awhile, and GH fans are awaiting to see if there is finally a big reveal. Is Paevey playing the real Nathan, a doppelganger, a twin no one knew of before, Cesar Faison himself with a prosthetic mask, or even Peter August with plastic surgery or a prosthetic mask?
Photo: ABC
All of these theories had originally been bounced around. Add to that, this version of Nathan can’t account for where he was the last 7 years of his life and he arrived in Port Charles just after his sister, Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) came back to town after fleeing the Five Poppies Resort in Dalmatia.
When Paevey made his highly-anticipated return to GH, he spoke with TV Insider, where he shared one of the reasons he decided to come back to daytime, and what lies ahead. “We’ve got some fun stuff planned. We’re going to stir the pot. I wouldn’t come back for something vanilla,” explained Paevey.
The current story conundrum is; when will viewers be clued into what this guy is really up to? Could Nathan be working with Sidwell (Carlo Rota), and be the one who kidnapped Anna Devane (Finola Hughes)? Is Nathan, or whoever he is, be the one who is actually taunting her with the initial “C” in the book she opened while in captivity, The Cyrstalline Conspiracy, written by P.K. Sinclair? Longtime viewers know that P.K. Sinclair was the alias Faison used when he showed up on the scene in the early 90s as a novelist writing adventure stories. To top it off, when Anna opened the inside cover of the book, it was signed, “For my muse — C.” She promptly freaked out.
Courtesy/ABC
Previously, Nathan’s sister, Britt also received a letter signed by “C” with a note about making sure she took her experimental medication to control her Huntington’s disease symptoms. When Britt first laid eyes on Nathan when he was hospitalized at GH from injuries sustained in a supposed car crash, she was cold and distant towards him, as if she knew something, that his guy was an imposter, but since then, Britt hasn’t had any interaction with Nathan to make one think they are not sister and brother. But something tell us, this is all about to change, unless GH altered their original story plans?
Meanwhile, we are going to watch Lulu be duped by the guy, fall for him romantically, while her best friend, Maxie (Kirsten Storms) and his supposed wife, continues to lay in a coma in Boston, too? Stay tuned.
So, what do you think is going on here? Will Ryan Paevey be revealed to be playing someone other than Nathan? If so, who? Are you more intrigued by his return story after Friday’s episode … or do you think it needs to kick into high gear with a big reveal now, or do you believe he is just good ole’ Nathan? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.
I think C is for Cassidine and Charles Shaughnessy is going to return. We will also find out he faked Britt’s huningtons prognosis
Nathan has all of the memories he should have from before the shooting, and he has the scars from the bullet holes in his chest. And he has the correct DNA & fingerprints. So that would seem to be proof enough that he is actually Nathan West.
Which of course leaves the question of where he was for 7 years, and why he can’t remember anything between the day his daddy shot him in the chest, and the day he woke up in GH after being found in a wrecked pickup truck.
The only thing that makes any sort of sense is that Nathan had some sort of “alternate personality” controlling his mind, and it was probably stored on a chip in his brain. More than likely that chip got knocked off line when Nathan wrecked his truck, and that’s why he doesn’t seem to recall any of that missing time now. It’s also possible that the chip “shorted out” on it’s own, which is what caused him to wreck his truck in the first place, since one would imagine if you’re entire brain rebooted while you were driving, it might be hard to keep a vehicle on the road.
If indeed such a chip is present, it’s only a matter of time… and possibly another bump on the head… that might reactivate it and switch Nathan back to whoever he thought he was for all the time he was missing. Whether that was a digital copy of his father or just a programmed flunkie for the Legion of Dumb, well that remains to be seen.
Just speculation, but they may have slowed the progress of this story in hopes of Kirsten returning in the near future. It’s highly coincidental that Nathan returns shortly after his wife goes into a coma.
The writers have been showing Nathan to be a caring brother to Nina (with some meaningful interaction with Britt).
Key question – why hasn’t anyone requested Nathan’s grave to be exhumed???
I’ve been asking that question since “Nathan” came back! It would only make sense yo exhume Nathan’s grave and find who or what, if anything is buried there!
Yep! Same with Britt’s!
I didn’t watch GH during the Nathan era; but, I think this guy is an imposter who is working for Sidwell. This, “I got shot by my father and I don’t know where I’ve been for the last seven years” is too fishy for me. Even Britt, who I don’t trust either, has a better story. I don’t think he is Cesar Faison back from the dead. I don’t know the other characters mentioned. He’s definitely not what or who he claims to be. I’m shocked he got back on the police force with the giant gap in his life. I’m sure he’s another no good nick.
It’s a slow burn mostly because of the Drew and Willow mess, the Sidwell stuff, the “Harriet the Spy” stuff with Josselyn, and the Ava, Alexis, Ric, Molly and Kristina stuff, so there’s not much time or attention to detail to flesh out the storyline just yet.
Get rid of the long boring story of Drew and Willow.
It is almost six months per the July fireworks.
The writers made him arogant. Evil. Lack of respect.
Hateful character.
If anyone would know if Willow had D I D
Disorder. It would have been. Our wonderful actress Erika. Slezak.
Victoria Bucan on.
Enough of Willow cult worship seeking person.
Enough of Chase protecting her. Poor Brooklyn.
Nina’s fault this went on for so long
Hate Brennon. Stop the insanity please g h writers
Enough of these dragged out storylines with no resolution in site. Not sure what the production team at GH think they are accomplishing except to frustrate viewers to the point of making them stop watching. The Drew storyline is so bad people are just fast forwarding through those scenes (me included). Bring back the Gloria Monte type of storylines that were fun and exciting.
I am really hoping it is the real Nathan. Brain washed or something that can be undone.
I’m just getting seriously tired of all this. I’ve watched GH almost for as long as I can remember. Please let it srop.
I am tired of Cameron Mathieson playing Drew Cain as a monster. He was one of the nicest people in Port Charles. Willow could have a second personality because she was raised in a cult and the leader wanted her to be his wife. Her mother turned out not to be her mother. That could cause someone on a soap opera to have a personality disorder. I wish someone would shoot Drew again and get it over with. They are never going to tell who shot Drew anyway, and this is not Dallas. I like Jocelyn with the WSB agent. Now he’s gone. I haven’t watched the show in over two weeks. If the storyline keeps being drawn out, I don’t care if I watch it again. And why bring Brad back? I was so glad to see him leave. Don’t make Nathan someone he isn’t. Keep him the nice Nathan. He has always been! I know you have to have villains, but enough is enough! Someone had to be standing behind Laura and Sonny to get pictures like they had! That was a really bad idea in my opinion. Sidwell is disgusting as is Lucy Coe. A new storyline with Ronnie would be wonderful! During the Christmas season, why does everything have to be so sinister? Bring back the fund that was in General Hospital! I am also tired of Jack Brennan! I don’t like Lucas with Sidwell’s son! He’s had enough broken hearts because of Brad! Why did you bring him back? Are you trying to get people to stop watching General Hospital?
So right
Is Ryan Peavy playing z Faison?
Nathan is a clone! Created in the 5 poppies lab by Britt! She never thought he was viable.. hench her horror when he showed up in Port Charles smirking! The real Nathan West is really dead. Port Charles police should have exhumed his grave to see who or what is in it!
A clone would not have Nathan’s fingerprints, or the bullet holes in his chest
Why can’t someone clone Dex?
Dex was a clone of the moss in Carly’s kitchen.
Ha ha!!
Faison
NO MORE MASKS!!! That soap trope is tiring. End all of it by showing a clinic responsible for them, i.e. how they’re made and work to fool everyone so well even by the voice. It’s tiring, irritating and so 90’s. Just stop. End of. ITV’s Emmerdale (Britbox U.S.) is currently the soap to watch. With Cells and her adoptive son Ray pushing 16 year old April into drug dealing and prostitution, trying to frame Moira by partnering with her against Kim Tate’s land grab AND forcing Paddy’s father into modern day slavery by kidnapping him along with others to work on the farm. Then there’s nosy parker Victoria whose brother married Aaron and went to prison for killing her rapist, only to have Victoria’s half brother John may Aaron and turn out to be a serial killer psycho who liked to bring his victims near death and then try to revive him. He escaped by 6 people involved in the murder of Ruby’s molesting father(who turned out to be be her daughters father (poor Caleb, that really was devastating for her husband. She lied. He married her thinking it was his daughter. ) One Aaron’s second husband left Robert got out of prison, they reunited and Robert’s second husband turned out to be a psycho too. But not a bad one. Only because he found out psycho Emma who he slept with gave birth to his son Lewis. But he left before Lewis found out. I can’t wait for John and Kev to come back. Especially Kev. He’s a hoot. He involved that knucklehead Liam in an armed robbery and it was hilarious. There is so much going on on this show. No masks. No gimmicks. No scene music unless it’s the radio or used for a particular scene here and there.
The latest ratings are out for the week of October 26-30, 2026 and the big takeaways include: that CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates was separated by only 23,000 viewers behind third place (of the soaps) General Hospital! For the last several weeks, Beyond the Gates has been closing the gap on this year’s winner for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, and continuing to best GH in the key demos.
According to the latest Nielsen ratings breakdown from Soap Opera Network, the final week of October brought Beyond the Gates 1.790 million on average tuning-in and the show set a season high in total viewers. Meanwhile, General Hospital hit a new season low! The long-running ABC soap had 1.813 million for the week, and once again the series did not go over the 2 million mark.
Meanwhile, in the key Women 18-49 demo, Beyond the Gates was firmly ahead of GH with a rating share of 0.21, while General Hospital had 0.17 rating share.Then, in the key Women 25-54 demo, Beyond the Gates was once again ahead of the ABC soap with a ratings share for that demo at 0.30 while GH came in with 0.26.
Photo: CBS
MORE BY THE NUMBERS
In addition and comparatively, Beyond the Gates +22,000 viewers week-to-week, and had the largest gains in viewership year-to-year in daytime TV with +267,000 from this in 2025.. However, General Hospital seems to be going in reverse. The show was down -56,000 viewers week-over-week and down -22,000 year-over-year .
BEYOND THE GATES
Let’s take a look at some of the storylines that had people tuning-in to Beyond the Gates during the ratings week:
Hayley (Marquita Goings) attempted a massive shocker regarding her pregnancy and tried to use it to extract money from Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). Although, Bill saw right through her game, he demanded a paternity test, and made it clear he has no intention of raising the child—planning instead to pay her off to take the baby and leave. Meanwhile, Hayley confided her plan to her cousin Randy (Maurice P. Kerry).
Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) and Naomi Hamilton (Arielle Prepetit) clashed over Jacob’s ongoing investigation into The Impaler, causing significant strain in their marriage. At the same time, Smitty (Mike Manning) considered taking matters into his own hands—including potentially heading to Mexico for evidence—while Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) worried about what comes next.
Photo: ABC
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Over at General Hospital for the ratings period, the story served up included:
Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) teamed up to investigate what really happened to Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). Later, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) leads them to Jack’s dead body.
Jude (Wil Traval) dropped a bombshell claim to Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn); that he is Phoebe’s father, while Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) signed their divorce papers.
Then, Danny caught Rocco (Finn Carr) and Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarski) sharing a kiss, plus the shocking return of Heather Webber (Alley Mills) capped the week.
Now the questions become; without having much promotional synergy in the ABC day-part to draw more eyeballs it is not helping but hurting General Hospital. It seems Beyond the Gates is also a benefactor of a one-two-three punch of CBS soaps (Y&R, B&B and BTG) and promotion.
However, that still doesn’t take away the fact that Beyond the Gates is close to besting GH in all ratings category as they go head-to-head in some markets across the country.
So, are you excited to see Beyond the Gates climb in the ratings? Are you concerned for General Hospital? Do you think they can stave off Beyond the Gates in total viewers or will the upstart soap overtake them in the next ratings report? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Antonio Sabáto Jr., the former Jagger Cates of General Hospital and GH: Night Shift, and the former Dante Damiano of The Bold and the Beautiful has issued his first public statement since the incident involving his son, Jack’s arrest in Alaska for a fatal hit-and-run.
Jack is the son of Sabáto Jr. and Oscar-nominated actress Virginia Madsen, and according to court documents obtained by KTUU Jack, was allegedly driving a white Chevy Tahoe when he hit and killed Carl Simmonds, 42, near an intersection in Anchorage around 5:35 a.m. on Monday, November 9.
The reports indicated that Jack fled the scene — but later decided to called the cops to say he hit “something” that “suddenly appeared in the road” while he was “doing late-night DoorDashing.”
Photo: NBC
Now, Antonio has taken to his Instagram breaking his silence on the situation, sharing, “At this time, my family and I are navigating an extremely sensitive and deeply personal matter.”
He added, “As a father, my love for my children remains unconditional, and my priority is the well-being of my family. We ask that the public and members of the media honor our privacy during this difficult time and keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.”
The soap alum concluded, “I also wish to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the gentleman who tragically lost his life. My thoughts and prayers are with them as well. We sincerely appreciate your compassion, understanding, and respect for the privacy of everyone affected.”
Jack Sabáto was arraigned in court on Tuesday, November 10 with bail set at $5,000, and a no-driving order and the potential of $5,000 penalty fees if he fails to attend future court appearances.
Antonio is the father to Jack, 34, daughter, Mina Sabato, 24 and son, Antonio Sabáto III, 15.
This is a developing story. You can check out Antonio’s official statement below.
So, let us know your thoughts on this tragic hit-and-run, which claimed the life of another man, and Antonio’s statement, via the comment section below.
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Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Ava’s (Maura West) daughter Avery looks quite different, starting on today’s November 9 episode of General Hospital. That’s because GH has made Avery into a full-blown teenager and the role is now being played by actress Alya Bullington.
In her debut, the Tennessee native was thrown into the deep soap waters with Daytime Emmy winners, Maurice Benard and Eden McCoy (Josslyn). Bullington weighed-in to TV Insider about her first scene which featured Avery overhearing a fight between Sonny and Josslyn.
She explained “It was something I have never done before, I did not have a lot of experience with the screaming and the crying stuff, but I got my first script, and I was like, ‘OK, this is a huge opportunity to learn so much about how that stuff works and to become this character that I have never even tried playing before.’”
Photo: ABC
THE TEENAGED VERSION OF AVERY WILL HAVE A LOT TO CONTEND WITH
Speaking of working with McCoy, Bullington shared, “She’s incredible. I remember her just laughing and making jokes on set, and then the minute that they started taping, she just locked in and she cried immediately, and my first thought was, ‘I want to be able to do that.’
The soap opera newcomer added, “I think she just inspired me so much because she is so great and she can just lock into whatever character she wants to in the moment.”
The character of Avery was born back in 2014, but as recently as the October 8 episode of General Hospital, the character was suddenly referred to as a teenager. This is the second young female character in recent months to be aged up following the casting of Kayden Brenna Tokarski as Scout Cain.
As for her take on Avery and what’s ahead, Alya said,“She’s emotional, and she’s curious, and she’s a really fun person to play because so much stuff is happening in her life. I think she’s kind of confused about what’s happening and what to believe.”
So, what do you think about General Hospital making Avery a teenager? Are you excited to see the conflict between Sonny, Ava and Avery now that they have aged up the character? Share your thoughts and welcome Alya to GH via the comment section below.
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Inches Closer to ‘General Hospital’ in Total Viewers
B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
Antonio Sabáto Jr. Breaks Silence on His Son’s Arrest for Fatal Hit-and-Run
DANCING WITH THE STARS: A Shocking Elimination on Grammy Night Leaves Ballroom Silenced
Y&R’s New Head Writers Share Vision for Genoa City: Contemporary Homage to Bill Bell, Mixing Heightened Escapism and Grounded Reality
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Episodes From New Co-Head Writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, Begin to Air
‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos
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THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
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