General Hospital reignited a firestorm of debate last week by reintroducing one of its most polarizing figures into the storyline—Peter August. Even if his latest appearance

may exist only in Anna Devane’s fractured psyche, the impact on the fandom has been immediate and intense. Social media erupted almost instantly

with one burning question: when it comes to pure villainy, who is worse—Peter August or Drew Cain?

It’s a debate that cuts to the core of what General Hospital fans love, hate, and expect from their long-running soap. Both characters have crossed moral lines, betrayed loved ones, and left emotional wreckage in their wake. Yet the way they’ve done so—and how viewers have responded—has split the audience right down the middle.

Peter’s Return Reopens Old Wounds

Peter August has always been a lightning rod for controversy. Portrayed by Wes Ramsey, Peter carved out a legacy as one of the most despised villains in General Hospital history. Unlike classic antagonists such as Cesar Faison or Helena Cassadine—villains fans loved to hate—Peter struck a different nerve. His manipulation, emotional abuse, and relentless torment of characters like Maxie Jones made him deeply unsettling to watch.

Now, with Peter resurfacing in Anna Devane’s storyline—possibly as a hallucination engineered by Sidwell and Cullum—the wounds he left behind are reopening. Even the mere suggestion of Peter’s presence has been enough to send fans spiraling back into heated debate.

For many viewers, Peter represents a time when GH became genuinely difficult to watch. One fan admitted online that Peter’s last run drove them away from the show entirely for nearly a year. That kind of reaction speaks volumes about how deeply his character affected the audience.

Drew Cain’s Shocking Fall From Grace

Yet while Peter’s name still triggers strong reactions, Drew Cain has rapidly climbed the ranks as one of the most hated characters currently on the canvas. Once portrayed by Billy Miller as a complex, heroic figure struggling with identity and trauma, Drew was widely beloved. That history is precisely why his recent transformation has hit fans so hard.

Now played by Cameron Mathison, Drew has morphed into a character many viewers barely recognize. His obsessive behavior, questionable moral choices, and particularly his treatment of his daughter Scout have alienated large portions of the fanbase. Where Peter was always clearly positioned as a villain, Drew’s descent feels like a betrayal of the character fans once rooted for.

That distinction matters.

One fan summed it up bluntly online: Drew hurts more because he used to be good. Watching him spiral into selfishness and cruelty feels personal, almost like losing a friend. For many, that makes him harder to stomach than Peter ever was.

The Maxie Factor vs. the Scout Factor

A major dividing line in the debate centers on how each man treats the people closest to them.

Some fans argue that Peter, despite everything, genuinely loved Maxie Jones. While his love was twisted and toxic, there were moments when it felt real—at least to him. That perceived emotional depth softens the edges for certain viewers, who see Peter as a damaged villain rather than a soulless one.

Drew, on the other hand, is frequently criticized for his behavior toward Scout. Fans point to his controlling tendencies, emotional neglect, and prioritization of his own desires—particularly his fixation on Willow—as evidence that he’s failing in the one role that should matter most: being a father.

For many viewers, harming a child—emotionally or otherwise—is a line that’s impossible to come back from. That alone pushes Drew into “worse than Peter” territory for a significant portion of the audience.

Entertainment Value vs. Emotional Damage

Another key factor fueling the debate is entertainment value. Some fans begrudgingly admit that Peter, at times, was at least compelling to watch. His storylines were dramatic, his schemes elaborate, and his presence injected tension into every scene.

Drew’s current arc, by contrast, is often described as exhausting rather than entertaining. Viewers complain that his scenes are draining, repetitive, and emotionally grim without offering the payoff of classic soap drama. Several fans have labeled him “unwatchable,” with one notable exception: the moment Willow stabbed him with a syringe, a scene many described—only half-jokingly—as cathartic.

Peter, fans note, eventually disappeared from the canvas, giving viewers time to breathe. Drew, however, is still front and center, and that constant exposure has amplified frustration.

Actors, Writing, and Fan Loyalty

Interestingly, some fans admit their opinions are influenced by their feelings about the actors themselves. Cameron Mathison and Wes Ramsey inspire very different reactions, and those preferences inevitably color how viewers perceive Drew and Peter.

Others place the blame squarely on the writers. Drew’s downfall feels, to many, like a deliberate dismantling of a character they once cherished. That sense of loss lingers, making every morally questionable decision Drew makes feel worse than Peter’s outright villainy.

Peter was created to be hated. Drew became hated—and that distinction carries weight.

Two Villains, Two Kinds of Damage

Perhaps the most balanced take comes from fans who refuse to choose at all. In their view, Peter and Drew are equally awful—but in fundamentally different ways.

Peter represents psychological horror: manipulation, gaslighting, and emotional imprisonment. Drew embodies moral collapse: entitlement, obsession, and the slow erosion of empathy. Both leave devastation behind, just on different paths.

And that, ultimately, is why the debate is so intense. General Hospital has succeeded in creating two characters who provoke visceral reactions—and not always in ways fans enjoy.

The Verdict… For Now

If there’s one consensus emerging, it’s this: opinions may change depending on who stays and who goes. Right now, with Drew dominating storylines and Peter’s presence still limited, many fans give Drew the dubious honor of being the worse of the two.

But if Peter returns in full force while Drew fades into the background? That balance could shift in an instant.

One thing is certain: General Hospital has once again proven its ability to spark passionate debate. Love them or loathe them, Peter August and Drew Cain have cemented their places as two of the most controversial figures Port Charles has ever seen—and fans aren’t done arguing about them anytime soon.