GH: April 2025 Discussion Thread

[carolineg]

Yeah, I don't really think Cameron Mathison is that bad as Drew.  He works better as a smarmy rich guy than he does as a kindhearted hero.  That always felt like a fake personality to me.  

[prefab1]

I actually think Drew's heel turn is an extremely smart use of Cameron Mathison's screen persona. I don't think Drew is all that different from Ryan Lavery (post-Gillian) on AMC. The difference is that GH isn't trying to pitch this smarmy, slick, self-righteous guy to us as a romantic lead. Instead, Drew likes to think of himself as a romantic lead and has sold Willow on the fantasy that they're the protagonists in a romance, but the show takes care to point out how he's manipulating her. And Cam really does have a talent for portraying all of Drew's smug entitlement and sliminess. 

[Liberty City]

Credits for Wednesday, April 23, 2025:

Created by: Frank & Doris Hursley
Executive producer: Frank Valentini
Head writers: Chris Van Etten, Elizabeth Korte
Writers: Emily Culliton, Scott Sickles, Cathy Lepard
Director: Gary Tomlin

[Vee]

I agree with all of the above. The difference is that this time last year Patrick Mulcahey was clearly using it to refashion him directly in the old school Ryan Lavery mold, except during the Gillian years- a sort of cocky, scheming, gladhanding rogue who might get his comeuppance in the mess with Nina and Willow, and seemed (IMO) poised to end up falling for his frenemy Nina, and remain a more palatable male lead with these characteristics. Now Drew is just a straight up dick. But I think Cameron does both takes very well.

Edited April 23 by Vee

[Taoboi]

Completely agree. Even when I pop in due to clips or a stray plot point, that has stood out. I love to hate Drew. And that's to Cameron and how he plays it. Going with this direction really has kept that character relevant.

[carolineg]

I think with Drew's upbringing and life experience it makes sense he would be very controlling and think he's the hero in most situations.  I do think CM gets that aspect of the character or at least it works on screen.

[Taoboi]

I agree. I found it quite telling that when people got into confrontations with Willow, they were very pointed about how he's manipulating her. At first, I didn't see what they meant, but CM course corrected and I saw it in his performance.

 

Another layer because aren't the best villains the ones who see themselves as the hero in their own story?

[ranger1rg]

I agree with you and others about CM. He plays a louse very well, and I'm enjoying him lately.

OTOH, what's with Carly going 0-100 ALL THE DAMN TIME? I don't mind Carly being Carly, but Laura Wright way too often starts yelling and screaming when she talks about someone she has a problem with. It's annoying and hard to watch.

[carolineg]

Yes.  And Willow, as dull as she's been for years, is someone who is ripe for manipulation.  It makes so much sense she'd fall for it without question.

I am pretty sure both Jason and Sonny consider themselves heroes in their own stories, so why shouldn't Drew lol. 

There was a lot of Laura Wright screeching today.  I did laugh when Jason told her to put down the knife though.  "Are you going to stab Willow?".  Lol, Steve-you are funny sometimes.

[Taoboi]

She really is. But now that I saw that confrontation with Carly where she almost got slapped, it is nice to see Willow with some fire to her. 

 

Ha! So very true. They don't have a leg to stand on (regardless of writing) so it was good to see Drew also start to be the same. 

[DRW50]

I think what hurts that version of Drew is Cameron doesn't really have the same charm he had in those early years (to me, anyway). He has a darker vibe and has ever since his later AMC days. It still could have worked, with time and care, but the character is so vocally hated by a number of fans, I don't know if it ever would have clicked with the viewer base.

I don't even know if the people who are saying it want it to happen, they just think there are clues (like where he lives, his fixation on Willow, his change in demeanor, etc.). I do wonder if it may happen just because the show could then use this to bring back the "good" Drew, last seen...I don't know when. Maybe they would say before he dumped Carly, given Korte's fondness for Carly.

[Contessa Donatella]

I would remind you of the time that something was teal but it looked black onscreen. I continue to believe that it is in the lighting not the wardrobe.

 

[Antoyne]

I love to hate Drew because of CM. He plays an [!@#$%^&*] so much better than the romantic hero good guy. I despised him for years on AMC, and only briefly saw him with Carly before Jason came back. The change in the character began under PM and I think CM has done great with the change. He and Cosgrove as two slimy politicians is just perfect.

I don’t think I want Drew to die anymore, but I would love a nice whodunnit after he gets shot or some other attempt on his life.

[Khan]

I ask myself the same question all the time: what does it say about Cameron Mathison as a person when he's more authentic as a heel than he is as a hero?

[Vee]

I have never heard an unkind word about Cameron tbh. I just think his skills are with this kind of character, be it a roguish scoundrel or someone worse (like the current Drew).