Ryan Paevey: Does the return of General Hospital’s Nathan have a twist that ties in with All My Children’s Project Orpheus?

Ryan Paevey’s comeback as Nathan West on General Hospital has sparked both excitement and skepticism in Port Charles. Shot by his father, Cesar Faison (Anders Hove), and left for dead seven years ago, Nathan reappeared recently with no memory of anything since that fateful day. While the emotional weight of his reunion with loved ones is undeniable, fans aren’t entirely convinced he is who he claims to be. Could Nathan’s resurrection be hiding a darker truth? Theories are spreading fast, and some viewers believe the show is setting up a twist worthy of soap history.

Fans brace for the twistiest of twists

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On X, formerly Twitter, @DanteIsAVibe voiced what many are thinking: “I’m very confused because Nathan certainly seems like Nathan. But I can’t help but feel a major twist coming. #GH.” That suspicion lit up the General Hospital fanbase. @nobleheartsx wrote, “I hope they aren’t pulling a Duke/Faison on us when Faison was masquerading as Duke. He literally looked and sounded like Duke only for it to be revealed as Faison in a Duke mask.” Duke Lavery, of course, was played by veteran soap star Ian Buchanan.

@xotonironixo speculated, “I feel like he’s been frozen literally the last 7 years, then defrosted and mind-controlled. I feel like C used him to keep tabs on Britt [Kelly Thiebaud] and Nathan isn’t aware yet that he's been mind f****d and won't be til they activate him.”

Others pointed to classic soap tropes. @Puma9141 mused, “I hope it’s a brainwashing rather than a brain transplant.” Meanwhile, cloning theories cropped up too, with @Harriettehe posting, “Cesar cloned Britt and Nathan and inserted their memories. Britt and Nathan are really dead. Cesar will use the clones for his own purposes.” But @JanieBGroovy kept it short and ominous: “Ruh Roh. #GH.” That was accompanied by a hilarious animated gif of Fred removing a bad guy’s ghost mask in an episode of Scooby Doo.

The possibilities kept spiraling: General Hospital fan, @tiz71, suggested, “He was put on a plane that passed some sort of time/space anomaly, like that show Manifest. Anything but another mask, mind control, memory mapping, or surprise twin story.” And @JulieAnn0720 had a hope of her own: “I hope so. And I hope Spinelli is the one to figure it out.”

The Project Orpheus connection

General Hospital's Anna, Nina, and Nathan. | Image Source: ABC

Some General Hospital fans believe Nathan’s return may not just be another Port Charles twist, but a callback to All My Children’s infamous Project Orpheus storyline. On X, @LindaBr40310878 wrote, “Nathan’s return definitely has Project Orpheus written all over it 🤔🤭 #GH.” Project Orpheus was a secret medical program in which Dr. David Hayward (Vincent Irizzary) used suspended animation and stem cells to revive the dead, which some fans now believe could explain shocking resurrections in the shared soap universe.

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That theory sparked its own wave of speculation. @TifCannon replied, “I hope it gets Nina and Valentin back together!!! I miss them as a couple!!” @scorpiodevane was emphatic: “Yes. Yes it definitely does.” And @MrVanGriffin looked beyond General Hospital entirely: “If they ever finally brought David Hayward to GH. Idk why this hasn’t ever happened. He’s a doctor and does scientific experiments. Port Charles needs him 😂😂😂.”

Others were stunned by the potential history lesson. @BEMitch86 said, “The memory of some of you....🤯.” @JonCamden48772 admitted, “I’ve been calling for the return of this unfinished AMC storyline to come to GH forever! Please make it happen @GeneralHospital.”

As the speculation snowballed, fans kept weaving connections. @soaptopias reminded everyone, “#NathanWest was a badass 💥💥🙌 Maxie’s in trouble ‼️ #GH #GeneralHospital #ABC #RyanPaevey.” And perhaps the most poignant came from @Soapsy6, who summed it up with, “no words were pronounced yet so much was said in this scene #GH.”