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You know that feeling you get when a once-promising character gets so dark and goes so far off the deep end, you realize they’re heading for a date with death? Well, that’s where we are with General Hospital’s John Cates. While we once enjoyed seeing him and Carly banter and were looking forward to an Ava/Cates teamup, things have gotten so bad, we kind of just want him gone.

And today’s episode all but confirmed that he soon will be — likely in the bloodiest way possible.

This didn’t hit us out of nowhere, though. Agent Cates has been going increasingly rogue, even from the FBI. And his attempts to haul Kristina in ticked off not just Alexis, Sonny and the rest of the family, but the prosecutor and judge who had to listen to his flimsy rationale for trying to throw her in a cell.

Then today, he tried hauling Kristina in, threatening to take her, Alexis and Molly if she didn’t cooperate. And that “Your family can bury their dead without you all” line was just downright, over the top cruel. If we were him, we’d make a run for it if Alexis starts making for her car.

Ava meanwhile, was twisted into giving a statement against Kristina as Cates stood over her, though she did admit to Trina at least that he was forcing her into it. And Sonny? Well, he’s furious. The show ended with him confronting Ava, and if she throws John under the bus like we think we do, his time is just about up. (You can read all about Cates’ latest misdeeds in our recap of today’s episode.)

Even if Sonny doesn’t take him out (admittedly, killing an FBI agent would be a huge risk, even for him), Agent Cates has gone so far down a dark path, it seems there’s no way out for the character but death. Maybe he’ll die during a scuffle with someone. Maybe he’ll grow so unhinged and obsessed that he’ll try to take Sonny out himself, forcing the don to act in self defense. (And keeping him out of trouble.)

Maybe Anna will put him down if he flips to vigilantism when he can’t twist the law to what he wants. After all, she’s already sure that he’s behind Ava’s accusations that Kristina tried to take her out.

No matter how it’s done, though, we just can’t see a way for him to survive. What are your thoughts? Can he get out of this? Or would you rather just see someone take him out at this point?