On The Couch: Is B&B’s Li Finnegan a Bitter Shrew Or A Wounded Soul?

“Warm and fuzzy” are not the words you would use to describe Li Finnegan on The Bold and The Beautiful. Her interactions with Poppy and Luna show just how fierce and controlling she can be. Even when speaking to Finn, Li doesn’t mince words when telling him exactly what he should do in any given situation. Does this accomplished doctor need to soften up and loosen the reins for her own benefit – as well as everyone else’s?

On The Couch: Li Finnegan

Despite her professional success, Li (Naomi Matsuda) has had more than her fair share of trauma in her life. Her magnetic sister, Poppy (Romy Park) almost ruined her career by having an affair with a married doctor at the hospital they all worked. Later, Li found out her husband, Jack (Ted King) had an affair with Sheila (Kimberlin Brown).

Oh, and the madwoman is the biological mother of her son, Finn (Tanner Novlan). Sheila then almost killed Li by slamming into her car and pushing it off a cliff into the water, as the car dramatically burst into flames.

Diagnosis Time

If Li suffers from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) from just one of these crises, nobody would be surprised. But, Li soldiers on, taking multiple catastrophes in stride. What she doesn’t do – and perhaps understandably so – is relax or let her guard down.

She tries to control her world as best as she can by controlling her family members, whether it’s trying to force Luna to leave Forrester Creations or telling Finn how to behave in his marriage with Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood). (Read more about Li’s behavior here.)

Look Within

Although her motives are relatable, Li needs to realize that we can’t control anyone else’s behavior, only our own. Li may need to learn the art of acceptance and moving on. Otherwise, these past traumas will continue to dictate her life and hurt her.

Dare we say the “f” word? Forgiveness. Not that Li should condone the bad behavior of others, but rather lighten the heavy psychic load on her own back. It’s also not necessarily fair of her to carry a grudge towards her niece Luna, who seems more like an innocent bystander.

That said, whether Li should forgive Poppy remains to be seen. The free-spirited sibling certainly comes across as sweeter and lighter, but that could just be a surface appearance. We haven’t gotten to really know this character yet, nor the secrets that seem to be bubbling underneath her world – particularly when it comes to Bill (Don Diamont). Maybe Li really does know her sister better than anyone and is right to watch her back?

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.

The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS. For an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.