Soap Hub Performer of the Week for B&B: Tanner Novlan

Dr. John “Finn” Finnegan isn’t the first groom to have to play peacemaker between his bride and his mother however, nobody has had to deal with the particular dynamics that Finn is juggling on The Bold and the Beautiful. For his performance as a man torn between his beautiful wife and his psychotic mom, Soap Hub bestows Performer of the Week honors upon Tanner Novlan, who plays Finn.

Tanner Novlan – Performer of the Week for B&B

Finn (Tanner Novlan) wasn’t thinking about just being a son or a groom on B&B when Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) collapsed in his home with Steffy Forrester Finnegan (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood). He went into “doctor-mode” and saw to it that his birth mother got immediate care. While Finn was able to bring medical knowledge to the situation, he was fearful that the woman who gave him life and whom he’s just getting to know might be in mortal peril.

Certainly, Steffy fell for Finn in part because he’s a kind, caring, and moral person. He dropped Steffy as a patient knowing it would be unethical to date someone he was treating. That made Steffy fall for him even more. On prescription pad, er, paper, that is, Finn knew he should have just walked away from Sheila – but he couldn’t. He’s a good son.

Taking A Stand For His Mother

Finn phoned Steffy to let her know Sheila was in the hospital. He stumbled over his words like a husband who failed to let his wife know he was going out drinking with the guys. Finn took a stronger stance with Steffy when he shared with her, “She’s my mother. And I don’t want to lose her.”

Later, Finn (Tanner Novlan) apologized to Sheila, saying his words to her may have caused her to collapse. He knows everything that’s been said about Sheila is true but he can’t lose the woman he’s wondered about his entire life especially since she might be ill.

Playing Mind Games On Finn

Before Steffy could get to the hospital, Sheila did a number on her son – thanking him for staying by her side. Finn was nearly hypnotized by his sociopathic birth mother’s gaze and words. He calmly tried to present Sheila’s side of the story to Steffy. The fashion mogul may not be a doctor like her step-sister Bridget (Ashley Jones) but she easily diagnosed Sheila’s condition — she’s faking it!

“She’s alone and scared in a hospital all by herself,” Finn informed Steffy of his birth mother’s predicament. “I can’t just abandon her.” Finn maintained that Sheila truly might have a medical condition going on but deep down he likely knows that he’s just coming up with excuses so he can keep her in his life.

Sheila threw in Steffy’s face that Finn shot her a heart emoji back and when Steffy confronted her husband on that he didn’t need to answer – the look of guilt that filled his face confirmed that he indeed had sent it. As the tension continued, Finn maintained that an emoticon wasn’t truly communication. He got confused as a “weary” Sheila begged for a relationship with him as Steffy insisted that they walk away from the naughty nurse for the sake of their family.

B&B’s Finn Faces The Truth

Sure, to some extent, Finn’s being hoodwinked – but he’s being taken in by the best. Sheila Carter has been conniving and pulling the wool over people’s eyes for three decades. She plays “poor me” to the hilt around Finn, making it very difficult for him to choose between her and his wife and son, Hayes.

Finn was forced to examine the other side of the issue when Sheila’s tests results came back and she received a clean bill of health. Despite Sheila pulling quite the guilt trip on Finn, he announced that he had made a decision. Finn firmly let Sheila know that he was grateful to have met her, but that he couldn’t see her anymore or let her see her grandson. Finn pointedly referred to his birth mother as “Sheila” – not “Mom” – to cement his position.

B&B challenged Novlan to play a great deal in last week’s episodes. He was both a loving son who was willing to keep an open mind but when he also stood up as a strong husband and father and did what was right for his family, keeping his character’s integrity along the way. Sheila, of course, is not going to stop until she gets what she wants. However, she may find it more difficult in the future to sway Finn given how strong Tanner Novlan plays his character.

The Bold and the Beautiful (BB) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Los Angeles, check out all the latest that’s been posted on B&B spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.