When it comes to The Young and the Restless, every fan has their own opinion – and Soap Hub is no different. For five days, we sat and watched the good, the bad, and everything in between, and now we offer you a handy review, and a cheeky critique, of Y&R’s week that was.

The Young and the Restless: A Critic’s Week In Review

Another week of Y&R, another spotlight episode – and if the latest offering is any indication, this is a practice that needs to be halted immediately. The only thing that it managed to do was prove how uninterested the writers truly are in penning anything substantial for Jack Abbott and his portrayer, Peter Bergman…and it also proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there’s no one on the writing team who truly understands the character of Jack.

Despite his current status as a sexless, risk-averse, agony aunt, once upon a time, Jack was a virile go-getter who wheeled and dealed and so befuddled the ladies that one of them shot him thrice, and another took him as a lover…despite being married to his father! And as for his first “great love” – which would be Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott), by the way – he used her as a bargaining chip for a business deal – hardly the stuff of Harlequin.

In spite of all that rich, juicy Young and the Restless history, the former Jack the Cad has been reduced to mopey so-and-so who (supposedly) hasn’t been able to get over his love for Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford). To be honest, it’s all a bit pathetic – but, then again, that’s how Jack has been written for many a year…more’s the pity.

But Jack isn’t the only Y&R character to get this treatment. Cast your gaze upon Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes) – a once strong, level-headed, take charge, accept no bull female powerhouse demoted to a frenzied shell of her former self. We repeat: more’s the pity.

Further Y&R Musings

* Where in the world is Christian? Who watches this sweet little tyke during all of Nicholas Newman’s (Joshua Morrow) overnight stays at The Grand Phoenix. He never seems to be at the Newman Ranch, and no one else in the family ever has him; does Nick have a 24 hour live-in nanny that he’s never mentioned?

* Sasha Calle may have hung up Lola’s apron to become the Supergirl of the silver screen, but it’s truly Phyllis who deserves that title. Not only does she manage to get away with things – including attempted murder – just because she is herself, but she also managed to do, in less than an hour, what neither Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle), Victor Newman (Eric Braeden), or Billy Abbott’s (Billy Flynn) legal team or a gaggle of investigators could do: figure out who’s identity Ashland Locke (Richard Burgi) acquired, as well as when and where he did so.

The Young and the Restless (YR) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Genoa City, check out all the latest that’s been posted on Y&R spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.