A Critic’s Review Of The Young and the Restless: A Roundup of the Best and Worst of 2022

Unlike some, more cowardly competitors, we here at Soap Hub are never shy when it comes to giving The Young and the Restless its lumps when it proves grating or downright frustrating, nor are we backward at coming forwards with praise when it’s due – moi especially.

In that vein, below you’ll find a roundup of the staff’s Best and Worst of Y&R followed by my ever-cheeky, always heartfelt endorsement or rebuttal…how surprised you must be to hear that I don’t always agree with my colleagues.

The Young and the Restless — Soap Hub’s Best and Worst of 2022

Best Coupling While It Lasted: Adam Newman/Sally Spectra — across the board.

Dullest Couple: Allie and Noah — across the board.

Best Return: This is where dissension enters the ranks. Alina Adams — poll analyst extraordinaire and authoress of Soap Hub’s original text serial Go On Pretending — and Senior Editor Sherrie E. Smith offered up Susan Walters [Diane Jenkins], whilst Managing Editor Rachel Dillin cast her vote for Michael Graziadei’s Daniel Romalotti. As for yours truly, I’m making it a tie between an in-the-flesh — as opposed to a face on a computer screen — Jess Walton and The Young and the Restless’ most recent returnee Michael Damian [Danny Romalotti].

Worst Return: No one quibbled with Rachel’s suggestion – Trevor St. John [Tucker McCall]. If anything, I think the actor’s name should also be put forth for Most Incongruous Casting.

Best Story: Chelsea Lawson’s (Melissa Claire Egan) slow descent into madness — across the board.

Biggest Waste Of Talent: Rachel picked Sharon Case [Sharon Rosales], though according to Alina the dishonor belongs to the intertwined trio of Melody Thomas Scott [Nikki Newman], Michelle Stafford [Phyllis Summers], Eileen Davidson [Ashley Abbott]. I say I see no lie told.

Biggest Whiner: Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson). No competition.

Most Intriguing Story: Johnny Abbott’s (Paxton Mishkind) Reaction To Chelsea *Alina

Most Personal Growth: Chelsea and Least Personal Growth: Devon Hamilton (Bryton James) and Abby Newman Abbott Chancellor (Melissa Ordway) — courtesy of Rachel. Methinks Phyllis is the poster child for Arrested Development.

Further Y&R 2022 Musings:

Biggest Sad Sack: Rory Gibson’s Noah Newman. If ever there was a real-life Eeyore…

Least Affecting Death: Ashland Locke

Much Ado About Nothing Award: Oh where to begin…Dominic Many Names’ leukemia. The battle for baby Dominic that wasn’t. Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) revenges himself against the family. Ashland Locke’s (Robert Newman) death. Nate Hasting (Sean Dominic) and Victoria Newman’s (Amelia Heinle) takeover of Chancellor-Winters.

Worst Staged Sex Scene: Abby and Devon. Right smack against a wall. On a staircase. How was either one of them comfortable?

The Young and the Restless 2022 Report Card: C. While it’s a welcome sight to see so many veteran actors/characters front and center, driving major storylines, it would mean so much more if Y&R would, even if, on occasion, reward viewer loyalty will some much-anticipated payoff rather than continually taking the path of least resistance.

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

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