A Critic’s Review Of The Young and the Restless: Amped Up The Comedy & Drama

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: The Critic Offers HIS Take

It’s that time again readers. After weeks of columns disparaging its plot construction and the sacrificing of character for story, I’ll be accentuating The Young and the Restless’ varied positives – but have no fear, the snark will be ever-present.

Trevor St. John [Tucker McCall] and Eileen Davidson [Ashley Abbott] continue to be this show’s MVPs. I literally cannot get enough of them. I say allow their snarktastic alter-egos to actually marry and then let daytime’s most functioning dysfunctional couple run amuck [shades of Jill and that delightfully deceitful Colin and Gloria and Jeffery].

Though the Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) storyline continues to make zero logical sense [how is it that Diane gets to fake her death and let a PLETHORA of innocents get accused and/or arrested and charged and not ole Red? I mean, seriously, how many people were suspects in that woman’s non-murder? How many times was there an arrest? Neither the GCPD nor the D.A.’s office have ever really been good at their jobs] it eked out boffo performances from Michael Mealor [Kyle Abbott] and Allison Lanier [Summer Newman Abbott].

Their stinging confrontations throughout the week were some of the best work from either actor and both should be commended for their tremendous efforts.

As for Cameron Kirsten’s (Linden Ashby) reign of terror, I have to say that I was stunned by the slightly graphic depiction of snuffed Borgnine. One does not expect such images from soap operas in general and soap opera like The Young and the Restless in particular…and I have to issue kudos.

Here I was thinking the doomed kitty cat would go out in the same fashion as he was introduced — that is, as a “never seen” — but Y&R went where TV and film usually fear to tread.

I also couldn’t help but giggle at the complimentary scenes of Victor (Eric Braeden) aggrandizing his security team’s prowess and Cameron returning to his hotel room fresh off chloroforming, stripping, and imprisoning a guard on the Newman patriarch’s payroll.

Further Y&R Musings

* How refreshing was it to see Sharon (Sharon Case) insist on clueing in all relevant parties to Cameron’s probable targeting of her and her loved ones and anyone who previously wronged him? No more lone wolfing it for this lady. She’s [FINALLY] learned her lesson.

* Since I’m more or less keeping it positive, I’ll be refraining from making much comment on Chelsea’s (Melissa Claire Egan) and Billy’s (Jason Thompson)…I want to say, storyline….[as much as worrying about the performance of a video game or how needed one must be to feel validated can be considered storylines.]

* Though it doesn’t seem to be a popular opinion amongst you readers, I’m still finding Audra (Zuleyka Silver) to be a hoot. I’m getting young Amanda Woodward vibes, and I’m here for them.

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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