A Critic’s Review Of The Young and the Restless: Disservice & A Saving Grace

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 Ponders

My goodness, The Young and the Restless sure is doing their cast/characters all kinds of dirty.

“Teriah” are in a storyline that’s playing out predominantly off-screen, save for a scene here and scene there where one of the pairing pops in to update somebody in their obit on the latest goings on.

Sourpusses Lily (Christel Khalil) and Daniel (Michael Graziadei) have clearly been earmarked for a most ill-conceived, lethargic “will they/won’t they” situation which will seemingly consist of Lily — who only just ceased pouting over Billy (Jason Thompson) giving Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) the time day — pouting over Daniel giving Chelsea the time of day.

Meanwhile, Jack (Peter Bergman) is being written as a hypocrite at best, and a complete idiot at worst. Diane (Susan Walters) has proven herself to be no better and no worse than Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) ever was, and yet Jack finds her deceit delightful and Diane worthy of his love and devotion. Heck, the moron even wants to put a ring on. To quote the great, Homer J. Simpson, “D’oh!”

And what can one say about Phyllis and Victoria (Amelia Heinle)? As of late the latter has been written as nothing more than the embodiment of a Human Resources manager’s nightmares, and the former has had her life imploded for no other reason than so she’ll be putty in the hands of Big Bad Jeremy Stark (James Hyde) — soap fans want to see conflict arise naturally either from the character themselves or through interaction with their fellow fictionals, not manufactured wholesale just to propel the story.

My Phyllis, the Phyllis of old, wouldn’t allow herself to devolve into a blubbering drunk mess, certainly not in response to her brood taking exception to her meddling — and when is Ole Red ever not meddling? — and certainly not over the likes of Diane. She’d have done run that bitch over and dumped some sea creatures in her hospital bed for good measure.

Also, this Lily vs Devon (Bryton James) battle continues to grate. Ditto the loggerhead Newman bros.

The only thing I find remotely appealing on Young and the Restless these days is whatever is transpiring between Ashley and Tucker (Trevor St. John), and that’s pretty much solely due to the majesty that is Eileen Davidson.

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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