A Critic’s Review of The Young and the Restless: Sympathy For The Devil

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

Misplaced though it may be, I have real sympathy for Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) – though I have to wonder if that’s what The Young and the Restless scribes intend. I’m assuming that is the case, considering how unsympathetic they’re scripting everyone in Adam’s immediate orbit, sans Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope), of course.

Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle), I can understand. Adam has been the Adam to her Fallon since the day they met. But Nicholas Newman (Joshua Morrow), a Steven if there ever was one, I don’t really get. Especially in light of the progress the two men have made in recent years. [And kudos to those of you who pegged the Dynasty analogy!]

And then there’s Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). I have long wondered why every writing regime insists on writing this man as so deliberately obtuse.

Of course, Adam doesn’t appreciate being used and abused. No, he isn’t going to thank you for it, and, no, he isn’t just going to roll over and take it. I can’t help but feel if the Newman kids had just replaced Zapato, they’d all be better off.

Victor’s shtick has well and truly worn thin. But when The Young and the Restless finds something that it likes…

Someone whom I have no sympathy for is Ashland Locke (Robert Newman). I think that I’m supposed to feel something for him, especially during that scene where he tore his hotel room to shreds. Instead, I merely laughed at the ridiculous spectacle.

And that’s not to say that Newman is a bad actor – though in the future he should leave a little scenery unchewed; some of his fellow castmates may get hungry. I just couldn’t muster any pity for a man who had opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to make a clean breast of it and refused to do so every single time.

I, also, had to really evaluate my feelings for Imani Benedict (Leigh-Ann Rose) after her reaction – or lack thereof – to the news of her mother’s seizure. While I sympathized with the character last week when word of Naya’s poor health first reached her and she seemed genuinely devastated, this go-around she seemed less dazed and confused and more interested in using the update to her advantage where Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) was concerned. I’m going to be keeping an eye on that one.

Further Y&R Musings

* I continue to despise Billy Abbott’s (Jason Thompson) storyline – if you can even call what TPTB has handed Thompson a storyline.

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.

For more about what’s happening on your favorite soaps, join the conversation over on our Facebook Page, check out our Twitter feed, or look for an update on our Instagram stories. See you over there!