A Critic’s Review of Young and the Restless: A Bad Case Of Apathy

When it comes to 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

The more I watch The Young and the Restless in general, and Jack Abbott’s (Peter Bergman) mourning of Keemo Abbott (Phillip Moon) in particular, the more I realize that I just plain don’t care. I don’t hate what I’m seeing. I don’t love what I’m seeing. I’m just…bored? Is that the right word? Perhaps indifferent is a better descriptor. What I do know is that apathy is not a condition that a soap opera fan should be suffering from.

When it comes to Jack’s story, my feelings might have something to do with the fact that Keemo was virtually ignored by The Young and the Restless – and his father – for two+ plus decades. It’s just too hard for me to accept the fact that now, all of sudden, Jack actually cares…and that he cares this much.

And surely I’m not the only one who noticed how bored and over it Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) looked throughout 90% of her scenes opposite Bergman. If an actor can’t stay engaged in the story that they’re playing, how is the audience supposed to stay engaged watching the story?

Another conclusion that I’ve drawn from watching The Young and the Restless, is that someone – and I won’t call anyone out by name – on the writing staff is currently suffering from a serious case of manpain…and it shows…it really shows.

In addition to Jack cursing the heavens over his and Keemo’s inability to reconnect, there’s Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) managing to make even Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) desire to merge Chancellor Industries and Hamilton Winters all about himself; there’s Noah Newman (Rory Gibson) skipping down a self-destructive path and throwing all kinds of not-so-subtle attitude Tessa Porter’s (Cait Fairbanks) way; there’s Rey “My Wife Won’t Spend Every Waking Moment Focused Solely On Me” Rosales (Jordi Vilasuso), and don’t even get me started on Devon “I’m Doing Everything In Power (Short Of A Custody Trial) To Keep Dominic Away From His Rightful parents” Hamilton (Bryton James).

Further Y&R Musings

* Despite my above attack on The Young and the Restless’ tendency to focus on manpain, I do want to praise the show for the scenes featuring Chance Chancellor (Conner Floyd) in therapy. Any opportunity to destigmatize men – or anyone for that matter – seeking professional help should be taken.

* If you were to ask what my absolute favorite moment was from last week, I’d happily tell you it was seeing those two flashbacks of Jack and Luan Volien (Elizabeth Sung). Sure, I know it doesn’t bode well to say that the best part of Y&R’s entire week was flashbacks to the 1990s, but there ya go.

* Lauren Fenmore Baldwin (Tracey Bregman) putting Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) on blast was a personal highlight of mine. I like a take charge, guns a blazing Lauren.

* Please, please, please tell me that Victoria Newman Locke (Amelia Heinle) has seen the light of day and that whatever document she had Ashland Locke (Robert Newman) sign doesn’t really imbue him with the power he so desperately craves. Here’s hoping that Vick didn’t just hand over a key to the kingdom just to spite her kin.

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.