A Critic’s Review of Young and the Restless: In Pursuit Of Good Story

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

I don’t ask much of The Young and the Restless – not anymore, anyway. But would it kill this show to have its storylines make a little sense?

Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters) must hold some kind of record because I can’t think of another soap opera character who’s managed to survive not one, but two autopsies.

Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic), who’s been a surgeon most of his professional career, and the Chief of Surgery at Memorial Hospital as of late, is now going to serve as COO of Hamilton Winters? Really? I could maybe, maybe buy him as a COS, but not a COO. Experience? Qualifications? What are those things?

And would Neil Winters really want to see the company that he co-founded with his adopted son be swallowed up by another corporation NOT owned by family? Devon Hamilton (Bryton James) and Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) understand that she is merely a CEO that can be hired and fired at either Jill Abbott (Jess Walton) or the board’s whim, yes? Do the writers at The Young and the Restless understand that?

And then there’s Ashland Locke (Robert Newman). I’ve written at length at how his storyline, as it’s currently playing out, makes no sense, so I won’t harp on it now…but it’s SO BAD.

Further Y&R Musings

* As Soap Hub’s own Michael Maloney so succinctly pointed out to me, Rey Rosales (Jordi Vilasuso) must be a saint to play sounding board to the woman who tried to kill him.

* I’m afraid I have to disagree with one of my colleagues…but before I do, please allow me to direct you to her excellently penned piece that I’ll be discussing. You’ll find it here.

Now, what I take umbrage with is the premise that, “Nate Moving Back Into The Penthouse Is A Mistake.” It’s not at all a mistake. On any other soap opera, this would surely generate tons of conflict which would translate into good soapy drama.

Just imagine. You have formerly warring cousins living across the hall from each other, one of them dating the very same woman who came between in the first place. That’s a good story.

The problem is that this is The Young and the Restless. Y&R doesn’t do good drama anymore. They do improbable, impossible stories like Diane’s return or Nate being remotely qualified to handle Hamilton Winters’ finances.

* Normally I’m not a fan of smarmy, mean-spirited Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson), but I really, REALLY needed to him to say, “I told you so,” to Victoria Newman Locke (Amelia Heinle). Somebody, anybody needs to tell that woman, “I told you so.” It’s the least she deserves.

* The only good that has come from Diane’s ludicrous resurrection is the knowledge that Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) is only a murderer twice over, and not thrice.

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.