A Critic’s Review Of Y&R: Resets And Parent Traps

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.

Young and the Restless: A Critic’s Take

We’re one week into 2024, and it seems Josh Griffith’s New Year’s resolution was to repeat, repeat, repeat. Well, repeat, repeat, repeat, and reset characters back to a time when they were at their least interesting.

As rollicking a ride as Aunt Jordan’s (Collen Zenk) revenge scheme was, and despite Melody Thomas Scott’s (Nikki Newman) continued commitment to excellence, the plot line was but a condensed version of Meggie McClaine’s reign of terror — which the soap actually acknowledged…to an extent. So, kudos.(?)

Lucy’s (Lily Brooks O’Briant) attempts to parent trap Daniel (Michael Graziadei) and Heather (Vail Bloom) grate just as much as Connor’s (Judah Mackey) efforts to reunite Adam (Mark Grossman) and Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan). And it’s not the least bit cute (or at all symbolic) that Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) and Summer (Allison Lanier) find themselves in the exact same position — that of “other woman.”

Well, I say that, but after Friday’s air show, at least Summer has a clear path to Chance (Conner Floyd), if he’ll have her. (Here’s how it all went down.) And that brings me to yet another pet peeve: The Josh Griffith Very Special Spotlight Episode.

Whenever a character is in doubt, you can count on Griffith to supply them an “eye-opening” extravaganza that usually possesses all the emotional resonance of finding your favorite baked good on sale at the grocery store — and the induced epiphany usually lasts about as long as said treat.

How pat that Sharon’s (Sharon Case) dream indicated that she and Nicholas (Joshua Morrow) were endgame. Why move forward when you can go back just as easily?

Y&R Musings

* How big of Nikki to admit that Nate (Sean Dominic) seemed genuine in his concern for her. Perhaps she’s FINALLY remembering all the selfless acts he’s performed over the years for her and her family. The Devil incarnate he is not.

* Perhaps Danny (Michael Damian) should practice what he preaches and set Phyllis straight once and for all, no?

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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