Mother Knows Best: Why We Loved Jill’s Y&R Take on Billy Abbott

We really, really feel for Jill Foster Abbott Arkinson on The Young and the Restless. She loves her son, Billy Abbott. (Much, much more than she ever loved her older son, Phillip Chancellor III — we know this because we were there to watch her ignore him for most of his early life.) But she also sees him for who he really is, which is one of the most difficult and painful things to do as a parent.

Woman to Woman: About Billy Abbott

When Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) filled Jill (Jess Walton) in on everything Billy (Jason Abbott) had been up to over the past few weeks, Lily instinctively defended her boyfriend. But Jill wasn’t having it. This wasn’t Jill’s first time at the rodeo.

And this wasn’t Jill’s front-row seat to Billy becoming bored with something that, only a few months ago, he was claiming was the only thing worth living, then unceremoniously dumping it to pursue his new Holy Grail of happiness.

Young & Restless: A Repeat Pattern

It’s what he did multiple times with Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle). How many times did they get back together and swear undying love….only for Billy to turn around and accuse her of never supporting him, never understanding him, and flat-out thwarting his goals and dreams.

It sure feels like Lily’s turn to receive the same treatment, doesn’t it? Lily doesn’t believe that’s the case. But Jill knows better. And she’s had enough.

Understanding Billy Abbott

She loves her son, but she is tired of enabling him to run roughshod over the people he claims to love. She didn’t discipline him much as a child and teen, but maybe she can make up for that now.

Victoria wasn’t able to make Billy straighten up and fly right, even when it comes to their children. And it looks like Lily isn’t having much luck, either. It’s time for Jill to step in. And the fierceness Jill showed in her scenes with Lily makes us excited for a front-row seat!

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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