On The Couch: Let’s Dig Into Nick Newman’s Young and the Restless Psyche

Ever since Sally’s paternity test came back announcing that Adam is the father of her baby on The Young and the Restless, fans have been wondering why Nick Newman wants to be with a woman who is carrying someone else’s child. And this isn’t the first time, either.

Young and the Restless Couch Time For Nick Newman

There were questions about Summer’s (Allison Lanier) paternity when Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) was pregnant. There were questions about Christian’s paternity when Sage was pregnant. Even Sharon (Sharon Case) lied about Faith’s paternity for a while.

Yet Nick (Joshua Morrow) keeps going back to that well. And we have to ask ourselves: Why? Time for Nick to lie down on our Soap Hub couch and for us to get to the bottom of his obviously complex issues.

Y&R: The Replacements

It could be that Nick is just arrogant enough to think that, whether or not he is a child’s biological father, he can do a better job than whoever actually is. That does sound like something Victor’s (Eric Braeden) son would believe.

Rescue Me, Nick Newman

Or maybe Nick has a hero complex. He sees a damsel in distress, he needs to swoop in and save her in her moment of need. It makes him feel good about himself. It makes him feel he has something to offer. Because, deep down, Nick feels he has nothing to offer.

That sounds like something a son raised by the almighty — and always right — Victor could definitely come to believe. When your father keeps telling you he’s the best, you’re going to start fearing you’re the worst. And what better way to disprove that than by rescuing needy women and helpless children? Nick is basically a human lifeboat.

Y&R: Not It

But, when it comes down to it, we suspect the reason Nick loves being with women who are pregnant with another man’s child is that it gives him an easy out. If the baby isn’t his, he is free to leave at any time, and he isn’t the bad guy. It’s a “Get Out of Jail Free” card.

We’ve lost track of how many times Nick has tried to distance himself from his father, only for Victor to reel Nick back in. He’s accepted, at least subconsciously, that he can’t get away from his dad. But he can get away from various kids. As long as they’re not really his. (Remember how he adopted Sharon’s daughter, Cassie, too?) So when it comes down to it, Nick should blame Victor. And so do we.

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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