A Critic’s Review of The Young and the Restless: On Triangles and Off the Wagon

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. Here, we lead with optimism. Unfortunately, we don’t always get what we want. So here’s a review of Y&R’s week that was — including, dive bars, jumbled texts, one-upwomanships, and “I choose me”-type moments.

What I’m Feeling This Week: Danny Drama

With soap couples, I often ask, who are we rooting for? Oftentimes, it turns out the couple fans root for is very different from the couple shows want fans to root for or want us to root for.

But with the Cricket (Lauralee Bell, who talks to Soap Hub here), Danny (Michael Damian), Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) situation, I’m taking a page out of Danny’s book and choosing myself. Also, I will be calling Christine, “Cricket” from here on out because Danny seemed to regress and continually called her Cricket for the week. Maybe because the two women in his life had him bothered and bewildered, flustered and freaking out.

Normally, I guess I would root for Cricket and Danny. There’s history there, but it’s not nearly as toxic and chaotic as Phyllis’s history is with Danny. But the way all three are being written right now, I’m finding it difficult to root for any configuration of this triangle. I get why Cricket hates Phyllis. I get it. But, you know, stop 1) getting yourself sucked into Phyllis’s delusions, and 2) coming at everyone with a superior tone.

However, my biggest beef is with Danny, because, for me, nothing Phyllis says makes sense. Does she actually believe the words that she utters? And does she really even think that she’s changed when she’s behaving this way with Danny? Who knows.

But with Danny, he sees how Phyllis is acting yet he still thinks the two can be friends. And it doesn’t even feel like he sees anything he’s done as wrong or inappropriate. It’s all Phyllis who kissed him, right? Nope, he kissed her back. More than once. Or it’s Christine who doesn’t want him to be friends with Phyllis. I don’t know if she’s ever said those words, but that doesn’t sound like her. Ultimately, it all came off like he was blaming the women and accepting none of the responsibility for this nuclear cloud of toxicity that exists among the three of them.

I’m hoping Danny will extricate himself from this trio of terror. But on top of that, maybe both Phyllis and Christine can turn their attention to other men who are more worthy. I thought Danny was it, but he’s showing me he’s not.

Other Y&R Thoughts

What Else I’m Feeling: Jack (Peter Bergman) and Victor (Eric Braeden). I’m not going to go too into it, because I’m sounding like a broken record every week. But Jack and Victor are now acting as reluctant allies. The truth is out, Victor knows Jack is Nikki’s sponsor. And the comments that get slung between these two formidable rivals are great. Having to go to that dive bar to drag Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) home was the best, too. I feel so bad for Nikki because she’s losing the battle right now. But seeing Jack and Victor spend quality time together was everything. Also, what was the name of this dive bar? Was it The Empty Glass or was I just hearing things?

Key Conversation #1: Diane (Susan Walters) and Phyllis. It’s funny when the women of Genoa City talk to Diane. Because they throw everything at her about how awful and evil she is. Yet, they’ve done things that are as bad or even worse than Diane. Loved Diane breaking the news to Phyllis that she’s now co-CEO with Jack at Jabot. Having said all of that, as much as I do like Diane, I see why these other women are always on guard with her.

I would never ever comfortably sleep around her. I’d have to keep one eye open at all times. Because even though she’s sorta on her best behavior right now, I feel she’s waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. And this whole Nikki spending a lot of time with Jack situation, may be just that moment where she pounces. I hope I’m wrong.

Key Conversation #2: Devon (Bryton James) and Daniel (Michael Graziadei). Daniel is in my doghouse right now. His cheating ways are fresher, and Lily (Christel Khalil) doesn’t even know yet. He’s making up excuses as to why he won’t fly out to Lily to tell her. But it’s all for her sake because she can’t handle this news right now. I did like Devon calling him on all this…at first. Of course, Daniel threw his cheating on Amanda (Mishael Morgan) back in his face. And Devon backed down a bit.

Chop, Chop: Ashley (Eileen Davidson) and Tucker (Trevor St. John). Their multiple heated exchanges in person, on the phone, by osmosis, or whatever. It’s time to move this story along. Tell us what’s really going on, please!

Too Much in Too Short a Time: It’s like the show has gone all in on Tucker — it feels like he’s on 24/7. What’s frustrating about that is I can’t ever tell if he’s sincere. As far as I’m concerned he never is. Take this sudden love for Audra (Zuleyka Silver). I feel like it’s all an act.

Burning Question #1: How much work will Abby (Melissa Ordway) be doing as part of the Chancellor-Winters board? Because she’s giving up management of Society to Tessa (Cait Fairbanks). Will she be at CW full-time then? By the way, I’m excited to see Tessa in this Society universe.

Burning Question #2: What does Nate (Sean Dominic) feel about Audra? He needs to clarify because I can’t tell if it’s strictly professional or something more personal.

Brothers Doing the Work: Nick (Joshua Morrow, who just celebrated a birthday) and Adam’s (Mark Grossman) conversation over the drink was nice. I like what he said about loneliness and how he’s always felt that way. But he also said he does it to himself. And while that’s partly true, I don’t think it’s the whole truth. But, of course, it’s always about Adam being the one to have to improve, make a change, compromise, and back down. It’s to the point that everybody tells him how bad he is and how wrong he reacts to every situation that he’s doing it to himself as well.

On My Radar: This whole Devon/Billy (Jason Thompson) clash that is brewing at CW. How bad is that going to get?

The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS. For an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.