In the January 23 episode of The Young and the Restless, Mariah’s unresolved grief over Dominic resurfaced in the most dangerous way possible. Alone and emotionally frayed, she became vulnerable to Ian’s influence as he reframed her history as unfinished business, setting the stage for a decision that could devastate Abby and Devon’s family.
Key Takeaways
- Mariah’s emotional connection to Dominic resurfaced, leading to guilt and isolation.
- Ian exploited that vulnerability by framing her sacrifice as something she had been forced to give up.
- Abby and Devon remained unaware that Mariah was being pushed toward a dangerous choice.
What Happened on Y&R
Mariah (Camryn Grimes) spent the day alone in a motel room, consumed by thoughts she couldn’t silence. Her time as Dominic’s (Ethan Ray Clark, who is newly cast in the role) surrogate replayed in fragments, no longer framed as a loving sacrifice but as a loss she never truly processed. The memories lingered, heavy and unresolved, pulling her further inward.
Ian (Ray Wise) inserted himself into that isolation with deliberate calm. He didn’t challenge Mariah’s emotions or dismiss her pain. Instead, he validated it, positioning himself as the only person who truly understood what she had given up. Each reassurance subtly shifted into pressure, reframing her grief as proof that something had been taken from her.
When Mariah reached for her phone and was about to call Abby (Melissa Ordway), she stopped herself before saying a word. The silence that followed only reinforced Ian’s claim that she no longer had a place in Dominic’s life, deepening her sense of displacement.
Why it Matters: Ian Ties Mariah to Abby and Devon
Across town, Abby and Devon (Bryton James) continued their day unaware of the emotional storm building around their son. Dominic remained safe, loved, and fully integrated into the family Abby and Devon fought to protect.
That contrast mattered. Ian wasn’t focused on Dominic as a child in the present, but as a symbol of Mariah’s past. By pulling her attention backward, he stripped away her ability to see the reality of Dominic’s life now. What Abby and Devon viewed as a resolved chapter, Ian reframed as an open wound.
The danger wasn’t physical. It was psychological. Ian’s manipulation relied on Mariah’s empathy and self-doubt, convincing her that stepping away from Dominic meant abandoning something essential.
The Fallout: Ian Turns Memory Into Manipulation
By the end of the episode, Mariah stood at a crossroads shaped almost entirely by Ian’s influence. While she resisted taking action, the damage was already done. Her memories had been weaponized, and her sense of self blurred with obligation and guilt.
If Ian continued to control the narrative, Mariah risked making a choice driven by emotional coercion rather than clarity. The threat extended beyond Abby and Devon’s family to Mariah herself, whose hard-won stability now hung in the balance.
