What Happened to Elena on The Young and the Restless?

Last week, we asked what happened to Sharon Newman on The Young and the Restless. This week, we would like to know where in the world Dr. Elena Dawson is. She’s been MIA for months. There hasn’t even been a hospital story that’s required her presence. Much like Sharon, Elena is someone people can turn to for friendship, help with healthcare issues, and a shoulder to lean on. Yet, currently, she’s not involved in any aspect of Genoa City life. Is she even in town?

Paging Dr. Elena Dawson

This isn’t the first time we’ve asked this question. We noticed and shouted out the character‘s absence a few months ago. So consider this Soap Hub checking in to see if anything has changed. Unfortunately, it hasn’t. In fact, Elena is absent more than ever before.

Dr. Elena Dawson (Brytni Sarpy) continues to be an underutilized character with so much potential. At one point, Y&R seemed to flirt with the idea of her waging a game of vengeance against Victoria (Amelia Heinle), who carried on an affair with Elena’s then-significant other Nate (Sean Dominic — who marked a milestone recently).

Remember her and Audra (Zuleyka Silver) cooking up that podcast idea of interviewing JT (Thad Luckinbill)? That would have certainly caused Victoria pain after what he did to her. The end result is Elena’s potential payback scheme went nowhere. Honestly, we wish she could have gone the payback route much differently.

Fast forward, and Elena hasn’t appeared in a single episode in 2024. What gives? Brytni Sarpy is an actress we’d love to see drive story even though her character doesn’t have many connections to the canvas.

Audra and Sally (Courtney Hope) are forming a friendship. What about adding Elena into the mix? Those three women could be a formidable trio. Well, as long as she doesn’t have to be the one to listen to their problems with their men, Tucker (Trevor St. John) and Adam (Mark Grossman), all the time. She’d need to have her own viable storyline or man that she could complain about, too.

Speaking of friendships, she has one going with Mariah (Camryn Grimes) and Tessa (Cait Fairbanks). Unfortunately, those two are also underutilized so nothing is happening there. Maybe there’s an arc that could involve the three of them? (Find out the latest Y&R Comings & Goings here)

Everybody on Y&R seems to play Red Rover with Genoa City businesses. They are hopping back and forth from one company to another. And there are family alliances taking place at these company board meetings. Elena successfully took over for Nate as the medical influencer for Chancellor-Winters before jumping to Newman with him. Can she head back to CW? Or better yet, team up with Sharon (Sharon Case) at Cassidy First Technology.

Elena’s natural online presence and winning personality can help her gain fame when she goes viral. And it can also become a source of drama and trouble when she’s mysteriously followed around town. The possibilities could be a stalker, someone from her past, or a new relationship.

Do we even know much about her past? One of the issues with Elena is that she has no familial connections currently in town. So there’s no reason to invite her to the Newman anniversary party or enlist her to join the board of CW.

Previously, Elena had a couple of family connections, but nothing that stuck or generated any real, lasting story for her. Can something or someone from her past come back to haunt her? Who can she turn to for help? Can she count on Nate? Or can she turn to someone new or unexpected for support and help? Doesn’t Genoa City need a new cop?

Plus, so many daytime characters are currently taking stock of their lives and wondering if there’s something or someone better out there for them. Elena needs to do some soul-searching and figure out the next phase of her life because the one she’s currently living isn’t working.

We hope the powers that be can bring Elena back into the mix because we miss her.