Claire may have only been on The Young and the Restless for a short time, but she’s already gone through multiple personalities. There was Nikki’s highly efficient assistant. Jordan’s little minion. Victoria and Cole’s back from the dead little girl. Harrison’s nanny. An innocent who has never even been loved. It’s confusing…unless it’s all part of the same brilliant plan.
Step One
Claire (Hayley Erin) may have faked being loyal to Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), but she couldn’t have faked being competent. We know she’s smart, and we know she knows how to get what she wants. Jordan (Colleen Zenk) taught her that particular life skill if no other. Claire faked her first personality. But what if she is also faking her second?
Act Two
The innocent act may have started for Victoria (Amelia Heinle) and Cole (J. Eddie Peck). They just got their baby back. They wanted to believe she was as pure as a newborn. So, sure, Claire played along. And then, the persona she created for her Mommy and Daddy came in handy with Kyle (Michael Mealor), too. Kyle has the emotional maturity of a toddler. Claire just mirrored him. But why would she do that (besides causing contention between Kyle and Summer [Allison Lanier] as she did on the August 8 episode)?
Times Three
Because the Claire we first met with Nikki, the one Jordan raised, is the real Claire. Someone who can bide her time and play the long game. And what’s Claire’s long game? Why, she wants it all. And she wants it now. Working for Nikki introduced Claire to the Newman hierarchy. For Claire to take over there, she has to outlast Victor (Eric Braeden), Nikki, Victoria, Nicholas (Joshua Morrow — who loves daytime), and Adam (Mark Grossman). Possibly even Summer, Johnny (Paxton Mishkind), and Katie (Sienna Mercuri), too. And precious Connor (Judah Mackey).
Meanwhile, over at Jabot, once Jack (Peter Bergman) and Diane (Susan Walters) step aside, who’s left? Ashley (Eileen Davidson) is in the looney bin. Abby (Melissa Ordway) isn’t interested. Allie (Kelsey Wang) has been banished to Paris — along with ignored Newman, Noah (Rory Gibson). Traci (Beth Maitland) is a writer, not an exec.
This just leaves Kyle. Dumb, impetuous, easily manipulated Kyle. He is just asking for a woman to come in and take over. Why shouldn’t it be his son’s sweet, innocent nanny?
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