Soap Hub Performer of the Week for The Young and the Restless: Jess Walton

With all due respect to Amanda Sinclair’s background in criminal law, the best support Billy Abbott has in terms of a solid defense as he faces charges related to Chance’s shooting is his mother Jill Abbott! Two-time Daytime Emmy-winner Jess Walton infuses Jill Foster Abbott with a combination of passion and reason that cuts right to the point.

Jess Walton — Welcome Home

Walton may not get to play Jill in front of a judge to defend Billy (Jason Thompson), but her recent scenes have earned her Soap Hub’s YR Performer of the Week honors.

Jill came back to town for Chance’s (Justin Gaston) wedding to Abby (Melissa Ordway). While the ceremony and reception were conflict-free, Walton got to dig into some more dramatic material when she met with Amanda (Mishael Morgan) and Lily (Christel Khalil) to discuss Billy’s case.

Frustrated by Amanda’s more methodical approach, Jill quipped: “Oh, goody! Then, maybe we could make a color-coded graph…or we could start looking with someone who has a vendetta against my son! You do realize that Billy’s being railroaded, don’t you? He didn’t do it!”

Later, at Society, a fearful Jill, the reality of the situation sinking in, suggested to Lily that she encourage Billy to get on the company jet and flee the country to Samoa. On one hand, it’s not the wisest call, but, on the other, Jill knows what it’s like to be accused of a shooting she didn’t commit (remember when she was the prime suspect in Victor’s shooting?). Lily did her best to assure Jill that Amanda was the right person to represent Billy.

Next, Jill met with Billy one last time in a scene that reminded viewers that no one is immune from Jill’s blunt talk. “You idiot,” Jill said to her son, adding that she knows Billy would love to put Adam in a deep, dark hole — but she knows he didn’t do it.

Ironically, it was Jill who ended up getting on a plane. She left the side of one son in order to go to the side of another — Phillip (Thom Bierdz), who lives in Australia and developed an infection after appendicitis surgery. “I love you more than life itself,” Jill told Billy, as she held herself together.

Actors don’t embrace each other as much given today’s COVID-19 safety protocols, so when Jill, starting to break down, said to Billy “no hugs,” she convinced us that it was because Jill was afraid of falling apart as opposed to a performer awkwardly not hugging someone when the moment called for it.

While Walton’s off the canvas for now, her returns are always welcome. Here’s hoping we see her often in 2021. There’s no one better to pound some sense into the residents of Genoa City! The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for air times.