The Young and the Restless: Soap Hub’s Daytime Week In Review

Everybody’s got an opinion…especially where their favorite daytime drama is concerned – and Soap Hub is no different. For five days we sat and watched the good, the bad, and everything in between, and now we offer you a handy review, and a cheeky critique, of The Young and the Restless week that was.

The Young and the Restless: Week In Review

YR has a bad habit of latching on to an idea that works and then milking it for all it’s worth. One of their favorites? The character-centric episode. It used to be reserved for heavy hitters – hello Eric Braeden yelling at an imagined version of Victor’s father played by Eric Braeden – or the holiday season – think Billy’s (Jason Thompson) It’s A Wonderful Life special or Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) drunk in a church talking to her dead mother.

Then it just kind of became the norm. Billy’s had two subsequent star turns. Nikki’s had a second. Ditto Victor. Abby (Melissa Ordway) became the latest recipient of a very special show…but did anyone ask for it?

We get it. This woman received some particularly devastating news. News that no one wants to receive themselves. News that, quite frankly, no one should ever have to hear. But facts are facts. Abby will never be able to bear a child.

And instead of processing the news with her husband, Abby chose to curl into a ball and weep, allow Victor to come in to ride rough shot over both her and Chance (Donny Boaz), and then she abandoned Chance in order to privately mourn at the Grand Phoenix. The Grand Phoenix. The hotel run by her sworn enemy. REALLY? Was the G.C.A.C fully booked?

And while Abby was having a pause, Chance had to deal with Victor who had the temerity to claim that as Abby’s father he had a right to do whatever he felt best for Abby and the situation. Not to beat a dead horse, but we ask again REALLY?

But back comes Abby, all rested and relaxed and gung-ho to start exploring other options available to her and Chance…and all without asking him if HE’S fine with all the goings-on and if HE’S ready to just jump in and find a different avenue. Like father, like daughter.

Further YR Musings

* Is Billy and Lily’s (Christel Khalil) relationship growing on anyone else? It’s nice to see how the two of them are rubbing off on each other. She’s grounded him; he’s bringing out her spontaneous side. What isn’t working is Victoria’s (Amelia Heinle) role in the proceedings. Desperate is not a good look for you Vic.

* We get that Adam (Mark Grossman) has a real problem with boundaries. And taking other people’s feelings into consideration. And just being an overall decent human being. But are we really expected to believe that he would ever think that Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) would be happy to see Sharon (Sharon Chase) darken her door?

* One minute Elena’s (Brytni Sarpy) happily planning her future with Nate (Sean Dominic), and the next she’s fantasizing about Devon (Bryton James). Does this woman even know what she wants out of life?

* Whenever Nikki mentions how she raised two children, don’t you just want to stop her mid-sentence and remind her that the ones who really need the credit are Miguel (Anthony Pena) and the teachers at all those fancy boarding schools?

*And Gloria’s (Judith Chapman) back! Aren’t you glad? We are. The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes.