The Young and the Restless can lay claim to producing some of Daytime TV’s most memorable love stories. Couples including Victor Newman and Nikki Newman, and Nick Newman and Sharon Collins Newman, and Devon Hamilton and Hilary Curtis will always resonate with fans of the top-rated soap, It’s been a while since the show has created a truly memorable duo. However, it appears that lightning has struck again with Victoria Newman and Ashland Locke.
Ashland’s (Richard Burgi) arrival on the scene came at the right time after Victoria (Amelia Heinle) split from Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson). Months ago, she was leveraging her own children, Johnny (Holden and Ryan Hare) and Katie (Sienna Mercuri), to disrupt Billy’s new romance with Lily Winters (Christel Khalil).
Victoria would call Billy over frivolous matters in order to ingratiate herself back into his life. Her tactics were transparent and beneath her. She needed a new direction. The Newman heiress got one when media mogul Ashland Locke entered her life.
The two started out talking about business as Ashland was looking to sell his business, the uniquely named Cyaxares. As Victoria angled to gain ownership of Ashland’s company (all in an effort to help Billy), something surprising happened. Victoria and Ashland started to open up to each other about their feelings. He confided in her that his marriage to Tara Locke (Elizabeth Leiner) was in trouble and later, that his son Harrison (Kellen Enriquez) wasn’t his biological child.
Victoria understood what it was like having a marriage fall apart and she has had to deal with Billy over custody issues, visitation, and making it all work with him moving on to Lily. Victoria and Ashland’s relationship went to a new level when he confided in her that he’s dying of an incurable disease. Victoria stands by Ashland, lending emotional support and friendship that’s quickly turning into more, especially now that she’s invited him into her home.
Heinle continues to shine in this story as viewers have been reminded just what a supportive partner Victoria can be. She’s retracted her claws — however, she’s still ready to pounce on adversaries when needed. After ChancComm reported on Ashland’s personal life, Victoria confronted both Billy and Lily calling them out on their tabloid tactics. It’s so much more attractive watching her play protective partner than be a manipulative ex-wife.
And let’s talk about what a find Y&R has in Richard Burgi as Ashland. The handsome, deep-voiced actor has been a favorite with soap opera fans going back to his run as Chad on Another World in the mid-1980s. He’s worked steadily in primetime TV and his supporters always enjoy seeing him return to daytime drama.
Burgi’s Ashland is a worthy addition to other Genoa City power players. He’s given new life to Victoria. This couple has everything it needs to be successful — compatibility, conflict, and chemistry. All Y&R needs to do to keep this going is either send Ashland into remission or reveal that he’s been lying about his illness.
The Young and the Restless (YR) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Genoa City, check out all the latest that’s been posted on Y&R spoilers.
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