The Young and the Restless Recap: Flashbacks Full Of Neil Winters

The Young and the Restless recap for Friday, April 26 features the soap finally giving the fans what they’ve been clamoring for — flashbacks!

While Neil and actor Kristoff St. John’s death has been honored beautifully since the news first broke in Genoa City on Tuesday, the one thing viewers had been wanting were classic scenes! It’s what soaps do best, after all.

Unlike primetime or movies, which either hire new actors to play younger versions of beloved characters, or pop on some wigs, makeup, and shoot through a very, very blurry filter, when soaps invoke a memory, they can actually show it! Which is what YR did:

Temporary Truce
At Neil’s memorial service, Jack (Peter Bergman) and Victor (Eric Braeden) sparred — but in a friendly, actually smiling way — about who discovered Neil. And we got to see all of it in flashback.

Sharon (Sharon Case) and Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) comforted Lily (Christel Khalil) together without sniping at each other. And we got to see a makeup-free Nikki after her alcoholic intervention.

We saw Devon (Bryton James) before he shaved his head — and when he and Neil decided to overlook that minor Hilary (Mishael Morgan) incident and go into business together. Because family comes first.

Life Goes On
Meanwhile, Jill (Jess Walton) was delighted that Billy (Jason Thompson) and Victoria (Amelia Heinle) were back together, and unhappy to hear that Cane’s (Daniel Goddard) great sacrifice of quitting his job didn’t achieve the reunion with Lily he was hoping for.

Cane asked Lily to stay at home, but she insists on moving out. She left their kitchen and didn’t look back.

Ashley (Eileen Davidson) and Traci (Beth Maitland) also say their good-byes, while Malcolm (Shemar Moore) reconnected with Nate, who was his stepson at one point.

Victor took Nikki to his office, but made her furious when he says he has to leave town again — but wouldn’t tell her where or why. The Young and the Restless (YR) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes.