The Young and the Restless Weekly Blog!
Jack/Sharon/Nick/Phyllis: Well, with the signing of the divorce papers - finally - I guess Jack's out of it. His conversation with 'Thick Nick' at the bar was interesting on a few levels - it helped define the situation that Nick is in, but also illustrated what it is that makes the character Jack so complex - just when you think he's smarmy and totally selfish, he delivers the real, honest heartfelt truth to someone! As for the Nick/Sharon/Phyllis triangle - for me, it's solidly in the category of 'dragged-out' - I don't really care which woman the guy ultimately ends up with - no matter who Nick is paired with now, his credibility is out the window! I just want the characters to move on and do something different. Here's hoping that if he does wind up back with Sharon that he won't spend another six months flip-flopping!
Noah/Eden: It seems that lippy Noah missed out on a much-needed punishment or two in his formative years! Ah, but teenagers are prone to blurting out hideous things to their parents in the heat of the moment! I think that the Eden and Noah story is pretty realistic, and while I'm not bouncing around the room in glee when they're on screen, I'm pretty comfortable with their chemistry and find myself rooting for them - at least they're not completely miserable like everyone else!
Kevin/Amber/Michael: The whole scenario in the boxcar, with Michael and Kevin punching Jeffrey out, was just a fraction too weird for me. I get that the writers were trying to show Jeff getting his 'just deserts' so they could justify keeping the character around, but I couldn't get a handle on where Michael was coming from - was he actually going off the deep-end too, or just pretending for Kevin's benefit? Creepy. As I've said before, the basis for this storyline was just too dark for me, but the acting has been superb. I would be remiss if I didn't mention Michael crying as he tried to talk to Kevin in the jail - he brought me to tears too. All of the actors involved in this storyline have done brilliant work - I just wish the writers hadn't felt the need to go to such horrible dark places with this storyline - it crossed the line out of the realm of 'entertainment' for some viewers. I'm also interested to see what will happen with Kevin now. In spite of Greg Rikaart's phenomenal acting, I sense that viewers aren’t going to be pleased with a dragged out recovery.
Neil/Karen/Tyra/Devon: Finally, we get to see some satisfying fallout from Neil's adulterous romp with Tyra - and so begins the era of 'Neil the Heel'! Tell me this - how does Neil go from being so deliriously happy with Karen that he wouldn't listen to any naysayers and pushed ahead with the wedding with full confidence, to sneaking off behind Karen's back to not only have sex with Tyra, but to contact the lawyer and have Ana taken out of their custody as well?! He actually told Tyra that it doesn't matter to him if he is putting his marriage on the line! Who is this man, and what has he done with Neil Winters?! The good news? The story has me riveted, and the acting of Nia Peeples, who is mistakenly being let go, was absolutely stellar this week! The other real treat has been the delightfully self-righteous Devon showing up all over town to say the things to everyone that we've all wanted to say! Don't you just love his smirking and straight-talk?! So satisfying in this situation! Still waiting for Lily to find out - hope it doesn't take another two or three weeks…
So, I'm on board with the great acting, but still not happy with some of the stories themselves. Yes, it's still about the balance for me, and the show still seems rather maudlin overall. I'm missing Paul the last week or two, but glad to see the return of Colleen, Lauren, and the Winters family - and so excited about the breaking news that David Lago is set to return as Raul! Now that's ending the Rant on a high note!
- Candace Young
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Restless Rant
Week of April 6 – 10:
At this point, with The Young and the Restless, I find myself wishing that if they could only get the great acting together with a great storyline – at the same time – the show would be incredible. The issue? Scenes featuring top-notch acting are mired in either dragging, or overly dark, storylines! After last week’s thrilling tease of the snarky and comic rehearsal dinner and the Billy/Chloe wedding, topped by the great cake fight, now, a week later, I find I’m back to longing for that great balance of family, friendship, laughter, comic relief – and drama – that personifies Y&R. Is the show too dark? It seems everyone is moping, plotting, fighting, crying, suffering mental illness, or even being haunted!
Katherine: It’s been wonderful seeing Katherine settle back into her rightful home with her man by her side. I love the way they wake up and play cards in bed – just like at the trailer! What a great couple! Unfortunately, Genoa City being what it is, she hasn’t had a moment to even breathe without someone needing something from her – Jack! I hope she is able to champion Amber and Kevin’s cause – that would be a heart-warming ending after how devoted they were to helping her in her time of need.
Jill: Jill’s reaction to the news that she’s not related to Katherine wasn’t necessarily what I expected. While I can see Jill being bitter at first – for the simple reason that she was proved wrong about ‘that woman’ being Marge – I felt like her attacks on Nikki and Murphy were a little over the top, and perhaps a little too contrived to force the old-time catfight between her and Katherine. But I can’t complain about the cake fight – woot! I found Jill’s painful admission to Cane at the Club much more along the lines of what I would have liked to see between her and Katherine – some disappointment, tears, and anguish – I still hope that we’ll see a scene like that between Jill and Katherine – maybe when Jill’s back isn’t up, and there is no one else around…
Billy/Mac/Chloe: I’m not seeing the chemistry between NuMac and Billy yet, but I’m ‘giving it time’. I also question how raw this would really be for either of them after six years and numerous relationships with other people. Chloe’s insecurities will be off the charts now – and painful to watch – since I really do think she loves him, warts and all. Her little chat with Delia could be interpreted a few ways – it seems to me that she did set out to bag a rich guy, but fell in love for real. I just wish either Chloe or Billy had found the nerve to call off the wedding – the marriage is too awkward.
Cane/Lily: Interesting new dynamic going on here. I can actually feel Lily’s frustration at this point – and understand her questioning if Cane is just out for revenge on Chloe and Billy. If all Cane really wants is to be with Lily – why not drop this custody thing and just be with her?! I think Cane really has become obsessed with this – he’s not even listening to Lily’s reasoning – which illustrates just how ‘out there’ he is – he even went to Neil behind her back – and normally he would know that Lily wouldn’t appreciate that!
Ashley/Adam/Victoria/Estella: So, it looks like this is going to be some weird, gothic, storyline where they gaslight Ashley. After Friday’s episode I was left wondering if it will just be Estella and Adam that do it, or if Victoria will join in as well… The hope that Adam’s character will be redeemed is rapidly disappearing – too bad! Meanwhile, Ashley is still a watered-down version of herself – changing that might boost this story.
