Tamilu continues the time-honored tradition of writing a special 2024 year in review commentary. Here’s a look at the last twelve months on The Young and the Restless and who and what landed on the naughty and nice lists in Genoa City.
Dear readers, first of all I want to say Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa — whichever holiday you celebrate, I wish you the most joyous one ever.
I don’t know about you, but this past year has had its share of ups and downs, and in the down moments, I need an escape from the noise in my brain. My soaps are a great way to drown out the noise in my brain. This year on The Young and the Restless there were many great storylines that occupied my brain wondering what was next. But there were also some duds that had me playing games on my phone from boredom in the middle of the show.
Nostalgia for the win
I think my favorite storyline on the show this year had nothing to do with a human being and everything to do with nostalgia. The Newman Ranch. When Victor unveiled the rebuilt home to Nikki, I teared up. Why was I so emotional over a fictional home? I can’t explain it other than to say I spent so many years watching that home and all the drama that it held and when it burnt down, I mourned its loss.
I miss the Haunted Star on General Hospital the same way sometimes. All TV shows gave a bit of that. Cheers is the bar as much as the people in the bar. Friends is Central Perk and the apartments as much as it is the friends. Luke’s Diner and Miss Patty’s Dance Studio are part of the charm of Stars Hollow on Gilmore Girls. The sets on TV shows add to the warmth you feel when you watch them. So, I am happy that Genoa City has a Newman Ranch again and I hope no one goes mad and torches it.
I wouldn’t invite Sharon over anytime soon if I were the Newmans.
All aboard the crazy train
Which leads me to one of the bad things.
The writers at The Young and the Restless are on a kick with making all the women mentally unstable and I’m over it. Ashley’s DID storyline was interesting, and it was fun watching Eileen Davidson conquer Belle, L’il Ash, and The Boss Lady personas, but on the heels of this, Sharon started hallucinating ghost Cameron and plotting to kill Daniel and his family. Chelsea seemed on a verge of a breakdown for months while Connor worked to get his OCD under control, and Nikki fell off the wagon for months and delved deeply into her alcoholism, carrying around the largest bottle of vodka ever to fit into a purse.
Jordan started out crazy but when she was so crazy the prison could not contain her, Victor locked her up in his wine cellar jail and tormented her with brussels sprouts. Claire was crazy after a lifetime of being lied to and manipulated, but all those years of brainwashing were undone by a brief stint in therapy and now she’s the golden child of the family.
That is an awful lot of crazy for one small town in my humble opinion.
Endless corporate warfare
But the mentally unstable storylines were far more interesting than the endless corporate warfare storylines. The problem with those is that almost anyone who works in an office in the United States of America can see these sorts of maneuverings and power grabs unfolding on a day-to-day basis. Chancellor. Abbott Chancellor. Chancellor Winters. The Winters Group. Jabot. Glissade. McCall. Newman. People bouncing back and forth between all of these companies and trying to best one another, it’s losing its appeal to me.
Everyone’s favorite punching bag
I am weary of Billy being the punching bag for everyone in Genoa City. First off, I adore Jason Thompson. He’s a lovely human being, so maybe that adds in to my rooting for Billy. Although Billy has made a lot of mistakes over the years, so have Jack, Diane, Kyle, Adam, Lily, Devon, Nate, and Jill. Notice I didn’t add Victor into this list? That’s because even though he’s a jerk, Victor rarely loses at business.
For Jill to sell her company to Victor because she didn’t trust her son — or even give him a month to try and turn things around — seems pretty awful to me. I wish he could win just once and prove them all wrong. Like have some fabulous success that no one would invest in and come out on top. I’m not holding my breath, but I keep hoping.
Phyllis’ accusations fall on deaf ears
Like Billy, Phyllis rightfully has a lot of critics, but this year, she kept telling anyone who would listen that Sharon was responsible for Heather’s death, and no one would believe her. We knew Phyllis was right because we saw Sharon plotting to murder Daniel and his family with a bloody ghost. Additionally, we saw Sharon poison Daniel’s booze and we saw Sharon drag Heather’s body away and toss her in the river. So, even if Sharon didn’t commit the actual murder, she’s still guilty of being an accessory and if she gets off clean both Phyllis and I will be pissed.
The ramifications of Heather’s murder
Heather’s murder was an intriguing storyline and continues to unfold with the addition of two love-to-hate villains — Aunt Jordan and Ian Ward. But part of me is mad that we had a Daniel and Lily reunion after all these years, and they broke them up to send Daniel back to Heather just to kill her off. Give me my Daniel and Lily back please.
More senseless breakups on the Young and the Restless
In addition, the writers broke up two very popular pairings for seemingly no reason.
Adam and Sally fought hard to reconnect after the death of their baby. We watched them battle grief and slowly find their way back to happiness together. It was a tender and beautiful love story.
Billy and Chelsea came together when she was literally on the verge of ending her life, and we watched the two of them slowly go from friends to reconnecting as lovers and building a life together. Two genuinely moving love stories. Then the writers trashed both couples for Adam and Chelsea to have a one-night stand while Connor was battling for his life and sanity.
We thought the intention was to reunite Adam and Chelsea an heal their family. But that didn’t happen. While I am enjoying Billy and Sally having revenge sex, I still don’t fully understand the reason for breaking up two popular couples if they didn’t intend to have Adam and Chelsea reunite.
The Young and the Restless Naughty List
Jack’s addiction
Jack popping pills to save Nikki and Victor’s renewed hatred for him. Jack keeps saying, “Hey, it’s okay that I gave up years of sobriety to save Nikki and look it worked!” But I can guarantee that AA would not approve of this shock method of treatment. I had to side with Diane on this one and I hate siding with Diane.
Farewell Tucker
Sending Tucker away out of the blue just when things were getting interesting. Tucker was the only person who realized Ashley was in trouble. Shouldn’t that have bought him another chance?
Law and disorder
Chance is a cop. No, he’s a giving up his profession like Nate gave up being a doctor to work in the corporate world. Psyche were just playing; he’s a cop again.
Love doesn’t conquer all
Summer and Chance were a magnificent new couple up until Chance tried to prosecute her brother Daniel for a murder he didn’t commit, now they’re done.
The scream queen
The fight between Jack, Diane and Kyle. Diane was on my last nerve this year; she was screaming at Jack or Kyle every time she was in the room. Sure, we found out eventually that part of it was faked to fool Victor, but it wasn’t very entertaining viewing. On General Hospital, sisters Molly and Kristina spent the year screaming at each other and I didn’t like that either.
Summer’s plans
Summer being with Chance but then getting all territorial over Kyle. My guess is that now that she’s dumped Chance, she will work to put a wedge between Kyle and Claire.
So naughty their good
Ian Ward and Aunt Jordan. Ray Wise and Colleen Zenk are so naughty that I had to put them on this side of the list. But don’t tell Santa, I love watching them work their evil magic. These two villains are captivating on their own, but doubly so when they are working together.
The Young and the Restless Nice List
Alan and Traci
Traci has finally found love with someone who appreciates her, and I sure hope he doesn’t end up being his evil twin in the long run. A mature romance story is rare on daytime, and I have loved every minute of this blooming romance.
Cole and Victoria
Cole and Victoria reuniting despite Victor still trying to control his 50-year-old daughter’s love life.
Claire and Kyle
I find their coupling to be adorable and Redding Munsell (Harrison) brings so much warmth to every scene he is in. Claire being his nanny long enough to get close to Kyle and Harrison was an enjoyable ride.
Michael and Lauren
I love their relationship, and I love their fairmindedness. I love that they can love Phyllis despite her flaws and still support people Phyllis hates. In a crazy divided world, I like the visual of what compromise and diplomacy looks like.
Nate and Audra
When the writers first began putting them in scenes together, I assumed they were just going to have a fling. I’m glad that I was wrong- this is turning into a real relationship, and I am enjoying the softening of Audra Charles. Nate is a good influence on her. I am interested to see what will happen when Nate’s ½ brother comes to town – is he going to factor into this budding romance?
Mariah and Tessa
These two beautiful women have one of the happiest, healthiest and most supportive marriages on daytime. Every scene with them and their baby Aria is sheer joy. But, with Ian chatting up Tessa, I am afraid for them. I hope he doesn’t do anything to wreck this beautiful family.
Nick Newman
Isn’t he the best? Joshua Morrow is so likeable and that carries into his character who is always trying to fix things for the people in his life. Unlike his father Victor and brother Adam, he cares more about healthy relationships than wining at corporate games. That having been said, I love Adam, too – he’s just a little messier.
Best Scene
If I had to choose the best scene of the year, it might be the day Billy found out about Adam and Chelsea’s affair and got into Adam’s face and yelled, “SHE TOLD ME EVERYTHING!” I have not forgotten that beautifully soapy piece of acting, and I want to make sure no one else forgets it too. I hope Jason Thompson gets a daytime Emmy this year.
Devon and Abby’s wedding
Okay, sure, there was a car accident and Phyllis ended up nearly dying during their wedding, but hey, wasn’t it all so beautiful and wonderful up until the chaos struck?
What will happen tomorrow dear readers?
Will anyone in the prison realize the person in Jordan’s cell is an imposter or will Victor have to bust out his brussels sprout recipe and couple it when he needs a cell for two? Will Jack pop some pills on New Year’s Eve just to prove he can stop whenever he wants? Can Sharon bring Ghost Cameron with her into her next hypnosis treatment and prove my theory that he’s alive, too? Will Adam and Nick give up on love and make a bro vow to give up women for 2025?
Will Victor double cross Jack’s double-cross of him? How about Jordan making Claire put vodka in Nikki’s office coffee again? Will Harrison continue being the most adorable child on daytime. (Along with Donna on General Hospital) Are Sally and Billy slated to be parents in 2025, or is my guess about her getting pregnant wrong? Will Lily and Devon be able to work together this time around or fight every day like last time? Do Danny and Cricket ever plan to come home from tour, or do they live on the road now?
Only tomorrow knows dear readers and I will tune in tomorrow as long as there are tomorrows.
Tamilu
To read all of Tamilu’s columns, check out her Author Page.
As much as I love The Young and the Restless, this was not my favourite year for this show. Out of the three soap operas that I watch: The Young and the Restless, Days of our Lives, and General Hospital, The Young and the Restless was always my favorite and has been the one I have watched the longest. Now it is the one that I just feel I’ll get to when I get to it, because the storylines just aren’t that appealing to me anymore. I still love the show, but I really hope that next year things get a lot better.