The Young and the Restless: the secrets behind the show's big win at the Writers Guild of America Awards

The Young and the Restless took home the Writers Guild of America Award for Daytime Drama writing on Sunday. Now, Soap Central can share which episodes earned the show's writers the coveted award!

The Young and the Restless, the Write Stuff

Sharon and Phyllis can never go back to the way they were on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Y&R went for variety with the three scripts that the show submitted for this year's award. For starters, there was the life and death drama of Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) and Sharon (Sharon Case) being kidnapped and held at the clinic. In a twisted psychological drama, the two women, who'd been bitter rivals, were forced to form a bond so that they could survive.

Martin Laurent (Christopher Cousins), the man behind Sharon and Phyllis's ordeal, indirectly succeeded in the two women forging a new relationship. How could their horrific dynamic not have resulted in a new beginning? Of course, their newfound relationship was tested when Phyllis used Cane's (Billy Flynn) AI program to take Victor's (Eric Braeden) company.

The ramifications of Phyllis and Sharon's time in captivity continue to play out today. Sharon recently was thisclose to reaching Phyllis, but Nick's untimely arrival at Crimson Lights caused Phyllis to put her walls back up.

Colin and Cane's reunion

Cane remembered in black and white final moments with his father, Colin, on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Another submission that swayed the judges in Y&R's favor was an episode from August when Cane and Colin (Tristan Rogers) were reunited. On his deathbed, Colin has words of wisdom for his son about what is truly important in life.

There had been conflict between Cane and Colin throughout their relationship when Colin was alive. But in their final weeks together, the two men came to terms with the past. Cane's remembering his father's final moments prompted him to temporarily put his scheme to use the AI program on hold.

The Young and the Restless, Danny and Cricket's wedding

Amy, Nina, Christine, Michael, and Danny on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

The final submission Y&R sent in was a joyous occasion -- Danny (Michael Damian) and Cricket's (Lauralee Bell) wedding from November. Longtime Y&R fans know that Danny and Cricket never would have split up if it hadn't been for Phyllis lying to Danny that they'd made love and he had fathered her son, Daniel (Michael Graziadei).

Danny and Cricket's special day was mostly conflict-free as the episode leaned into the joy. But there was drama -- Amy (Valarie Pettiford) and Nina (Tricia Cast) ripped into Cane for his indirect role in the deaths of Amy's son, Damian (Jermaine Rivers), and Nina's son, Chance (Conner Floyd).

Might these episodes help Y&R score a Daytime Emmy nomination when those are announced later this year? Soap Central will bring details when those nominations are announced!