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In The Young and the Restless, we constantly notice elements of the show that feel organic and just seem to work. On the flip side, we also notice storylines and other parts of the show that somehow rub us the wrong way. Here are just five things about Y&R that are currently working and five things that aren't:
Five things that are working on The Young and the Restless:
1) The newfound brotherly bond between Cane and Billy
Maybe Billy (Jason Thompson) and Cane (Billy Flynn) haven't really been close before on The Young and the Restless. But now that Cane has taken Newman Enterprises away from Victor (Eric Braeden), it's nice to see that he wants to give Chancellor Industries to Billy. Even though they aren't blood brothers, Cane still feels a connection to Billy. He knows how much he wants to run Chancellor.
Ever since Billy accepted Chancellor from Cane, we've started to see a fraternal bond between them, which is exactly what both men need. Neither one of them has any close male friends. Another element that bonds Cane and Billy is Jill (Jess Walton). Even though she isn't Cane's biological mother, he views her as a mother figure. Now that her health has taken a turn for the worse, Billy knows that Cane is the only other person who truly understands how worried he feels, because Cane likely feels that same concern for her. Let's see this brotherly bond grow over time. It gets a thumbs up from us.
2) Audra's chemistry with Holden
We're still not sure what is going on between The Young and the Restless' Holden (Nathan Owens) and Audra (Zuleyka Silver). They aren't dating. They aren't really friends. Whenever they run into each other, they argue. But we've noticed chemistry between them, and we'd like to see where it could lead.
Their sinister L.A. secret is what connects them, a secret they've been trying like crazy to keep hidden. But maybe that connection could lead to a deeper connection? When Audra opened up to him about her rough childhood and he told her he'd been through a similar situation, it felt like we were seeing the start of a meaningful relationship. We're keeping our fingers crossed and hoping the Y&R writers grant us our wish. These two could be explosive together as a couple.
3) Nate's friendship with Victoria
Nate (Sean Dominic) and Victoria (Amelia Heinle) were not likable when they were romantically involved a few years ago on The Young and the Restless, because Nate was cheating on Elena (Brytni Sarpy) at the time.
But after Cole (J. Eddie Peck) died in 2025, leaving Victoria heartbroken, she re-connected with Nate as a friend. What drew the previous lovers back into each other's orbits was the fact that Nate had also lost a loved one to death -- Damian (Jermaine Rivers), the half-brother he had only recently discovered. Nate and Victoria found comfort spending time together again and talking about the grief they were each experiencing. Their talks feel warm and cozy. Their friendship feels natural, which is why they now feel like a couple we can root for -- if their friendship ends up taking a romantic turn.
4) Claire and Audra have great chemistry as enemies
The antagonism between Claire (Hayley Erin) and Audra (Zuleyka Silver) has been fun to watch. Erin and Silver have a zesty onscreen chemistry as enemies. In the past six months of The Young and Restless, we've seen them choke, slap, and throw drinks at each other. What can't help but wonder what they're going to do to each other next!
The interesting thing is that they come from similar backgrounds. They both had lousy childhoods. Neither of them grew up feeling loved. They are alike in some ways, so maybe that's one reason why they don't get along.
We've witnessed many pairs of female soap enemies over the years, from Y&R's Jill and Katherine (Jeanne Cooper) to The Bold and the Beautiful's Stephanie (Susan Flannery) and Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) to General Hospital's Carly (Laura Wright) and Nina (Cynthia Watros). Claire and Audra are right up there with those dueling duos. Their feuds always ooze with venom and vitriol!
5) Tessa's and Daniel's blossoming romance
Even though we know that Tessa (Cait Fairbanks) loves Mariah (Camryn Grimes), many fans of The Young and the Restless will agree that her chemistry with Daniel (Michael Graziadei) is undeniable. She's gone through so much pain and heartache for many months, reaching out to Mariah repeatedly and trying to help her through her emotional struggles -- only to be pushed away every time.
Daniel started out as a supportive friend to Tessa, which began when she gave him guitar lessons. Their budding romance feels authentic. We don't know what's going to happen between Mariah, Tessa, and Daniel. It all depends on what happens to Mariah once she's caught with Dominic (Ethan Ray Clark). Will she go to a psychiatric facility again? This storyline has become complicated and messy, but throughout it all, Tessa and Daniel have felt right together (first platonically and now as a potential couple).
Five things that are not working on The Young and the Restless:
1) The AI program storyline has run its course
Are there any other Y&R fans out there (besides us) who are tired of hearing the words "AI program?" Ever since Cane (Billy Flynn) created that dangerous software, everyone in Genoa City has been running around in a state of panic -- as though King Kong has been stomping on the townsfolk.
So far, Victor used the AI program to destroy Arabesque and Matt Clark's (Roger Howarth) online finances, and Cane and Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) have used it to crush Newman Enterprises. How many other GC businesses will be destroyed by this thing? Can we please move on to something new now? Maybe Cane can create something else, with Phyllis' help? It feels like this AI storyline has reached its expiration date. We need to hear other words every day besides "AI program."
2) Mariah's storyline is all over the place
Mariah's storyline has turned into a mess that needs to end, the sooner the better. When will she finally feel free from Ian Ward's (Ray Wise) grip on her? We love Ray Wise, because he always plays bad guys with a certain gusto and charm that we don't see in many other actors. But Mariah feels like a top that keeps spinning and spinning. Her story of mental and emotional pain has gone on long enough. Please let her find her way back to sanity and happiness with her loved ones.
We've seen so many female characters on Y&R spin out over the past two years -- Ashley (Eileen Davidson), Sharon (Sharon Case), Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), and now Mariah. We need to see more Y&R ladies find their inner strength.
3) The Cane and Lily reunion is taking too long to happen
Many of us assume that Cane and Lily (Christel Khalil) are eventually going to reunite. They were once married and were very much in love. He has wanted her back ever since he revealed himself to be Aristotle Dumas in Nice, France. That was six or seven months ago. Since then, we've watched endless conversations of him trying to win her back, and Lily has given him nothing but grief.
Just when they were making a breakthrough and she was starting to forgive him (and even kissed him), she reverted back to her usual self-righteousness, unable to trust him again. She left GC to visit Mattie (Lexi Stevenson). Couldn't we at least see some light at the end of the tunnel for her and Cane? A glimmer of hope that upon her return, maybe she will be willing to work things out with him?
4) Does Victor Newman ALWAYS have to win?
Victor is the lead character on The Young and the Restless. We get it. But hey, even Sonny Corinthos (the lead character on General Hospital) has lost a battle or two with his merry-go-round of mob rivals over the past thirty years. And anyone who's watched GH for a long stretch of time knows that Victor and Sonny (Maurice Benard) have a lot in common!
So, keeping that in mind, can't Victor lose once in a while as well? It isn't entertaining to watch a soap day in and day out when you already know who's going to win. We want to be kept in suspense. We want to watch storylines where it's anyone's guess who the winner will be.
5) Does Billy Abbott ALWAYS have to lose?
We're tired of saying this, but the Y&R writers need to give Billy a break. He's been playing the role of Genoa City's resident screw-up for way too many years. If Cane really does make good on his promise to give Chancellor Industries to Billy, then please let Billy prove all the naysayers wrong. That includes his own brother, Jack (Peter Bergman), Victor, Phyllis, Adam (Mark Grossman), and even Billy's own mother, Jill. How many times do we need to watch the same character get kicked in the teeth?
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Some of us remember Billy from way back when he was a teenager on The Young and the Restless, and he was played by David Tom. There's a certain nostalgia that's attached to those memories. As the son of John Abbott (Jerry Douglas) and Jill, Billy is a legacy character. He deserves some love and respect. Let's see him succeed for a change. Let's see him realize his dream!
Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.
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