The Young and the Restless: Why Phyllis Summers Doesn't Need Anyones Forgiveness

On The Young and the Restless, the debate over whether Phyllis Summers deserves anyones forgiveness ignores the Newmans’ history of using her when it suits their needs.

What Happened On The Young and the Restless

The Young and the Restless: Sharon joins in on the hypocrisy | Image: CBS

It really is high time we stop the collective pearl-clutching over Phyllis's (Michelle Stafford) latest survival tactics and look at the company she keeps. For years, the Newman family has treated Phyllis like a specialized tool: something to be kept in a drawer until there is a mess only she can clean, then tucked away the second she becomes an inconvenience.

The Young and the Restless: Nick played by Joshua Morrow makes threats | Image: CBS

Look back at the south of France debacle, yes that mess of messes (and do't even get me started on that toy train set). When the Newmans needed an inside track on Cane (Billy Flynn), they weren't worried about Phyllis’s "morals" or her "unstable" nature. They were happy to play nice and lean on her unique brand of chaos because it served their interests. That is the Newman blueprint. Their loyalty is transactional. When the need disappears, so does the support, leaving Phyllis to defend herself against the very people who just had her on speed dial. Am I alone in these thoughts? If you feel the same, sound off in the comments. A Virtual picket line with little signs and bull horns.

Nick, The Poster Child of Hypocrisy

The Young and the Restless: Go kick rocks Nick | Image: User Created

Then there is Nick (Joshua Morrow). This man has made a career out of standing by and watching his family tear Phyllis down, all the damn time, rarely lifting a finger to stop the beat down. But now that his family is in the line of fire, he expects her to drop everything and jump to their defense. It’s a played out act. Nick can go kick rocks, or perhaps he should wait until his leg heals properly before trying to walk away from the mess that he always has a hand in creating. The expectation that Phyllis should constantly audition for Summer’s (Allison Lanier) forgiveness, while the Newmans get a pass for their serial manipulation, is a double standard that no longer holds water.

The Young and the Restless: Phyllis played by Michelle Stafford | Image: CBS

Phyllis doesn't need Summer's forgiveness; she needs the people in her life to acknowledge that her "crimes" are often reactions to a family that uses her as a shield and then blames her for the dents. If loyalty is a two-way street, the Newmans have been driving the wrong way for decades. It is time we stop asking when Phyllis will change and start asking when the people around her will stop being so reliably hypocritical. Stuff the Newmans, if you agree, lets start the comments here.

Watch full episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS or stream on Paramount.