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The Young and the Restless returned from its COVID-forced hiatus with all new episodes for the week of August 10-14, 2020. Though Y&R handled the “best of” episodes during the break the best, the same can’t be said for the first batch of original episodes.
While I enjoyed the episode dedicated to Katherine on Monday, as a whole, there wasn’t much else to like by week’s end. There were highlights so of course so I’m going to concentrate on that. Before I get into that, however, I want to say a little something about some of the things I am intrigued about.
A Fresh Take
Let me start with Billy Abbott and Lily Winters – I find them to be quite refreshing and I hope their relationship (currently platonic) turns into something more. I’m so used to Lilly being stuck in a boring marriage, that it took me by surprise to see I actually care about her love life. If I can’t have Daniel back for her, then I am interested in where she and Billy go. There’s a history there to build on, and if the show plays their cards right, could have the next big thing on their hands.
All Roads Lead Back to Shadam
Adam Newman is going to old flame Sharon Newman for help. If you follow me on social media, it’s no secret that I am a fan of Adam and Chelsea, and have been since their inception. That said, I have always believed at some point the series would have Adam circle back at some point to Sharon. I wanted it to be done organically, and I think that if it’s going to happen, now is when it should.
Now, I’m not saying that I want them to get together, because I do not. I will always want Adam with Chelsea, and Sharon with Nick. The reality is Nick and Sharon are about as far away from being romantically linked as they can get at this point – with him sexing up Phyllis again and her dealing with her cancer (and romantically tied to Rey).
One of the things that fuels my Chadam love is they do angst better than anyone. I’m a soap fan, that’s par for the course. Who wants their favorite couple to be all lovey-dovey and happy all of the time? Certainly not I. I want them to be fighting with and and for each other. That’s when I like them best. Adding the Sharon, the only other woman Adam has truly loved, back into the mix adds an explosive element that is a great way to mine that angst. Sign me up, I am here for it. For all their declared love and everything they’ve fought for, the fact that Adam would turn to Sharon for help instead of Chelsea is the spark The Young and the Restless needs right now. If done correctly, it would lead to great television for the next couple of months.
Precious Moments
I saved my gush fest for Summer Newman and Kyle Abbott. I love them. That is it. That is the summary. I’m kidding. Although they were only featured for a handful of minutes this week, every minute shown was worth it because it showcased them the way I love them best. While Chelsea and Adam work the angst fire in me, Summer and Kyle work best when they are a team, locking everyone out, supporting one another against the world.
They make me swoon. It’s the way they support one another for me. It’s the way they look at one another. Everything about them right now Is perfectly playing the melody to keep my shipper heart happy. All Summer did was help Kyle support his ailing grandmother and I was a puddle on the floor. I will never tire of the way Kyle looks at Summer either. My elation about them being back together could not be greater. The two of them are everything I want in a soap couple. They have this massive history behind them and despite all the hurt they always cause one another; they are it for each other. They both know it too. I’m so excited to see what the future holds for them.
The Wrap
Best Performances of the week have to go to Michelle Stafford and Josh Morrow. The two of them made the social distancing romantic scenes look natural. You almost couldn’t tell.
Worst character of the week? Abby Newman. What even is her purpose? She is annoying and unnecessary.
My biggest let downs of the week can be broken into two parts – the fact that Chloe and Kevin are still a thing, and no airtime for Devon. First, Kevin and Chloe would be better off with different people. I don’t really know who I would pair them with at this point, but I just feel like they are not well suited at all. Second, there was 7 minutes devoted to Devon’s story this week. If you don’t see a problem with that given his ties to the canvas and Bryton James’ 16 years on this show, then I don’t know where to start.
The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS.
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