The Young and the Restless gave us some pure soap in 2023 when rich story history made its way to the forefront. Sharon revisited her past when Cameron Kirsten was released from prison and Victoria learned her first child was still alive. As 2024 begins, we have a list of things we’d like to see to make Genoa City the soap place to be.
Let Claire Really And Truly Be Eve
Y&R dug deep into the vault when it introduced the character of Claire Grace, played by Emmy winner Hayley Erin, who previously appeared on the soap as a teenage Abby Newman. Rather than playing The Great Victor Newman’s (Eric Braeden_ child, she now plays his grandchild — or so we hope.
As of now, a DNA test has proven that Claire is a grown-up Baby Eve, the child who Victoria (Amelia Heinle) thought died at just a few days old way back in 1998. She was raised by her crazed Aunt Jordan thinking her parents didn’t want her when Jordan really kidnapped her as part of a sick long-game revenge plan against the Newman. The problem is some fans think the DNA test could be wrong.
Cole used a lock of Claire’s hair found in a brush to test her DNA but we all know Claire brushed Nikki’s hair while she was unconscious in that Oregon lake house. Having Claire turn out not to be Victoria and Cole’s daughter would be such a fake out on a story fans are truly invested in. We want to see Victoria bond with her firstborn child and see her other kids bond with their long-lost older sister.
A reunion for Cole and poor-taste-in-men Victoria would be the icing on the cake to this story considering the natural chemistry between Amelia Heinle and the long-missed J. Eddie Peck. (To that end, we also need to see more of Colleen Zenk as Aunt Jordan.)
Reunite Shick Already
If there’s any couple who is endgame on this soap that is not Victor and Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), it’s Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon (Sharon Case). They’ve been on-again, off-again since the 1990s, and even remained married longer than most soap couples. It’s been close to 18 years since they divorced following the death of their daughter Cassie (and Nick’s subsequent affair with Phyllis) and fans still clamor for them to be together.
They’ve nearly wed again several times since, with the most recent attempt being in 2018. Somehow, Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) has managed to ruin both of those weddings, but that doesn’t mean Sharon and Nick are still not perfectly matched. Why Y&R resists their true reunion so much is beyond us, especially with their other pairings never working out.
At the moment, Sharon is in a lackluster romance with Chance (Conner Floyd) and is competing for his affection with the SORAS’d product of Nick’s first affair with Phyllis. Meanwhile, Nick is single after finally breaking things off with Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope), who is the same age as his daughter, Summer (Allison Lanier), the young woman Sharon now has to fight to keep Chance. Something is not right in this scenario and a simple way to fix it is to finally reunite Sharon and Nick.
Less Boardroom, More Bedroom
Yes, Y&R gives us love scenes, but it definitely gives us more corporate shenanigans in the office (or in a hotel room…or at a bar) than other shenanigans under the sheets. The musical CEOs are headache-inducing, as well as confusing. HR departments likely work overtime trying to keep up with the various jobs our favorite characters have throughout the year.
Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) are the worst culprits, but one never knows where anyone can end up at any given moment. Who works for Jabot? Who works for Newman Enterprises? Who works for Chancellor-Winters? It’s anyone’s guess from week to week and that needs to stop. This is a soap opera and we don’t really care where people work. We are more interested in what they do when they are not in the office.
The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for times. Remember, you can always find the latest Y&R spoilers, recaps, and news on Facebook at The Young and the Restless Daily. Also, meet fellow fans and talk all things Y&R with our Facebook community group.
