Young & Restless Shake-Up: Sharon’s Meds, Jack’s Addiction, and a Cheating Scandal — Plus, Big Business Brouhaha Makes Not a Lick of Sense

Credit: CBS screenshot, Howard Wise/JPI

The love we have for Young & Restless here at Soaps.com is immense. Which is why we want it to be sooo much better than it is. With that sentiment in mind, here’s a look at the rather tired offerings from this week, and at what’s coming up.

Sharon’s Meds

If it’s not about business or mental health, Young & Restless’ writers don’t want it. Hence, we have Sharon’s bipolar meds going wonky. The new ones deffo don’t seem to be working as they should, and the writing is on the wall. Either the new prescription will cause her to do weird things, or she’ll go off of them entirely because they’re making her feel “odd” and all hell will break loose. Don’t believe me? Find out why [Spoiler] could be in danger from Sharon here. Ah well, at least she has a story.

In related commentary, there are so few younger characters on the soap at this point that college-aged Faith has to hang out with 15-year-old Lucy. A whole mess. I’d rather they SORAS a whole crew of them, or bring on friends, and do a proper summer storyline.

Cheating Scandal

Adam and Chelsea cheating (which I predicted here) is exactly the kind of soapy scandal the soap has desperately needed. So, why then, is it so… disappointing? Usually, I’m gleeful when we get this type of messiness, but who wants to see Adam cheat on Sally right after asking her to move in with him? It simply doesn’t feel like something he would do at this point. Unbelievable? Bad timing? Something is off and it’s taking the fun out of it.

In related commentary, the Connor storyline is not working for a majority of fans for one reason or another. Again, I see fans trying to make it more interesting than it is by suggesting that there’s something off with the facility. I think the issue is that it’s repetitive, dialogue-based, and Connor’s troubles are all taking place off-screen.

Jack’s Addiction

It was Kyle’s turn to take a ride on Young & Restless’ job-go-round this week, with his defection from Jabot to yet another off-screen company, Glissade. He thinks he’s going to wipe the floor with his family’s company, but all he’ll actually succeed in doing is help Victor stress Jack out to the point that he falls off the wagon again. In the preview, Jack admits to Nikki that he’s being torn apart by Diane kicking Kyle to the curb in addition to all that’s going on with Ashley. Just wait until he finds out his son is helming the competition with Audra Charles. He won’t be any happier than Summer was about it. As for Kyle’s ex-wife, her green-eyed monster leapt out when she saw him cozied up to Audra, which is a hint of what’s to come if he gets together with Claire.

In related, for those keeping track of the job changes, Chloe was hired at Marchetti. It breaks my heart to say it, but I’m so tired of her charcter… because she’s given absoultely nothing to do besides b*tch. Elizabeth Hendrickson deserves better.

Business Brouhaha

As some Young & Restless fans have pointed out, the current brouhaha at Chancellor-Winters is a non-story. Devon, Lily, and Billy all want to demerge the companies… so the entire plot point of Lily and Devon having to put on an act to try and dupe Billy into it makes no sense. Two weeks ago, they were appalled when Mamie suggested that Winters and Chancellor go their separate ways, and now they’re all about it. Maybe that’s why Devon didn’t want his great aunt at the meeting… he’d have to admit she was right and he was wrong.

Ultimately, this all amounts to another cluster of job shake-ups. There’s no soapy drama, and there’s no payoff. Why? Because fans are well and truly over these corporate job shifts being passed off as storylines. Next week, we have Billy and Lily celebrating their “win”. Will they, along with Devon, come to regret the move and wish they’d listened to Jill? Probably. Will Lily stay with Billy or go to work with Devon? Who knows, and honestly, who cares?! It has little to no impact on the actual soap drama we want to see, and not even an entire montage of Neil and Katherine clips will change that.

In related commentary, my heart goes out to the Young & Restless fans trying to create something soapy out of this mess by angling for a Chance/Lily hook-up. The sexual chemistry in that scene was zilch. I’d rather see Lily take a roll in the hay with Nick. Unfortunately, it appears that Y&R’s resurrecting its most controversial love triangle… and he’s a part of it.

The opinions expressed are my own. Please feel free to share your thoughts on Young & Restless in the comments.