Y&R: May 2025 Discussion Thread

[Liberty City]

It's far too much slow, smoked-flame. It's bad soap telling. SO bad.

[soapfan770]

It’s pretty much become the anti-soap.

Bascially the show has rolled back to where it was in 2021, where absolutely zero drama occurred and actually I don’t recall anything memorable occurring at all. Substitute Dumas for Ashland Locke and it’s the same thing all over again.

At least we have no strange creepy story about Abby this around I suppose?

[Liberty City]

It's just an absolute mess, and at this point, I genuinely do not know if anyone could turn the ship around. It feels like we're too far gone from what would be familiar for this soap. Genuinely.

[Antoyne]

We are exactly the same.

Ashland Locke at least had potential until JG decided to ruin that as he’s known to do with just about everything. It’s clear Sony and CBS don’t give a [!@#$%^&*].

[Ryanc2]

I was just going through the vault and watching some random episodes from 2001, then 2006. Sigh. What a different show it was back then. It makes me so sad that it’s barely a shell of its former self. It was always so multigenerational. There were compelling stories for all generations without having to sacrifice anything to make it work. 

[Liberty City]

And that's the power of William J. Bell and his co-executive producers. Truth be told, I know people have heralded the return of Edward J. Scott last year (and yes, his return helped tighten up the visual look of production under the present regime as senior producer); however, I always felt like David Shaughnessy's vision (especially as a director) was stronger for Y&R. His Y&R had a darker, richer look that I feel like Scott never had, especially in the high-definition era.

Edited 7 hours ago by Liberty City

[edgeofnik]

ITA. While I'm all for vets being featured, the show has boxed itself in by not adequately developing a younger set. It's like Kyle's realistic options are Claire and Audra with Summer gone. Chance is barely used. Noah and Faith are off-canvas now. 

Abby's story has been run to the ground in all the wrong ways. There's a Newman/Abbott war going on and Abby is on the sidelines? Give me a break. Abby shouldn't be a hostess, but at either Jabot or NE and right in the middle of all this stuff. Abby and Adam should've formed an alliance as the not Nick/Victoria kids.

[Liberty City]

It just does not feel like Y&R anymore, even if a lot of the actors are familiar. It's just... completely lost, and I've never not felt it couldn't be turned around until now and the past few years. Stunt castings (Colleen Zenk) do not remedy the mess. At all. The focus is all wrong; there is no focus. None at all.

[Paul Raven]

I hear what you are saying, but I feel there is definitely an opportunity for improvement.

If the set problem is to remain, then the whole focus has to change. Business has to take a back seat if there are no sets available to support story.

As I have said before return to Jabot and have a number of characters working and interacting there.

They seem super reluctant to do it but Victor needs to be a more supporting character. 

Eric Braeden seems determined to carry on and that is of course admirable,but keeping Victor as this dominating force has been detrimental.

Have a sweet reunion of Sharon and Nick and marry them off for good. Bring on Faith and I'd even have Adamson back as Noah at this point to support Nick/Sharon in a parenting role.

They really need to bite the bullet and drop one of the following -Billy, Chelsea, Phyllis or make them recurring like Abby/Ashley with appearances or short term stories when appropriate.

Free up some space for new or returning characters- Noah, Allie, Fen, Moses,even a recast Dylan.

 

[Antoyne]

I support all of this.

80 year old Victor reading lines off the table or teleprompter until it’s time to yell at someone and still being the main man driving story on the show is absolutely ridiculous to me and one of the biggest issues with the show. I respect Braeden for wanting to keep working in his old age is great and all, but WHY IS HE THE LEAD?

[Paul Raven]

PREACH

Victor being written as he was 20 years ago to support EB's ego or some misguided belief that what worked decades ago is still relevant is destroying the show.

Victor comes off as a rambling old fool holding on to vendettas and a desperate need for perceived power. His children still cow-towing to him makes them look equally foolish.

If the writing portrayed Victor as  more of an irritant to them then maybe it would work.

[Antoyne]

It is actually pathetic, that Victor’s 50 year old children are still written as scared of this man that has to sit in every scene. I get it, EB has been on the show for almost 50 years, but I don’t care. He’s a man in his 80’s and should not be the damn lead and driving force because you don’t want to upset Eric Braeden ‘s fragile ego that only exists because the writers have cowtowed to this man for so long.

[Ryanc2]

Also Victor being the obstacle for Kyle/Claire feels forced. If anything it should be Diane. Diane has a history of having issues with the Newmans, doesn’t she? Jack could be the one trying to reel her in while she’s meddling in Kyle and Claire’s relationship. They’re making the characters of Diane, Victoria, Nick, Sharon be way too complacent when they could have a stronger role in the younger characters like Mariah/Tessa, Kyle/Claire etc