Y&R Opinion: Storylines Start Exciting, Yet Always Fall Flat

Recent Y&R episodes have seen a decline in ratings, which may indicate issues with current storylines. I’ve got some thoughts on this.

The business storylines have been all-encompassing, pushing many interpersonal dramas aside, barring the Adam/Sally/Nick triangle.

Sure, the writers try to mix in a little bit of romance or drama, but it quickly peters out when someone decides that they’d better take over someone else’s business! Back to the old tried and true… But it seems more tired than true lately.

---

Rushed or Forgotten Storylines

A lot of the storylines seem rushed, or they climax too soon and then are left to flounder or are just forgotten altogether.

Summer and Chance seemed to have something, but… Where are they? Is anything happening there? Who knows!

Nick and Sharon are talking a lot. It’s mostly about business, and I don’t see any romantic chemistry there anymore. Been there, done that. Maybe they’ll get back together because it’s an old and comfortable routine, but it doesn’t make me want to root for them.

---

Mamie’s return

Mamie’s back, and they tried so hard to make her seem sinister. We had to sit and listen to Devon and Lily talk for hours about how her motives didn’t add up without actually coming to any conclusion.

She is working with Tucker to eliminate Jill and bring her family back together. She’s Nate, Devon, and Lily’s great-aunt. What triggered her to think about them after spending twenty years away from Genoa City? I doubt we’ll ever know.

Ashley returned and told Mamie that Tucker frightened her, which was enough for Mamie to question her partnership with Tucker. We’ll see how that plays out. How was Tucker supposed to get rid of Jill, anyhow?

---

Sally’s Holding Pattern

So many are tired of Sally or angry with her, feeling that she is stringing Nick and Adam along. As annoying as it was to see her in a tug-of-war, I felt for her when Nick broke it off.

I’m grateful Nick finally bit the bullet and dumped her, but it doesn’t make me happy seeing how sad they both were, but Sally bounced back pretty quickly.

Nick knew Sally was in love with Adam when they met, and Sally did too. Nick could have been proactive and cut his losses then, but he ignored the massive red flags – like many of us do occasionally – and went full-in with the best intentions.

This storyline needs to resolve itself… And quickly. It’s been dragging on for around a year and a half. It’s enough already; everyone’s tired of it!

---

Who’s the Worst Friend?

Sally’s one “friend,” Chloe, who has no idea how to be a friend, consistently gives her biased advice based on how much she hates Adam.

If I were Sally’s friend, I’d be concerned for her health, mental and otherwise, especially since she revealed she has feelings for both men. I’d suggest she take some time off, maybe a few days or weeks, and take some time to breathe. She could work on her new business and consider what she wants in life.

Chloe should suggest Sally not choose any man right now and look out for number one because she seems so confused. The worst thing she did was to have sex with Adam again. Adam did it because he wanted her back, and Nick dumped her. We know Sally didn’t do it because she wants Adam back; she still doesn’t know what she wants!

I no longer care who she chooses. Just choose one man and stick to it so we can all move on with our lives, Sally!

---

Victoria’s demotion – Why?

Victoria being demoted from being CEO of Newman for years was a massive blow, especially for someone whose life revolves around her career. Love her or loathe her; she’s a complex character, and we’re told that she did well at the job.

Why would Victor mess with his own company and family just to prove that one of his kids wants to backstab him?

At least Victoria’s not back in the mailroom like Adam almost is, having to kowtow to Nate when he’s a Harvard grad. Why these people don’t just go to other companies is beyond me.

Toying with the children Victor claims to love is what a narcissist does. This is not entertaining to anyone. Nikki should be standing up to him instead of whining and making suggestions. These are her children, and she’s coming off as a patsy.

This isn’t the type of so-called drama that anybody wants.

---

Concurrent repeating storylines

Adam was working at Newman, but he got let go. Now, he’s back, working his way up, looking for respect and to get his job back.

Kyle was working at Jabot, but he got let go. Now, he wants to come back to the family business. He wants respect and to get his job back. Sound familiar?

Nate was at Chancellor-Winters. He screwed around and left the company. Now Mamie is trying to get him back at Chancellor-Winters. She wants him to earn his respect and get his job back.

Hasn’t anyone realized that these are all basically the same story?

Who should have the co-CEO position at Jabot? Whoever can do the job best! If someone’s doing well at their job, you don’t just replace them! Same with Newman Enterprises… Victoria should have her job back.

---

The Bugged Bonsai

On paper, the “Bugged Bonsai” storyline was good, but some things don’t translate to screen correctly, and I feel this is one of those times.

There was no drama. Tucker sent a bonsai tree to Jack and Diane as a so-called peace offering, and yet none of them checked it out. Every single person who saw the tree should have been immediately suspicious that it had a listening device hidden, yet… Nobody did a damn thing about it.

Phyllis was the missing link, letting Jack know that Tucker had bought a listening device. They could have used that information and fed Tucker misinformation, but even though they talked about it, they didn’t. Jack just gave Tucker back his bonsai, and the incident was forgotten.

They could have done so much more with this. Billy and Jack could have fought over the bonsai, and it could have been dropped, with the bug being found in the shattered remains.

People complain that storylines take too long to work themselves out, but the writers are forgetting that storylines don’t always have to be on fast-forward. Save some of the good stuff!

---

Mariah, Tessa, and Aria

Aria finally gets her hearing aids, and the needless worry that Tessa and Mariah had over should finally be over. But then what?

Tessa and Mariah need a good story. The baby storyline was okay for about one episode, and then it was just wash, rinse, repeat.

---

Claire Grace – Another Ashland?

Claire was introduced as though we were all interviewing her for a job. It was boring and long-winded—more sitting and talking.

Nikki took Claire as her plus one to Jack and Diane’s wedding, and nobody batted an eye. If a stranger was brought into my home without my consent, you better believe I’d have something to say.

Later, Claire showed us that she adores Nikki and Victoria. Maybe she’s faking it, and she’s obsessed with them… Who prints out those articles anyhow? Can’t she bookmark them and check them out online?

Who is Claire Grace, and what’s her deal? Is this another story that falls flat? I hope she’s something special… Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

---

Let us know what you think about the current Y&R storylines and how they could be improved in the comments below!

Have you joined our Facebook group “Official Y&R Early Recaps, Spoilers, and News!” yet? Enjoy chatting with other like-minded Y&R fans in our group, dedicated to recaps, spoilers, rumors, gossip, and comings and goings.

You can follow us on Twitter or Threads as well to make sure you never miss any updates!