The Bold and the Beautiful Performer of the Week: Lisa Yamada as Luna Nozawa

There's no denying that Luna has become a complete cartoon character on The Bold and the Beautiful. Her constant crime sprees, resurrections, and the sexual assault of Will and subsequent pregnancy have been a lot to take in. However, despite the absurdity of it all, Lisa Yamada's talents have been on full display. The scenes of Luna being hauled back to prison served as some of the best work of her Emmy-winning career.

The Bold and the Beautiful, Lisa Yamada, Performer of the Week

Luna (Lisa Yamada) thought carrying a Spencer baby was a surefire way to keep herself out of prison. Unfortunately for the multiple murderer, she couldn't have been further from correct. Not only did she grossly miscalculate her leverage, but Bill (Don Diamont) and Katie (Heather Tom) have made it clear they want custody of her child when it's born. After the police stormed the Spencer estate in search of Luna, her panic was palpable. Yamada made viewers believe that Luna's world was caving in, and the believability created genuine anxiety.

Luna shifted from person to person, begging and pleading or trying to threaten and manipulate her way out of prison. She tried to use Katie's position as a grandmother to activate some semblance of sympathy, but that didn't get her very far. She tried appealing to Bill because of their previous bond, but he assured her that a second pardon wasn't in her future. Yamada especially turned on Luna's waterworks for Will (Crew Morrow), reminding him that he will only be filled with love after the arrival of their baby. Every trick Luna played was thwarted, downplayed, or outright ignored. Yamada's expert portrayal of Luna's elevated desperation shone through more and more with each failed attempt.

Considering the slew of crimes committed by Luna with no justice or accountability, Yamada routinely has the difficult task of keeping people invested. Despite any ridiculousness of the story, her talents supercede all of that, and it's difficult not to feel a twinge of empathy for someone running out of options. While Luna is somewhat irredeemable at this point, her portrayer has done a remarkable job at leaving a sliver of humanity for viewers to hold on to. The further she descends into the story with Will and a baby born from sexual assault, Yamada may have her work cut out for her, but for now, it's still working to a degree.

Luna is desperate for another chance

One of Luna's most heartwrenching, yet chaotic lines of the week took place moments before Chief Detective Baker (Dan Martin) hauled her away. She said, "I'm not going back there. No, I'm not going back to that nasty place because I am pregnant now, and it's not just with any baby, it's Will's. It's Bill and Katie's grandchild. I'm carrying a Spencer." Luna believed that carrying the heir to the Spencer family fortune was a get-out-of-jail-free card, and she was sadly mistaken. Despite viewers at home feeling her panic through the screen, none of the characters were quite as moved. Luna's time was up.

Yamada's delivery of another line to Bill and Katie, right before being taken away, was a prime example of an exquisite portrayal of sheer terror. She cried, "You do not want your first grandchild to be born inside of a prison. You don't want that for Will's firstborn. Why don't you just let me stay here until I give birth, and I promise I will not be a trouble to anyone. I was going to die in there last time. Bill, you know that to be true." Katie instead staked her claim for the future custody of her child, and Luna was removed from the equation for the remainder of the week.

Trending

Luna's still actively involved in the life trajectories of several characters on the canvas. With Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) returning this week, and Poppy (Romy Park) recently learning her daughter was still alive, there are several heated face-offs on the agenda. Whether Luna is able to skirt away from the grasp of justice for another time remains to be seen.

Catch all-new episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback