The Young and the Restless Performer of the Week: Eric Braeden as Victor Newman

The Young and the Restless truly wasn't going to let Christmas come and go without Victor and Nikki making up, were they? It turns out the answer is now. Victor did his best to meet Nikki halfway, and for that, Soap Central is bestowing Performer of the Week honors on Victor's portrayer, Eric Braeden.

The Young and the Restless, Performer of the Week, Eric Braeden

Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) showed up at the Newman Ranch to find Victor there alone. The two had had harsh words the previous week over Victor's relentless pursuit of Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman). Would Victor drop his forcefield of hate long enough to let Nikki in so the two could reconcile? The answer was yes!

Victor and Nikki have married, divorced, and remarried many times over the years. They know that they're in it for the long haul, but that doesn't mean that conflicts aren't going to arise. As it was the holidays, Nikki and Victor found common ground on wanting to make peace so that Christmas wouldn't be ruined for their children and grandchildren.

It wasn't just the next generation that helped Victor and Nikki reconcile. Extravagant gifts helped! Nikki told Victor she knew what he was doing -- trying to buy her affection and loyalty back. Braeden's no stranger to infusing Victor with some whimsy, especially in his scenes with Thomas Scott. That's just what he did when he saw that his generous gift (jewelry that belonged to Maria Theresa, who was Marie Antoinette's mother) made an impact on his estranged wife.

Victor opened his heart

And while baubles are nice, Victor truly reached Nikki by opening up his heart. First, he told her how a visit she made to him on a Christmas long ago (at the OG ranch) touched him, as he was on the outs with family members then, too. Nikki brought Victor a small tree that lit up as a gesture that year.

When Nikki noted that this wasn't the first Christmas they'd been at odds with one another, Braeden's Victor wistfully recalled, "No, it has not." Viewers were treated to black and white flashbacks of that time. Back to the present, Victor said, "I probably didn't tell you then, but that Christmas tree meant everything to me." He added that while they may have been apart, she has always been in his heart.

The exquisite Thomas Scott met her scene partner emotion for emotion. She thanked him for their children, their family, and their life together. We weren't guaranteed this reconciliation for the holidays. After all, the duo had had their big blow not that long ago. But the Y&R writers gave both actors the scripts to deliver the reunion, and they both shone through and gave viewers the best gift of all -- Victor and Nikki remembering the true spirit of Christmas!

God bless us, everyone, The Young and the Restless

As a child, Victor couldn't have imagined the life he has now. He recounted a story to Nikki that on December 24, when he was 7 years old, his mother, Cora (Dorothy McGuire), left him at an orphanage as she was destitute. "She did not have enough money to feed me, so she left me," Victor lamented. Albert Miller (George Kennedy) had walked out on Cora, Christian (AKA Victor), and Matt (Robert Parucha), leaving them nearly destitute.

"Now, look at what we have," said Victor, noting the family's financial wealth and material goods. Braeden brought a knowing tone to his delivery that made it clear that Victor knew that all the stuff in the world meant nothing without family.

Trending

Time will tell if Victor is capable of taking the warm feelings he mustered up for the holidays and will carry them over into the New Year. If he can't, Victor and Nikki are headed back to square one. Either way, Braeden gave viewers a fantastic holiday gift with his poignant performance of a man who will, in some ways, forever be that little 7-year-old boy.

Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback