To Live and Die in L.A.: The Young and the Restless Two Scoops for the week of October 13, 2025

The Young and the Restless did a bit of time-traveling this week, and we happily boarded the time-travel machine to revisit epic dynamics that are synonymous with the top-rated soap!

It’s déjà vu all over again on The Young and the Restless

Our worst suspicions were confirmed when Sharon (Sharon Case) went off to Los Angeles without Nick (Joshua Morrow). We knew that Victor (Eric Braeden) was going to want to keep his son in Genoa City with him to deal with Cane’s (Billy Flynn) ongoing threat. We weren’t surprised when Sharon ran into some kind of trouble, but Noah (Lucas Adams) being in a car wreck wasn’t on our bingo card. The worst thing that ever happened to Nick and Sharon was Cassie’s (Camryn Grimes) death after she got in a wreck because she wasn’t an experienced driver.

Now, they are reliving this nightmare with Noah, only Noah’s injury wasn’t an accident, according to hottie newcomer, Detective Burrow (Matt Cohen). Nick and Sharon’s marriage was destroyed by Cassie’s death. They grieved equally but differently. And Nick’s determination to bring Daniel (Michael Graziadei) to justice for driving the car (spoiler alert: he wasn’t! Cassie was behind the wheel and her sandal was under the gas pedal!) helped create a passionate dynamic between Nick and Phyllis (Michelle Stafford), Daniel’s mom.

Could Noah’s tragedy somehow bring Nick and Sharon together? We think it might. They’ve already survived one near-death experience this year in France when Nick was injured while being held captive by Cane’s (Billy Flynn) overly ambitious staff. Once Noah is out of the woods (he will get out of the woods, right?), it’s possible that Danny (Michael Damian) and Cricket (Lauralee Bell) won’t be the only couple retying the knot.

Amazing Grace (less)

We marvel at the intimate conversations that Genoa City residents opt to have at Crimson Lights. Granted, Danny and Cricket (we’re calling her that again, right?) talking about their wedding shouldn’t be an intimate secret, but it is when Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) is hovering about, ready to eavesdrop. Cricket has already told Daniel that she wants him to help keep her mom from their big day, and we were reminded why. Phyllis took time out of her big business plans with Cane, in which she’s going to get respectability, a big job, and become Queen of Genoa City, to take some digs at Danny, her former husband, and her nemesis.

We thought the negative crack about Danny’s concerts was a bit much (“how about a little fire, Scarecrow!”). However, Phyllis's quips to Christine were to be expected, and Cricket gave as good as she got. Danny and Cricket's reunion is a thorn in Phyllis’s side. It’s a reminder that her scheme to become Mrs. Danny Romalotti, the mother of Danny Romalotti, Jr., (thanks to Cricket) failed to succeed. And if there’s one thing Phyllis wants, it’s to be a success.

We just know that somehow Phyllis will attempt to mar Danny and Cricket’s wedding day. Hopefully, she’ll have as much success as Wile E. Coyote had when ordering a contraption from ACME, hoping to destroy the Road Runner. Don’t get us wrong – we want to see Phyllis try to interrupt the big day, but we don’t want her to succeed.

Medical soaps 101

There’s nothing that brings a family together on a soap opera (or in real life) than a medical crisis involving a loved one. It’s heartwarming to see the Newmans band together to support Nick in light of Noah’s accident. Victor offered his son the Newman private jet. Nikki and Vicki showed great concern. And this bears repeating, but whoever decided to bring back a version of the OG Newman Ranch deserves a raise. The Newman family’s prestige on the show demands that they have a home that is worthy of them. Imagine having been away from Y&R for a few years (or more) and then you happen to tune in and see the Newmans back in their rightful home? You’re going to keep the TV on.

Speaking of the Newman family, there was a great dynamic early in the week in which Victor acknowledged that Nick had a point about putting his kids first. We suspect that prompted Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) to shoot Victor a look as if to say, "You never tell me I'm right!" Nobody can strike a pose and shoot a look like our beloved Nikki!

I love L.A. – and Sienna

While Nick and Sharon, and Phyllis/Danny/Cricket are very familiar dynamics, Y&R also gave us some new ones, as much of the action on the show has shifted from Genoa City, Wisconsin, to Los Angeles, California. We’re not sure if there are going to be any location scenes popping up. After all, Y&R tapes at TV City in Hollywood! They wouldn’t have far to go, but who needs to see the tourist sights when Y&R has given us so much to look at with the introduction of enigmatic Sienna Bacall, played by two-time Daytime Emmy-winner Tamara Braun.

Braun did the unthinkable when she took over the role of Carly on General Hospital over 20 years ago. Nobody thought it would work. In fact, legend has it that Braun was only supposed to stay a few weeks to wrap up Carly’s story. Instead, the actress hit the show with a burst of energy, quickly making the role her own. After a remarkable Daytime Emmy-nominated run, we saw Braun go to All My Children as Reese, and to Days of our Lives on multiple occasions as Ava and Taylor.

Now, CBS fans are lucky to be able to see this captivating, charismatic actress on their screens. So far, Sienna has revealed that she’s friends with Holden (Nathan Owens) and that she doesn’t think much of Audrey, er, Audra (Zuleyka Silver). I mean, come on, is there not a better way to be dismissive of someone than to not even know their name?

We’re also seeing an edge to Sienna. There’s a lot more to this woman, and we can’t wait to learn more about her and watch her interact with several other characters on the show. Braun coming to Y&R is one of the biggest casting “gets” of the year!

Trying Tessa's patience

It's always nice to see Tessa (Cait Fairbanks) and Mariah (Camryn Grimes) in scenes together, but we need to know more about what exactly happened during this trip last summer when Mariah nearly killed someone. We need a development, and rumor has it we'll be getting one soon. It'd be a nice gift for this show to move this mystery along. Let's just hope it's not a holiday gift. December is too far away.

Hurry home, Jill

Alas, Jill (Jess Walton) is back to appearing on the show via video calls. We’ll take Walton’s presence any way we can get her, but weren’t her in-person appearances just the best? Jill is the only person who cares about Cane who is willing to be in the same room with him, and he has the power to take down Victor, Jack (Peter Bergman), Devon (Bryton James), and others. She needs to be in Genoa City to act as Cane’s moral conscience.

Crystal Claire

Kyle, man, give it up. Many women would be flattered by a man showing up with flowers, ready to repair their relationship. Not Claire (Hayley Erin), though. She’s made it crystal Claire, er, crystal clear, we should say, that she wants time apart. Kyle may not approve of Claire going to Los Angeles and letting Holden be her tour guide as he “just happens to be in L.A. at the same time!” But he’s going to have to walk away.

What’s that old saying? “If you love someone, set them free. If they come back to you, they’re yours. If they don’t, they never were.” Claire’s not wrong to want to find herself. Kyle's wrong to keep pressing after a certain point, and that point has been reached.

Waking up from a nightmare

Kyle showed what a great dad he was by comforting his son, Harrison (Redding Munsell), after he comforted his son who had a nightmare. We’ve been wondering why Harrison hasn’t had more nightmares, to be honest. Does he ever ask about Tara (Elizabeth Leiner)? You know, she’s his mother. His biological mother, who raised him for the first 3 (or 4?) years of his life, simply vanished when she was carted off to jail for…what was it again? She stole some money from her own company? Talk about victimless crimes! There are characters in Genoa City who have done far, far worse. Several people we can think of, but won’t name Claire, Phyllis, Sharon, Victor could all be in jail right now for doing things that have been far worse than what Tara supposedly did.

It's time Tara comes back to reclaim her son. Harrison’s had three moms in his short life – Tara, Summer, and Claire. What does he say on days that moms are supposed to come to help out at school? “I got this. I’m sure one of them is available!”

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