As the episode begins, Sheila takes a break from preparing for Il Giardino’s open-mic night to fill in Li on Deacon’s homecoming. The doc is surprised to hear that Deacon is going to continue undergoing treatment with Taylor to become his best self. But “if seeing her is good for him, I’m all for it,” Sheila insists. She’s even hopeful that the shrink can “work her magic” on her stepchildren next.
Li admits that Sheila’s open-minded take on all this is impressive — especially after she so recently threatened to kill Taylor. Sheila admits she perhaps she may have overreacted to her fears that her husband would stray. “Taylor isn’t that kind of woman,” she says, “and she’s been nothing but good for Deacon.”
In Taylor’s office, the shrink holds a meeting with Deacon and his family to get them over the fact that he’s reunited with Sheila. Deke and Hope are palpably displeased and urge Taylor to tell their dad that there’s a woman out there for him that is everything his untrustworthy wife isn’t. Gee, like who? Hmm…
Eventually, Hope marvels at the unlikelihood that Taylor could possibly be OK with Deacon being with Sheila after all she’s done to the shrink and her family. “We are not trying to attack you,” Hope tells her dad. “This comes from a place of concern… Sometimes people don’t change” the way he has.
Following the meeting, Deacon marvels to Taylor that his kids really do love him. He used to think about how he screwed up in the past, he had such low self-esteem. But now he’s in the best place he’s been in his life, he says, and it’s all thanks to Taylor (whose hands he takes in his).
In the design office, Zende questions Carter about his relationship with Daphne. “I’m looking forward to getting to know her better,” the COO says. Next door in the main office, Steffy and Daphne discuss their need for a girls’ night out. Natch, Steffy also nudges her gal pal in Carter’s direction.
Daphne and Steffy seem to have forgotten their plot to have the Frenchwoman seduce Carter in hopes of getting him to undo the coup. Now she’s all about making him work to prove that he deserves her heart. When Carter and Zende interrupt, the former blabs Daphne’s secret that she has a great voice. Zende’s in for open-mic night. So is Carter.
As the episode nears its conclusion, Daphne, Carter and Zende head out to open-mic night. Steffy begs off but insists that her mom would love to go. When Deacon arrives at Il Giardino, Sheila asks how his session with the kids went. “I’m hoping Taylor put in a good word for me,” she says. Hold your breath, toots.
At Forrester, Steffy is surprised to hear from Hope that she’s just come from a family therapy session. “Taylor’s had a really positive influence on him,” Hope tells the shrink’s daughter.
To Deacon’s surprise, Taylor shows up at the restaurant to hear Daphne sing. Sheila acts like the shrink is her long-lost best friend. “I am so excited that Deacon and I are… you know,” she says, “and that’s all because of you.” Nah, the credit is Deacon’s, Taylor insists.
Making it awkward, Sheila blathers to Deacon, “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone else” — as he and Taylor gaze longingly at one another.
Credit: Howard Wise/JPI
Sharon, Sharon, Sharon. Must you always prove to be your own worst enemy? Even as Young & Restless fans shout at their screens in the vague hope she might somehow hear and reverse course, the poor thing is making one bad move after another where the seemingly resurrected Matt is concerned.
This week, she threatened him repeatedly, even grabbing his arm in an aggressive fashion. She’s made sure that anyone and everyone who crosses her path in Los Angeles knows exactly what Matt did to her, Nick and their family over the years. Heck, she’s even talked to Phyllis, of all people, about the mess that’s unfolding far from home. (Anybody else think those messages she left for the redhead and, later, for Nick, are gonna come back to haunt her, big time?)
All of which makes me think that this is heading toward the blonde bombshell once again being up to her neck in trouble. Because unless I miss my mark, Mitch/Matt is going to wind up deader than a doornail before long… or at least so everyone will believe. We, the constant viewers, will likely be left wondering whether rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated.
There are more than a few ways this could play out, and the ultimate path taken could depend on exactly what motivates Matt. Assuming he caused Noah’s accident not because the young man was having an affair with his wife but rather to lure Nick and Sharon to Los Angeles, the question then becomes why.
My theory: Matt is dying, perhaps of a behavior-altering brain tumor. While his life in Los Angeles has clearly been a pretty good one, he’s long resented the way things went down with Nick and Sharon all those years ago. What better way to get revenge than by making it appear that Sharon’s public attacks eventually took a fatal turn? Soap villains have been framing heroines for their murders — real or supposed — since first the words “tune in tomorrow” were uttered by breathless radio announcers.
Sure, this twist would be coming directly on the heels of a long story in which Sharon was framed for the Heather’s murder. But even that wasn’t the first time she’s been falsely accused of killing someone. (Remember when Adam’s ex-wife, Skye, fell into a volcano and Sharon wound up being convicted of her murder?) Yet here we go again. Poor Sharon apparently has never learned that those who forget the sins of the past are doomed to repeat them.
In my mind, the only real question is whether Matt really dies (at the hand of someone other than Sharon) or simply fakes his demise. He’s got past experience, after all, having apparently been playing possum for decades while living it up as Mitch Bacall.
Which way the storyline goes might well depend on exactly how long Roger Howarth is slated to remain on Young & Restless. A short-term stint would certainly explain why the show hired such a high-profile actor only to have him step into the shoes of a character who — given his past — would seem to have a short shelf life.
If my theory (or theories, as the case may be) prove true, things should pick up rapidly. After all, we can’t have the Newman clan hanging out in Los Angeles forever, right? At some point, they’re gonna need to head back to Genoa City. Perhaps once Sharon stands accused, Michael and Lauren will join them out in California so he can defend the accused. It’s either that or call upon the legal skills of