Schatten der Leidenschaft

more than a classic soap opera. maybe, a cultural phenomenon. or an ocean. because, for me, except Jeanne Cooper and Eric Braeden, the series is a huge Rubick cube, full of new presences, confuse conflicts, frozen time and old fights, relative friendships. a series with a life of 44 years is out of any definition. first, because it is the series of its fans. second, because, like each illusion/fairy tale, it is a source of alternative life events, different by generation who discovers it. short, endless series. maybe, the most seductive soap opera if you do not ignore its impressive longevity.

I have been a viewer of Y&R since the inception. I spent many years overseas, and still managed to follow the show. Lately I have been extremely disappointed in the choice of actors for the roles of Billy Abbott and Phyllis Newman. Billy Abbott is the epitome of the charming bad boy that all women love. Michelle Stafford is the ultimate bad girl that we all love to hate! The new actors chosen for these roles are grossly inadequate. Instead of being charming, the new Billy is a whiny preppy, not at all made for the role. He is painful to watch. The new Phyllis is trying to be bad. She just comes off as annoying. What can you do to convinve Billy Miller and Michelle Stafford to return to their roles? They were the BEST!! Do whatever it takes; they are sorely missed!

I love Y&R. I've been watching it for years and I've seen some great moments on this show but I continue to run into the same problems with it. First, the show is predictable and they recycle story lines repeatedly. Billy and Victoria are eventually going to get back together. Nicki and Victor are eventually going to get back together so let them be together and let's move on to something else. Their roller-coaster relationships are no longer interesting. Second, BRING ADAM BACK. Bring Adam Newman back to the show and stop killing him off. Adam is a likable character that also stirs the pot in Genoa City. Him coming back will turn the Newman family upside down. His brother who is unknowingly raising his son is in a committed relationship with his wife. If Adam comes back Nick's whole world will fall apart and I would love to see that happen. Nick is self-righteous and annoying. Chelsea belongs with Adam. Theirs is a love story that I'm actually invested in. Finally, I have to address Cane and how his life has crumbled around him. He deserved it. It was his fault he lost his job and his family. Lily was right to leave him and I wish her the best but Jordan is not a good replacement. Jordan looks like he's about to fall in love with every woman he speaks to. Lily needs to focus on herself and her kids for five minutes before she runs into the arms of another selfish man. The conflict with Mattie and Reed dating is ridiculous. They're like sixteen years old. Plenty of sixteen year old's date and naturally break up without their parents needing to get involved. Cane and Juliet were not at all interested in one another for months. They were friendly colleagues even after sleeping with one another. She needs to stop walking around holding her belly and speaking for two when she's fifteen minutes pregnant. I've had enough of her, I hate her voice and I would be satisfied if they revealed that Cane is not the father before killing the baby or both the baby and Juliet off of the show.

I have watched Young & Restless since almost the very beginning. When I was in Elementary school I'd run home from the bus stop to watch it with my Mother. I feel as though I've grown up with most of these people. Y&R has improved so much over the years with the added realism of the story lines by adding in humor and clever little comments that us ordinary folks might say in daily life. So many other soaps are so dramatic because they seem like they're always trying to win an Oscar. The story lines on other soaps are not like real life and perhaps that's what some people like but for me I like having something I can relate too.

Y&R has the best actors/actresses and writers. My only hope is one day they start releasing episodes on DVD.

This is one of those soaps that keeps you hooked. (It's the only one I watch, though.) The writing, performances, and storylines are all crisp and first rate. Eric Braeden is perfect as Victor Newman, and the rest of the cast does well too. It keeps you hooked by developing new ones just as others are beginning to wind down, and most of them are intertwined, as the new ones are frequently related to the old ones.

My favorite couples in the show are Nick/Sharon and Billy/Mac. I think they are great together. Other characters such as Michael Baldwin, Christine Blair, and Paul Williams make for a good mix.

All in all, a good soap whose writers know how to keep you hooked.