Y&R W Y riters Have the Worst Memory & Here’s Why!!
For a show built on legacy, emotional continuity, and long-burning intrigue, The Young and the Restless has recently been flirting with one of the most dangerous sins in daytime television: forgetting its own storylines. It’s not just about retcons or creative risks — soaps have always reinvented themselves. The real frustration comes from something far more damaging to viewer trust: unfinished storytelling.
Time and again, Y&R sets up compelling side plots, teases secrets with ominous dialogue, positions characters on the brink of major turning points… and then simply walks away. No payoff. No fallout. No consequences. What’s left behind is a trail of narrative loose ends that undermine emotional investment and make even devoted fans wonder whether anything truly matters in Genoa City anymore.
Once you start noticing the pattern, it’s impossible to unsee. And the ripple effects are far-reaching — from weakened character motivations to plot holes so glaring they actively contradict the show’s own canon.
Let’s break down the most egregious examples of Y&R dangling storylines like bait, only to abandon them entirely.
The Voicemail That Led Nowhere: Claire’s “Big Story” for Billy
Few moments encapsulate this problem better than Claire’s mysterious voicemail to Billy Abbott. Months ago, Claire left him a message loaded with promise: “Boy, have I got a story for you.” In soap language, that’s not casual banter — it’s a flashing neon sign that says secrets ahead.
Viewers braced for scandal. Was it corporate dirt? A personal betrayal? Something explosive tied to Newman or Abbott power dynamics?
And then… nothing.
Billy never confronted her. The story was never revealed. The voicemail vanished into the ether, never referenced again. What was framed as a turning point for Billy — a character already struggling with purpose and direction — ended up meaning absolutely nothing. Worse, it made Billy look passive and irrelevant in a plot that was clearly designed to revolve around him.
Elena, Audra, and the JT Tease That Fizzled
Then there was the oddly specific attempt to reinsert JT Hellstrom into the canvas. This wasn’t a throwaway line or a nostalgic nod — it was deliberate.
Elena and Audra discussed motives. A video chat with JT even occurred, signaling that his past trauma and unresolved connections might resurface in a meaningful way. For longtime fans, it felt like the opening act of a darker, emotionally charged arc — one that could revisit guilt, accountability, and the scars JT left behind.
Instead, the thread was dropped cold.
No return. No aftermath. No explanation. It was as if the writers abruptly changed course and hoped viewers wouldn’t remember — except soaps train audiences to remember everything.
Jack vs. Billy: A Corporate War That Never Happened
Corporate rivalries are Y&R’s bread and butter, which makes the abandoned Jack–Billy tension all the more baffling.
Jack confronted Billy with heavy implications that Billy might be scheming to misuse an AI program for questionable ends. The scene crackled with suspicion. Billy’s reaction suggested fury, betrayal, and the beginning of a serious power struggle between brothers.
And then? Silence.
No follow-up. No investigation. No boardroom warfare. No emotional reckoning.
For a show that thrives on Abbott family fractures, dropping this storyline robbed both men of momentum — and viewers of the payoff they were promised.
Kyle, Claire, and the Audra Exposé That Imploded
Another prime example of squandered potential was Kyle and Claire’s plan to expose Audra. This storyline had everything: strategy, deception, moral gray areas, and the promise of real consequences.
Kyle positioned himself as someone finally willing to play dirty. Claire was aligned with him. Audra was set up as the target — a woman whose secrets could finally catch up to her.
Then the rug was pulled out.
Kyle dumped Claire. The plan evaporated. Audra suffered zero fallout. And once again, what was framed as a pivotal shift in character dynamics turned out to be meaningless.
The damage here was twofold: not only was the plot abandoned, but it also weakened Kyle’s credibility as a strategist and reduced Claire to a narrative casualty with no lasting impact.
Cane, Holden, and the Long Con That Never Paid Off
Perhaps the most confusing ongoing thread involves Cane Ashby and Holden — a dynamic that should have been the foundation for a sweeping, slow-burn conspiracy.
Cane instructed Holden to get close to specific Genoa City residents, including Claire and Chelsea. The implication was clear: Cane had an agenda, and Holden was his operative on the inside.
But why?
What was the endgame? Who was being targeted — and for what purpose?
Months later, those questions remain unanswered. Holden continues to exist in this limbo where he’s clearly connected to Cane’s shadowy dealings, yet the plot refuses to crystallize into anything concrete.
Which raises a bigger issue: why introduce Holden as Cane’s accomplice at all if the relationship has no payoff?
The Real Estate Contradiction That Broke Logic
One of the most glaring examples of narrative carelessness involves Holden’s real estate dealings.
We were explicitly told that Holden had been buying up every available property in Genoa City on Cane’s behalf. This was framed as a massive financial power play — the kind that reshapes cities and shifts influence.
Fast forward, and Holden is suddenly complaining that he can’t find a place to live.
Let that sink in.
He can acquire half of Genoa City for Cane — but can’t secure housing for himself?
That’s not just a dropped storyline. That’s a direct contradiction that breaks internal logic and pulls viewers out of the story entirely.
The Threat on Cane’s Life That Was Never Investigated
Finally, we arrive at the most troubling abandoned thread of all: Cane’s declaration that someone was trying to kill him.
This wasn’t subtle. It was stated outright — a massive red flag that should have launched a full-scale investigation. Cane’s paranoia was the very reason Chance was invited to the chateau.
Then Cane was murdered.
Yes, Carter ultimately killed both Cane and Damian — but crucially, he did so to prove loyalty to Cane. Which means Carter could not have been the person trying to kill Cane beforehand.
So who was?
The show never answered that question. No suspects. No follow-up. No payoff. One of the most chilling lines in recent Y&R history was simply erased.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Soap operas rely on memory. They thrive on long-term consequences, emotional continuity, and the understanding that what happens today will matter tomorrow.
When Y&R introduces storylines only to abandon them, it doesn’t just frustrate viewers — it erodes trust. Why invest emotionally if the show won’t honor its own setups? Why analyze dialogue if it leads nowhere?
Unfinished storytelling cheapens drama, weakens character arcs, and makes even explosive moments feel hollow in hindsight.
The Young and the Restless still has the talent, the history, and the audience to deliver powerful, resonant drama. But until the show commits to following through on the stories it teases, fans will continue to feel like they’re being asked to care — without being rewarded.
And in a genre built on loyalty, that’s a dangerous game to play.
So the question remains: will Y&R start remembering its own promises… or will more storylines quietly disappear into Genoa City’s ever-growing graveyard of forgotten plots?