The Young and the Restless (Y&R) is missing too many of its younger generation. Here are 10 familiar faces who should return to revitalize Genoa City.
10. Theo Vanderway – The Edgy Abbott Cousin
Dina Mergeron’s (Marla Adams) biological grandson Theo Vanderway (Tyler Johnson) has deep ties to the Abbott family that were barely developed before he left for Paris. When he first arrived in town, back in 2019, he quickly became romantically involved with Summer Newman (Hunter King), which drove Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) crazy.
Bringing Theo back would immediately give Kyle and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) a messy, unpredictable relative to deal with. Suffice it to say, Theo’s edginess is the exact kind of trouble the younger canvas needs right now.
9. Ana Hamilton – Devon’s Talented Half-Sister
Many Young And The Restless fans were rightfully furious when Devon Winters’ (Bryton James) talented half-sister Ana Hamilton (Loren Lott) was abruptly written off the show without much of a proper payoff. With Devon launching the new Neil Winters College of Arts and Humanities, bringing Ana back to help run the music program would make perfect sense. Plus, it would finally give viewers the storyline she deserved all along.
8. Christian Newman and Connor Newman – Brotherly Rivalry
It is well past time to finally age up Christian Newman, instead of leaving him offscreen with the occasional mention by Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow). Bringing a teenaged Christian with Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) and Chelsea Lawson’s (Melissa Claire Egan) son Connor Newman (Judah Mackey) would give the next generation of Newmans some real screen time.
Imagine the drama between Nick and Adam as their boys start growing up and clashing in Genoa City. And let’s not forget, Christian is also Adam’s biological son. Perhaps Adam could start obsessing over him, instead of baby Ruby, a child who isn’t even his.
7. Ronan Malloy – Nina’s Son Could Team Up With Burrow
Nina Webster’s (Tricia Cast) long-lost FBI agent son Ronan Malloy (Jeff Branson) is long overdue for a trip home. Bringing back a rugged, sharp-tongued investigator would instantly inject some grit and mystery into the younger canvas. He could team up with Detective Jack Burrow (Matt Cohen) on a case. Even better, Ronan’s arrival would be the perfect way to kick off a major twist involving his half-brother.
6. Reed Hellstrom, Johnny Abbott and Katie Abbott – Imagine The Fireworks
Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) has three children who are barely seen or mentioned these days. Bringing Reed Hellstrom (Tristan Lake Leabu) home from college alongside Johnny Abbott (Paxton Mishkind) and Katie Abbott (Sienna Mercuri) would instantly revitalize the Newman-Abbott dynamic.
Granted, Johnny and Katie did return recently to attend their father’s wedding, but Reed hasn’t been onscreen in years. He’s also never met his older sister Claire Newman (Hayley Erin). Imagine the fireworks when Victoria’s kids discover she is secretly hooking up with Kyle!
5. Fenmore Baldwin – Bring Michael And Lauren’s Son Home
Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc) and Lauren Fenmore’s (Tracey E. Bregman) son Fenmore Baldwin (Zach Tinker) has been away pursuing his music career for far too long. Lauren and Michael have been without their own major storyline for an age and Fen’s return would provide some much-needed drama.
Bringing him home would also introduce another gay character to the canvas, alongside Tessa Porter (Cait Fairbanks) and Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes). Fen coming back could also tie in with an Ana Hamilton return, as she produced Fen’s first hit single at Devon’s studio.
4. Charlie Ashby and Mattie Ashby – Twins Have Remained Offscreen
While Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) and Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) have reunited and are madly in love again, Charlie Ashby (Noah Alexander Gerry) and Mattie Ashby (Lexie Stevenson) are still conspicuously absent.
The twins are mentioned often on Young And The Restless, and there was even a storyline last year about them being furious with Cane. But frustratingly, they remained offscreen throughout. Having Charlie and Mattie return to Genoa City would tie in the next generation of the Winters-Ashby family. Why not have them attend Devon’s college?
3. Noah Newman and Faith Newman – Put Robert Adamson Back In Role
Nick Newman and Sharon Newman’s (Sharon Case) older children deserve far more respect than they’ve received in recent years. Bringing Faith Newman (Reylynn Caster) home from college alongside Noah Newman (Lucas Adams), ideally with fan-favorite Robert Adamson stepping back into the role, would finally give the core Newman family real generational depth.
Plus, Noah deserves a high-stakes romance that isn’t with a woman the same age as his mother. Nothing against talented actress Tamara Braun, who portrayed Sienna Bacall, but these two had no chemistry. Not to mention, they previously played mother and son on Days Of Our Lives, which really upped the ick factor! Bring Noah back and reunite him with Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver).
2. Chance Chancellor – Death Robbed Young And The Restless Of A Hero
Killing off Chance Chancellor (Conner Floyd) in France was a huge mistake that robbed the show of a vital legacy hero and the only cop in town at the time. Not to mention, good old Josh Griffith also cheated fans out of his onscreen funeral. Where’s the emotional payoff in that?
In classic soap opera fashion, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor need to reveal Chance faked his death for some sort of undercover mission. Bringing him back from the dead, especially with his brother Ronan helping to untangle the mystery, would be the ultimate soapy twist. God knows Chance wouldn’t be the first deceased soap character to return to the land of the living, and he certainly wouldn’t be the last.
1. Summer Newman – The Anchor Of Y&R’s Younger Generation
At the top of the list is Summer Newman (Allison Lanier), who remains the undisputed anchor of Genoa City’s younger generation. Having Summer return from Milan right when Kyle’s secret affair with her aunt blows up would create instant friction and possibly a surprising bond with Victoria’s daughter Claire.
As longtime viewers are well aware, Summer and Claire constantly clashed over Kyle. Summer was jealous of their relationship and often tried to undermine them. The cousins could join forces against Victoria and Kyle, adding lots of messy angst.
Summer has also been on the outs with Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford). Making amends with her mom and an onscreen reunion with Phyllis and Nick is just the kind of emotional payoff fans are looking for. Putting the “Young” back in Y&R needs to start with returning Summer to Genoa City where she belongs.
With new co-head writers Giddens and O’Connor at the helm, Y&R has officially entered a brand-new era. While fans are already excited to see Lucy Romalotti (Lily Brooks O’Briant) back on canvas, Genoa City is still missing a large chunk of its younger generation. And we’re hoping Giddens and O’Connor will finally bring them home.
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