What Is The Young And The Restless Trying To Say About Adoption?

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Just a few weeks after The Young and the Restless played the story of Chelsea insisting Johnny be told she’s his biological mother, everyone is suddenly referring to Christian as Adam’s son. Victor said it, Sally said it, and even Nick acted as if he was resigned to it. And this after he went to court and won definitive custody from Adam years ago. Why is the topic suddenly back in play?

Young and the Restless: Rerun Season

We hope it’s not because we’re about to see a familiar story play out. Paxton Mishkind did an excellent job acting out Johnny’s confusion at learning that Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) gave birth to him. Connor (Judah Mackey) was his usual whiny self, making his brother’s trauma all about himself. We haven’t seen Christian in ages, so we have no idea of this young actor’s skills. But we’re pretty sure we don’t want to see the same beats for a second time in less than a year.

Y&R Subliminal Messages

Victoria (Amelia Heinle) isn’t happy about having to share her son with his dad’s rapist, and we don’t blame her. Billy (Jason Thompson) and Chelsea insisting she accept this modern family arrangement with no quibbles was, frankly, grossly insensitive of them.

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It’s almost like Y&R’s attitude is: Adoption, shmodoption, blood ties are all that matter. Of course, Johnny will feel a connection to Chelsea and an obligation to have a relationship with her. Especially after her suicide attempt more or less guilted the sensitive boy into it.

And the minute Christian finds out he’s Adam’s (Mark Grossman) and not Nick’s (Joshua Morrow), well, that will be that. He’ll also gravitate toward the happy family that is Adam and Connor, not to mention Sally (Courtney Hope) and his new sister. That’s a pretty lousy message to send to all the adoptive and stepfamilies out there. Especially back-to-back.

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