There has been mixed reactions from fans of the The Young and the Restless, as they tell the story of Nick Newman‘s (Joshua Morrow) descent into drug addiction.

However, on the Thursday, August 13 episode of the CBS daytime drama series, it provided one of the more gut-wrenching turns in the tale, which showcased three performances that broke our hearts from Joshua Morrow, Sharon Case and Jade Harlow.

In the pick-up of the previous episode, after Nick phones Sharon for help, Sharon arrives at Crimson Lights disheveled and in tears and hugs Mariah (Camryn Grimes). She explains to her daughter that Nick is back in the rehab facility, and when Mariah asks how he’s doing, Sharon says she’s not even sure Nick knows how he’s doing.

Courtesy/CBS

SHARON COMES TO NICK’S RESCUE

We then get a flashback of how Nick grabbed onto Sharon’s waist and just cried from the motel bed. Sharon says he was just broken, and he needed a lifeline and called someone he trusted. She thinks in the moment Nick knew his addiction would be a lifelong battle.

Sadly, Sharon is gutted when she realized he used and had sex with another junkie the night before and breaks down. Sharon explains that even she is only present in her own life right now because someone one helped her over and over again, and if she can do that for Nick, she always will. In the scenes, Sharon Case played Sharon’s anguish over seeing her soulmate in such a terrible state, and it was effective and heartbreaking.

As for Nick, he is now in rehab in a group meeting confessing his relapse. He left his home for one night and didn’t want to come back. Instead, he hit up his drug dealer, ended up in a dump of a motel room, had a horrible nightmare (Monday’s episode), and relapsed with the addict in the room next to his, who then OD’d and almost died. Nick realizes he finds himself deep in the throes of addiction and can’t seem to get out. Another strong performance by Joshua Morrow in the storyline of his soap career.

Photo: JPI

NICK AND MARIE TRY TO COME TO TERMS WITH THEIR RELAPSE

Next, Marie shows up at the meeting, fresh off almost losing her life and illustrates just how much emotional pain she in. Marie sits next to Nick. She’s there because the hospital handed her a flyer after a night with bad and great moments. She breaks down, but gives herself a pat on the back for showing up at a meeting.

After the meeting, Nick asks Marie if she’ll check into the program. She says needs a little more time, but assures him she will not forget last night anytime soon. As they say goodbye, Nick asks if she’ll be back. She flirts with him then makes her exit. Jade Harlow was also heartbreaking in her scenes showing the deep conflict within an addict.

After the airing of the episode, Jade Harlow shared with Michael Fairman TV, “I’m really proud and really grateful to work with this incredible team & show (through the constraints we have) how addiction can touch anyone. And all we can do is try to survive it, and love each other through.”

VIEWER DISCOURSE OVER THE ADDICTION STORYLINE

Fans of course took to Michael Fairman TV’s Instagram with different perspectives on the story, from: “Great actors. But the story lines just drag out so long that it ruins the show,’ to ‘Incredible performances from everyone. This episode definitely hit home, and I was absolutely gutted. What an emotional, powerful episode. All the actors bravo take a bow.”

Other Y&R fans jumped into the comment thread with, “Agree the acting was absolutely superb BUT and I say this genuinely respectfully, THIS IS NOT WHY PEOPLE WATCH SOAPS! In fact it’s the opposite! I watch Y&R at the end of my crazy days as a treat to myself. It’s not heavy, it’s not deep, it softens my day. This story does the opposite. 50 yr viewer and I’m done until this story is over. It’s too much,” and “Today’s show was incredible! Totally agree the actors were in their prime. Sharon was so real, she brought you into the situation like it was real life. Nick was exceptional as well, we feel his desperation and utter disappointment and fear! Marie- such talent to drop into a show and portray this character on their worst day! Wow! Great job to the writers and cast!

While yes, this is a soapified version of the harrowing effects of addiction, the work by Y&R’s Morrow, Case and Harlow within its confines should not be discounted. They delivered.

So, how did you feel about the scenes where Sharon rescues Nick, he goes to meeting in rehab, and Marie shows up  after their night together in the seedy motel room? Are you all-in with this storyline and going on the journey with it, or are you a viewers who wants it to stop? And, what did you think of the performances of Jade Harlow, Joshua Morrow and Sharon Case? Let us know via the comment section below.

 

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The Thursday, August 13 episode of General Hospital gave us just what Michael (Rory Gibson) was going to do to Willow (Katelyn MacMullen), now that he had the goods on her that she shot Drew, the verdict in the Curtis (Donnell Turner) vs. Isaiah (Sawandi Wilson) case, and left us with Trina (Tabyana Ali) alone with her stalker nearby. Let’s take a look at how it all went down!

When Willow arrived at the Quartermaines to pick up Wiley and Amelia, she was stopped in her tracks when Michael confronted her armed with the truth that she shot Drew (Cameron Mathison) twice in the back. She denies it. However, Michael pulls out of an envelope signed affidavits from Kai (Jens Austin Astrup) and Trina, explaining they were at Drew’s house that night and have proof.

Michael explains her ring tone went off on her phone while she was getting ready to shoot Drew, and it was a match for Wiley’s. Kai and Trina heard the same ringtone at the courthouse when she stood trial for attempted murder. Willow threw the fact that she can’t be tried again in a court of law because of double jeopardy. However, Michael stopped her ranting and says double jeopardy doesn’t apply in family court.

Courtesy/ABC

HOW MICHAEL GOT THE UPPER HAND ON WILLOW

Now, Michael is ready to expose her crime. Suddenly, Willow grabs the rolling pin on the counter to strike Michael, but he is able to block her. Michael tells Willow she either accepts the arrangement he is about to tell her, or she will never see her children again. Willow tries to counter that Jacinda drugged her and she can prove it. However, Michael lets it be known that Jacinda is long gone with no forwarding address.

Next, Michael tells Willow she can remain a part of their children’s lives and he will keep their current custody arrangement as long as she moves back into the gatehouse. Willow hates the gatehouse, but knows she has no other option, so she says she will pack up her things at Nina’s and move in.

Courtesy/ABC

GUILTY!

At the courthouse, the jury has reached a verdict in the case of Curtis vs. Isaiah. When the jury comes back before the court, the jury foreperson shares, “We find the defendant, Curtis Ashford, guilty of second-degree assault and battery.” In lieu of the verdict, the judge sentences Curtis to ten years in prison at Pentonville with the possibility of parole in two years.

Curtis’ attorney Martin Grey (Michael E. Knight) tells his client he has gotten him 48 hours before he had to report to prison, and planned to file an appeal with the courts on the verdict. Curtis then says heartfelt goodbyes with Trina and Jordan (Tanisha Harper), before heading over to Portia’s (Brook Kerr) to see his newborn son, Desmond knowing he will not see him for quite a long time.

WHO’S THE STALKER?

Trina and Kai are at now at Bobbie’s. They talk about her father going to prison, and Trina is channeling her feelings into her songwriting. Kai decides to let Trina be by herself so she can focus and he won’t be a distraction. However, after Kai makes his exit, someone is looking through the windows at Bobbie’s and targeting Trina. But who? We fade to black.

So, what did you think about Michael having the goods on Willow and knowing she shot Drew? Were you happy about how he used the information to gain the upper hand to get her to move back into the Quartermaines gatehouse? Were you hoping for a different outcome? Are we just a short time away from Michael and Willow being back together as a couple after everything that has happened? Then, what did you think of the verdict in Curtis’ case? Glad he going away to prison for what he did? Do you care, or do not really care? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

The Young and the Restless continues to tell the soap opera version of the harrowing effects of drug addiction and in its way taking viewers to the dark side an addict goes through.

For months, stand up guy, Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) has been battling using Fentanyl to get high and failing miserably. He only had spent one day in rehab, and since then has been in a downward spiral.

Now in a rundown motel room, Nick has sex with the junkie from next door, a woman named Marie, played by multi-Emmy winner, Jade Harlow in her new recurring role. Cut to: later both are dozing off in bed, when Nick gets up beginning to realize just what has gone on between the two of them.

Courtesy/CBS

Nick decides to write Marie a note as he gets dressed which says, “Marie, I don’t know really what to say except I hope you find a way out of this life. I pray we both do.” Next, he leaves the note on the nightstand next to her. When Nick calls out her name, he realizes something is wrong. He can’t wake Marie up and believes she has OD’d.  When he can’t feel Marie’s pulse, he begins to shake her and performs CPR, which finally rallies her back to life.

However, Marie is not too happy Nick did that. She wishes he had left her to die. Nick wants to call the paramedics. Marie freaks out and cries if he calls 911, she will have to deal with the consequences of her husband and everyone will be aware of her drug problem. Nick refuses to just leave her like this and makes the call anyway.

Later, Nick watches the paramedics take Marie from the motel room and then, sadly, lies down on the bed, crying his eyes out for where he finds himself in his life, and the near-death experience he just watched.

Courtesy/CBS

At rock bottom and with nowhere to turn, Nick grabs his phone and makes a call to the one person he loves and trusts and who he thinks can come help him, his longtime love Sharon. After everything the two have been through, the ups and the downs, Nick must feel she can truly rescue him in is time of need, Nick says, he needs her to come and get him. We fade to black.

It seems from social media posts and reactions, many Y&R viewers are split on this storyline. Some want it to just end already and don’t like seeing what the writers (then under former head writer Josh Griffith) have done to Nick Newman, while others are really impressed by the performances of Joshua Morrow and Y&R and how they are tackling a social issue of our time.

So, where do you stand, and what did you think of the scenes today between Marie and Nick? Let us know in the comment section. And, in case you missed it, Joshua Morrow and Mark Grossman (Adam) recently appeared on a livestream chat on the Michael Fairman Channel where they talked about the twists and turns in Nick’s addiction story and more. You can watch it below.