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.

Could it be after all is said and done that Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) and Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) might actually get back together? It sure seemed like a possibility after viewers witnessed the Monday, August 10 episode of General Hospital.

In it, Michael raced to Nina’s after Jacinda revealed she drugged Willow. Out of an abundance of concern, Michael wanted to make sure his children, Amelia and Wiley, were safe, but also to check on his ex-wife.

When he arrived on the scene, Willow was high as a kite and Michael was trying to defuse the situation when he sees Amelia and Wiley witnessing the whole thing. He is shocked to find out from Willow that Yuri dropped off the kids to her when it wasn’t her night to have them, because Yuri said he had a hot date. Michael noticed the iced coffee on the table, realizing he has to keep it away from Willow (who had been drinking it).

Courtesy/ABC

THE SPARK BETWEEN MICHAEL AND WILLOW

Once the kids left the room, Michael informed Willow she was high. She tells him she would never take drugs and that he was ruining her buzz kill and asks him to please not fight with her. When Michael finally gets Willow to lay down on the couch she tells him that she likes when they were friends and his calming voice. Michael told Willow, “I liked that, too.”

In that moment between Michael and Willow, it appeared like the spark was still there between the former couple, but how could they go back to anything after all the terrible things they have done to one another, and mostly all of Willow’s machinations, which to this point Michael doesn’t even know?

If Michael finds out (as in the preview this week where it’s teased that Trina and Kai tell him about Willow shooting Drew), will he still feel the same about her, or understand all of her motives and what led to it?

JACINDA IS OUTTA HERE

At the end of Monday’s episode, Jacinda (Paige Herschell) called Michael, and was so relieved when he told her he was able to get to Willow in time, before things escalated further. Jacinda say, “No harm done. That’s good, right?” Michael looks over at Willow asleep and is beyond pissed with Jacinda.

Now. in the preview for today’s Tuesday, August 11 episode of the ABC daytime drama series, Jacinda is in tears telling Michael, “I’ll go, on one condition.” Looks like this will be the end of Michael and Jacinda, but what will she ask of him before she makes her exit?  stay tuned.

So, do you think the GH writers will circle back to Michael and Willow getting back together for the sake of their children, and fall back in love with each other? Do you think Serena Baldwin and Michael being teased as potential pairing, was just a tease and no more than that? Glad that it seems like Jacinda is on her way out, or do you like Jacinda and Michael together?

Weigh-in via the comment section, but first check out the scenes from Monday’s GH, where Michael rescues Willow, and the GH video teaser for today’s episode below.

The Friday night, August 7 episode of WWE SmackDown on USA Network, revved up the aftermath from last weekend’s SummerSlam as past feuds reignited and new feuds are now set to take off.  As far as a post-PLE SmackDown, this was one of the best in a long time, setting the table for what’s to come.

The show started with Cody Rhodes, fresh off his loss for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship to CM Punk, after Randy Orton hit Cody with his RKO when the referee got knocked out. As Rhodes was addressing the SmackDown crowd in Philadelphia (which is where Cody won the belt from Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40), CM Punk interrupts when his music hits and he comes to the ring.

Rhodes wants to know if Punk knew that Orton was going to interfere in the match and allow Punk to retain the title. Punk says he didn’t know and he was just as pissed off about Orton and offered to “Two-Man Power Trip” the place until they found Orton and beat him up. Cody leaves the ring to deal with Orton, while Punk tells him, “Say when.” Thus, Punk has left the door open for Cody to have a rematch.

Photo: WWE

KO AND CM PUNK HAVE SOME THINGS TO SAY

Next, Kevin Owens passes Rhodes on the ring ramp, as he enters  to come face-to-face with Punk. Owens won the fatal four-way to become the number one contender for the title.

The two traded trash talk each other when SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis shows up at ringside. Up until now, KO and Punk just trade snide remarks with Owens claiming why he knows Punk is the same sociopath he always has been.

Owens explains how his 17-month battle and recovery from his neck injury (and surgery) made him want to get back into the ring more. However, Punks says, “Do you think they were holding their breath, waiting for Kevin Owens?” Next, KO thanked Punk for setting an example of what not to become and called him a “miserable piece of s**t.” KO pushed Punk and we are off to the races, before the two men are broken up by WWE officials.

Photo: WWE

Later in the show, The Viper Randy Orton makes his entrance to the ring, but once hitting his signature pose atop the ring post. Cody Rhodes interrupts and chases Orton out of the ring.  Then, we get the reset of their feud we it should have been for WrestleMania 42, that was ruined by the arrival of Pat McAfee forced into the build-up.

Now, Orton explains his behavior once and for all. He says when he rolled into WrestleMania 42, he gave Cody the best version of himself, and The American Nightmare still defeated him. As a 14-time champion, he added, “The best version of Randy Orton wasn’t going to win No. 15, but the worst version damn sure will.” Rhodes fired back “I don’t have to be the good guy anymore,” which got the crowd riled up. The two have a stare down.

Backstage, Sami Zayn confronted CM Punk and previously Kevin Owens and Nick Aldis. Zayn cannot believe how he has been screwed time after time to get a rematch for the title that he lost when CM Punk was inserted into the championship match when Zayn was the titleholder.

Photo: WWE

CHELSEA GREEN’S CELEBRATION TURNS TO A DERAILMENT WITH NEWS OF HER INJURY

With the news that Rhea Ripley had knee surgery a few days ago, and will be out longer than expected, new interim Chelsea Green was introduced as the WWE Women’s Champion.

The fans are so behind Green, who they have wanted to see elevated into a top spot. Green thanked them for helping make this moment happen. After Tiffany Stratton joined her in the ring for a celebration, the “friends” were interrupted by Fatal Influence and Jacy Jayne and a match ensued, which saw Green get injured. She d wound up with a broken orbital bone, which will derail her first WWE World’s Women title run for now.

Taking to social media on Saturday, Green shared, “Hey, guys. So, I was trying to keep this kind of private but the Internet knows everything so I thought I would come on here and clear things up. I did get injured last night. Stuff happens. It’s live television, it’s wrestling, it’s an occupational hazard. I ended up in the emergency room and I have a broken orbital bone. It looks amazing, all things considered. It feels awful but looks pretty amazing.”

Chelsea added, “I have no idea what that means for me. You know, usually you guys can see me play into every single injury but like this feels different, obviously. This feels very different. It feels frustrating, and I’m upset. I feel like if I didn’t have bad luck I’d have no luck at all. So, I just need to take a little bit more time to process and kind of heal from obviously the head trauma that is going on right now. And then we’ll see what happens. We’re just going to take it day-by-day. So, world domination continues we’ve just had a minor blip.”

Photo: WWE

TATUM PAXLEY ARRIVES!

The SmackDown main event featured Jade Cargill (with B-Fab and Michin) facing Charlotte Flair (with a returning Alexa Bliss) and a very special addition to the duo.

During the melee towards the end of the match, the lights in the arena went out. When they came back on NXT”s Tatum Paxley was atop the ring post and dove into B-Fab and Michin to take them out. Ultimately, Charlotte scored the pinfall on Cargill, and Tatum, Alexa and the Queen celebrated in the ring as SmackDown went off the air.

So, what did you think of WWE SmackDown this past Friday night? One of the better post-SummerSlam episodes? Excited for what’s ahead? Weigh-in via the comment section and take a look at the highlights below.