On the Wednesday, August 5 episode of The Young and the Restless, it looks like the wedge between Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) and Victor (Eric Braeden) is all but forgotten, after several months of a strained marriage ,when the two have a sort of makeshift wedding ceremony in the Newman living room.

In the last few months, a vengeful Victor sent his nemesis Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) out to sea, only for Jack to be stuck on a boat with a returning Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk), while Nikki developed headaches which turned out to be a tumor on her optic nerve. After having surgery, it was touch and go for a minute when she returned home to the Newman ranch. At one point, she was completely blind post-surgery.

However within a few episodes, she could see again and Victor came to his senses that he loves Nikki and does not want to be without her.  The two make up. Former Y&R head writer, Josh Griffith had previously teased that Nikki’s medical condition would draw the two together, but it sure looks like this part of the story got wrapped up quick. But, is it?

Courtesy/CBS

HOW VICTOR SURPRISED NIKKI

In story, Nikki returns to the Newman ranch from shopping and she sees Victor has set the living room with candles and roses. He asks her if she has any plans for tonight and then brings out the ring she gave him back when they split up.

“I wish you would marry me again,” says Victor. Then, Nikki responds, “I would marry you a thousand times over.” Suddenly, Nick (Joshua Morrow), Michael (Christian LeBlanc), Abby (Melissa Ordway), Claire (Hayley Erin) and Victoria (Amelia Heinle) walk into the room.

Nick is supposed to be in rehab, so Nikki checks on him and he assures his mom that a little family time will do him good. Victor announces, “We’re getting married.” Michael will officiate. Suddenly, Nikki realizes she cannot get married dressed like she is.  Victor tells her to go upstairs. There is something waiting for her. An excited Nikki takes Victoria with her to get ready for the wedding.

Photo: JPI

THE NEWMAN FAMILY COMES TOGETHER MINUS ONE

At that point, Victor and Nick have a father/son chat, where Victor learns that Noah (Lucas Adams) and Sienna (Tamara Braun) left town to go back to Los Angeles. Nick hopes that Noah will be back one day soon. When Nick asks where Adam (Mark Grossman) is, Victor tells him that he and Adam had a falling out over Newman Media.

Nikki has now come down the stairs in her blue embroidered wedding dress. Victor says, “You take my breath away.” Michael begins the short ceremony as Victor and Nikki will exchange personal vows. Victor confesses that the thought of losing Nikki forever broke his heart. Nikki tells Victor he is her world. Michael tells Victor to put the ring back on Nikki’s finger and they kiss and that’s the wedding.

In the final moments of the show, after everyone else has toasted the couple, Nick gets up and shares, “Love can conquer all.” We fade to black.

So, are you glad Nikki and Victor already reconciled? Did you want them apart for longer, or do you like them being happy together? Let us know via the comment section  And, in case you missed it. Check out the Michael Fairman Channel’s latest interview with Eric Braeden where he discussed the state of Victor and Nikki’s relationship and working with his co-stars that included everyone who attended Nikki and Victor’s reaffirmation of love on today’s Y&R.

The Tuesday, August 4 episode of General Hospital brought with it another appearance by Christian Howard in the role of Ethan Lovett. As previously reported, Howard was brought into wrap up Ethan’s storyline as Nathan Dean’s four-month run with the show came to its conclusion.

Now, it has been 100% officially confirmed that today was the last episode of Howard as the recast Ethan. In story, Ethan was now seen in Oslo, Norway after hightailing it out of Port Charles after Hudson (Troy Lennon Appel) had showed up looking for him at the Metro Court pool in Port Charles.

On the July 31st episode, Ethan made a beeline to Lulu’s (Alexa Havins) grabbed his bags and headed out of the country without saying goodbye to Ava (Maura West), who he just had spent the night with.

Courtesy/ABC

However, on Tuesday’s GH, it was also the day where Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) finalized baby Phoebe’s adoption for Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard). This was juxtaposed with the action in Oslo where Hudson showed up at Ethan’s hotel room door. He demanded immediate answers about Delilah and the baby. Ethan told him that both Delilah and the baby she carried died.

ETHAN’S LIES CATCH UP TO HIM

Hudson is livid. The two get into multiple altercations with Hudson getting the upper hand claiming that Ethan is a thief, who had “stolen from the wrong man.” At that point, Hudson delivered a beatdown on Ethan. Next, he threatened Ethan that he will go after his entire family if he finds out he was lying to him.

Back in Port Charles at the Metro Court pool, Ava is lamenting about Ethan’s sudden disappearance to Trina (Tabyana Ali). Later alone, she gets a call from Ethan telling her to never reveal that he’s not Phoebe’s biological father. Cut to: Hudson out in the hotel hallway listening in on the call through a bug he planted in Ethan’s hotel room. Hudson then takes off. The final moment of Ethan’s is him sprawled out bloody on top of the hotel bed.

A GH rep told Soap Opera Digest that “the door is open for Ethan to return to Port Charles” in the future. And as previously reported by TV Insider, when Nathan Dean signed on for his four month return, it was due in part to that he and his wife announced back in March they were expecting a baby.

So, now that Christian Howard has officially exited the series marking the end of the story for now of Ethan Lovett, what are your thoughts? Obviously, we will look for Hudson to return to Port Charles and infiltrate the Quartermaines lives especially Brook Lynn and Chase to get close to Phoebe, and then there is Ava, who may be in terrible danger, or is she? Share your thoughts and theories.

Is this the end of an era? It certainly looks like it after Jason (Steve Burton) explained to Sonny (Maurice Benard), why he can no longer work for him, and be his right hand enforcer for his organization on the Monday, August 3 episode of General Hospital.

In story, Jason filled Sonny in on everything that went down before he was taken into custody by the WSB including: his opportunity to kill Cullum, Rocco shooting Cullum on the pier, being carted off to Jakarta, and watching his son, Danny, who now only has one parent (since his mother, Sam McCall died in 2024) suffer the consequences of his actions. Jason made clear to Sonny he must be there for his son now and needs to set a better example for him.

As emotional Jason is trying to get the words out and becomes overwhelmed with sadness, because he is truly caught between his son and the man that changed his life after Jason sustained longstanding brain damage from being injured in the car crash nearly 30 years ago in 1996.

Courtesy/ABC

Jason recounts to Sonny what led him to this decision, “The WSB’s taking me in. They throw me shackles and then they force me in the back of a transport. Danny was there. He’s pounding on the door. Tears in his eyes screaming that what they’re doing to me is wrong. They just can’t take me off. I’m sitting there wondering, ‘What the hell have I done to my kid?’ His mom’s dead. I’m going to prison if I’m lucky. Something just breaks inside of me.”

“So, I promised myself, I got to do better,” continued Jason. “I failed my son too many times and I can’t do it again. If I keep working for you, then I’m going to make sure that your security’s my priority and not Danny. It’s not fair to you to keep me on when I can’t do the things I used to. I can’t kill for you again. I got to stop doing what I’m doing so Danny doesn’t follow in my footsteps.”

Next, Sonny lets Jason know Danny had already tried to join the mob in his absence, and that he knew Jason wouldn’t want Danny in this life, just like he would not want his own children. Jason thanks Sonny for handling the situation. He adds, “I just have a few years before Danny’s going to be out on his own. This my last chance to be a true father to him before he doesn’t even need me anymore. I’m out.”

Courtesy/ABC

Sonny gives Jason his blessing with tears streaming down his face, and tells Jason they will always be brothers, and they share a hug, before Jason exits.

Applause to Steve Burton who played the scenes beautifully, and Maurice Benard, who reminded us why the longstanding relationship between Jason and Sonny has been one of the all-time best and one of the cornerstones of three decades of GH. Burton should remember these scenes for potential inclusion for his Emmy reel for 2027.

So, what did you think of the scenes where Jason tells Sonny why he is leaving the mob and can’t work for him anymore? Do you think it will stick? In the past, these two have found themselves, often having to face a common enemy back working together and Jason goes right as Sonny’s enforcer? Were you moved by Steve and Maurice’s performances in the scenes? Weigh-in via the comment section below.