Soaps without drama is a combination that just isn’t possible. A series like The Young and The Restless has been running for decades and has used and re-used almost every story trope available.
However, seeing these cliches used with different characters and settings is always fun. One such situation is unfolding right now in the show with Nikki, who has been kidnapped.
But who is the kidnapper? That secret lies in the 1990s episodes of the show with a dead baby.
Nikki Newman was kidnapped by her new employee, Claire Grace, in The Young and The Restless. Claire injected her with sedatives and then tied her to a bed with an IV drip attached to her arm in an abandoned location. Claire is the presumed-to-be-dead daughter of Victoria and Cole Howard.
What Happened to Nikki on The Young and The Restless?
When Claire Grace (Hayley Erin) came to Genoa City, Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) thought she was an invaluable asset. She did everything for Newman Enterprises and was the perfect worker. However, things quickly took a dark turn.
Claire had an agenda of her own as she used a syringe filled with sedatives to inject Nikki with and kidnap her. While injecting, she said,
“Sweet dreams, Nikki. Enjoy them while you can.”
Then Nikki woke up and found herself tied to a bed with an IV drip attached to her arm. She was kept in an empty location and couldn’t reach anyone because her phone had malfunctioned.
But why did Claire turn evil from seemingly the perfect employee?
Why Did Claire Kidnap Nikki Newman?
Claire is the thought-to-be-dead daughter of Victoria and Cole Howard. In the early 90s, the show Victoria (Amelia Heinle) falls for Cole (J. Eddie Peck), and they get married. But her parents, especially dad Victor Newman (Eric Braeden), weren’t happy about it.
This was because Victor was hiding a secret- he was Cole’s father because of an affair he had with Eve Howard years ago. Thankfully, a DNA test proved that Victor wasn’t the father. So Victoria and Cole could happily remarry.
Victoria then became pregnant with a baby girl, whom they named Eve. Sadly, the child passed away only a few days after birth as a result of a complication and infection.
That’s what was known till now.
But the November 27, 2023 episode proved that Claire is really Eve. She dragged an injured Cole before Nick, Victoria, and Victor, as she claimed-
“He had to be here for the family reunion, didn’t he mother?”
Victoria was surprised to hear her addressed as a mom even more. Now, on top of worrying about how to get Nikki out of this situation, she will also have to save the rest of the family.
In the next episode’s teaser, we see Nikki screaming for help from upstairs. As Nick races to help her, Jordan stabs him.
Many viewers think Aunt Jordan fed Claire (aka Eve) lies about Cole and Victoria and how they probably didn’t want to raise her. So it’s the trope of the dead kid coming back as an adult to get revenge used here again.
But it will be interesting to see how the family escapes Claire and Aunt Jordan’s plans. This has overshadowed what could have been a lovely reunion between Victoria and her long-lost daughter.
It’s almost certain that there’s a lot of venom to be spilled before any pleasantries, let alone love, can be exchanged.
To make matters worse, Aunt Jordan said that she had poisoned the water bottles Nick, Victor, and Victoria drank from. So time is running out.
However, it doesn’t look like the Newmans are going to die. But there’s one question- will Claire stay a villain or become a hero?
The Young and the Restless airs on weekdays on CBS. They will be available to stream later on Paramount Plus.
What are your thoughts about Claire’s sudden heel turn? Did you always suspect that something was wrong with the seemingly perfect Claire? Will any of the family die due to Claire or Aunt Jordan?
Share your thoughts and theories in the comments below.
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