‘The Young and The Restless’ (Y&R) POLL: Can There Be Redemption for Victor Newman?

Both Victor Newman and his portrayer, Eric Braeden, quickly became a hit with fans, upon their debut on “The Young and the Restless”. Braeden’s movie-star looks, on-screen magnetism, and formidable acting skills drew them in even as Victor did seemingly unforgivable things. Victor Newman became the central figure on “Y&R” and the head of one of Genoa City’s core families, the Newmans.

Over the next thirty-two years, Victor Newman committed adultery, stole Jabot, the cornerstone of his rival’s family company out from under them, punished his adult children for disobeying him by demoting them at Newman Enterprises and putting an unrelated man in charge of them, even “threw an ex-wife from an ambulance,” according to TV Guide’s Michael Logan. And this list only scratches the surface of his wrongdoings.

But he has always retained his humanity, his need for his family’s love, the desire to be in a loving relationship, perhaps this is one reason fans and family have stood by him over the years. And Braeden has played the character carefully, never allowing him to become one-sided or irredeemable.

His last two acts of cruelty, though, may have been the last two straws that broke the camel’s back. First he had Jack (Peter Bergman) kidnapped and hired a look-alike, Marco Annicelli to impersonate him, leading to a host of immoral situations. Then he stole a business deal from under his comatose ex son-in-law, Billy Abbott, (Jason Thompson) using Billy’s condition to his business advantage.

Perhaps for the first time, his family is, en masse, holding him accountable for his actions, as they become aware of the Marco Annicelli debacle. Victor may face prison time, but worse, he may face the rejection of his loved ones. Both may very well cause Victor to objectively analyze his own behavior, to for the first time truly look at himself and who he has become.

Hopefully, when he does this he will remember that his family values him very much, just as Braeden will remember that Victor’s many fans want him to stay Victor even as he suffers the consequences for his unmitigated ruthlessness of late. Who will Victor Newman be, when all is said and done?  Will there be redemption for Victor?  Will his family forgive him?  Vote in the POLL and share your comments below.

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