The Young and the Restless‘ Nikki Newman, played by Melody Thomas Scott, is a traditional, classic soap opera heroine, fiercely loyal to her family and loved ones. Nikki and Thomas Scott are both synonymous with the top-rated serial, and the actress’ performances last week have earned her our Performer of the Week honors.
Nikki’s son, Nicholas (Joshua Morrow), is fighting for his life as he grapples with a life-threatening addition to opioids. The situation has put his whole family on edge, including Nick’s sister, Victoria (Amelia Heinle), who sought solace from Nikki early on in the week.
Thomas Scott plays Nikki as a loving and grounded mother, recalling how her ex-husband, Jack (Peter Bergman), the late Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John), and, especially the late Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper) helped her get on the road to sobriety. “What I wouldn’t give for her to be here now to help us get through this,” Nikki lamented.
Veteran Y&R fans know the show’s never been the same since Cooper passed away and Kay’s death was written into the show. Thomas Scott is an emotional anchor for those viewers, who smile wistfully when the late character is referred to with love.
Thomas Scott’s big challenge last week came when Nikki returned to her room at the Genoa City Athletic Club, where she’s been living since her husband, Victor (Eric Braeden), kicked her out over her support of Jack, Victor’s sworn enemy.
Nikki texted her Nick, hoping to see him the next day. She touched her head in pain, as if she subconsciously knew that Nick was not doing well.
Nikki got some much-needed rest and fell asleep, but she soon wished she hadn’t. Nikki had a nightmare in which she returned to the Newman ranch, ready to start anew. Victor informed his wife that Nick was dead after he had overdosed.
That prompted Nikki to wake up from her nightmare. Thomas Scott let out a primal scream that was worthy of her horrific dream.
The angst that Nick’s mother was feeling was eerie in the sense that Nick was across town, hovering between life and death. While we didn’t think that he was truly going to die, Nikki’s premonition that something was amiss gave us reason to think that anything could happen.
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Still in a half-haze after her nightmare, Nikki was comforted by Vicki, who’d come to check on her. “Have you heard from Nicholas?” Nikki asked her daughter with a tone that suggested she feared that the absolute worst had occurred.
Nikki shared with Victoria her dream, barely getting the words out. “I’m just so worried about him,” Nikki added. “I can’t even say the words. I don’t want them to come true. I don’t know what I’d do without my children.”
While Nikki is a strong matriarch, Nick’s addiction has clearly taken a toll on his mother.
Next, Nikki burst into tears after getting a call from her estranged husband. “Victor,” she grimly answered the phone, fearing that he was calling with bad news. He was. After informing Nikki that she needed to get to the hospital as their son had overdosed, Nikki cried out, so distraught that she was unable to tell Vicki that her brother was still alive.
“I knew it!’ Nikki lamented. “I knew it! My nightmare came true!”
Brava to Thomas Scott, who makes our dreams come true each and every time she’s on screen, for her emotional tour de force!
The Young and the Restless, Weekdays, CBS
If you or someone you know has addiction issues, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration‘s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
