November 3, 2023 

On Thursday’s November 2nd episode of The Young and the Restless, the top-rated daytime drama served up a very touching standalone episode honoring Lauralee Bell’s 40th anniversary with the show as Christine.

Throughout the hour, flashbacks were used tastefully throughout to help tell the story of a woman at a crossroads in her life, while she reflects back on some of her biggest regrets, relationships and more. The episode starts with the latest news in the life of Christine. She and Paul (Doug Davidson) have called it quits. Their marriage is over.  How will she move on from here? Will she throw herself back into her work as a lawyer as she has done countless times before? Will she take another shot at romance with her ex and former love, Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian) who is currently back in Genoa City? Can she make peace with the fact she never had a child after losing the one she was carrying years ago? What direction will Christine’s life take?

As the show begins, Christine runs into Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) at Chancellor Park.  Not what Christine was hoping for as she is still reeling from her break-up with Paul. Apparently, Phyllis already knows Christine’s marriage to Paul hits the skids. After going in on Christine about rekindling her relationship with Danny, Christine tells her she will not be talking about her personal life with of all people, Phyllis!  Christine tells Phyllis: “Right now, your top priority should be getting your miserable life back on track.”

Photo: JPI

After Christine leaves, Phyllis flashes back to a terrible fight between the two when Phyllis accused Christine of taking her son, Daniel from her.  Lauren (Tracey Bregman) shows up and Phyllis tells her she tried to make peace with Christine.  Lauren is finding that bit of intel hard to swallow.

Photo: JPI

Now at Crimson Lights, Christine gets the help she needs when her best friend Nina (Tricia Cast) appears and asks,, “Feel like talking to an old friend?” Christine smiles. On the patio, Nina tells Chris she’s so sorry things didn’t work out with Paul. They discuss how “People change.”  Then, we are treated to a flashback of Chris and Danny trying to teach Nina etiquette and to act like a lady. The two friends even bring up when Nina stole Phillip away from Christine. When Nina finds out Danny is in town, she reminds Chris that she and Danny have quite a history.

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Nina asks Christine what she thinks about a future with Danny? Chris says there were so many starts and stops and it was all mostly due to Phyllis. We flashback to an argument between Cricket and Danny. At that point, she informs him she is marrying Paul over the holidays. Danny walks out on her as she screams, “How could you do this? How could you do this to us!”

Lauren arrives on the scene and Chris remembers going into law practice with Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc). All of a sudden, Christine is very emotional and overcome. She recalls Paul wanting to start a family and how she wasn’t ready at the time. She questions did she put her career over having a family? She doesn’t have what Lauren and Nina have. Nina points out that not having children allowed Chris to make a difference in other people’s lives.

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After Lauren takes off, Nina says to Christine, “You’re really at a crossroads, aren’t you?” She adds, that she wishes she could write her next chapter but she’ll have to do that herself. Nina reminds her she’s had two great loves in her life, Danny and Paul, which is more than most people get. At the end of her discussion, Christine feels she has a better idea of where she wants to go now.

At the jazz lounge, Phyllis comes upon Danny and asks if he’s be interested in having dinner with her tonight.  Just then, Christine appears behind Phyllis.  An irked Phyllis makes her exit. Danny, who is happy to see Christine, says he has been thinking about her, and wants to share something he has been working on composing at the piano. He begins playing and Christine wells up with tears, saying “It’s beautiful.”  Danny continues playing as an emotional Christine touches his shoulder. We fade to black.

Photo: JPI

All in all, Lauralee Bell delivered a touching performance and the story was not overplayed, but subtle and touched upon the moments in the characters life while giving Christine some hope for her future.