On The Young and the Restless, Phyllis and Cane have worked together to take over Newman Enterprises. Victor Newman has already lost the first division. Cane’s involvement with Phyllis has been a head-scratcher for Y&R fans since he’s still in love with Lily. In the meantime, her on-screen portrayer, Michelle Stafford, pulled back the veil and looked into Phyllis’ soul.

Key Takeaways

Newman Enterprises experienced its first collapse.

Phyllis and Cane successfully took over the company, thanks to the use of AI.

Their corporate warfare and romance have left Y&R viewers confused.

Michelle Stafford shared Phyllis’ perspective on these matters.

Cane Holds the Power of Victor’s AI Program

Instead of confronting Victor (Eric Braeden), Cane (Billy Flynn) outwitted him behind the scenes. He took the stolen AI program to flip the script and reclaim his power. Cane unleashed the AI software that Victor had previously stolen and dismantled, as Newman Enterprises crumbled in real-time.

In a single false move, Victor lost control. He had no idea what was coming. Newman just faced its first hit. The AI tore through every part of the systems. The assets were already pushed offline, which means it was too late to save them.

One of Newman’s divisions was already wiped out before Victor and Adam (Mark Grossman) could stop it. Meanwhile, Cane and Phyllis were celebrating their victory in the bedroom. Their collaboration has become a head-scratcher for fans of both characters.

MORE: Michelle Stafford offers a fresh perspective on life as a single mom on Soapy.

Y&R Fans Question Cane and Phyllis

Cane proved that he had the power all along. He could’ve turned the AI program on Newman at any given time, but he chose to do it now. He took the opportunity when the chips fell, and while Victor was distracted.

Victor learned that Jack (Peter Bergman) and Kyle (Michael Mealor) had Matt Clark (Roger Howarth). Jack tried to make a deal with Victor, but he refused. Then, he found out that Newman Enterprises had been stolen from underneath him.

Y&R viewers have questioned Cane’s involvement with Phyllis. What does he want with her? He figures that he’s already lost everything. Lily (Christel Khalil) and his kids won’t forgive him, and now they want nothing to do with him.

So, why not transform himself into the power-hungry monster they already think he is? Instead of proving them wrong, he decided to stoop to that level. Cane figures he has nothing else to lose at this point. So, he might as well live up to his Aristotle Dumas identity.

Stafford Pulls Back the Veil

Stafford, who called out the blur between actress and character, pulled back the veil on Phyllis on Instagram. She shared a quote from her Soapy podcast with co-hosts Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart.

“Phyllis is jacked up. All the time. And the way that she’s written, especially now, and I really like it, so don’t get me wrong, but she’s fighting for her life in every scene, and she’s hanging from the cliff,” Stafford explained. “That’s like where she is emotionally on a soul level.”

Phyllis wants to reclaim her place in Genoa City. She was tired of being seen as the outcast. And she’s doing it by taking over other people’s companies and teaming up with the town’s biggest enemy. She doesn’t care whose trust she could lose because of it.

Y&R viewers have mixed reactions. Most praised Stafford’s acting, as she pours her soul into each storyline. But they admitted they don’t like this version of Phyllis and her involvement with Cane. What are your thoughts?

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