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Victor Newman’s adversaries can tell you that he’s a man capable of anger and ruthlessness. Yet viewers of The Young and the Restless know that beneath the powerful mogul’s hard exterior, there’s a man capable of deep vulnerability. That’s the side Eric Braeden, Victor’s portrayer, showed this week, and his performances have earned him TV Insider’s Performer of the Week honors.
Victor’s wife Nikki (the sensational Melody Thomas Scott) has been diagnosed with a mass in her head, which is putting her vision — and her life — in jeopardy. As she has in the past, Nikki’s refused to share her medical malady with her husband because, given their current relationship, she simply can’t count on him to be there.
The two have been arguing for months over Victor’s incessant need to control his enemies by trying to vanquish them (in the case of Jack Abbott) or by keeping them around, despite their heinous actions (in the case of Matt Clark).
Victor met with Nikki in her hotel suite at the Genoa City Athletic Club in an attempt to get her to come clean with what was ailing her as she’d displayed symptoms in front of him. The beauty of their relationship is that it’s very difficult for one to lie to the other because they know each other so well.
In fact, the two have been involved in many storylines that have left viewers screaming at the screens, “Stop! Just admit you two love each other!” The fun is watching them realize this as they get back together.
Victor grilled Nikki over how she was feeling, offering to get her the best doctors possible if that’s what she needed. Victor caught his wife off guard when he let on that he knew about her blurred vision courtesy of their granddaughter, Claire (Hayley Erin). “She is worried about that, and so am I,” Victor said, showing that he still cared about Nikki. Victor confessed that he’d spied Nikki in excruciating pain, giving her another chance to open up.
Despite Nikki’s illness, she and Victor still found a way to spar. He wondered if her headaches were self-induced, infuriating her. She ordered him out of her room. Then, Nikki took off her engagement and wedding rings and handed them over to Victor. He snatched them out of her hand and waved his finger at her as if to say, “Fine!”
But on the other side of the door, Braeden had Victor show a look of concern. He knew Nikki wasn’t being truthful about her condition.
He was right to have doubts. Soon, Nikki was admitted to the hospital, where it was determined she needed surgery, sooner rather than later.
At home, Victor received a call from Victoria (Amelia Heinle), who told him, “Mom is in the hospital. The doctors say she that needs to have surgery at soon as possible. But there’s no one on staff with the expertise to handle it.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Victor said. Whoever said, “Nobody in life is coming to save you” never met Victor Newman. The mogul instantly put aside all the ill will between him and Nikki that had gone on over the last several months and effortlessly shifted into hero mode.
Victor’s wealth and his ability to make things happen are a key reason why viewers have fallen in love with the Victor and Nikki love story.
Victor went to Nikki’s hospital room and stayed by the door. She didn’t see him there due to her condition, but our eyes were fixated on the mogul. He didn’t have any lines, but the look on Victor’s face said it all. He was devastated at the prospect of losing his wife and/or her losing her vision. Despite his past words, Victor’s clearly a man in love with his wife.
Many times, Braeden’s Victor has told the story of when he was a 7-year-old boy left at an orphanage on Christmas Eve by his destitute mother. As Victor stood in Nikki’s room, deeply saddened by her predicament, it was clear that that scared little boy still lived within him on some level.
Even without any lines, Braeden was able to convey his character’s feelings of helplessness and fear. Nikki was in physical pain, but Victor probably could have used a consult with a heart doctor because his was clearly breaking.
Victoria and Claire went out into the hallway where Victor had gone to take a call. “I think it’s best if your mother doesn’t know that I’ve been here,” Victor said, not wanting to upset Nikki. “I don’t want to cause any more stress.”
Victor left not just to not cause any additional stress, but also to hopefully alleviate some. He offered up his private jet to fly a specialist from New York City to Genoa City so that she could operate on his love. (Who says money can’t help solve problems?)
Instead of barking orders and making demands, Victor showed gratitude and grace as he talked to Dr. Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox), Nate (Sean Dominic), and Lily (Christel Khalil) about the efforts being made to help Nikki.
Braeden has captivated viewers for years by giving performances in which Victor is filled with rage. He’s outmaneuvered the craftiest of foes in the boardroom, come out on top in physical confrontations when he’s been outnumbered, and smashed portraits of his rivals into pieces!
However, the Daytime Emmy-winning actor is also able to reach viewers by showing Victor’s vulnerability. Our fingers are crossed that Nikki regains her health and that someday soon Victor will be putting those rings back on her fingers!
https://www.tvinsider.com/1272350/young-and-the-restless-victor-newman-nikki-blind-eric-braeden/
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Daytime TV Performer of the Week: ‘Y&R’s Eric Braeden Brings Painful Levels of Vulnerability to Victor Newman...
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