The Young and the Restless Full Episode Recap - Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Victor Plays Puppet Master While Summer Loses Her Cool

In today’s The Young and the Restless full episode recap, Victor flexes his control issues, Summer spirals over Kyle’s love life (again), and Michael gets grilled by Lauren, who has zero patience for his nonsense. Grab your popcorn—this one’s messy.

Victor Throws Down the Gauntlet (Again) at Society

Victor's not playing nice | CBS/Sony

Kyle and Claire are just trying to have a nice meal, but Victor Newman has other plans—namely, making it very clear that their relationship is as doomed as Diane’s last attempt at reformation. Claire, bless her, actually tries to reason with The Mustache, but Victor isn’t budging. Nikki strolls in mid-drama, takes one look at the mess unfolding, and asks, “What did I miss?” Oh, just another chapter in Victor’s lifelong mission to dictate his family’s love lives.

Across the room, Summer is busy pretending she doesn’t care about Kyle, while Daniel calls her bluff. When he suggests they leave to avoid Summer obsessing over her ex’s new romance, she puffs up like a cat who just got splashed with water. “I’m not jealous,” she insists, while looking very jealous. Sure, Jan.

Meanwhile, Kyle defends himself against Victor’s doom-and-gloom predictions, but the old man is convinced the Abbott family is one disaster away from imploding. When Kyle asks if Victor plans on causing said disaster himself, he’s met with the classic Newman death glare. That’s a yes.

Michael Baldwin, Meet the Hot Seat

Over at the jazz lounge, Lauren isn’t letting Michael off the hook for his latest round of shady business with Victor. She orders a drink, gives him a long, knowing look, and demands the truth. Michael sighs, knowing there’s no escape. “Fine, let’s get it out so we can enjoy the rest of our evening.” Oh honey, this is the evening.

Turns out Victor has cooked up a fresh new plot against Jack and Diane because, well, why not? Michael hates it, Lauren hates it, and honestly, we all hate it. But loyalty is Michael’s middle name, and despite Lauren’s protests, he’s still tangled in Victor’s web. She reminds him she told him this would happen, and Michael, in true husband fashion, avoids the dreaded, “You were right” at all costs.

Michael & Lauren dance 

When Lauren finally wrangles the full truth out of him—including the details about Ian’s dramatic demise—she’s livid. “You could have been killed!” Michael waves off the concern, but Lauren is ready to hold his martini olives hostage until he admits the full scope of his involvement. The man might be a legal wizard, but when it comes to getting around Lauren Fenmore Baldwin? He’s hopeless.

Summer and Daniel: The Sibling Showdown

At the GCAC, Daniel is leaving Phyllis a very concerned voicemail, since Mama Red has suddenly gone radio silent. Summer, being Summer, throws out the possibility that she’s run off to Paris with Billy—because of course she would.

Daniel, ever the level-headed one, reminds her they’re all supposed to have breakfast together in the morning, and Phyllis was the one who planned it. But Summer, in peak denial mode, is convinced there’s no reason to worry. Right, because Phyllis Summers is known for being predictable and low-maintenance.

Daniel & Summer worry about Phyllis

While they wait for Phyllis to magically reappear, Daniel pokes at Summer about her Kyle obsession. She swears she doesn’t care about her ex’s love life, just as long as he’s not dating Audra, Claire, or basically anyone who isn’t a hologram. Daniel, ever the little brother menace, won’t let it go, and Summer snaps. “Stop!” she yelps, proving his point spectacularly.

When Daniel casually asks how things are going with Chance, Summer clams up. She doesn’t know what to think after his less-than-stellar behavior during the whole Daniel-Lucy-Phyllis investigation. Daniel shrugs, because, at the end of the day, Chance was just doing his job. But Summer isn’t sure. The only thing she is sure about? That Kyle’s love life is no longer up for discussion.

(Spoiler: It absolutely will be discussed again.)

Victor vs. Jack & Diane: The Never-Ending War

Jack and Diane waltz into Society just in time for Victor to wrap up his speech about how the Abbott family is destined for doom. Nikki, at this point running low on patience, just sighs. “Trust me, you don’t want to know.”

But of course, Jack and Diane do want to know, because when has an Abbott ever left well enough alone? When they get the scoop on Victor’s latest attempt to micromanage Claire’s love life, Diane scoffs that he should mind his own business. Nikki, with the best line of the night, fires back, “Two things you would know about.” Diane rolls her eyes so hard they nearly fall out of her head.

Kyle, ever the optimist, turns to Claire and asks if Victor’s antics are scaring her off. Claire, bless her heart, refuses to be intimidated, but it still stings that her grandfather won’t give them a chance. Nikki promises to try talking to him again, though she’s not making any guarantees. Diane, ever the realist, figures Victor is already plotting another attack on the Abbott empire as they speak. Nikki agrees. “Brace yourselves. This is far from over.”

And with that ominous warning, we know things are about to get very messy.

Michael vs. Victor: Who Owns Michael’s Soul?

Back at the jazz lounge, Michael and Lauren finally shake off the drama long enough to dance. Michael is feeling good—until his phone rings, and surprise! It’s Victor.

Lauren, not feeling generous, gives her husband a pointed look. In a rare moment of rebellion, Michael lets it go to voicemail. Back at the ranch, Victor, entirely unbothered, leaves a message demanding intel on Jabot’s future plans ASAP. Because if Victor Newman doesn’t have a scheme cooking, is it even The Young and the Restless?

Final Thoughts

Another day, another round of power plays, relationship drama, and Abbott-Newman warfare. Will Victor ever let Claire make her own choices? Will Summer ever stop obsessing over Kyle? Will Michael finally learn to say no to Victor?

Tune in tomorrow, because this train wreck isn’t stopping anytime soon.