CBS [12/22/2025] The Young and the Restless FULL Episode: Michael’s Victor Double-Cross Dilemma
The December 22nd preview of The Young and the Restless delivers exactly what Genoa City does best during the holidays: a twisted blend of festive vibes, danger, and high-stakes drama. Beneath the seasonal cheer lies a storyline packed with paranoia, corporate warfare, and a kidnapping that threatens to explode just as Christmas approaches. Peace on earth has never been this complicated.
The episode opens with Noah Newman nursing a head injury after being attacked in the park—an unsettling reminder that in Genoa City, even the lead-up to Christmas isn’t safe. He ends up at Crimson Lights with Sharon and Nick, where the tension is nearly suffocating. Sharon tries to ground the situation with logic, arguing that Matt Clark—also known as Mitch Boll—doesn’t have the resources to abduct Sienna and disappear forever. In her eyes, he’s reckless, not some mastermind capable of pulling off a clean escape.
Nick, however, isn’t convinced. True to form, he starts sniffing out betrayal, suggesting the uncomfortable possibility that Sienna may have gone with Matt willingly. That idea hits Noah hard. Already shaken, he reacts defensively and angrily, refusing to believe Sienna could be complicit. He insists she’s kind-hearted and would never intentionally align herself with someone like Matt again. To Noah, Nick’s suspicion feels cruel and unfair, as if he’s turning Sienna into a villain without proof.
While Noah’s loyalty is touching, it may also be dangerously naïve. Genoa City has a long history of good people making disastrous choices under pressure. Behind the scenes, the truth is already darker than Noah realizes. Annie Stewart is the one executing the kidnapping, acting under Matt’s orders. And history tells us that schemes like this rarely stay under control for long. Eventually, fear, greed, or panic always creeps in, turning a bad plan into a catastrophic one.
As Noah becomes more desperate to find Sienna before the situation spirals, the bigger question is whether Annie will stick to the plan or make impulsive decisions of her own. In Genoa City, improvisation is often the spark that ignites tragedy. Adding even more pressure, Detective Burrow is closing in, determined to bring Annie and Matt down. With law enforcement tightening the net, desperation begins to loom—and desperate villains rarely act rationally.
While the kidnapping storyline builds momentum, the episode shifts gears to a different battlefield: corporate warfare. Michael Baldwin finds himself trapped in a moral and professional nightmare. Diane Jenkins Abbott has approached him with a dangerous request—to help the Abbotts prove that Victor Newman is secretly in possession of a powerful AI program. Agreeing to this would mean betraying Victor, a man notorious for destroying anyone who crosses him.
Lauren, understandably terrified, voices the question no one wants to answer: what’s worse—allowing an invasive AI system to wreak havoc on the companies and people they care about, or facing Victor Newman’s wrath after a betrayal? Victor’s anger isn’t just personal; it’s devastating. Careers collapse, relationships shatter, and reputations are erased when he decides someone is an enemy. Michael is being squeezed from both sides, forced to choose between his conscience and his survival.
Amid all the darkness, the episode offers a brief, softer moment. Billy and Sally are caught off guard when Victoria arrives with Johnny and Katie for Christmas festivities. The atmosphere is awkward at first, shaped by old wounds and complicated dynamics. But the kids’ excitement cuts through the tension. They come in smiling, hauling a Christmas tree, eager to spend time with their father. Instantly, Billy shifts into full dad mode, determined to give them a joyful holiday no matter what chaos surrounds them.
As the preview wraps up, the stakes become painfully clear. Michael is on a collision course, pressured by the Abbotts on one side and threatened by Victor’s looming retaliation on the other. Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding Sienna deepens. Is the theory that she went willingly just a cruel setup, or is she hiding a secret that could completely shatter Noah’s trust?
One thing is certain: someone’s Christmas is about to be ruined. With danger closing in, loyalties being tested, and secrets waiting to explode, this episode promises heartbreak, betrayal, and consequences that will ripple far beyond the holiday season. Genoa City may be dressed in lights and tinsel, but beneath the decorations, trouble is brewing fast.