“The Young and The Restless” (Y&R) spoilers reveal Adam Newman’s new role running Chelsea 2.0 will cause drama – but what’s more troublesome is this drastic shift in personality and character from Adam now played by Justin Hartley and the old Adam under Michael Muhney’s tenure.
Which was your favorite Adam? The Adam is definitely a softer and weaker character than the one Michael Muhney played.
It’s perhaps not fair to compare Justin Hartley with Michael Muhney since there are no apples-to-apples plotlines. Muhney’s Adam was a dark and devious villain who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. By comparison, Hartley’s version is “Adam light” but that’s not either actor’s fault.
At the end of the day, both Muhney and Hartley played what they were written, so the more correct question may be – do you like the writing of old Adam versus new Adam? Muhney’s Adam was bold in his disreputable antics and was a real force to be reckoned with no matter what he was doing.
Remember how he seduced Rafe Torres (Yani Gellman)? There was no line that Muhney’s Adam would not cross. If he thought it was necessary, he would do it. That Adam kidnapped, schemed, lied, and seduced – it seemed there was no crime he wouldn’t commit nor level to which he would not stoop.
The new Adam is practically warm and fuzzy by comparison. Hartley’s Adam may have set up Paragon but then backed down. He has come clean on lies, refused to take Newman from his sister while Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) is in jail, and seems to be on Chelsea Newman’s (Melissa C Egan) leash.
That’s not Hartley’s doing though – that’s what Y&R showrunners have done to the character. They have taken a guy that was one of Genoa City’s darkest dudes that you loved to hate – and that Young and Restless fans adored. But then again, maybe that’s what many fans want – sweet Adam…
While it’s true that the pivotal moment of Billy Abbott (then Billy Miller) railing at Adam and ready to kill him over Delia’s death may have been a “come to Jesus” moment for Adam, it’s still a character shift where none was expected and many fans don’t think was needed at all.
If Y&R showrunners had totally redeemed Adam, that would have made more sense. Billy confronting him over Delia’s hit and run could have justified a drastic shift where Adam was a 100% changed man – a really good guy. But that’s not what was done.
Instead, Adam was softened into this squishier character that occasionally does bad but then feels bad about it and reverses course. Just ask Ian Ward (Ray Wise) or Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman). Both Michael Muhney and Justin Hartley are fine actors – but the source material makes their Adams quite different.
One of Hartley’s best scenes as Adam arguably is the one where he reveals to Chelsea that Gabriel is Adam. But when you think of Muhney’s best scenes as Adam’s, many more come to mind and it’s harder to choose.
It seems a shame that “The Young and The Restless” writers haven’t given Hartley meatier plots and let him play to Adam’s really dark nature. He is Victor Jr, after all, and we’d all like to see him live up to his namesake and legacy.
So what do you think Y&R fans? Do you prefer old Adam as played by Michael Muhney or are you a fan of new Adam with Justin Hartley? Vote in the POLL on which is your favorite Adam – Hartley or Muhney – and share your comments below.
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