What was, at one time, a red-hot rivalry is about to reignite in a big way on Young & Restless, but will it be able to fire up the same passions

in fans that it once did? Sadly, the match-up that viewers once relished most on the soap seems to have lost its appeal… here’s why.Once

upon a time, a Victor versus Jack clash equated to must-see TV. Even when the epic rivalry went through cooling off periods, it could always

 

 

be counted upon to thrill fans when ressurected for another go ’round. But as a new battle looms between the Newman and Abbott, it’s clear that viewers aren’t as enthused as they’d once have been… and there may be a few reasons why.

As Young & Restless spoilers tease Victor planning a sneak attack on his enemies, namely the Abbotts, Jack and Billy have managed to get on the same page just in time to try and head off the threat…. and thanks to a behind the scenes photo of the actors involved running lines together, we know that won’t be the end of it… things are only going to ramp up from there.

 

 

So, why are fans not champing at the bit for another taste of Victor and Jack going at each other’s throats? One possible reason is that the premise for all of this renewed animosity is illogical and weak. Young & Restless fans tend to demand a certain level of believability in their stories, and Victor going after Jack because he helped Nikki is just too ludicrous. Fans aren’t feeling it:

 

 

The length of time the grievance has been drawn out, with all talk and no action, only makes matters worse. Had Victor gone after Jack with guns blazing in the immediate aftermath, it might have caught fire with fans. Now? It feels like months and months of ridiculous repetition.

 

 

Further contributing to the poor reception of the story is that, as mentioned, Young & Restless viewers have been watching Victor and Jack go at it for decades. It’s time to begin handing the baton to the next generation… but that’s not happening, at least not effectively.

On the Abbott side, Kyle’s busy mooning over Claire, and Billy’s too much of a hot mess to be a serious candidate to follow in Jack’s footsteps. On the Newman end of things, Victoria and Nick are down in Los Angeles and not even involved, and Adam, arguably the most likely to succeed his father, has been relegated to writing mean stories and doling out Halloween candy.

Finally, Young & Restless viewers have been trained, at this point, to expect a lot of talk and vague threats with no follow through and little to no payoff. Will Victor actually take Jabot from Jack? It seems doubtful, therefore, it’s tough to get too excited about the prospect.

More: Young & Restless’ big hit is already a miss

It’s frustrating to not be able to invest in a rivalry rooted in such deep history. The good news is that bringing in the younger generations and having something huge actually happen in the story, could definitely make the feud between these families must-see TV again.