Young and the Restless: Nick and Marie Ignite Taboo Recovery Romance

Young and the Restless brings in newcomer Marie Kirkland (Jade Harlow) and she going anywhere after this ratty motel overdose, even though it looked like she was done. And then, as expected, she turned up in rehab with Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) after he saved her life. And I suspect we’re going to be seeing a lot more of Marie. This might be the beginning of her and Nick’s story together.

Young and the Restless: Nick & Marie Bond

So, Marie showed up to check on Nick when he was having that It’s a Wonderful Life style nightmare with all the family blaming and shaming him. But then Marie stuck around to get high with Nick and he and Marie shared pills and then they shared their bodies.

First though, they did talk quite a bit about addiction and pressure and the joy of being high. And then Nick started kissing Marie and then they wound up sleeping together. And then on his way out, Nick realized, “Oh, Marie wasn’t just sleeping it off. She had overdosed.”

So, Nick did some CPR and shook her and brought her back. But Marie was actually upset that he saved her. She told Nick she wished he had just let her die. But he wouldn’t do that and he called an ambulance and they came and took Marie away.

And then Nick called Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) crying and said, “Come get me.” Because he finally hit rock bottom and she took Nick back to rehab after all that. So it turns out he did tell Sharon some of what happened with Marie.

That conversation though was offscreen, but it didn’t sound like Nick told Sharon they slept together, just that Marie was an addict next door that he saved.

Nick Reconnects with Marie on Y&R

So, this week we’re going to see Nick back in rehab. He’s in a group session and he’s sharing with the group that he met a woman. And Nick’s telling the group they got high together and then she coded. And that’s when Marie shows up at the meeting. She walks in behind Nick and says, “Yeah, it sounds like you saved her life.”

And then Marie joins the group and she’s going to sit down and start sharing her own experiences with the group, which is a good sign. And then after the meeting, she and Nick are reconnecting and making small talk. And there’s clearly a vibe there.

Honestly, we knew this wasn’t the end of Marie because Jade Harlow is a soap vet. She’s been on several soaps over the years including Passions. Where she played Jessica Bennett. And I mention Passions because it has an interesting Y&R tie-in.

The actor who played her dad, Sam Bennett, on Passions was James Hyde who of course played villainous Jeremy Stark a few years back on the Young and the Restless. Jade Harlow has also been on Days.

She’s been on The Bay and in a bunch of movies. So for Y&R to cast a soap vet, we knew that she was going to be staying at least for a while that this wasn’t going to be a two to three episode cameo.

Young and the Restless: Marie Sticking Around

So, I suspect that Marie is going to be hanging around for a while and hanging out with Nick. Even though Jade is not on contract, she is on recurring status. And that means she could be around quite a bit for this storyline with Nick. And as I suspected, Marie is in rehab with Nick.

Even though realistically, you’d think he would be in some fancy, really expensive rehab and Marie would probably be in a more middle class affordable program, but that’s not what they’re doing.

So, since Nick already slept with Marie, that’s a red flag that they are going to be love interest. Nick and Marie were both at a very low point and then Nick watched her OD, then he saved her. So, Marie appeals to that part of Nick, the guy who loves to play white knight and ride to the rescue.  More importantly, I think it’d be easier for Nick to be with someone like Marie as a fellow addict.

She really gets Nick and Marie understands the shame of addiction. Plus, she was there when Nick hit his rock bottom point and he was there for Marie at what you got to hope was her rock bottom as well. So, for those reasons, Nick and Marie might be a really good match.

Marie’s Impact on Nick and Family Conflict on Y&R

But for other reasons, she’s probably the last person that Nick should be with because two addicts together may keep dragging each other down. But that doesn’t mean Young and the Restless isn’t going there with him and Marie.

Also, I think Nick being with Sharon as a couple is out of reach for now. Over and above the fact that Josh Griffith had literal years to reunite Sharon and Nick. And they hinted it, they teased it, there was a kiss here and there.

But they never delivered a reunion with him and Sharon. But also, I think Nick at this point feels like he’s not worthy of Sharon. Meanwhile, he may see Marie as more on his level. And obviously Jade Harlow is hot even when they’ve got her dressed ratty and sweaty and showing signs of addiction.

This week at rehab, Marie’s a little more cleaned up already. But I think once she’s back on the right track and is free of the pills, she’s going to clean up and look absolutely gorgeous.

So, we may see Nick and Marie bonding in rehab. And then I could see this turning to a real romance that continues after they get out of rehab. And of course, Marie is married, but she and her husband are estranged.

And she just cheated on him with Nick. So, sounds like Marie’s marriage is broken beyond repair at this point anyway. And Nick is certainly single. So, there’s room for romance between Marie and Nick.

Young and Restless: Victor Back to Meddling

But I bet the Newmans probably aren’t going to like Marie because she’s another addict. And basically, Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) and Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) might hate Marie for the same reasons that Nick’s probably going to like her for.

And then I think we’re likely to see typical Newman behavior. You know, with Victor loving to meddle in his kids’ love lives, and he does it destructively. I could see him trying to get rid of Marie to keep her away from Nick.

I’m sure Victor and others in the family may be afraid of Nick relapsing if he is dating an addict and around somebody else with the same struggle. So, even though it could be coming from a place of concern for his son, I could totally see Victor trying to pay Marie off or threaten her to force her to leave town and stay far away from Nick.

But if Marie lands Nick as a boyfriend, why would she take anything from Victor to leave him? Nick is a sexy hunk with a hero complex and you know, gorgeous. But I could see Marie refusing if Victor tries to pressure her and then her telling Nick what his dad tried to do.

Nick & Marie are a Good Match on Y&R

Because I suspect Marie and Nick might be the type to be totally honest with each other in rehab and as friends and as potential romantic partners. Since Marie has seen Nick at his worst and vice versa, honesty may be easier between them.

However, I expect Nikki might be sympathetic to Marie because Nikki understands addiction, but I still don’t think she would want the woman around Nick and Victor might be cutthroat as usual.

But there’s a chance Marie and Nick might actually help each other stay clean because they can lean on each other for support. Marie and Nick can go to meetings together, keep each other in check.

And this week, Sharon tries to explain to the Newmans how drugs change your brain chemistry. She told them that Nick is literally not the same person that he was. And when Sharon said that, Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) started freaking out and she didn’t want to hear it and told Sharon to stop.

But Victoria and Victor and others trying to ignore the truth and the science of it isn’t going to help. But Nikki gets it. Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) gets it. But for the others, not so much. I could see Marie being a source of friction between Nick and Victor.

Already, Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) is ready to pull back from the family. And Nick might do the same after rehab if he’s gotten in deep with Marie and they try to get her out of Nick’s life.