The Newman clan is in disarray as it tries to put out fires on multiple fronts, and a new threat seems certain to pour gasoline on the flames. As Adam tries to support his brother, who somehow hasn’t made it to rehab yet, he’s in denial about his own demons, who have already come calling.
The fact that Riza hasn’t disappeared into irrelevance after the adventure in Vegas speaks volumes to seasoned soap fans. Adam thinks he’s closed the door that he reopened to help Nick find Matt, but his former partner has a foothold. All the denials in the world to his wife won’t convince us that he’s putting Riza in the rearview.
Why don’t we believe it’s in the past? Simply because the writers wouldn’t have Riza calling the house if they weren’t setting up a story. It’s Soap 101. If there was nothing developing here, she’d have never been mentioned again. Further, there was plenty of foreshadowing before they left for Vegas that Adam would be drawn back to his dark side. Put it all together and it’s clear that Adam will be the next Newman to do battle with his past demons.
Unfortunately, Adam probably won’t have his brother to support him. Sharon’s found Nick a space in a rehab facility and from he looks of this week’s spoilers, he’s going to need to take up residence asap. That will leave Adam to spiral.
While it sounds terrible, battling dark demons and whatnot, it’s honestly a much-needed twist. Chelsea and Adam haven’t had much more to do than the furniture at the ranch, and Adam himself has been far too reformed for most people’s taste, having morphed almost overnight from a grey character (dark grey at that) to a vanilla white knight. Exploring Adam’s past with Riza, which they’ve hinted was a sexual one, is the shake-up we need.
