The Young and the Restless Performers of the Week: Peter Bergman as Jack Abbott and Susan Walters as Diane Jenkins 

This past week on The Young and the Restless, viewers finally saw Jack Abbott's (Peter Bergman) reaction to his wife Diane Jenkins' (Susan Walters) redo of the Abbott mansion. But thanks to the dramatic and heartfelt performances given by Bergman and Walters, there was much, much more to the scenes than the unveiling of an updated set. The two actors elevated the material, earning our nod for Y&R Performers of the Week.

Our House

"It's perfect," Jack said on The Young and the Restless once the full vision of Diane's work settled into his mind. "I love you," he added, which brought great joy to Diane. He complimented her for maintaining the mansion's integrity while updating it. Jack confessed he'd been terrified as he was unsure of how he'd tell Diane if he didn't like it. That was all for naught. When he walked into his family's mansion, he felt at home.

Diane had appeared pretty confident that her remodeling was going to be a hit. However, Walters had Diane reveal that it was a bit of a facade. Deep down, she knew she wouldn't breathe easily until Jack gave his new home the thumbs up.

Walters' expressive eyes conveyed Diane's joy over Jack's happy response. Kudos to the episode's director, who managed to capture the new Abbott home in some wide shots while also getting close-ups of the actors as the characters responded to their new digs.

Bergman dove deeper into Jack's emotional psyche by having him remember a conversation Jack had with his late father, John (Jerry Douglas), that took place in the same room. Bergman, a three-time Daytime Emmy winner, played Jack's vulnerability, which somehow meant that moments like the one Jack was recalling would be diminished because the Abbott family home had changed. But that was for naught. If anything, those memories are stronger.

Jack has had many wives and many love interests over the decades, but has there ever been an OTP (One True Pairing) for him? Now, we believe there is and that woman for Jack is his wife Diane.

Both Bergman and Walters infused their characters in this storyline with a great deal of vulnerability. We watched Jack's apprehension as he approached the new Abbott mansion. When he finally got to see Diane's handiwork, Jack nearly went into a trance.

Bergman chose not to reveal Jack's reaction to the renovations on his home too soon. He had Jack soak up how he felt about the remodeling. It was as if a wave of emotions washed over him — and all of them were the warm fuzzy kind.

After Kyle exited, Walters had Diane drop her vulnerability, too. Was she confident that Jack and Kyle would like the changes? Yes. But was part of her holding her breath until they did react positively? That's true, too.

The Young and the Restless Supercouple

On Friday's episode of The Young and the Restless, Jack expressed a few concerns about the home after Kyle departed. Diane gently and with a bit of humorous surprise addressed and allayed her husband's concerns with some simple reasons as to why she made the choices she did.

"I could not be more impressed. I'm surprised I'm saying it," Jack said. "I'm just so connected to this house the way it used to be I couldn't see that there was a possibility I would still love it after it was updated."

Walters had Diane show the concern (fear would be too strong) that Ashley (Eileen Davidson), who has never been Diane's champion, might not like her changes to the house. However, Jack lovingly assured his wife that that wouldn't be the case.

Bergman played more than Jack's love of the Abbott home — he exuded Jack's love for Diane. "You have made your mark on this home," he said. "This house needed your touch. Now, you are every bit as much a part of it as I am, or Kyle, or Ashley, or Traci (Beth Maitland), or Billy (Jason Thompson). You have more than earned your place here."

Bergman and Walters brought such vulnerability to their characters in these scenes that it almost felt like viewers were peering into Jack and Diane's private lives. But that's what watching daytime drama is all about, right?

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Kudos to not only The Young and the Restless for redoing the long-running set, making it both familiar and updated at the same time, but to Bergman and Walters for their touching performances.

Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless on CBS and Paramount Plus.

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