Did The Young and the Restless sacrifice Daniel Goddard for Christel Khalil?

Christel Khalil returned to The Young and the Restless a few weeks ago and has spent more time on camera since then, than she has in the entire past year. The popular actress went on recurring status in 2018 at the same time problems arose for Mishael Morgan and Eileen Dasvidson. Morgan's contract negotiations fell through and she left the show. Davidson decided to walk away after more than two decades on the CBS daytime drama. During that same time frame, Doug Davidson was let go and this caused an outcry from the viewers. After Mal Young was fired and Josh Griffith took over as head writer, Mishael Morgan returned and has been front and center ever since. Doug Davidson was brought back but for reasons unknown to his many fans, the writers have not given him much air time.

Eileen Davidson drops into Genoa City from time to time from Paris. Khalil had been making random appearances but now she has been on screen most days of the week. There has been nothing in the media, the rumor mill or spoilers related to Lily returning to Genoa City but viewers have their own thoughts on the situation. It did not go unnoticed that Khalil came back to The Young and the Restless, shortly after her former castmate Daniel Goddard was let go. As Cane and Lily these two were one of the most beloved couples on daytime television. Based on numerous tweets, Goddard thought so also. Were there possibly secret negotiations to woo Christel back and did she make certain stipulations?

It was rumored a few years back that the actress said she was tired of Lily and fans thought she desired new acting projects. While she was on recurring status, there was no notice of Khalil indicating that she was seeking or had found other jobs. During this time, the writers were carefully writing her television husband off of The Young and the Restless. There was an awkward attempt to pair Cane with Traci that viewers hated and it did not work out. Out of nowhere, Cane quit his job at Chancellor Industries to help newly released prisoners. He sold his home and the twins were sent away to college out of town. His son same who now would be close to three years old was rarely mentioned and never seen.

Finally the writers had Cane to leave town to try to clear his name and locate his father Colin. Since then, Chance informed Jill that he believes he can locate her husband and Colin put Devon's money back in his hands. Not one word has been uttered by anyone regarding Cane Ashby. Jill should have immediately called her stepson and let him know he is off the hook, but she did not. Neither Chance, nor Devon said one word about notifying Lily's ex and she has not mentioned him either. Lily accepted a job offer from Jill and is now working with Billy for the Chancellor media division. With Cane out of the picture, Lane fans will not be able to voice that they want the Ashby's back together.

With all due respect to Christel Khalil, it looks as if she no longer desired to portray a wife, mother of twin teens and stepmom to a little boy. Once all of that was out of the way, she returned to The Young and the Restless. This could all be an interesting coincidence or it could be 100% accurate. Lily is back and paired with the bad boy of Genoa City, Billy Boy Abbott. No one saw this coming and as a matter of fact, rumors and spoilers said Jason Thompson was on his way out of the CBS daytime drama. Now he seems more settled and willing to work with Lily which is what Jill wanted. This could be only temporary and Billy could spiral out of control at any moment. Both Nick and Victor are blaming him for Victoria's mental state and not willing to cut him a break.

The writers may have had a change of heart and decided to leave Jason Thompson on the show and pair him with Lily. The two have a history of being good frineds and even once slept together. With Daniel Goddard out of the picture, a divorced Lily is free to date Billy Boy without Cane looking over her shoulders. She also does not have the twins or Sam to tie her down. There is always the possibility that The Young and the Restless will rehire Daniel Goddard, but based on the way they got rid of him that seems highly unlikely. It's almost as of Christel Khalil wanted a clean slate and no ties to Lily's past to weigh her down. There was no big press release regarding the return of Khalil to the CBS daytime drama and it's not been indicated that she is indeed back on contract. All that is known, is that she is back, and her television husband is gone. Was Daniel Goddard the sacrificial lamb so that his cast mate and television wife would return? There may never be a direct answer to this question from the powers that be, but there is every indication that it is true.

There are varying opinions from those who enjoy this CBS daytime drama. Some viewers have expressed on social media that they could care less but others are seeking answers which may never come. There are fans of The Young and the Restless who say that neither Christel Khalil nor Eileen Davidson should have returned to the show once they left. Others are pondering why Doug Davidson was brought back, only to be sidelined once again. Some viewers have said they don't like his character Paul and don't care that he is not being used.