The January 17, 2025 episode of The Young and the Restless featured a tense and revealing conversation between father and son,
Victor and Adam Newman, that sets the stage for a strategic takedown of one of Genoa City’s most troublesome figures, Ian Ward.
Victor’s plan to handle Ian is not just about using public relations to ruin his reputation — it’s about ensuring Ian never dares to threaten the Newman family again.
As always, Victor’s methods are ruthless and unyielding, and he expects Adam to follow suit.
The Power Play Begins
At Society, a quiet but intense conversation unfolds between Victor (Eric Braeden) and Adam (Mark Grossman). Victor wastes no time in revealing his intentions for Newman Media.
He orders Adam to launch a full-scale attack against Ian Ward (Ray Wise), a man who has been a thorn in the Newman family’s side for years. Ian’s recent attempt to rebrand himself as a priest is seen as the latest in his long list of deceptions, and Victor is having none of it.
“I don’t give a damn about Ian freaking Ward,” Victor declares, showing his typical disregard for the complexities of Ian’s supposed transformation. In Victor’s mind, Ian is nothing more than a dangerous adversary who needs to be destroyed — no matter what role he’s attempting to play.
Adam’s Reluctance and Pushback
Adam, however, is not so easily convinced that a public relations smear campaign will be enough to take Ian down for good. He raises a valid concern: what if Ian truly has changed? What if he’s reformed and wants to live a life of redemption? Adam asks his father what happens if Ian really has turned over a new leaf.
Victor, as expected, is unfazed by this line of thinking. He bluntly interrupts Adam and insists that he does not care about Ian’s potential transformation. To Victor, Ian’s past crimes and manipulative ways make him unworthy of any sympathy or second chances.
What follows is a sharp back-and-forth where Adam pushes back on the idea of targeting Ian through the media alone. “Is that really enough to defeat him?” Adam asks, still skeptical about how effective the PR attack will be. After all, Ian Ward is no ordinary opponent; he’s a master manipulator who has managed to survive countless confrontations with the Newmans. Adam worries that a smear campaign might not be enough to take him out once and for all.
Victor’s Master Plan
Victor, never one to be swayed by hesitation or doubt, makes it clear that the PR campaign is just the beginning. “This is just a starting point,” Victor asserts. He doesn’t expect Newman Media to handle the entire job — that’s just the first phase of a much bigger plan. Adam, who is accustomed to Victor’s larger-than-life schemes, knows that when his father says there’s more to the plan, there’s always more.
Adam, despite his reservations, agrees to move forward with the smear campaign. But he still remains uncertain about how far Victor is willing to go to neutralize Ian for good. He presses his father for more details about the next steps, only to be told to do his job and leave the rest to Victor.
Victor is known for working in the shadows, pulling strings from behind the scenes to ensure his enemies meet their downfall. This is no different. Adam may be tasked with making Ian’s public image implode, but it’s clear that Victor has more drastic measures planned.
The Stakes Are High
This father-son exchange highlights just how high the stakes are for both of them. Adam, now fully onboard with his father’s plan, knows that crossing Victor is not an option. With Ian Ward continuing to be a disruptive force in Genoa City, Victor’s patience is wearing thin. If a public relations campaign is what it takes to begin unraveling Ian’s hold on the community, so be it.
But with Victor involved, it’s only a matter of time before the situation escalates further. If Ian thought he could just escape his past by assuming a new identity as a priest, he is gravely mistaken. Victor Newman doesn’t believe in redemption for people like Ian — not when they’ve hurt his family.
What’s Next for Ian?
As The Young and the Restless continues, fans can expect to see how Victor’s plan unfolds and whether Ian will be able to navigate the storm that is coming his way. Victor’s vendetta against Ian is far from over, and with Newman Media at his disposal, Ian’s rebranding efforts may soon become a distant memory.
For Adam, this will undoubtedly be another test of his loyalty to his father. While Adam may not always agree with Victor’s methods, he knows that aligning with him is the only way to succeed in the cutthroat world of the Newmans.
In the coming weeks, fans can look forward to more explosive confrontations, strategic moves, and power struggles as Victor’s plot to bring down Ian Ward begins to take shape.
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