We have a confession to make about The Young and the Restless: We do not understand Victor Newman and his presumably very, very clever plan. Maybe it’s because we are not very, very clever. Or maybe it’s because, by our not-very clever calculations, what we see is a plan where Victor fakes senility so that he can catch his children caring about him, and the child who cares the most is obviously the one who is out to betray him. Uh-ha.

Young and the Restless: Break It Down

No. Really. Victor (Eric Braeden) is pretending to be suffering from dementia so that his kids will worry that he can’t take care of himself, much less his company, and call in a doctor to treat him. Such betrayal! Does Victor want his children to truly believe he is ill and to…do nothing about it? Will ignoring his condition prove that they love him? Um…how? What?

Victor Newman: Explain Yourself

Victor shared his plan with Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), who nodded her head as if it made perfect sense. Victor shared his plan with Nicholas (Joshua Morrow), who nodded his head as if it made perfect sense. Same with Victoria (Amelia Heinle). Victor is not sharing his plan with Adam (Mark Grossman), who had the gall to contact a doctor who specializes in elder care to discuss his father’s condition — just like any devious son would.

Plus, Victor has not shared his plan with Nate (Sean Dominic), who is still, despite not practicing, a doctor who might want to remember his Hippocratic Oath and offer medical assistance — like the underhanded snake he obviously is. Um…what?