Dr. Taylor Hayes returns to Los Angeles on Bold and Beautiful — now played by Rebecca Budig — and quickly finds herself caught up in the family tension brewing between her daughter, Steffy, and her long-time rival Brooke's daughter, Hope, following Hope's unexpected kiss with Steffy's husband, Finn.
Family Comes First
Budig explains Taylor's return to California: "She feels she's missed out on time with Steffy and her grandchildren," Kelly and Hayes. "As she's getting older, she wants to be around her loved ones and spend quality time with them."
Soap Opera Digest reports that Taylor's return isn't motivated by Ridge's presence in Los Angeles despite him being her frequent ex-husband. The Bold and the Beautiful star states, "Ridge is her soulmate and always will be. But that's not why she's back. She's here for Steffy, who's been through a lot without Taylor by her side."
When asked about Taylor's timely arrival after seeing Ridge and Brooke together in Monte Carlo, Budig laughs, "She had a scheduled appointment there! It was a chance encounter."
She admits to questioning this coincidence herself. "I asked Brad [Bell, executive producer/head writer], 'Am I stalking them?!' I was puzzled! He assured me I wasn't. Monaco is tiny, but Taylor knew about their presence due to Brooke's Bedroom Line launch, which was big news. She had her own reasons for being there and happened to see them."
Budig describes Taylor and Ridge's first meeting in Los Angeles as "wonderful. They share a warm, loving bond and easily pick up where they left off."
Trouble Ahead
The Bold and the Beautiful spoilers say that Taylor's reunion with Brooke isn't as friendly as expected. Taylor walks in on Brooke and tells Ridge about Hope kissing Finn, Taylor's son-in-law.
"I don't think Taylor even notices it's Brooke speaking. She's just so shocked by this news about her daughter," Budig explains. "It's about Steffy and what Hope is doing to her — similar to what Brooke did to Taylor: trying to take her husband!"
Taylor is stunned by what she hears. "She goes into full Mom mode and can't think straight," Budig says. "She's trying to process this situation. Taylor is very protective of her kids and cares deeply for them. Losing a child [Steffy's twin, Phoebe, who died in 2008] makes you even more protective of your other children."
Taylor confronts Brooke. "It's a tense situation," Budig notes. "But I think Brooke sees the same thing Taylor does, and she's trying to make Taylor understand that. At the same time, she's defending her daughter. She doesn't want Hope to be attacked."
That's unlikely to happen because Hope then enters, and Taylor directs her anger at the woman who made a move on her daughter's husband. "Taylor tells Hope she's becoming like her mother," Budig reveals. "A psychiatrist might not typically say that, but it's how she feels in the heat of the moment. She's disappointed and shocked because she thought Hope was more reliable and had her life together."
Ridge tries to calm the three women. "I don't think Ridge could say anything at that moment to make Taylor less protective of her kids," The Bold and the Beautiful star suggests.
"Ridge is Steffy's father, but Taylor knows he can only do so much for Steffy. A mom's role is different; that's just how parenting works, right? Each parent provides something unique. She wants to give Steffy emotional support, and she feels she needs to be there because Ridge isn't giving Steffy what Taylor thinks she needs."
B&B fans, do you think Brooke and Taylor will ever find common ground? Keep watching The Bold and the Beautiful, airing weekdays on CBS and streaming on Paramount Plus. Please share your thoughts with me in the comments section below. Remember to follow me to read more of my content.
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