‘The Young and the Restless’: Allison Lanier Impresses Fans in Summer Newman Debut
The Young and the Restless cast officially welcomes Allison Lanier to the show. Lanier debuted as Summer Newman on the May 18th episode. Lanier becomes the latest actor to step into the role of Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) and Nick Newman’s (Joshua Morrow) daughter. The reviews are already coming in, so how did the actor perform in her debut?
‘The Young and the Restless’ fans love Allison Lanier as the new Summer Newman
Summer is a legacy character on The Young and the Restless. As a member of the Newman family, the young woman’s been involved in many big storylines. 2021 was a massive year for Summer when she married her sweetheart Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) and moved to Milan for a new job.
Summer and Kyle’s exit stemmed from Mealor and Hunter King’s decision to leave. However, the return of Kyle’s mother, Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters), enticed Mealor to come back. As for King, the actor wasn’t interested in a full-time return, so the show recast with Lanier.
Lanier’s debut was a busy one, with Summer arriving for Tessa Porter (Cait Fairbanks) and Mariah Copeland’s (Camryn Grimes) wedding. Aside from trading barbs with Mariah, Summer also met Allie Nguyen (Kelsey Wang) and voiced her suspicions about Diane.
It’s only been one day since Lanier’s debut, and fans are impressed with her. On a Reddit thread, viewers praised the Summer recast. “I like her so far; she has a level of pleasant confidence that’s kind of refreshing. Not arrogant or stuck-up,” wrote one user.
“I loved Hunter as a person and actress, but this new one seems to give new life to Summer. I like it!” exclaimed one fan.
“This one seems more like her mom. If that’s the case, Diane is in for a tough time,” another commenter replied.
Some of ‘The Young and the Restless’ fans prefer Hunter King in the role
Many actors have portrayed Summer, yet the part’s become synonymous with King. King portrayed the character on and off from 2012 to 2021. After nearly a decade, King left the soap opera in August 2021 because of a contract dispute. While King reprised her role for a few brief appearances, the actor put the kibosh on a permanent return.
The Young and the Restless has hit gold with Lanier as the new Summer. While many fans are warming up to Lanier, diehard fans won’t accept anyone but King. On Twitter, some viewers expressed their dislike for the recast.
“I want this new Summer gone. Where is our beloved Hunter King? This new girl does not have the flair, the character, and the winsome personality to play the role,” wrote one fan.
“Ok, not feeling the new Summer,” a viewer replied.
“I want the old Summer back…PLEASE,” another fan begged.
A huge storyline is coming for Summer Newman and Kyle Abbott
Lanier has tough shoes to fill playing Summer on The Young and the Restless. While her debut was a success, many aren’t welcoming her. However, that may change when they see her acting chops in the coming months.
Summer and Kyle’s decision to move back to Genoa City isn’t easy. Of course, Diane’s back from the dead and causing trouble. Diane wants to reconnect with Kyle and have a chance to be a mother and grandmother. Yet, her plot faces opposition from her daughter-in-law.
Kyle is confused about what to do with his mother, and Summer won’t be shy about expressing her opinion. She believes Diane is up to no good and will work with Phyllis to take down her mother-in-law. While Diane views herself as a worthy adversary, she hasn’t met the new and improved Summer.
