I know we here at Soaps.com grumble about Young & Restless now and then. OK, a lot. But it’s only fair if we also point out the twists and

turns that, rather than test our patiencea, pique our interest. And at the moment, the show is developing three couples about which we’re actually… hopeful. Read on, and we’ll discuss.

No Vespers needed, Holden and Claire are intoxicating — and not just because he isn’t an obnoxious Richie Rich like Kyle, either. With Holden, Claire ditches the sweet-as-pie act and downright sparkles. She’s light, she’s fun, and good Lord, the sparks Hayley Erin and Nathan Owens throw! They can exchange a look that packs the punch of a searing kiss.

My one hope is that, as Claire and Holden’s story progresses — and it’s got to after their hot Halloween-night hookup — he stops playing quite so nice. Sensitivity is an admirable quality, but the character’s been around the block. Time for him to up his game and show us that he really has some game. Sienna told Claire, “Keep your eye on this one — trouble.” Well, we’ve got our eye on him, too, and we’re looking for trouble! Bring it on!

My one hope is that, as Claire and Holden’s story progresses — and it’s got to after their hot Halloween-night hookup — he stops playing quite so nice. Sensitivity is an admirable quality, but the character’s been around the block. Time for him to up his game and show us that he really has some game. Sienna told Claire, “Keep your eye on this one — trouble.” Well, we’ve got our eye on him, too, and we’re looking for trouble! Bring it on!

It isn’t just the swoony dialogue and longing gazes that have me so excited about this coupling, either. It’s the fact that Daniel and Tessa’s mutual crush isn’t rooted in plot points (like, say, everything Cane does), it’s rooted in feelings that we haven’t just been told have developed between them but have seen evolve. (More of this kind of storytelling, please. Heaps more.) On top of all that, the storyline promises to tee up fantastically messy drama when Mariah comes home and discovers that she pushed her wife so far away, she landed in Daniel’s arms.

We’ve all heard that Phyllis is getting a new love at last, and what can we say but “It’s about time!” The character has almost always been a heat-seeking missile, whether she was breaking up Danny’s marriage, pursuing Nick or working her wiles on Jack (or Ronan or Damon or… ). So hasn’t made a whole lotta sense that she’s been warming the bench for years now instead of tearing up the sheets.

Michelle Stafford has said that even if Phyllis does get a new paramour, she’ll probably screw it up. But the Emmy winner is brilliant in love and/or lust stories. Plus, if the show pairs her with the character we suspect it is — Cane — it will at last give him something to do besides make grand plans, change them overnight and endlessly promise that he’s done lying, “and this time, I mean it!” Sure, Jan.