The Bold and the Beautiful recap (Nov. 16): Ridge drops a bombshell

The Forresters were rocked by a bombshell today on The Bold and the Beautiful. Ridge finally admitted why he left Brooke, but it wasn’t to his ex-wife. No, he angrily confessed in the middle of the rehearsal dinner for his upcoming marriage to Taylor.

It was news that only Thomas and Douglas were prepared for and it left me alight with the possible directions the story could take with this revelation. Presented with this bit of information, Taylor’s confidence may get shaken and, though it wouldn’t be surprising if she goes on with the wedding, this will hang over it for her going forward. Ridge had previously assured Taylor that he was marrying her because he’s happy in their relationship but this confession showed that that’s not necessarily the case.

The whole situation came to a head thanks to Eric’s tactless pushing to get to the bottom of Ridge’s change of heart concerning Brooke by way of goading him into making a toast about his choice. Apparently, that was enough of a push to send Ridge right over the edge and us along with him as the Forresters must now sit with what he had to say.

Absent from the event were Brooke, Katie, and Donna, but we know it won’t be long before they find out that Ridge is certain his ex-wife called CPS on his son. Will they find out in time for Brooke to make a play for her “destiny” before it’s too late? Here’s how today’s episode of our soap set up that possibility!

What happened on The Bold and the Beautiful today?

Eric wasn’t the only one to badger Ridge about his pending nuptials to Taylor. Before he went to the rehearsal dinner at Forrester Mansion, he’d been finishing up a meeting with Carter and Justin. The two lawyers briefly spoke about business before Carter brought up the wedding.

He noted that Taylor makes Ridge happier than he’s ever seen, but then turned that statement into a question when his best friend looked troubled. Carter’s no stranger to making poor decisions in an effort to conceal his true feelings in order to go after what he believes is the only course of action for his life.

Paris was the unfortunate victim of that mindset earlier in the year when he’d proposed and nearly married her because he couldn’t be with Quinn. His former lover interrupted the wedding and poured her heart out to him to convince him that he should be with her and not Paris, who she knew he didn’t love.

Ridge is potentially putting Taylor in the same predicament. There are, of course, major differences. He and Taylor do love one another, have been married before, share history, and raised children together. They consider themselves best friends and have a connection that spans decades. As such, the kind of heartbreak that Ridge could leave Taylor in would be immense and would certainly change and potentially ruin their relationship for good.

The hurt Ridge feels over Brooke’s perceived actions, however, are outweighing his ability to slow down. His haste with this marriage hasn’t gone unnoticed, it’s why he keeps being questioned about it. Even Justin said his piece on the matter, speaking to Taylor’s exceptional qualities but also wondering if Ridge is really ready to move on from Brooke.

When Carter questioned Ridge on whether he’s truly going to marry Taylor, Brooke walked through the door and asked the same thing. Ridge asked Justin and Carter to give them the room so Bridge could launch into one last cyclical conversation about the end of their marriage.

Nothing new got said between them until Brooke asked again if Ridge is going to marry Taylor. He didn’t answer her, but he did tell her that he wishes her nothing but happiness and that she gets everything she wants. His parting words were that he’d always love her and, like he’d told her he needed to do earlier, he went to the rehearsal dinner being thrown in his honor.

Across the hall, Carter tempered his guilt about Brooke walking in on his talk with Ridge by asking Katie if Brooke already knew about the engagement. He hated the thought of her finding out because she overheard it rather than her being given the courtesy of being told. Katie assured him that Brooke did know and refused to let him shoulder blame since Ridge should have been the one to tell his ex-wife in the first place.

The running theme, for everyone that’s not Taylor, Steffy, Thomas, and Finn seems to be that Ridge is making a mistake. I understand being Team Brooke, but it’s not going to be some great loss if Bridge can’t come back from this. The writing is suggesting it will be, but there has also been some rewriting of history.

Brooke and Ridge weren’t in a stable place in their relationship before the CPS call. They were under one roof, but he was spending much of his time at the mansion with his family. And, if he wasn’t there, he was at Steffy’s house. Ridge was trying to have his cake and eat it, too, while his wife tried not to be insecure about the distance growing between them.

They weren’t seeing eye to eye on Douglas’ living situation, and she did threaten to call Child Protective Services in a wildly inappropriate leap about her grandson’s safety as if he was ever in danger. The two weren’t making plans for the future, Brooke couldn’t even get a romantic date night off the ground without it being spoiled.

So this idea that they were happy and then something, or in this case someone, destroyed that happiness to the point that Ridge left her, is disingenuous. Even if I weren’t pulling for Taylor and Ridge to tie the knot, I’d feel that way because Bridge are not the epitome of a loving relationship and them “overcoming obstacles” lately usually boils down to him looking past some egregious action or statement Brooke has made rather than actually overcoming anything.

Still, the fight for Bridge goes on. Eric put Ridge on the spot at the rehearsal dinner when he asked his son to make a toast of his own once Thomas completed his. Thomas had been speaking on how he’d waited his whole life for this day, making pointed, subliminal statements to his son, Douglas, as he gave a speech about his parents’ love.

Earlier, Douglas hadn’t wanted to be a part of the festivities. Up in his room, he told his dad that he didn’t want to have to lie to his grandparents. Once again, Thomas tried to reason with him. Pulling up a chair, he explained that even though Brooke didn’t make the CPS call, she had threatened to do so.

Thomas told Douglas that his grandmother doesn’t want them to be together and that she thinks he isn’t safe around his father. Before Thomas could launch into a rant about Brooke, he curtailed his tongue and said he didn’t want to speak ill of his grandmother to his son.

I think it has to be noted that while Thomas is absolutely wrong in this storyline, he’s also shown a lot of growth. The handling of this manipulative and hurtful plot is miles different from the Baby Beth arc on The Bold and the Beautiful. This isn’t about his personal gain or Hope, it’s about his family and trying to remove a woman from his personal life who does nothing but persecute and belittle him.

It’s just unfortunate that so many people are going to be hurt by his lie. That was evident today when, instead of giving a speech about his love for Taylor, Ridge revealed to his family what he believes Brooke did to his son. They were all alarmed. Eric asked how Ridge could be sure and he said that he and Thomas heard her.

Uncomfortable, and very aware his son could spill the beans, Thomas tried to send Douglas upstairs, but all he got was a firm, “No,” in response. Matthew Atkinson had impeccable comedic timing in the moment as he reacted. And, Henry Joseph Samiri has been superb as a defiant Douglas who just wants his dad to do the right thing.

With his son looking for him to be better than he has been, it does make me wonder if Thomas’ own convictions about this secret might wane. I doubt he’d tell either of his parents but he may share the burden of what he’s been holding onto and ask for guidance from his sister. That or Douglas might do it. For now though, the story is heating up.

Brooke ended the episode being comforted by Katie and Donna. With the latter sister in a relationship with Eric, it won’t be too long before word spreads about Ridge’s accusations. She bore witness to Thomas reprimanding Douglas for using the voice manipulator app.

It shouldn’t be hard putting two-and-two together if Brooke says she didn’t call CPS but Ridge insists he heard her message to the authorities. But will the pieces come together before Tridge exchange vows? I can’t wait to find out! Until next time, Bold fans. Stay beautiful.

Stay tuned to Hidden Remote for more The Bold and the Beautiful news and coverage! New episodes of the soap air Mondays-Fridays on CBS. Evening viewing is available on Paramount+.