The Bold and the Beautiful recap (Dec. 28): Bill helps Sheila

If you were a Bill fan holding out hope that the CEO hadn’t slipped so far into the darkness that he’d be willing to help Sheila, I’m sorry to tell you The Bold and the Beautiful dashed your hopes on today’s episode. Not only is Bill Spencer on the infamous woman’s side, there’s also the implication that the two are together…romantically. Shocking, I know.

No one, however, was more shocked today than Finn because he became privy to a piece of Steffy’s past that he’d been unaware of. This incredibly significant event is the very thing that Bill and Sheila are going to hold above Steffy’s head to keep her from turning Sheila in. See, what Finn didn’t know was that back in the day, Taylor shot Bill.

And, while this is purely speculation on my part, if Finn wasn’t aware that altercation happened then he likely doesn’t know why Taylor nearly killed the Spencer patriarch in the first place. To refresh your memory, she’d gone to Bill’s house under the cover of night, in a storm almost like the one happening right now on the soap, and shot him because she was under the impression that he’d raped her daughter.

Taylor had received word from Ridge that Bill had taken advantage of Steffy. Overcome with emotion, she hopped a plan to come stateside, shot the man while he was standing in his living room, and then left him for dead. Liam had thought he was the one who had done it in some kind of fugue state, but he’d actually passed out and came to after the near fatal incident happened.

When all of this came out, Bill didn’t press charges. At the time, he’d been trying to win Steffy back to his side and wasn’t above trying to manipulate and blackmail her into choosing a life with him. Their night together had been a mistake but consensual and had occurred because Liam confessed to Steffy that he’d kissed Sally Spectra, her nemesis, when they almost died in a building collapse.

Distraught, and not thinking straight, Steffy allowed Bill to comfort her when she’d taken refuge in the guest house at the Forrester estate. One thing led to another and the former couple slept together resulting in Steffy being unsure of her baby’s paternity when she’d learned she was pregnant. It turned out that Liam was the father, but when he found the test she had to come clean and their marriage as well as their relationship was forever changed.

If Finn wasn’t told any of this, let’s just say the happy bubble of love Sinn had been existing is going to get popped. Here’s the full recap of events for today’s episode!

What happened today on The Bold and the Beautiful?

When Bill entered Sinn’s home, they thought they could count on him for help, but they quickly realized they were wrong. It wasn’t a coincidence that he’d arrived at the Cliff House in time to catch the couple in the act of trying to tie Sheila up and hold her until the authorities could be alerted.

In truth, he’d come so that he could assist Sheila in her mission to get Finn and Steffy to back off. As Bill explained it, he’d finally found someone who he couldn’t hurt with the choices he’d made in the distant past and in his present. He’s aware of all the harm he’s caused over the years which has kept him from finding happiness with Katie, Brooke, and Steffy. Now he’s alone, but he doesn’t have to be if he chooses to be with Sheila.

Shocked, appalled, and frankly disgusted, Steffy snapped at Bill and told him that she didn’t care if he moved on with Sheila, but that there would be bars between them regardless. For her part, Sheila made good on her insistence that she wouldn’t be going back to prison. She played her ace card after Steffy lifted Finn’s shirt to flash the scar left behind from his bullet wound.

Both Steffy and Finn were adamant that Sheila would be paying for her crimes, but turnabout is fair play and Sheila’s not the only person on this soap to have shot someone and left them for dead. She instructed Bill to turn around so she could lift his shirt and show the scar he has on his back, the one left behind from the bullet would he sustained from Taylor shooting him.

Steffy didn’t think Bill would dare use the incident to threaten her into submission, but that’s exactly what he did. Meanwhile, Finn was confused as it became clear this was a piece of Forrester and Spencer history that he’d not been read in on. Bill put it plainly, if they go to the police, so will he.

Personally, I’m not sure what the statute of limitations are in regards to what happened to Bill, but this has thrown Sinn for a loop and it’s certainly going to do the same for the rest of the family. Not to mention, even if they all do comply with this threat, Sheila’s still a fugitive so I have no idea what type of life Bill thinks he’s going to have with her, but he’s not in his right mind at the moment so he probably didn’t get that far.

As for Taylor, she’s reveling in her new friendship with Brooke which is happening far too quickly for my tastes. These two women had been at each other’s throats for decades. Calling a truce and being friendlier than they had been is one thing. Proclaiming they’re friends and talking about how good it feels to be in each other’s arms is something else entirely.

I don’t know what’s going on there, but I’m not for it. There’s so much talk and very little substance. The writers can choose to hand wave the past and act like Ridge was the only obstacle keeping Taylor and Brooke from being positive forces in each other’s lives, but that’s simply not true and it’s disingenuous to the story that’s been told about them.

Also, for as giddy and excited as Taylor is to be getting closer to Brooke, she’s being far more open and honest about how she feels than Brooke is. For instance, her former nemesis is telling her half-truths.

Last episode, Brooke told Taylor that Thomas was fired for the good of the company, but she made it sound as if it was a simple business decision rather than the haranguing that it actually was. As such, Taylor said that she understood even though she’d wished someone had been on Thomas’ side and that this step wasn’t one that had to be taken.

Today, after Taylor shared about how much she enjoyed the nice, small gathering at Steffy’s house for Christmas, Brooke filled Taylor in on the festivities at Eric’s. She shared that Ridge stopped by once she realized Taylor was unaware of his visit, but she neglected to talk about their kiss under the mistletoe.

Instead, Brooke assured her that she wasn’t breaking from their pact. She, too, is glad to be done with the back-and-forth and lamented all they’d put their children through in the name of being with Ridge. Taylor expressed that she’s proud of her and that the late Stephanie Forrester would be amazed to see the both of them getting along as well as Brooke Logan declaring she doesn’t need a man.

I raised an eyebrow over the use of need in Taylor’s sentence because it brought me back to a turn of phrase she’d once let loose in a conversation with Brooke. She’d said she didn’t need Ridge, she wanted him. I can’t help but think that that line is going to get used against her down the road because as much as Brooke agrees that they don’t need Ridge to be happy, it’s clear she still wants him and I doubt that’s going away anytime soon.

Across the hall, Katie and Carter were continuing their improvised romantic date after getting rained out before they could go on the one they’d planned.

Katie complimented Carter’s bond with Will and told him that he’d make a great father. After a mini rant about Bill’s behavior, she managed to rein it in and refocus on her date with Carter who presented her with a Christmas gift. He’d meant to give it to her at Eric’s when they got a chance for some alone time, but the chance never came.

Said gift was a beautiful heart necklace to represent the strength of Katie’s real life heart and character. These two are sweeter than sweet, right on down to their slow dances and playful banter. While Carter could tone it down with the platitudes, I have to say that I really am enjoying their budding love story and hope to see their relationship continue to grow.

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+.