The Bold and the Beautiful recap (Jan. 11): Taylor learns Sheila’s free

Taylor’s bubble was finally popped on The Bold and the Beautiful. The Jan. 11 episode ended with Steffy and Finn coming clean about the secret they’ve been sitting on. They had no choice considering sooner rather than later their entire family is going to find out that Sheila’s a free woman. Not to mention, Taylor wanted to know why they looked so grim when they should be bubbling over with joy as the people responsible for keeping Sheila behind bars.

Now that Bill’s scheming has succeeded, it won’t be long before he and Sheila step out as a couple. For now though, they’re settling in at home. After Sheila shared one last goodbye with Mike before being released, she couldn’t wait to shower Bill in praise for coming through for her. If anyone thought she’s not serious about her new man, her words on being his for life combined with a passionate kiss may have cleared some doubt up.

Personally, I’m still rooting for Sheila and Deacon, but I have to say, she’s found a man who accepts her for who she is, all of it, even the most devious parts of her soul. That’s not to say that Deacon wanted her to change, but he’s trying to mellow out himself when there’s a big piece of Sheila that likes reveling in darkness. As Bill proved, exploiting the system and greasing palms can get you what you want.

Here’s the full recap of events.

The Bold and the Beautiful recap (Jan. 11)

It was quite the propulsive episode as our soap moved from scene to scene, taking us to several locations before its conclusion. First, we were returned to the court house where we bore witness to a replay of Judge Craig McMullen declaring Sheila’s free to go since there are no charges being pressed against her and new evidence revealed she’d been forced from prison, she hadn’t escaped.

Devastated, Sinn exited the office but not before Steffy said her peace to the judge. But he was right, he had nothing to hold Sheila on. She could yell about all the harm the woman has done, but she chose not to press charges, so this is how the situation has to play out. When they left, the judge did look guilty and it wasn’t long before we found out why.

Bill walked into the room, greeting him. It turns out that the CEO used Judge McMullen’s ability to be plied to his benefit. So, while he had been a thorn in his side during the custody battle for Will, he’s now his ace in the hole. Bill treated the judge and his family to a nice two week vacation on his yacht, the Stella Maris. And, though the two didn’t mention any kickbacks the judge had received, that’s likely what’s been happening.

He put McMullen on this case and he’s the one who provided him with the evidence that showed Mike absconded with Sheila against her will. Steffy put two and two together when she saw Bill in the judge’s office after McMullen made his exit. She laid into him about his choice to stand by Sheila and told him that he was being used, but it didn’t do her any good. Bill made his decision.

All he could do was promise her that Sheila wouldn’t be a problem for them. Steffy’s skeptical of that but trying to persuade him to see reason by bringing up his granddaughters, Kelly and Beth, was a desperate move she should have known wouldn’t work. Sheila doesn’t care about those girls and Bill knows that. The issue he needs to concern himself with is whether he can keep her from trying to insert herself into Finn and Hayes’ lives, and what she may do to ensure Steffy won’t interfere.

For the moment, however, Sheila’s relishing in being free. They took her back to the jail to pick up her things and she also got to have a moment with her old friend, Mike. At first, it seemed as if he hadn’t been the one to help Bill free her but then it became clear that he was. Mike couldn’t believe she’d gotten the big, bad Spencer on her side. And, though he was sad they wouldn’t be spending life together in prison, he wished her well.

The soap also took us down memory lane with the two as Mike reminisced about Sheila in his cell. He’s hopelessly devoted to her and has declared his love for her multiple times, but she’s never reciprocated despite caring for him to a point. As the flashback showed they have shared a kiss before but on the Jan. 11 episode, when Mike asked for one, Sheila looked like she was going to before she playfully slapped him and called him a bad boy.

Their banter is majorly on the weird side, but it’s obvious that despite the Forresters’ claims, Sheila does have people who will go to bat for her and Mike is one of them. Bill is another though he’s in the stage in their relationship where he needs to be assured that she’s not playing him. It’s understandable given he’s gone out on a limb that could see him disavowed by his family for his support of her.

But Sheila doesn’t seem to be messing around. She’s chosen to build a life with Bill. She couldn’t stop talking about how amazing it was that he used his connection with a judge to free her. Bill doesn’t usually get praise like that. In the past, his exploitation of a corrupt system would have been shamed by his loved ones. They don’t want him to do shady, underhanded things of that nature and keep pushing him to be a better man.

With Sheila, he doesn’t have to worry about her being disappointed with him for being someone willing to do something bad to get what he wants. That’s the kind of behavior that excites her. She loves that he takes charge and bends people to his will because that’s exactly how she operates. This newfound bond between the two of them is already a force to be reckon with as Sinn and Taylor now know.

Taylor spent her first scene wrapping up a call with a patient before she spoke briefly with Eric when he entered the main office. He was surprised to hear that she and Brooke had had lunch together but nonetheless pleased. They moved on to talk about Sheila receiving her comeuppance, which Taylor believed could be happening right in the instance they were speaking but she soon found out that wasn’t the case.

Bursting through the Cliff House door like she had earlier in the day, Taylor wanted to know every detail on how the hearing went. She was expecting to get a play-by-play that had her actually feeling like she’d been in the room with her, but Sinn had to disappoint her. Steffy informed Taylor that Sheila was free and that it was because of Bill.

Of course, this confused her and when she asked what he had to do with anything, Steffy explained that he’d threatened to come forward about the night Taylor had shot him. For her mother that was a shock, and it’s going to be interesting watching her process as the gravity of what’s happening hits her.

See you for tomorrow’s recap of the Jan. 12 episode, Bold fans. Stay beautiful.

For a look at what to expect next on The Bold and the Beautiful, click here for this week’s spoilers. New episodes are available to stream on Paramount+.