Wyatt is leaving town with Bill's blessing on Bold and the Beautiful (Jan. 17 recap)

When news broke that Darin Brooks would be reprising the role of Wyatt Spencer, after departing The Bold and the Beautiful in 2023, fans wondered what he would be doing and whether he'd be sticking around. We got our answer today on the soap when Wyatt paid Bill a visit.

The moment happened after Bill had gotten off the phone with Poppy while at the beach house. He was setting up a date and then his son arrived, looking serious and like he needed to talk. Apparently, Wyatt has been reflecting and he thinks he needs a change. Hence why he asked his father what he thought about him leaving LA. Of course, Bill said he always wants his sons near him, but if this is something Wyatt believes he needs for himself, then he'll support it.

That's exactly what Wyatt hoped to hear and it was clear the scene was meant to close out the character's time on the show though I wish we could have learned why Wyatt suddenly felt like it was time for him to move on. The writers could have let us know it was because of Flo, his MIA fiancee who we haven't heard from since Katrina Bowden left the soap. The two breaking up would have been an understandable reason for his departure. But at least we did learn that Taylor had moved out of the beach house, and Wyatt had been staying there, which presumably means we can assume she's no longer in California.

The rest of Wyatt's time in the episode was spent on informing Bill that he already found a renter for the place, so he doesn't need to worry about putting the house on the market. Considering RJ was just talking about needing a place of his own, he's likely the renter Wyatt is referring to even though he didn't name names. He also cheered his father on when it comes to Poppy.

Wyatt's of the mind that perhaps Katie deciding not to get back with Bill has opened the door for Poppy to enter his life. He's happy for his dad who's reconnecting with the vibrant woman he met at the Golden Gate music festival over 20 years ago. As for the writers, they're laying it on pretty thick when it comes to hinting that he's Luna's father which either means he is or we should be prepared for a twist.

One person who is not happy for the two is Li. She overheard her sister's conversation with Bill and once again tried laying down the law. Considering Li isn't in control of Poppy's finances or has material to hang over her to get her way, I'm not sure what threatening her sister is going to do. Sure, she could work tirelessly to oust her and Luna, but the women are beginning to get seriously entangled with two of the most powerful families on the soap.

Though, I will admit, my eyebrow did raise when Li said that Poppy has a tendency to date strong, handsome, wealthy men. Obviously, that doesn't automatically make her a gold digger but it would lead folks to question why she happens to always have a rich man. In any case, Li's words stuck with Poppy, to the point that it looked like she might call Bill back to cancel their date scheduled for the following day, but she didn't. Instead, she told Luna what happened.

Luna had just come back to Forrester from the hospital where she was visiting Eric along with RJ. While her boyfriend stayed behind, she had been summoned to work with a text and walked in on time to see her aunt walking down the hall. Poppy filled her in on their little back and forth and told her Li had called her a gold digger. Luna had been appalled, but Poppy assured her daughter that while she did date men who had money, she was only following her heart.

I like Poppy and I do think Li is giving her a hard time for no real reason, but I also think there has to be a kernel of truth somewhere when it comes to what Li is saying about her sister. The bitterness and the jealousy is all on her, but I do think there's more to Poppy than being a chic, art loving, free spirit even if it's as simple as she never truly takes accountability for the way her decisions impact people.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Finn shared with Steffy that if all continued to go well with Eric, he'd be able to go home tomorrow. She was ecstatic but no one was more moved than the man himself when Finn and his granddaughter informed him and RJ. He'd just been talking about how he missed his home, Donna, and his family. The emotion that crossed his face! John McCook needs to win a Daytime Emmy for his work, there's no doubt about it.

See you tomorrow, Bold fans, for another recap. Stay beautiful!