The Young and the Restless spoilers document that Ian Ward (Ray Wise) isn’t dead. Viewers know that, but Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes) doesn’t; it seems like no one else in Genoa City, Wisconsin, does either.

It’s possible that someone at the facility Mariah checked herself into in Boston, Massachusetts, is working with Ian because this is daytime. The audience doesn’t know enough yet to draw that conclusion.

All the fans have been given are some flashback sequences, which are marvelously presented in film noir-like black and white. Kudos to Y&R’s production team for making that visual switch in recent years because it allowed Will Hensley (Michael Swan) to debut in a memorable retrospective fashion in the recent past.

Michael Swan’s Return To Daytime

Mariah believes that she smothered a man to death while on a business trip earlier this year. It appears that her recollection isn’t accurate, with more plot details being needed to flesh out the truth.

The soap world is a tight community. So, seeing daytime veteran Swan appear on this show isn’t surprising.

He had two roles on Y&R’s sister show, The Bold and the Beautiful, from 1998 through 2003. He portrayed Adam Alexander, with that character’s alias being Myles Fairchild.

Swan is best known for portraying Duncan McKechnie for many years on the former, beloved steamers As the World Turns from 1986 through 2002, Guiding Light, and One Life to Live. He also had a brief role on Days of Our Lives.

The veteran actor’s career began in 1975 when he appeared in one episode of The Blue Knight. He appeared in many nighttime shows through the decades as well.

What Did Mariah Copeland Do To Will Hensley?

Mariah recalls meeting an older man while on a business trip for Cassidy First. She was drinking and apparently felt attracted to Will. They kissed and were later seen in a hotel room, where she was seen smothering him with a pillow.

Psychological manipulation is one of Ian’s hallmarks. His inexplicably awakening in the ambulance after he was apparently killed meant that a return was inevitable. So, could this be it?

Ian Ward Vowed Vengeance On His Enemies

Jordan Howard (Colleen Zenk) was killed off. Unless the fans were misled, Zenk’s magnificent portrayal of Claire Newman’s (Hayley Erin) fiendish great aunt won’t be revisited like Wise’s role can.

But Ian likely couldn’t have debilitated the ambulance driver and his partner, who were transporting him from the Newman Ranch living room to the morgue nearly a year ago in real time. Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) would have been notified. So, maybe Ian bought them off.

Mariah threatened to kill Ian, who wanted to make amends with him. She vowed to do so if he made contact with her family.

Ian never liked threats and is a revenge practitioner, making the developing storyline one where Wise’s irrepressible villain is an obvious potential, hidden suspect in the current storyline.

No one knows Ian is alive, but maybe Will does and is working with or for him.