The Young and the Restless is the number one rated soap opera for a reason-and it has everything to do with the unexpected twists, turns and drama the series manages to throw at viewers in a season.

2016 was no exception to that rule, as several cast member exits prompted some shocks to the storyline, and other unexpected twists showed the writers had some big plans for the year.

Here are the five biggest stories and moments from this year:

Sage's Death

Back in April, Sage (Kelly Sullivan) and Nick (Joshua Morrow) were still happily married despite having lost their son Christian, but Sage knew there was something not right with Dr. Anderson, who seemed to have been obsessed with Nick in some way before she died. When she and Sharon (Sharon Case) both began having strange feelings and dreams, they started looking into the doctor, and Sharon's time at Fairview. It was then that they both realized that Sharon's son Sully wasn't actually hers-he was Christian, the little boy Sage and Nick thought they had lost. However, Sage didn't have a chance to share the news for herself, after she got into a car accident on her way to tell Nick the news, and died in Sharon's arms after making her promise to share the truth.

Victor Is Sent To Prison

Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) has committed and gotten away with so many schemes, plots and crimes over the years that it seemed like he would be untouchable. But when the extent of what he did to Phyllis (Gina Tognoni) and Jack (Peter Bergmann) with the Marco scheme came to light, his luck ran out, His entire family turned against him, and he paid the price-with a lengthy prison sentence. He was of course later released when his family began to once again feel guilt over turning against him, but the fact that he did wind up behind bars for his crime was most definitely not expected.

Billy & Phyllis Have An Affair

What started as a way to get back at Victor by stealing valuable software quickly became something else entirely for Phyllis and Billy (Jason Thompson). As they worked closely together on their secret plot, feelings developed, and the two became involved in a passionate affair. It was on and off for a while, but when they were finally ready to go public, Jill (Jess Walton) got involved and blackmailed Phyllis into staying with Jack. In the end ot didn't matter however, and Jack learned the truth, leading to him kicking Phyllis out and divorcing her, and refusing to mend his broken relationship with his brother.

The Christian Reveal

Sharon never came forward with the truth about Christian because she was afraid of what it would mean for her marriage to Dylan (Steve Burton). She wasn't able to keep her secret forever though, and she was forced to tell the truth. And while Nick is getting the chance to reunite with his son, the drama and fallout is only beginning with this story-especially since there is still one more piece to the story that is being kept hidden, and that even Sharon doesn't know. While Sage passed her son off as Nick's, he was really Adam's (Justin Hartley).

Adam's Death

By far, the biggest shock of the year came when Victor and Chloe (Elizabeth Hendrickson) framed Adam (Justin Hartley) for Constance's death. Victor had a change of heart though and tried to help his son escape prison after Adam was then found guilty of assaulting a prison guard while in a delirious state. The attempt to give him and Chelsea a happily ever after ending on the run however was short-lived when Chloe snuck into their cabin and shot Adam with a dart gun. Then, as Chelsea returned, the cabin exploded, and the remains inside were presumed to be Adam's-killing off the legacy character. His death also meant that the truth about his being Christian's real father will die with him, unless Chelsea (Melissa Clare Egan) decides to come clean to Nick in 2017.

The Young and the Restless airs Monday-Friday at 12:30 p.m. on CBS.

Tags
Young and the Restless, CBS, Soap Operas