The Unearned Redemption of Li Finnegan: Why The Bold and the Beautiful’s Double Standard Is Impossible to Ignore
On The Bold and the Beautiful, redemption is rarely fair — and nowhere is that clearer than in the case of Dr. Li Finnegan. Despite her repeated moral and legal missteps, Li continues to be painted as a noble, self-sacrificing hero, while Sheila Carter remains the eternal villain. Fans are starting to ask: how long can this double standard last?
Li’s Pattern of Playing God
Li Finnegan (Naomi Matsuda) has made a career of crossing ethical and legal lines — and walking away unscathed. Her latest transgression? Secretly bringing Luna (Lisa Yamada) back from the dead, echoing the same stunt she pulled years earlier with her son, Finn (Tanner Novlan), after Sheila shot him.
In both cases, Li broke every rule in the medical book: concealing patients, falsifying death records, and defying the law. Yet she still has her medical license — and her job at the hospital. When Sheila committed similar acts of secrecy and manipulation, she was branded irredeemable. But when Li does it, it’s “heroic maternal instinct.”
It’s a hypocrisy fans are finding harder to overlook.
The Price of Privilege — or the Power of Perception?
Sheila’s crimes are undeniable, but so is the bias that colors how she’s treated. Even when she shows remorse — apologizing to Deacon (Sean Kanan) and Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) for lying about Luna’s death — she’s met with suspicion and exile. Li, however, is quietly forgiven and even admired for “doing what she had to do.”
The irony runs deep: Li’s medical crimes are swept aside, while Sheila is punished for trying to connect with her family. It’s not that Sheila deserves a free pass — but the show’s moral compass seems to shift depending on who’s holding the scalpel.
As one fan put it online, “Li hides bodies and gets praise. Sheila hides emotions and gets prison time.”
A Convenient Scapegoat
The writers appear to be using Sheila as The Bold and the Beautiful’s permanent lightning rod. Every time another character crosses a moral line, Sheila’s history serves as the distraction — the measuring stick that makes everyone else look tame by comparison.
Even Deacon, her husband, is now questioning their marriage, trapped between love and loyalty to a woman everyone insists can’t change. Meanwhile, Li continues to act as the show’s “tough love” doctor, escaping scrutiny time and again.
The Real Question: Can Redemption Be Earned Unequally?
Both women have committed terrible acts in the name of family. Both believe they were doing what was necessary. Yet only one gets to keep her dignity intact.
With Luna now serving prison time and rumors swirling about a planned escape involving Will and Electra, it’s clear the fallout from Li’s decisions is far from over. Whether or not the show will finally hold her accountable remains to be seen — but for now, The Bold and the Beautiful continues to reward one woman’s moral flexibility while condemning another’s.
Final Thought
Li Finnegan’s redemption feels unearned not because she’s beyond forgiveness, but because she’s never truly been held accountable. If The Bold and the Beautiful wants to restore balance to its world of broken promises and buried secrets, it’s time to apply justice evenly — no matter whose hands are cleanest.