Belle... Your Thoughts

Various people give us their thoughts on Belle Taylor's time in the bay.

"Belle journeyed from a confused, self-centred young woman who came to town looking for her mother, through being Drew's doormat girlfriend, to become a mature photographer and crusading journalist and finally half of one of the show's best relationships ever - Adelle. It is a testament to the talent of Jessica Tovey that all stages of this journey were played with the same truth and commitment. But she topped the journey off with her superb portrayal of a young woman embracing death with dignity and courage, with the support of the love of her life. Belle goes down in the gallery of "Home and Away's" all time great characters, and half of arguably the show's greatest pairing. Certainly the Adelle fans would agree on that point."


"I loved Belle when she first arrived in the Bay - full of life, feisty, stubborn and never prepared to take risks or a backward step. I really liked her relationship with Drew as it really symbolised everything her life was about at that time. However, I hated that Lucas had to suffer in the process of Belle and Drew finding their way back to each other. You could tell that Lucas really cared deeply for her and he deserved better.

After Drew, I felt that they toned down her character a bit, to make her "best friends" with Cassie and Matilda who hated her at the start. Belle's relationship with Aden signified the "new" Belle - mature, wise, open-hearted and empathetic. Their relationship was definitely based in something deep and profound. I did love her relationship with Rachel who was there for her in her most difficult times - her addiction, being taken hostage by Aden, getting through Aden's abuse and finally, the cancer. I loved their chat in the surf club - particularly loved Rachel's line that it's more important to spend your time with the ones that love you, rather than wasting precious time and energy chasing a father she would never know." tw1057


"Belle/Drew will always remain as my first and favourite ship. Everything from their first kiss, the multiple fights, the battle's against Dom and finally the epic final break-up will always be hgihlights for me. Although I really did like Aden and Belle together I feel like Belle was at her most volatile while she was with Drew, and consequently had a more intense and irratic relationship with him. You can either interpret this as either a positive or negative thing. I choose to be positive! When these two were good and happy, everything was pure joy, and when these two were fighting or depressed, everything else seemed to suddenly get it's own rain cloud. It was this everchanging dynamic that kept me hooked.

I am not surprised it didn't work out in the long term. They were both teenagers when they got together and both still had a lot of growing up to do. But at the time, they somehow couldn't stay away from eachother. After one of the most spectacular and poisonous break-ups Belle really matured and in the end settled down with Aden - which I really don't have a problem with. Aden and Belle had a different sort of relationship compared with the one she had with Drew, and as a result it brought out a different side of Belle. She still had that edgieness and feistiness, but now it was directed in a more cosntructive way towards helping Aden and fighting the development, rather than using all her energy on Drew and her fragile relationship with Amanda." Jen


"Meh, I'm not bothered she's popped her clogs. She was alright overall, but better in her early days. The two most significant relationships she had, with Drew and then Aden, seemed to bring out the worst in her. Losing all her friends in 2008 was the beginning of the end for Belle as a character if you ask me, after that she just became unbearable." Diner Landlord


"I really loved Belle. I thought she was a great character and Jess was a fabulous actress. Some of her storylines really showed off her acting ability brilliantly. However I must add that I feel robbed by Belle dying. I really wanted to see more of Belle and her love of photography and journalism. I hated seeing her always working in the diner (not that there is anything wrong with working in a diner) its just that Belle was so obviously driven. I feel that once she got together with Aden her complete existence became about him. I guess I would have liked to see her resolve the development storyline and become the investigative journalist and photographer she always wanted to be. I was not a big Adelle fan....I was much more of an Angelo - Belle fan so perhaps that is why I feel a bit bitter about her end." irishgirl01


"The one thing about Belle that stands out for me is her forbidden lust for Dom I like to believe she had a little something for him anyway, but it was so wrong on so many levels. First of all he had poured the acid over Ric so was obviously not a pleasant individual, but then he kidnapped Belle and held her captive, and I think said he wouldn't press charges against Drew for leaving him for dead if he could just get a kiss from Belle! He was a total headcase and I loved him, and I loved when she did kiss him she felt a spark. It was so, so dark and wrong that it was great!" Mistified


"Belle was a character that I loved for two years...and then there was a third when I slowly began to dislike her more and more.I think I was in the minority in that I thought Belle was a much better character when she was in a happy and relaxed relationship with a decent guy than when she was arguing and breaking up with a semi-reformed bad boy.I liked her with Ric, I loved her with Lucas, I even liked her with Angelo for those two weeks before Aden came back and she started messing him about.Guess I'm never going to get Gelle now.It was obvious to me after the thing with Amanda that she and Drew weren't suited and it was obvious to me from day one that she and Aden weren't suited. It also became clear from an early stage that she was going to forgive both of them whatever they said or did to her which didn't say a lot for her self-respect, especially given what she chucked out for them." RedRanger1


Then came the cancer storyline and it was just heartbreaking. I almost started crying several times (like when Belle told Nicole and when Aden found out), and I'll admit I cried like a baby when she died and during the funeral. Jess's acting was superb and so was Todd's. And the slightly ironic thing is, I disliked "Adelle" for so long, and when I finally started to like them, Belle died and it was over for good. So it seems that the characters die just as I start to like them! So neither Belle nor Aden was ever a favourite of mine, but I'll still miss Belle. I also wish Jess the best for the future. valli


"I loved the character Belle, she brought a great dynamic to the show!
Jess couldn't have played her better through all the years she was in the show!
Her last few scenes should be a tribute to her, as should all her other storylines and scenes." Adelle4eva!!!



"Wow! Just Wow! Very emotional and well acted by ALL involved. It was a very touching, poignant death....Even though the storyline felt 'rushed' from start to finish, it still made sense. In fact, it was a relief not to have it drag out for months. I think it had more impact." lost and found


"There are so many things I could say, but I think I'm too sad. I guess I want to stick up for Amanda, or at least the writing of her. It was consistent for her to make Belle's illness about herself, but to really want to try and do the right thing as well. She's come a long way, but she's still pretty hopeless, and like she said, it's too late to change that now So sad... I'm glad that Belle understood her and loved her anyway..." emmasi


"10/10 for a brilliant episode. Kudos to all the actor/actresses involved. A superbly written ending for Belle. I can't find a single thing to fault about this episode (except I have very puffy eyes now from crying so much). Damn the writers for making me do this.

It was great to see Amanda back and for Belle to tell her she loves her "I love you Mum". Oh jeez, didn't that just get the water works flowing. I loved how Belle patted Amanda's pregnant belly and saying "Hi, I'm your big sister". Belle and Aden going for their walk, Belle and Aden cuddling in bed and she asked Aden to leave the window open reminscing about when he climbed into her room that time. The montage of all those close to Belle reacting to impending end. Nice to see Liam there too.

Damn, I am going to miss 'Adelle'." groover


"That was one of the best episodes I've seen! It was perfect in every way and was filled with emotion. Will miss Belle a lot." yabbie_creek


"I think above all I loved the calmness of Belle as her death approached. Even when Amanda upset all her plans to die at home she didn't lose that sense of calm. As others have said the window scene was superbly written. It was so uniquely Belle and Aden.

I know that Belle and Nicole were never "best friends" until the end. Belle gave Nicole a burden and a responsibility she didn't expect or even want. I think it is measure of the real worth of Nicole's character that despite all of this she shouldered the burden and carried it. I think we have probably seen a turning point in her character development. Sure there will be ups and downs but she will never be the same.

For me the sneak peek explains why we didn't see Belle's final conversations with her close "family". We will discover her parting gifts as a part of the grieving of those closest to her and that will make their impact even stronger. For me it won't be any surprise if both Aden and Nicole fall aprt after Belle is gone. They have held it together to this point. That can't go on."  john_003au


"I cried and I'm not even a Belle fan. It was really well done and i especially liked the window scenes." ~Lynd~


"I surprised myself watching that, because although I thought I'd tear up, I didn't actually expect to, if that makes sense.

I wasn't overly keen on how they wrote Amanda during it, but I wasn't expecting much else, given that it was all squeezed into that one episode. However the little hug scene between Amanda & Belle and Belle's "I love you, Mum" was beautiful. Was heartbreaking when she was talking to the baby. Such a shame she'll never get to have a relationship with him/her.

I loved how she told Aden to leave the window open. That was so beautiful. " xGlowingAngelx


"While the episode was emotional.. her death just emulated the speed of the storyline.. quick. I really loved the bit when she said 'Leave it open.. for me'. , almost as if she could feel it happen." jdoddy


"Oh I am still in tears. No amount of tissues or consoling will help any of the Adelle fans I don't think for quite a while. Amanda in the episode was the perfect mother as all she wanted was to just make things easier for Belle but I think she was quite misguided in how she did it because Belle just wanted a peaceful ending and not string out the inevitable to be completely honest." Zetti


"I cried so much when Belle died, and the funeral episode. I used to be a huge fan of Belle, she's always been such a good character. It's only the past few months that I maybe stopped liking her as much, but there's no denying that Jess is a really good actress and it's a shame that she was killed off rather than just going to 'the city' or wherever." Shaun.


"Adelle are a couple Home and Away fans will never forget! The chemistry between them, the fantastic acting from Todd & Jess, their relationship was just so believable! So like a real life relationship.

It was cruel the way they were separated, death of a loved one is the worst kind of pain ever! Not seeing that person, not talking to them, it's unbearable! Adelle - forever my favourite couple and the most epic couple Home and Away has ever had!

Gone but not forgotten!!" Adelle4eva!!!


"Even though Belle died so quickly, I still really enjoyed the storyline. One minute Belle was fine with a pain that she thought was a baby (I wish!), and then she was dying. The acting, however, was outstanding and Jessica Tovey and Todd Lasance were both outstanding.

But her death was devastating. She has been my favourite character ever since she came to the Bay, and I feel like I've lost a really close friend. I was sobbing so hard. My whole family evacuated the TV room and just let me cry until I had no more tears. It was the hardest I've ever cried at a TV show or a movie. I still miss Belle now. I live in Australia, so her death was a few weeks ago, but I keep expecting to see her rush around the diner, or take photographs on the beach. And then it hit's me all over again, she's dead. It's the most a TV/Movie death has ever effected me. And Aden .. he's heartbroken, and that makes me even sadder. What a way to end Adelle. R.I.P. Belle Taylor. You'll never be forgotten. H&Aaddict
 

The character of Belle was....?


What was Belle's best romantic relationship?


What was Belle's best non-romantic relationship?