Lunar

I'm not going to lie, I can't even remember who I voted for haha, but I'm happy to see Charlie did well after not appearing last time. Its hard with there only being 6 choices - I'm always torn between picking longer-running characters, past characters who were my favs and current ones. Usually I try to do a mix. It does seem like with the new voting method (i.e not having to sign up to the board and voting via the website) that more votes were received overall, which is really nice to see.

I can see both sides of the push to be more young adult - teens may not be watching much now, so there's not much point in having storylines focused on them if they're not watching, but I also felt like it was very much a family show, so there's nothing to say that YAs or older couldn't invest in those storylines too. I think scrapping the school and university makes bringing in families a bit difficult, as often one of the parents would work there, and there aren't exactly many other jobs on offer in summer bay. Some of the newer characters I'm warming up to now, so don't mind if they stay, but I'd much rather they add another then have Justin as both a mechanic/manager and Theo as both an apprentice/singer. It feels a bit random. I would like if they didn't rush to put people in relationships within five minutes of them arriving. I do think Ziggy and Dean should probably leave next year.

Yeah I thought that was odd too, especially as he was just wandering about in the front garden. I almost thought it was a set up at first.

I think that would've been really good. Sometimes I think they glossed over her grief a bit too quickly - given just how many people she lost. I know she struggled for a bit but once they put her with Matt, it wasn't as if they had much to do until they left.

Yeah I thought that too. The coffee bit made sense, but the scene after where Irene went from Marilyn to Jas sitting down after her counsellor's appointment felt a bit awkwardly put in to me. ---------------------------- Amber's comment about 'the night Jai was made' felt widely inappropriate. She says she doesn't know Ziggy or see where she fits in, yet makes no effort to get to know her because she doesn't want to I'm guessing. Was nice to see Ryder and Owen bonding over his dad.

New interview with Sophie: She mentions wanting to try LA and/or London in the future.

Yeah I wouldn't be surprised. I don't think she's been around long enough to warrant that yet. I'd rather see growth that feels more natural and over a longer period of time.

I'm not sure I like her, but she seems to have simmered down a bit since she first joined.

They actually do look related here! The casting for them really was spot on.

I totally agree! I also didn't see the point in Mason sticking around longer - only to get shafted with working at the gym. I suppose maybe Orpheus wanted to extent his contract the extra 6 months, or maybe they promised a big/exiting exit for him...but if I were him, I would've just had Mason take the internship back then and save the boring storylines he was given the last few months. It didn't help that Raffy left before him and she seemed to be his only real purpose outside of work.

Yeah I agree. He doesn't feel that integrated into the community these days.

Yeah thats true. I think they're back filming now though, so hopefully they could do something. Even if they just did a clip of the cast or something and not in-show.

I'm surprised they haven't. I know it can be difficult as they film months in advance, but they could easily shoe-horn in something thats filmed on-set like Neighbours did surely?

I agree. I did like the stuff with his mum and Ben, but feel he's mostly just been there as a support system for everyone lately.

I think this is probably the case too. I'm sure sometimes being out can have a negative effect on someone's career (I think others have said to keep quiet if they want 'leading man' or 'love interest' roles), but I suppose the same could be said about soaps. Obviously there's been a ton of break out actors from H&A and Neighbours, but there's probably some executives that judge them based on it. I think LOTR was just going to be a hard role to get regardless - especially with how many people they auditioned and how big of a franchise it is.

Totally agree! I just hope they pace the storyline well and it doesn't just magically go away like Coco's eating disorder...which I don't think they've mentioned since. Hopefully they will continue doing it well though. I like what he said about how Ben's issues go way back and aren't just from the recent events.

Uhhh thats not what I said at all? I just said that its not new that actors tend to date people if their characters are dating...I've seen it before on loads of shows - One Tree Hill, Dexter, The O.C. etc...and if they don't tend to date people on their own show/movie, then its very likely that they end up dating someone in the entertainment industry because of the lifestyle and the fact that people not in that world might not understand.

I really like them too. I hope they don't break them up as they seem such a strong and stable (for the most part) couple. I'm glad that Ben is finally getting a storyline too as I liked him but found he was just a bit dull and almost a supporting character for a while.

I suspected they'd been dating for a while (I know they have to post stuff as part of the show promo, but some of the stuff did seem a bit more coupley), but don't blame them for wanting to keep it private. I get why some might have an issue with it but I think with acting its kind of hard not to date people you work with. They work what, 60? hour weeks some weeks with really early starts/late finishes...so you don't exactly have much time to meet people elsewhere, plus even if its acting...if you're making out with people on set/spending a lot of time with them, it must be kinda hard not to fall for them. Her mum and sister commented on the last pic she posted and seemed supportive.

I liked her at first but she went downhill with the whole getting involved with the wrong people (similarly to Charlie), and I guess turning a blind eye to certain situations because of that. Its a shame as I feel like she started off being quite strong and independent, and very career-orientated...and that kind of went away and she became a bit of a 'damsel in distress' type and prioritised bad relationships over being a cop. It just didn't make sense as it was something she'd worked so hard for and was a big part of her identity. I never really saw her as a fan favourite either - I didn't dislike her but by the end she was quite frustrating, so was quite surprised at the response to her death. I remember Sam got a lot of hate on social media over it.

Yeah this is true I guess - I was one of those people who thought Brody wouldn't cheat and that it didn't make much sense...he'd always seemed a bit more level-headed than that and like a one-woman man, but then I can also see how he would/did...they didn't really talk through their problems until it was too late, and I also think a lot of what got them together in the first place was the intensity of it all and her being there through rehab. I guess once that wears off...I can see how Brody would've seen someone with an interest in cooking and been infatuated by that - especially when Ziggy didn't like that he didn't have time for her and spent so much time there. I just wish they'd gone about it differently and just broke up because they were at different stages in their lives or something.

I'm guessing this is part of the Disney thing and she'll be going to Disney Anaheim?

I can't see Dean cheating either. I think even in the past when he was sleeping around and such, he always seemed to be upfront with the girls that that was what he wanted, but in relationships he always seemed to put in a lot of effort and not be unfaithful.

I agree, I do like them but I'd also like to see Leah get a storyline outside of the relationship, as until they put them together she's just kind of been drifting and just...there. I also just don't really like seeing people just become the girlfriend or boyfriend and think Leah has a lot more potential than that. I'd still really like to see her foster.

I agree. I feel like a lot of the longer-running actors are the ones doing the promo (especially in the UK) and its nice that they are so passionate about it.