Dag Dog

You make an interesting point about eh UK finales which broadens to a much larger question: are the UK finales serving one purpose - putting the focus on the mainstays? Looking at those examples you’ve named, they all involve those that have been on the show forever… Australia, lets have a look: * Cash with Tim in 2024 * Eden/Remi in the boot in 2023 * Felicity/Eden with the cut brake lines in 2022 (and not really a cliffhanger at all) * Mia with a body in the boot (plus Ryder buried alive) in 2021 * Colby and that god awful prison story in 2020 It’s very obvious that someone is playing favourites. Gone are the days of the numerous threads all culminating, with 3 different cliffhanger vibes. It’s now just “who is the flavour of the day?” And let’s face it it’s been Cash and Eden either in the thick of it or on the fringes for 3 years (snore!) I think you answer your own question - is it too hard to follow the UK finales? Yes. Because they do it for a different audience. And if they wanted to really utilise it well, they could set up the UK finale to thrust forward to a bigger Aus finale. But no, that would be too difficult. And let’s face it, it’s clear there is no forward planning at all.

I think it has something to do with the focus. 2016 was a good finale because it was everything we expect from soap... I can't think of another one in recent years that hasn't involved someone being kidnapped, whereas 2016 was a true soap cliffhanger that had numerous threads dangling to hold us over, not to mention that fabulous jaw drop at the end when you saw Palmer with the zippo lighter...

In essence, the entire show needs to be totally recentered to shift perspectives around. What we once had - a multi-generational series that following all facets of life, with a particular focus on adolescence - has turned into something of a similar nature, yet totally different. What we are stuck with is a series of stories that go round-and-round that should be given to teenagers, but instead are lumped on adults who are appear stupid due to the reactions because that's the only demographic the show seems gung-ho on having. Forget anyone over 40 (unless you've been on the show 10 years+, with the exception of Justin) and if you're under 22, don't even bother... In the not so distant past, the show was very segmented - and to an extent, still is. Whilst cross-pollination has gotten better, the idea of Irene getting involved with Lyrik - a story that not only once may have been done in a time when the show respected its past, would have at least added a bit of spice to an otherwise plain as flour arc - is totally sidelined, rendered non-existent despite her quite well-known past as a musician. In place of what? Yet another round-about story surrounding jobless Eden and her bland cop boyfriend or jobless Remi and his doctor or jobless Kirby and her... microphone? ... The unfortunate reality is that there are so many stories to tell that involve multiple generations... When was the last time any vet got a decent story? Just seems like a certain few aren't interested... But it's an easy fix - and quite a quick one too... It's a shame it will never truly be realised.

There was a throwaway line in 1988 from Steven, that Yabbie Creek was a 100mi / 161km round trip from Summer Bay.

https://www.backtothebay.net/episodes/1996/episode-1936/ ?

I believe we’ve got the majority of it noted down. I’ll have to pull it out!

They're version 2, @Skylover! Version 3 sees Joey removed and debuts in 2616.