alexx

Martha had an abortion in 2007 willingly, she didn't tell anyone about it until after and seemed to feel guilty, but she still had the abortion.

I like Romeo so far, he's one of the more intriguing latest additions. At first I thought...here we go again, it was just going to be another shallow clone of a teen, but he seems different. Dont know if its the actor or the general mystery surrounding his back story, but I like the character regardless and look forward to following his story.

I'm sooo glad 7TWO are showing these early years again, it's become a great treat to be able to watch them as they were broadcast every day! Bobby is one of the best TV characters created! I agree Ryan about how it really did feel like Easter! Funny how Saturday and Easter Sunday was skipped all together and we ended up on Easter Monday on what seemed to be Saturday (with it being a fresh week in today's episode) - having said that there was nothing to suggest it was supposed to be Sat! haha I think the current flow is flawless in terms of chemistry between characters/actors and how intertwined everything is.

I have really enjoyed the last few episodes and how they have gone from 'dark' to 'lighthearted' character stuff, it doesn't seem random to me, I think it has been a nice flow. It is really feeling like Home and Away now that most of the characters are established, Matt being the odd one out in the mix. But the direction and pace is much better now and there is more music and we have 'real' cliffhangers now!

Don't you mean Home and aWay always gives the teens storylines and they are made use of 80-90% more than the older characters? I have watched Eastenders by downloading episodes to see what its like. I gave it a good few months but I just cant get into the flow of it, there aren't enough 'sentimental' or upbeat scenes in it at all which stops you from really caring for the characters. However, I do remember seeing some clips from the early years and it seemed very 'real' and there were loads of poignant scenes or people just talking to each other, I saw one with Lou and Ian Beale and Ian was crying to his gran about his father not respecting him or something, anyway I was impressed because it was like a 4-5 min scene of them just talking with real 'cockney' slang and stuff, it was great!

No? The only time he appears is when he is having a drink with Alsa?? No he appears twice once with Ailsa and once on the "let me be the one" verse. I haven't noticed him twice at all. Was it just a one off thing?

I agree the scenes with Pippa and Barlow didn't seem threatening, it was more psychological, but it didn't come across that terrifying. I think the point was Pippa wouldn't be able to go to the cops about it because he didnt actually do or say anything threatening, he was just there and asked for a cuppa. I loved all the Bobby/Lance/Carly banter today!

I think sometimes not actually seeing what is going on when it comes to these sort of storylines, and only hearing it, seeing the after effects, makes it all the more eerie and 'raw'.

Great to have the freeze-frame and first time we get to hear those crashing symbols! The recap bit after the credits made me cringe because they were so pointless and actually in some way resolved the cliffhangers sometimes! Enjoying the Barlow storyline and Lance and Martin especially, I've laughed out loud a few times at Lance in the last couple of weeks! Sally has been funny too, being all bossy and seeing Lance as a kid really! There little friendship is memorable early years stuff.

I dont know if it just stuffed up or whether it wasn't on, but my timer didn't record Home and Away and now when I look at my scheduled recording, the next Home and Away episode appears to be 28th December! I just watched the Christmas Day episode uploaded onto Youtube, which was good, nice and festive! That will probably end up being on 7TWO around September/October next year?! I also wish 7TWO would air 2 episodes per day, the time goes so fast I'm left wanting more, still wish they'd change the time slot to late afternoon but I'm just grateful they're on at all! I hope that's how I'll feel about the 2010 season!!

I know, I keep forgetting about Matt until I see him. I loved how yesterdays episode ended with Carly coming out of the water underscored by that haunting choral tone! I am enjoying watching Lynn struggle with her faith, it is a nice subplot!

The actor who played Ben, later played Joe (who bullied Sally in 1995) - although I havent looked this up, I'm pretty sure going on looks. I enjoyed both ep 30 and 31! I cant imagine them showing Floss hitting Ben these days! Also I wish they would go back to being more edgier again, calling each other a cow and bastard or people being more abrupt with each other in their language, that is what set Home and Away apart from Neighbours at the time...although I think they started easing it out around the earlier 90's.

Like Ryan said, I think it was because of the murderous history, and the town were uncomfortable with Ailsa being there - would they accept her or not? Thats the impression I got from it. I definitely laughed at Living in Summer Bay - but I think it was supposed to be corny even then?! As you, it left me with a smile on my face and I always enjoyed the 'happy endings' type that used to be more prominent pre-2005/4

I'm glad we are finding out more about Lance, he's always been one of my favorite early years characters and it's good to see the Sally/Lance mate-ship forming! Great last few episodes!! Also watching the Early Years again like this really reinforces how much the current show is missing the outdoor Summer Bay House and Caravan Park location - there is so much more scope when you can have characters walking in and out of the house and the audience are able to follow the characters from the back porch threw the bushes into the park or whatever! It's such an important location, it was just as, if not more prominent than the beach in those days and I think bringing it back is a fantastic move!

Ah ok... I don't see it in the same way really though. Pippa is a character, so Debra playing her during any phases of the character being negative, is nothing to do with Debra, its the writers decision in terms of what a character will do and say or how they will react - so had Vanessa been playing her during those storylines, you would probably have got the same negative Pippa too. I see what your saying in terms of how both actors played the role differently as they are obviously different people bringing there own 'voice' to the part. I see Vanessa's Pippa as more of a big sister/aunt and guardian relationship with the kids and Debra's as more of a mother figure but I like both for different reasons.

How do you mean clones of characters? Pippa was in it for 10 years and there hasn't been anyone like her since really... Michael wasn't anything like Tom either Imo

I don't think any information has been released about it stopping over Christmas, hopefully it will just go right threw, it is on at 9.30am so...? I've noticed that they have dropped 'The Early Years' from the title in the digital TV guides...

Yes, that was the first thing to enter my mind when I saw it too, great moment!

Today's episode was a really strong one! That Sally/Floss scene in the bedroom was classic Home and Away, and I wish they still produced scenes like that these days, two people talking like that, so natural and believable! Alf and Ailsa's scenes were stand out in this episode as they reached a milestone in their relationship! Most of the acting is so strong in these episodes, I think it helps that they have a lot of professional and experienced cast members, but they can only work with whats on the page; with a decent script - and today's was brilliantly written! I'm sure from an actors point of view it is much easier to 'know' you character when you actually have one and don't just 'do things' like they do in 2009.

Funny Lance and Martin moments today, especially in the store, they were a great double act! Also good to see classic Alf ranting and raving at Frank!

Yeah I think Stevo always had a more solitary direction to him which I liked. I'm looking forward to his family history coming out again and being explored and his relationship with Phil. I've always enjoyed characters that haven't just been involved with the core cast all the time, even when Stephen came back in the mid 90's, his storylines were quite distinct and remote. Shannon was another one who, a lot of the time, had storylines involving guest characters and exploring the character evolving alone...

True but for the most part they were just kids doing kids things and most of the time and they had their more 'real life' storylines like growing pains and puberty etc I think if they wanted too, they could have VJ become more of a character in his own right with his own personalty and have him become more of a prominent character like Sam was - maybe they will next year.

To be honest I've found the Lyn storyline quite tiring and its no wonder I'd forgotten about anything she had done. I think because I find Lyn to be quite selfish (if I knew her in real life she'd be annoying) that has given me a bad taste about her. I also don't think it was a strong enough storyline to have as a 'main' feature. I did think the Fisher/Lyn scene was excellent! Really well written and quite dark. I enjoyed today's episode and had a laugh at Celia singing! haha Ailsa has always been a favorite of mine and I'm really enjoying her scenes and watching her interacting with the rest of the cast, its also cool to see her as a single woman, whenever I think of Ailsa I immediately think of the Stewart house and the Diner and Alf etc so its good to be reminded of what the character was like pre-marriage.

The only reason VJ and such from the year 2004-onwards haven't been seen is because the current producers changed the shows format so much that they aren't interested in having a child as a permanent character. Sam got the same amount of screen time as Sally and I'd say Max did too.

I know that Ailsa and Fisher have a conversation about there relationship during the 1995 or 1996 season, in the Diner if I recall, because that is the first time I ever remember finding out about it.