alexx

When Marilyn returned (I think it was in her 2nd or 3rd episode) Alf mentions the money he and Morag lent Donald to take to Marilyn. She says that she got the money but she couldn't bring herself to see him. Alf says he feels that she and Donald have a lot of unfinished business and she agrees but says she isn't going to think about that right now (or words to that effect). Basically the writers were copping out of going back there. Ahh that's right! Thanks for the reminder. I knew they had glossed over it some how but I had forgot they discussed the money. I definitely forgot she said she didn't want to see him. This makes me want to have the relationship explored. If there isn't a chance Norman would return full time, as Edward suggested, ask him to come back for a lengthy guest stint. I'd love to see them on screen together again, such a classic pairing.

Nice little interview with Emily Symons on Bay Reporter - most of the questions were quite superficial and the sort of stuff magazines ask actors which was a shame but the whole show was rather in that vein somehow. I liked the question she answered about her opinion on Marilyn's love life, being that she thinks her perfect man was Donald. They should have asked more questions like that. I also liked how she shared the same opinion I had of the Sid/Marilyn pairing and how Marilyn lost herself during that relationship. I really wish they could entice Norman back, I'd love for them to explore this area again because its still so up in the air. Last we saw Fisher was still quite obviously in love with Marilyn and helped her threw her cancer in 2007. What then? No one knows and it hasn't ever been discussed on screen.

^Hahaha!

Bevan Lee was back on board for the last half of 2004 and in true Bevan Lee style he wrote a really classic Home and Away season finale, full of heart warming moments, laughter and community spirit.

Cool!

Oh thats sad that the actress who played Betty has died. I was actually looking forward to seeing her in the show again and wondering when she would reappear. I remember that scene between her and Jack a few episodes before he died, when I was first introduced to the show - she impressed me as being very natural on screen and my attention was always drawn to her when she was in a scene, even if she was just in the background.

Cant answer the second question but there isnt anything to suggest the Early Years wont be shown during summer - so far 7TWO have broadcast Home and Away near on every single week day of the year since end of 2009 including during summer.

I wouldn't think about it in too much depth, teespazzr. Just write whatever comes naturally. For example I wrote to Steve that I thought the River Boys entroduction really re-invigorated the show after the boring 2010 season. Just a few compliments and then politley requsting an autograph is enough, I should think. Have a go, you know you want to! ;) Best of luck! Do you think the River Boys have been a positive 're-invigoration' then? Obviously you must if you're writing to the actors behind the characters. I'd just be interested to know since I find I usually agree with you on most H&A views you share. They've certainly allowed the writers to make the show more dramatic, but I don't think its been a positive for the show overall because its simply taken over. Is there a way we can send our thoughts to the actors via the internet? I dont want a signed fan card or anything like that, just want to send a few messages. If not I'll have to write to them. I am writing a letter to Emily Symons - I haven't written a fan letter before which is ironic since I've watched the show since the beginning, its never interested me but now I want to send her my thoughts on the character and her portrayal. The way I feel the writers should take the character, ask her a few questions the magazines never ask her and just basically let her know what I think of Marilyn.

I've not done very well keeping up over the last month or so. There are too many episodes to download in order to catch up properly but I'll definitely watch the rape storyline, I like Carla.

They started showing every episode from the pilot/very first episode onwards at the end of 2009 on 7TWO so we have been watching them all from the start and discussing them - hence the 1988 Discussion, 1989 Discussion and now 1990 Discussion threads. That's why every single episode from the very start up to the 1990 episodes are all uploaded to Youtube.

I can't watch what's on Aus tv. Only on Youtube. I live in Sweden. The episodes posted on Youtube are way ahead of that though. Unless yours are subtitled/Swedish dubbed? As Beau_t said, there are episodes on Youtube that go all the way up to what was aired in Australia a week or so ago, I'll send you the link. Danny left the show well over a month ago now.

Why dont you just keep watching to find out? All is revealed. You're a good few months behind whats being shown in Australia at the moment so if you wanted you could catch up with two episodes a day easily!

Yeah I wish Marilyn was still as sensitive and naive/dizzy.

If you want to know what the character of Marilyn Chambers is all about, watch this video (credit to SBJ) - it sums her up brilliantly! Maybe if the writers need inspiration they could watch it too. They need to bring more of that unique quirkiness back into the character.

Ryan, just wondering - do you own every single episode of H&A from mid-2000 until now? 11 years worth of episodes!?

Ah that must explain why the second half of the season has cropped up on YouTube so many times, as oppose to the first half.

Yes I'd say I'm 99% certain there was a scene between Adam and Sam whereby they discuss Bobby. Yeah it wasn't as if Sam hated Adam it was just a nice scene talking about the past as far as I can remember. Thanks for that info The first half of 2000 was fantastic and its so so rare to find anything from that period on the net. I'd like to see the Nash family break up and the Gypsy/Will, Edward/Peta stuff from the first half of that season too.

Yeah Red Ranger that's how I remember his return. He had changed rather and it did seem like he was in the show for a few months. I will add though that there was definitely a scene between him and Sam talking about Bobby, I'm pretty sure he apologised to him and still felt guilty. Another return I'd like to see again was Greg's in 2000. He was a truck driver wasn't he? Does anyone know what month he returned? I'm sure it was around Feb?

I'm sure it was to launch Bonza Burger at the Surf Club. I dont think there was any other reason? I could be wrong though.

Marilyn's dialogue in the episodes shown on 7TWO is at times really comical; '...My love for you was not fictitional' 'You're a gentleman and a schalap Lance Smart!'. (Lol my favorite) ... She would either use made up words or come out with really outlandish comparisons to events that were going on in the Bay which were often out of context. This is the one major element missing from the character these days, I know she is older and wiser now but that unique dialogue really helped define the character throughout the 80's and 90's, it isn't like she did it all the time, it was just totally random which made it all the more quirky.

I really like Garry and Izzy, they are great characters, very 'real' so I enjoyed the Thursday and Friday episodes, well played. Great scenes at the Barlow house surrounding James coming clean, even if it was because he was forced too. Sally, I did think she was rather amusing at the factory too, especially when she was peeping out at everyone threw the blinds. But as for Friday's episode, this is where she seems so inconsistent to me - she seemed to be back to being genuinely wise and forgiving, totally unlike herself when it comes to Fiz. She was standing in the kitchen lecturing Kevin about how its a great quality to be able to see the best in people and forgive and Kevin should try it sometimes - I was waiting for him to tell her to eat a piece of her own cake but he didn't. Its a a rather interesting romance Audry has with Mark. And Owen is obviously going to end up with Anna, which seems quite natural actually. He's totally different to Eddie but I think the writers seemed to have taken her down a different track too, she's less 'silly' these days which is a shame really, I liked that about the character. I don't know what to make of Tracey but she does genuinely seem to want to create family for herself and Amy with Steve. I haven't seen any of their history so at the moment I'm just presuming she means well, even if she can be quite manipulative. I laugh at her banter with Ken and Deirdre, shes quite rude to them at times but they just seem to accept it which is funny to watch.

I could be wrong but I'm sure I remember her giving it to him back because she felt he needed it more with a baby to look after. Interesting and realistic scenes with the Webster's - such a mess of a situation but I did wonder how Sophie managed to transfer the money in the first place. I'm sure you need to go threw a number of tight security 'stages' during application in order to create online account passwords etc Anyway, once I'd accepted that she managed it I thought it was a good plot to watch unfold. I wasn't watching when Gail was in prison so I am enjoying this Fiz stuff. I'd like to see Roy and Hayley take a bit more of a center stage, they are good characters. This is random but I'm sure a number of characters have just disappeared without a trace, or maybe I missed an episode where they suddenly departed with an onscreen explanation. Keven's dad, his wife/Molly's Aunt and Connie (Jack's partner). Last I remember was them at Molly's funeral/wake. Also we haven't seen Betty in months it feels like.

If they give Alf a new love interest the producers need to come up with a character who is Alf's 'type'. Someone with similar attributes to Ailsa who was head strong (mostly) and wore the trousers pretty much.

Nice post! ^ I like Stella too, she reminds me of one of those older classic Coronation Street characters I've seen in various clips on Youtube. Randomly, I also like the way she always says 'crackin'! I don't know whats happening with her and Leanne but after Monday's episode I have a good idea. It was also nice to see some old photos of Leanne's family. Im not keen on Leanne after what she did with Nick but there is something about her that is likable. I am enjoying the slow burning plot between Garry and Izzy. I also like how Garry is subconsciously or consciously I suppose, using Izzy's disability to benefit his own peace of mind, its realistic, controlling and a bit creepy. But I like both characters so I'm not able to side with one over the other. I dont like Becky - I find her irritating and immature - very well written character, I believe in her. But I still dont like the character. Up until last week I thought Roy's mother was a bit one dimensional, but I see now that the writers were deliberately keeping her personality under wraps and we are now getting to understand where she comes from. It was good to see a human side of her when she was so disgusted by Hayley. I thought those scenes where the three characters were sitting around the table in the coffee shop were the highlight of those episodes, some strong acting. Unlike all the other characters who seem quite chummy with each other, Carla seems like a bit of a loner. I like the character, she is well written and I'm enjoying the alcohol abuse stuff. Sally has become rather nasty. I dont know whats happened there. She does come across as sensitive and sympathetic at times but then randomly she seems ignorant and plain nasty. Obviously it is part of the character but it feels like the writers dont know which way to go with her... Has she always been this inconsistent?

I know this is pointless but I just wanted to throw it out there that I am still holding onto hope and word from way back in late 2009 that a Summer Bay House replica and/or caravan park will be rebuilt! I'm sure we would have heard something if that idea had progressed into a reality but for now it seems like out of sight, out of mind! ...Unless the money they saved by not filming car chases and explosions went towards Georgie Parkers wage packet instead