alexx

I always thought Stewarts Point was where the lighthouse was. I agree that it can be frustrating when they just keep changing locations all the time, its inconsistent. I dont think they realize how much it takes away from the idea of 'Summer Bay'. If they used consistent locations and named them consistently too, it would really create a fictional town that you can believe in...but when they change things around so much, like they do with the stock shots of the houses, it just takes 'something' away...

It definitely felt slightly eerie when Bobby told Alan she would hate to end up on a life support machine! I really love the quality of these episodes - the pace, the perfect balance between humour and emotion, the poignant moments, the feel good moments, the genuine sense of a small sea side town and what the writers decide to show in terms of character development.

I don't watch the show but have done in the past, or tried to over the internet anyway.. but I have to say those titles are really well produced, I'd like to see them in HD. After seeing those I started watching some of the older titles and these new ones have definitely got a nice sense of 'tradition' to them, espeically the end shot with the sun setting over the old chimney pots and that ginger cat who seems to be in every set of titles going back to the 70's..or maybe before? I also like the new theme tune, its obviously been re-recorded especially for the new titles as its very crisp. What I like about Coronation Street is that they seem to be very aware of the shows history and 50 years old!! Wow, is that the oldest soap around?

Will also went into the city to search for Nick in 1999, that was in Sydney, around the harbour too.

^And Fisher packing up his office then he and Alan's meeting in the school corridor! Brilliant.

Fantastic episode today (Thursday) -a very emotional episode yet full of humor! The quality of both writing and acting, faultless.

Thanks Dan, great update! Also seeing the view of the beach from the house reminds me of the backdrop photo/painting they use or did use, it is definitely taken from that angle becuase I remember it having a grassy area, then the beach beyond that fence. Its interesting to see the floor plan side by side like that, it really is very similar.

Oh shoot! The only memory I have of that episode is from when it aired back in 1999; for some reason it stuck out to me as memorable so I guess I must have presumed it was becuase we actually saw the beach house; though I do remember the scene between Diana and Chloe to be strong and character lead. Maybe it really was last used when Selina was kidnapped by Saul. The stock shots were so prominently featured though, so it felt like we saw it all the time in a way. Nice update to the locations. Interesting to see how the Townhouse was dressed so as to fit the interior design. I think it always works best when they choose a outdoor location and then design a set around that. Thats why they should go back to using the original Beach House too.

The only other car insidents involving Belle I can think of was the Dom storyline. And maybe when she was kidnapped by Amanda's sister. I cant remember anything about the locations though. I presume it would be quite hard to focus in on one house amongst the other houses in terms of aerial shots. But I was just thinking more along the lines of the ones they used to use during the 90's, taken from far away - I think they'd look fantastic in HD, espeically if you can see a bit of the beach too. I remember one particular shot of the beach house, it was taken from afar and you saw the whole house and a lot of the sky and the garden/some of the beach (I think) - but it always made it look like such a beautiful house to live in and gave a really nice summer bay feel. I also think they should use some stock shots from the later 90's of Summer Bay House, they had quite a few 'aerial' looking shots they could use again, all they need to do is upscale and color correct, I'm sure they would look good and seamless if they use that zooming effect they seem to make use off, until they've re-built - that's if they are still going ahead with it? Hopefully.

I'm a bit confused about who Stan is in regards to Colleen and Les. Did they change his name in later episodes or was Les a man she got with later? - I've never heard her talk about Stan before.

It doesn't seem like there was any reason for them to change location when they could have easily used the same stock shots from the 90's and unscaled them to HD/wide screen until they were able to shoot new ones becuase now you've put it up like that Dan it is soooo wrong, the windows dont match up at all. For a start it looks like the back of a house, there are no blinds and they appear to be windows not doors. If whoever is in charge of locations is looking at this thread, please go back to the original location and shoot some new cool HD shots of it, even if it was a one off and they were unable to get permission to actually use the location for filming within the episodes, it would be much better to have some cool new stock shots of the original house (the one that actually fits and the interior was based around) - plus it really would add to that beachy Summer Bay charm...

Oh cool! That'd be really interesting to see. The layout really is similar, thanks for that...I wonder what the reason was for changing the location... I think it would be really beneficial to have it used again and utilize the garden area and beach, though I can imagine it wouldn't be as easy as that what with the permission required etc I think the last time we did actually see the outside of the house, though I could be wrong, was in 1999 after James banned Diana from seeing Olivia, she was standing on the beach staring at the house, Irene and Chloe watching her threw the blinds, then Chloe went out and they came to a understanding after Diana broke down about loosing Lachie.

Ah yes!!! I know, what a brilliant location and it was right next to the beach. They probably only had a couple of dozen location scenes there throughout the 90's, but it really was very recognizable via the stock shots. I agree, they should really go back to using that house again. I assume they built the interior layout based on the outdoor location becuase, Imo it does fit rather well, in fact much better than the one they currently use. I can easily image there to be more than one room upstairs, I always imaged that huge bay window area to be a grand landing/hall way at the top of the stairs where the rooms would come off from at the back of the house.

I really wish they hadn't changed Leah's house location, this is the third house they've used now, it just looks silly, plus it makes no sense at all if all they are going to do is use stock shots. I also dont think its a good idea to have extras in stock shots, that guy with the red t shirt just so happens to walk past the house every time! Likewise with the Beach House, they had a really nice house all throughout the 90's that became easily recognizable and helped build continuity, then they changed it around the same time as Leah's place.

I think the school it supposed to have different levels, but they all have the same layout if you get me. If you look at the numbers and such on the walls, they sometimes change. Also I cant remember which storyline it was, but I remember a character running up and down the stairs coming to the same set, but it was supposed to be a different level, i.e different class' going on at the same time..maybe it was when Kirsty was taking her exams (?). I did like the 70's brick school back in the earlier years but I think the current school set is really well designed and seems quite timeless, there is the familiarity attached to it too yet it doesn't appear dated at all considering it was built in 1996, just feels and looks like a school would. I really wouldn't like them changing it now, Imo it would be just too much change.

How can bright 'sunshine' flooding the sets make them look 'dull and dingy'? I dont get that. I know I've read elsewhere how someone wished Summer Bay House was back to being the way it was during the 90's... i.e simple, basic as that was all they could afford...etc But it has to be remembered that a well paid (presumably) doctor has lived there since then. I really disliked SBH redecorating when it was first done, but now they have altered all the lighting the colors aren't so glaring and nasty looking. Leah's kitchen is really nice, sunny etc but I wish they'd kept the fireplace. I love the beach house set now its been redecorated and the new lighting, although we havent seen a lot of it this year. I think the farm has to be one of my current favorite sets though.

It's in a studio - that's what I love about the new lighting and set designs, it all looks so natural and fresh - i.e light coming in from the windows, rather than the studio over head style most soaps have.

I was disappointed that we didn't actually see Lyn leave. Pippa spoke about Carly's speech at Lyn's goodbye dinner, but all of that happened off screen, it disrupted the flow a bit. At least her final episode was a memorable one! Having said that, I know that I watched these episodes when they were repeated and I've pretty much forgotten a lot of whats been happening recently...

Now that, Imo, is what cut Home and Away above the rest- the whole fostering premise used to be handled it in such a unique way, it oozed warmth and character focus. I have watched this episode 2 times now since it aired this morning and watched the last segment a couple on top. So well produced!

Does anyone know when the Surf Club is first seen? I only just realized it hasn't been shown in the early years episodes up to now!

They are identical twins that's why.. I like having Samantha in town it provides an interesting little twist and I think its great how everyone thinks she is Carly like Martin on the beach About Lyn leaving, a couple of weeks into the show I could understand why they got rid of her, but she has since developed a lot as a character and I will miss her when she goes but I can still see why they let her go so early given what they mostly used her for...

Why dont you just buy a set top box? You can get them for under $20 these days, I saw one for $14.99 at Dick Smith the other day, You'll have to get one eventually anyhow since in the next couple of years it will be the only way to watch TV...

Thanks for the update! I hope the replica house is still being built!! It would be so cool if they were able to actually replicate the house and Caravan park together exactly as it was in terms of layout etc for the sake of history too.. I think its really important and the location has been so missed. If they were able to do that it would transform the 'feel' of the show positively. I agree with those who have noted how different the caravan park location looks currently - I dont like how huge it appears to be and it hasn't got the charm the original had. The one they used during 2007-early 2008 was the best in terms of similarity i.e the sand, the wooden fence, smallish caravans etc but now it just seems too busy. On the flip side, I can see that they have really reintroduced the park as a prominent location like it used to be and just imagine if it were still the old location, it would have been fantastic to have this Miles/Rabbit storyline playing out there!!

Thing is though Marilyn went threw phases - in 1997 (before my avatar picture), she went threw a very similar stage as she did when she left in 1999, when her and Fisher miscarried Oscar (I think that was the name they gave him) - she went into a deep depression, just like she did when Byron had cancer... yet after a few months of 'getting threw it' she bounced back to being positive again and became that bubbly sole that she is. Her current stint is just the same as that as far as I can see. She hasn't got over grieving for Byron, but she seems to be moving on, she's had cancer (Which was two years ago now) ....she's moved back to the bay for positive reasons and she has been able to bounce back to her happier self again, just like she did in the 90's after she faced a tragedy. So to me its perfectly in keeping with the character that she is able to move threw the negative areas of her life and focus on the positives becuase that is what she always did - its just the 'bouncing back' development happened sometime whilst she was off screen.

I really dont get the 'parody of themselves' thing when it comes to personalities. How can someone's personalty and who they are, eventually become a parody of itself? A personalty is a personality no matter what your age..its only society that tells us that as we grow older we are supposed to 'stop being silly' become boring and serious. In reality, most people are young at heart and those that let it shine threw to the exterior remain youthful and energetic and popular as a mate or someone to have around because most adults want to be like that but feel they shouldn't be... I think it would be a tragedy if Marilyn were to lose her personalty just because she isn't 18, it doesn't make sense at all. She is the type that doesn't care what people think and just lives her life, I respect those type of people more than the sheep of the world.