Latest UK Episode Discussion (2006-2017 Seasons)

[Red Ranger 1]

Letting Barrett out of jail has never seemed like a worse idea.He pretty much sets a new low for sliminess by thanking Ash for being a good friend solely in order to get him out of the way so he can use their garage for criminal activity.He obviously doesn't give a damn about stabbing Ash and Kat in the back after they've both taken a big risk on him...or not enough of a damn not to do it.Instead he's convinced himself that all that matters is "My brother's in trouble"...for which read "He killed someone and got found out." Ironic that Justin, who doesn't like Ash, gives him a warning he should have listened to while Andy, who Ash considers a friend, betrays his trust.

While Alf's decision makes sense on an emotional level, it defies all logic: Shutting down and potentially losing his business rather than admit that he's not up to running it himself.It's a shame Roo didn't make more of an effort to talk him round...but then, Alf's never really accepted Roo as an adult with an opinion that he should listen to.Tori was probably right to have a go at Nate, not that it did any good: Instead, Mason managed to prove himself without help and Nate dialled down the aggro as a result.Evelyn pops up five minutes from the end to feel sorry for herself and cause tension between Mason and Lara.And then Mason reveals that...they are in witness protection after all? Because if so, that's really rubbish witness protection.Even if the talk of 344 different homes is an exaggeration (it'd pretty much have to be unless they change every week or two), the idea surely is to place them somewhere out of the way and leave them there, not keep moving them around for a decade or so.And surely they'd need a new identity every time they were moved, rather than someone being able to find them just by seeing who's asked for Tori's reference.(Unless Tori's references are faked?Does Lara know Mason under a different name?)

Oh yes, Brody redesigning (and possibly renaming) Angelo's.He seems to have backed off from his initial gushing over Phoebe and instead they've got a fairly decent set of put-downs going on.Hopefully it'll stay that way and he won't suddenly decide she is wonderful after all.

[Red Ranger 1]

19 hours ago, atrus said:

Sorry to rehash this after a two-week absence, but just a few additional thoughts: totally agreed that 'licensed' doesn't necessarily mean 'canon' and likewise for 'in continuity', and it would appear we don't have a definitive word on canonicity either way. As far as other TV canons go, I'd argue that screen content tends to be considered canon more often by fans than print material, in absence of the powers that be confirming either way. But I think each viewer has to make up their own mind, unless the producers come out and explicitly say that the events of the special either did or didn't happen - and yes, UK viewers will likely be more inclined to embrace it on the grounds that they had free access. I don't really buy that it can't 'legally' be canon unless some such deal has explicitly been agreed, and the fact that Brax doesn't talk about Gunno falling off a cliff doesn't necessarily mean it's not canon either. There are loads of past events in soaps deliberately not spoken about in the present day for all sorts of reasons - and arguably, the fact that old episodes are usually totally inaccessible is the main reason that characters from the past aren't incessantly name-dropped unless they or their families have a bearing on current storylines. Admittedly it sounds like the special wasn't accessible ever, at all, for lots of Australian fans, but the same could be said about content in many franchises, and I don't necessarily think the impact on canonicity should be assumed to be automatic unless a statement is made to that effect.

Without making another long speech on what's canon and what isn't (although I feel obliged to mention that the special seems on a par with a Corrie spin-off video that was outright contradicted by the series proper), I think it's unfair to say that the past isn't referenced because it's not accessible.Brax felt the need to name-drop Sam as part of his five second Everything's Fine explanation, and people are probably going to remember Gunno at least as much as him.Alf referenced his four sisters recently, one of whom hasn't been seen since at least 2010.Leah goes off to visit her brother, last seen in 2007.Irene goes to visit her daughter, last seen in 1997.We've had name-drops for the likes of Jett, Bianca and Heath in recent weeks.Yes, no-one feels the need to constantly chat about Lynn Davenport or even Tamara Kingsley, but in a case like this where an event has a very definite bearing on the storyline the lack of reference does suggest there's more going on.

[CaptainHulk]

3 hours ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

Without making another long speech on what's canon and what isn't (although I feel obliged to mention that the special seems on a par with a Corrie spin-off video that was outright contradicted by the series proper), I think it's unfair to say that the past isn't referenced because it's not accessible.Brax felt the need to name-drop Sam as part of his five second Everything's Fine explanation, and people are probably going to remember Gunno at least as much as him.Alf referenced his four sisters recently, one of whom hasn't been seen since at least 2010.Leah goes off to visit her brother, last seen in 2007.Irene goes to visit her daughter, last seen in 1997.We've had name-drops for the likes of Jett, Bianca and Heath in recent weeks.Yes, no-one feels the need to constantly chat about Lynn Davenport or even Tamara Kingsley, but in a case like this where an event has a very definite bearing on the storyline the lack of reference does suggest there's more going on.

Corrie's spinoff vids often took the **** with continuity. The Las Vegas video even suggested Ray Langton was now in relationship with a guy when the Duckworths ran into him. The only things that actually made it into continuity in recent times were Out of Africa (All the Cilla stuff) and a Knight's Tale (Reg's christmas card to Mary)

[atrus]

7 hours ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

I feel obliged to mention that the special seems on a par with a Corrie spin-off video that was outright contradicted by the series proper

Well, except that the H&A special hasn't been outright contradicted yet. As a Corrie non-viewer I accept what's being said - but again I think we have to take each case individually. With H&A, it feels as if a real effort was made to actually tie the events of the special in with what we'd just seen in the main show. Ultimately with spin-offs etc, if I'm aware that there's no intention by the respective writing teams of trying to tally the two, then I've no real interest in watching. But I've still yet to see anything that suggests that's the case here. Quite the contrary, since the two productions clearly worked in tandem to include shared scenes and numerous major, current characters, while Lucy Addario is on record as having editorial oversight. I suppose the point about accessibility is that the lack of mention of Gunno seems a deliberate move to avoid contradicting the special, but without referencing it either to avoid confusing those who haven't seen it. Yes, there are other possible explanations - but to me that still seems the likeliest.

Onto today. and the Phoebe/Brody interplay was nice. I have, however, had a bit of a gutful of 'Stubborn Alf Won't Face His Medical Demons', which has been done relatively recently with the PTSD stuff. I'd rather he was deployed in other ways, if I'm honest. I'd also rather Andy just went to jail, as opposed to this silly conceit of him being out on bail and laundering stolen cars, which just makes me dislike him even more than I already did; that Nate stopped being so miserable; and that Evie had been the one to get the hasty writeout as opposed to Maddy. I find it intensely annoying that they can't keep someone in the show who's missing an arm, and yet they're already apparently setting up Evie - who's run her course on so many levels - as a potential love interest for the new boy, which to my mind suggests she'll be sticking around for the time being.

And the Morgans are in witness protection. I'd guessed it was something like that, but yes, it does leave a lot of questions to be answered - such as were they given new identities etc?

[Brian]

Interesting discussions from you all, but what was all that about "canon"? Couldn't understand a word of that. Good idea the witness protection storyline - never heard that in a soap before; should lead to some novel script writing. I like the Morgan brothers, but why do we need 3 of them + a big sister? To replace the Braxtons? But we have managed well with 2 Barretts for a few years, as well as twins Oscar and Evie. Mason seems the best Morgan to me  - he reminds me of Bobby Morley some years ago playing Drew Curtis - young, good looking, curly hair, plenty of chat. No doubt he'll break a few hearts, when he has to give up Lara. What a real name Orpheus! Where do they get these strange Aussie names - Tori, Hunter, Skye, Nate, Ricky, Tank, Brody, etc?

Feel very sorry for Kat, if she is going to lose her 50 Grand. No way can Andy be trusted and Ash was stupid arranging for the garage to be for bail. Surely just one person couldn't assign that money by himself|?

Still waiting for the Billie saga to play out (Billie for a girl!!!). Several ways it could go and it will be heartache for some, especially VJ. 

Wish Marilyn would go on another world tour. She is no company for John now - poor fellow!    

[Red Ranger 1]

20 hours ago, CaptainHulk said:

Corrie's spinoff vids often took the **** with continuity. The Las Vegas video even suggested Ray Langton was now in relationship with a guy when the Duckworths ran into him. The only things that actually made it into continuity in recent times were Out of Africa (All the Cilla stuff) and a Knight's Tale (Reg's christmas card to Mary)

See, I’d have said that they actually do a good job of tying things in, even though the spin-off videos tend to be more on the level of farce than the show proper. With regards the Las Vegas video, while there seemed to be some slight confusion as to which characters were doing the spin-off (I swear a couple managed to be in both at the same time), we saw Jack and Vera go off to Vegas in the show proper, they alluded to having had a Vegas wedding when they came back and I think Ray may have even mentioned his time in Vegas when he turned up again. But when they came to give an account of Elsie Tanner’s death, they decided to ignore the fact a spin-off video had established she died of cancer in the 80s (like the actress who played her) and had her die in a car accident about twenty years later.

Anyway, back to Home and Away and on to today. So…witness protection. It probably would have helped to hear Mason’s explanation to Lara, because instead we get a garbled “As you know” between the Morgans themselves. So, it seems their parents did get shot like the couple Tori saw, and that their father was mixed up with some pretty dangerous types. But a lot else is confusing. Did they actually witness their parents’ murder? Did they give evidence against the killers? If not…why are these people after them? Some sort of protracted second hand punishment? And even if they did, the idea that they’re targeting the people they care about rather than them, whilst it explains the “No attachments” rule, seems a strange way to go about things. Slow torture? Keep getting interrupted before the grand finale? Justin, bizarrely, acts like it’s up to him whether they move on, although at least they do mention a contact. I’m not sure if they’re meant to know the guy following them around, who tells Nate his name is Tim Mitchell but rather endearingly is credited as Kevin Arthur “Spike” Lowe (that’s more names than most regulars have!), Brody apparently didn’t get a good look at him in the car but he clearly got a good look at him in Angelo’s and didn’t seem to recognise him. (Um, he’s also Tamara’s dad. Just after I’ve mentioned Tamara. Cue Twilight Zone theme.) I’m not sure if Phoebe lost the ability to count when she said there’s five Morgans or if she was trying to be funny and failing.

It’s a shame that they give the long-serving characters storylines and I’m left wanting to strangle them. Alf becomes another character who insists on going home before he’s ready, expecting his family to look after him while simultaneously yelling at them when they try and help him. And his caramel slice mess-up was his own fault for trying to be posh: Most of us do use our fingers to eat them, it’s only snobbish trophy wives that insist on using forks. Irene wasn’t as annoying, but she’s also doing stuff she’s not ready for and snapping at those who try to help her. And Marilyn really is the most selfish character ever. John supported her doing what she had to do, now she’s back claiming she wants to support him but in fact sulking that he’s changed his mind and now she’s stuck with just him and it’s dull. I really didn’t appreciate that Irene and Leah seemed to be telling him to let her have her own way.

[atrus]

Yes, the long-termers' storylines were all pretty underwhelming today. Irene's was the best of a bad bunch, albeit representing the second 'I don't need your pity'-type narrative in the episode. But Stubborn Alf and his Flamin' Caramel Slice were dully predictable, and Marilyn and John seem to have been arguing about whether to take up fostering for about a year now - it's just that the roles have reversed, which bluntly doesn't make it any more interesting. If I recall correctly - and I may well not recall correctly, it being one of the stories I customarily tuned out of at the time - Marilyn basically gallivanted off around the world because she didn't get her own way on the issue, and now she's miffed that John has changed his tune. Yes, Skye is a factor in that, but perhaps the fact that Marilyn abandoned him for months on end is giving him pause for thought too, and reasonably enough.

Next, the Morgans - and I'm concerned we're being introduced to yet another set of dimly-defined villains intent on the pursuit of a peculiarly convoluted form of revenge which happens to be convenient to the plot. I was thinking that the way Mason told Lara the whole story, but not the viewers, was a sign we'd be subjected to weeks of unnecessary intrigue over the reason for the witness protection, so at least that's all been cleared up fairly quickly, albeit via some pretty eye-watering expository dialogue between the siblings. Actually my instinct is that the whole darn thing will be cleared up pretty quickly, not least because we know from their addition to the main cast in the closing credits that the Morgans probably aren't going to be fleeing town any time soon. Unless of course they do a Skye.

[CaptainHulk]

16 hours ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

See, I’d have said that they actually do a good job of tying things in, even though the spin-off videos tend to be more on the level of farce than the show proper. With regards the Las Vegas video, while there seemed to be some slight confusion as to which characters were doing the spin-off (I swear a couple managed to be in both at the same time), we saw Jack and Vera go off to Vegas in the show proper, they alluded to having had a Vegas wedding when they came back and I think Ray may have even mentioned his time in Vegas when he turned up again. But when they came to give an account of Elsie Tanner’s death, they decided to ignore the fact a spin-off video had established she died of cancer in the 80s (like the actress who played her) and had her die in a car accident about twenty years later.

Anyway, back to Home and Away and on to today. So…witness protection. It probably would have helped to hear Mason’s explanation to Lara, because instead we get a garbled “As you know” between the Morgans themselves. So, it seems their parents did get shot like the couple Tori saw, and that their father was mixed up with some pretty dangerous types. But a lot else is confusing. Did they actually witness their parents’ murder? Did they give evidence against the killers? If not…why are these people after them? Some sort of protracted second hand punishment? And even if they did, the idea that they’re targeting the people they care about rather than them, whilst it explains the “No attachments” rule, seems a strange way to go about things. Slow torture? Keep getting interrupted before the grand finale? Justin, bizarrely, acts like it’s up to him whether they move on, although at least they do mention a contact. I’m not sure if they’re meant to know the guy following them around, who tells Nate his name is Tim Mitchell but rather endearingly is credited as Kevin Arthur “Spike” Lowe (that’s more names than most regulars have!), Brody apparently didn’t get a good look at him in the car but he clearly got a good look at him in Angelo’s and didn’t seem to recognise him. (Um, he’s also Tamara’s dad. Just after I’ve mentioned Tamara. Cue Twilight Zone theme.) I’m not sure if Phoebe lost the ability to count when she said there’s five Morgans or if she was trying to be funny and failing.

It’s a shame that they give the long-serving characters storylines and I’m left wanting to strangle them. Alf becomes another character who insists on going home before he’s ready, expecting his family to look after him while simultaneously yelling at them when they try and help him. And his caramel slice mess-up was his own fault for trying to be posh: Most of us do use our fingers to eat them, it’s only snobbish trophy wives that insist on using forks. Irene wasn’t as annoying, but she’s also doing stuff she’s not ready for and snapping at those who try to help her. And Marilyn really is the most selfish character ever. John supported her doing what she had to do, now she’s back claiming she wants to support him but in fact sulking that he’s changed his mind and now she’s stuck with just him and it’s dull. I really didn’t appreciate that Irene and Leah seemed to be telling him to let her have her own way.

 

Doo doo doo doo dooo dooo.... (Twilight Zone, couldn't resist)  I swear some early episodes some of the Danger/Doom Piano music took its cue from that. That music is deeply programmed. 

Yeah, Posh Trophy wives or people who just plain don't think their s*** stinks go the fork route with the caramel slice. If only Ailse was still alive, she'd pull him into line for behaving like a "old wowser" or "Flamin' great big baby" (using his words back at him) and call him out on his treatment of Roo, Leah et al. I think the only thing that would get Alf to simmer down is the threat of Morag visiting ("She CAUSES stress, not fixes it, you galah!")

Reenie's been through quite a bit but the headbiting will get old really quickly if hasn't already. I just don't want her to go around slapping folk unless they deserve it,.

 

 

 

[H&Alover]

I agree Red, the people running the WP really are rubbish if the Morgan's (if that is their real surname, Brody was against using it as the new name for Angelo's) have to keep moving because one of the drug syndicate folk have tracked them down. Btw the only soap I can recall that had a family in WP was Corrie with the Harris'.  I should imagine they keep their Christian names and any history is jiggled with.  It may explain Tori's (short for Victoria) was a bit hazy about her work at her previous hospital. It would make sense for guys after revenge to target friends of the family seeing how close the family are, they can also use them to find out where Tori and co are.  'Tim Mitchell' has honed in on Nate (Nathanial) as he saw him and Tori talking.  Brody did say he didn't get a good look at the guy in the car.

Not sure why Mason didn't shout any louder when he blurted it out to Lara, not sure Alf heard him. Not actually specified how dad crossed the mob, did he short change them in a drug deal, start skimming them?  I suppose in their minds the (dad) was guilty so they must be involved. I thought I heard one of them say it had been going on seven years that would have made Mason quite young, even allowing for the fact he may be in his 20's.  That's assuming it was The Mob but may explain the brothers dark colouring if they are of Italian extraction. Going back to Lara I may be doing her a disservice but I can't shake the feeling she may not be as innocent as she comes across, if she is good job 'Tim' didn't see them sharing their goodbye kiss.  Or Mason giving Evie a hug. 

I may be thick but I don't recall Phoebe not liking Angelo's image before which made her exuberance over Brody's plans a bit puzzling for me. I like the paring of Brody and Phoebe brain storming over his plans for Angelo's, it's going to take us a bit of getting used to having to call it something else let alone the locals.

Going against the tide but I can see why Andy wants to get the money himself to take the burden off Ash putting the garage up as his bail, but I said before all he has to do is keep out of trouble until his trial and no-body loses anything. Justin is obviously used to dodgy dealings being able to pick up from a distance what was going on between Andy and Simmo (?).  I think on one level Ash did believe him, but is choosing not to.

We all know Alf isn't the most patient person when he's in good health but now he's having to depend on others it really has brought out the worst in him.  I was on his side though when he was walking back to his room and Roo came rushing up fussing about him falling, he must have been given the OK by the nurses to go to the loo by himself, Nate didn't seem worried or tell him off for doing it. How many patients have we had in the hospital that have begged about going home when they are not fully ready, most of the time it has done them more good being back in familiar surroundings, as long as there has been a good back up system and safeguards are in place. I said before he needs to go and stay with Morag, she'd be there to help him but wouldn't be forever fussing like Roo is doing.

Both Nate and Tori admitted they were in the wrong in their own ways about Mason, she's backed off about Nate being too hard on him because he's had a tough time (we know why now) and Nate backed down over compensating on being too hard because he was her brother.

At least Irene admitted all is not well mentally but not willing yet to agree to counselling for her PTSD, she's like Alf in that way wants to deal with it by herself the way she always has (without resorting to drink).  Methinks a talk with Alf could solve that, it'd take his mind off his health problem by advising her that if it helped him it would certainly help her. It did in one way help her being back at work, but as usual there are always people (this time Leah) questioning whether it's too soon, but hasn't Leah been in that position and had people ask her the same thing? 

[Red Ranger 1]

Alf continues to be terminally grumpy and spend most of his time bullying Roo.I was kind of hoping we'd see an end to that storyline today, but judging from the promo they seem to be holding off the pay-off until tomorrow.Once more Roo readily admits that Alf closing the bait shop is a stupid idea that is damaging the business to just about anyone but Alf: Someone really needs to tell him to grow up and get over himself. Well, I guess Matt tried only to be met with Alf's "Get out!" response.

Marilyn does at least improve.Thinking back, she and John were equally enthusiastic about fostering before her accident, but once she got her memory back she lost interest and wanted to go travelling.I was a bit worried about her lack of response when John asked if the two of them together was enough for her.She did say it was eventually, hard to interpret her expression.

Irene's storyline continues to be the best of the bunch, despite a few snappy moments, not least because of the way it feeds into Billie's storyline.Another sweet moment between VJ and Billie, and she does seem to be trying to stop him messing up his HSC.(I'm making the most of these while I can because I'm fully expecting them to break up.Couples I like usually do.)That must be the first time we've seen VJ and Olivia in school uniform in yonks, I don't think we've actually seen the school this year.Maybe that's why Greg's headed for the hills, with confirmation that he's gone and Zac's back in charge.(So it seems they really did cut him out of his intended last episode.Sigh.)Chris once again applies lateral thinking to someone who's refusing conventional methods of counselling and it turns out to be not entirely daft.Billie's speech to Irene about being turned into a victim was dripping with significance: We and Billie know that it was the same man that left them feeling powerless but Irene doesn't.Really hope her bleeding turns out to be nothing, it'd be too cruel if the one positive thing that's come out of this gets taken away from her.