Latest UK Episode Discussion (2006-2017 Seasons)

[H&Alover]

Leah is still in the city visiting family and getting into training as a granny with her cousins baby.

I think Evie was hoping Josh would still want her as his one and only, finding out he'd met someone else must have been a real blow,  I think we are meant to think he and Andy didn't spend their whole time on the run hiding at that shack. May be way off but maybe Josh came back just to leave that drawing for Evie as a goodbye. Mind you, him saying he has someone could be a lie and is setting her 'free' to find someone else.

Ash isn't happy about keeping quite but he has to respect Billie's feelings about it, she's an adult, besides she could always deny any rape took place, besides as far as Ash & VJ know she didn't get a look at her rapist so couldn't give a description and any forensic evidence is long gone.  I believe Billie does love VJ, perhaps not at first but she does now.

Hunter certainly stepped up to the plate when he found John, ordering Olivia to phone for an ambulance when she was standing there dithering, doing all the right things, keeping John calm and still.  Olivia is giving out mixed signals no wonder Hunter is getting annoyed with her. It's like Irene said it's too soon for Hunter to want to be friends with her, it wasn't a mutual break up, she dumped him.  I know they can't avoid each other completely but she needs to give him space. As for Billie forgiving Hunter for his framing her she said a while back he and her were both outsiders and didn't fit in. At least John and Hunter have made up and have out their row behind them.  Not sure what checks John had done, not extensive that's for sure, maybe whatever is wrong with him doesn't show up that easily.  Obviously not resolved as he had another turn in the Diner which Hunter spotted, question is will John, being a man, admit he's still not right and have another check up or leave it until he collapses again and this time not be found as quick.

I didn't like the way Tori sneered at Jeannie when she explained why she was taking the sugar sachets, she may not agree with Jeannie's families beliefs, but it's not harming her in any way so butt out.  Just because she's all loved up with Dr. Nate (noted Brody has started calling him that) why can't she leave Brody alone and let him deal with it himself in his own way.  Jeannie has been rumbled about her job and the fact she and Brody are an item (sort of). Mr Wood with his some could call paranoid approach to 'outsiders' explains his attitude, but Jeannie is an adult so is entitled to now have her own thoughts, of course she would side with her dad even if she no longer totally shares his beliefs. 

You can always rely on Cheryl to  liven things up and Heath should know by now she doesn't take kindly to being told what to or not to do.  Loved that show down between her and Bianca who more than gave back what she got.  Olivia's, I'm guessing ironic remark, 'she seems nice' was brilliant. Heath may have had a violent past, but don't think he'd ever killed anyone, beaten them up yes, but killing Gunno was a spur of the moment thing and he's certainly been paying for it since. Sad that Bianca has decided that their up and down life has to end, maybe if it was just her and him she could carry on, but there is Darcy and Harley to think of, not good for either of them, having 'mum' and dad on edge all the time, happy one moment at each other throats the next.

[Slade]

I'm disappointed about Brody and Jeannie.  Quite liked them together and feel she's made Brody more likeable.  When Brody first met her it seemed as though he met the woman of his dreams and they were both really into each other.  They go out for a bit, Brody is rude to her dad and this basically spells the end of the relationship.  I get that in some cases the grass is always greener and they wanted different things but it felt as though they brought her in as a new character and did a u-turn so decided to get rid of her hence all the doomsday cult stuff.  Even Tori who seems quite tolerant had quite a negative attitude towards them.  I did like the part where Jeannie said "Why do you always assume the worst? and Brody replied "This from the doomsday cult girl" and also when he saw her on the beach before that, put his hands up and said "I'm not following you OK maybe I am".

For a split second during the scene with Evelyn and Brody I did think there was chemistry there, arguable more than Matt when she kissed him at the end of the episode.

I know she's being like this because she's made her mind up about wanting out of the marriage and doesn't want Heath talking her around but I'm find Bianca quite unlikeable now.  I did quite like the scene when Heath was getting drunk and Alf gave him a shoulder to cry on.

Noticed Laura Vazquez's name at the end credits as a standby makeup person.

[H&Alover]

Brody and Jeannie's romance did get pretty steamy very fast, something that intense would burn out rather quickly, they had different outlooks on life, even allowing for the fact she had started having doubts about her parents way of life.  I don't know if Brody had had a serious girlfriend before they went on the run but we do know Jeannie had had a sheltered life and Brody was the first man she'd got close too, very close.  Very wise decision on her part to get a job somewhere else, it would be very awkward for them both working in the same place. I hope Brody finds a new girl/woman he's a great guy, plus the lucky woman would have a guy that cooks!!!!

I thought the same about Brody and Evelyn, but her interest does lie elsewhere though she may not want to admit it yet. Roo may not have been right about sending Matt to the farmhouse, Evie still hadn't calmed down but eventually did after looking at her ring one more time, but she was right about not giving up on her.  Still have the feeling Josh hasn't got a new girl and he told whoever it was where he's being held to say that should she want to visit.  He's going to be locked up for a very long time and this way Evie won't feel obliged to visit/wait for him. Could, despite her hurt at Josh having a girlfriend be tempered with relief that she needn't feel so guilty about wanting to move on? Fun scene where Evie and Matt were discussing what to have for lunch and they were agreeing on everything, that kiss was inevitable.  Come to think of it all Matt's romances have begun as friendships.  Now it's happened they (or rather Evie more that Matt) needs to step back, wouldn't be fair on Matt for it to be a rebound romance. Zoe popping up didn't help, but I've a feeling she won't be around much longer, she's not stupid, she's seen the looks between them when they thought the other wasn't looking.

It's been mentioned a lot on the Australian forum how badly Bianca is behaving towards Irene, telling her to butt out, but of course she could hardly tell Irene Heath killed someone and I've only just found out about it could she?  That little fact is between them.   That was a nice scene between Heath and Alf who as he told Heath they had never seen eye to eye but there were folk in the bay who cared about him.

Same as the scenes between John and Alf (do wish Alf would stop calling John Palmer) time to stop that now.  Maz was, admittedly, being over fussy as usual so no real surprise John snapped at her.  I did like that Alf kept a private eye on John for her, he could have had an accident driving that buggy.  Both of them would never admit it but they are very similar in outlook regarding looking after themselves health wise, both of an age that when they were young men were men and didn't complain if they felt a little unwell. John admitted he was scared that if he stopped he would go downhill quickly which Alf could agree with.  He, John, did at least hand some of his duties over to Alf and Marilyn, laughed at the bit where he told her she'd be responsible for taking the bins out.  Not sure that will be an end to it though, too neat.

[Slade]

Up until the end of the episode I would have said things were working out quite well for Billie.  VJ wants the baby to take his surname which is perfect for her as it helps to continue covering up her lie (I wonder if Imogen from Neighbours decided to give her car the same first name VJ thought of initially because of Harry Potter).  And his offer to get married was even better as it simply cements the fact that he is the 'father', well from everybody else's perspective anyway.  I'm not sure if she is actually going into labour but at least this setback may actually stop them from getting married.  I don't doubt that VJ is fully committed to helping Billie raise the baby but the commitment is more to Billie than the baby herself as he realises that she is part of the package.  Again Ash is quite correctly questioning whether VJ will be in for the long haul because he doesn't want his sister putting all her hopes and dreams into him to have him get fed up later on down the line and want out.

So we have Roo being our resident dating advice expert.  Whilst I liked the fact that she was excited that Evelyn kissed Matt I thought she should have 1) picked up on the fact that Evelyn is still heavily into Josh and so is effectively on the rebound 2) Mentioned the fact that Matt is currently dating someone - Matt did actually do the right thing and finish with Zoe and Roo did also mention that she was up all night talking to Matt so I assume this was brought up (I do actually commend Matt in the sense that it would have been easy for him to wait to see what Evelyn wanted first and then continue going out with Zoe if she wasn't ready for anything).

Then we have her giving advice to Olivia telling her to go out with Mason.  Again Olivia's just come out of a quite intense relationship with Hunter and clearly isn't over him.  I did quite enjoy the scene at Salt where Hunter got all jealous and confronted Olivia and Mason when they were on their date.  Thought Hunter was getting ready to go all psycho but whether he could have taken Mason is another thing.  I wasn't entirely sure at the end of last week but I did think that Mason was trying his luck.  I thought at times he was a bit cringeworthy when trying to ask Olivia out.  And I didn't really have much sympathy for him when he looked slightly hurt after he overheard Olivia say she was still in love with Hunter as he should have known better than to jump right in immediately after Hunter tried to get back with her then failed.  Although I did quite like the way Olivia stormed off after Hunter and Zac after his little outburst and stood up for herself justifying why she's dating so soon after their breakup.

[H&Alover]

The problem with Ash thinking the baby should have the surname Ashford is Leah would think it extremely odd seeing as she (and everyone else who is not In the know) believes the baby is VJ's so of course the baby should have his name, unless she was a feminist and didn't hold with a baby necessarily having the mans name.    Would Ash be putting that argument if the baby was VJ's?  It's Billie and VJ's choice not his. At least VJ didn't get manipulated into suggesting they get married, he had that idea all by himself, cos guess what he does a have a mind of his own.  Another thing would Ash be so concerned about VJ standing by Billie is he was five or ten years older because that is no guarantee. Billie hasn't had the easiest of pregnancies, been in  a plane crash, run over by Phoebe and now baby is lying on the sciatic nerve, scaring her into thinking she's going into labour, good to see the gynaecologist  making an appearance.  What is it to do with Ash if VJ and Billie had got married, she's an adult not some impressionable teenager. Can't help thinking Billie making VJ promise she wants a natural birth will be significant, she was very insistent.

Roo was giving good advice to Matt about Evie but she isn't as close to her as Matt is, he knows what Evie has been/is going through.  But glad he took one piece of advice from her and bit the bullet as in to tell her (Evie) how he feels and leave it to her as to whether to take it further or not. Brody chipped in with his advice to Evie, he can see she likes Matt more than as just a friend. Relieved Matt finished with Zoe, although nothing serious, it would have been unfair to keep seeing her whichever way it had worked out with Evie. He and Evie both need to take it slow, she is still on rebound, telling though she untwisted her engagement ring after her and Matt's talk.

Both Hunter and Olivia were at fault over her 'date' with Mason, though I think Olivia had the edge.  Hunter throwing the wobbly he did could be excused as in the last episodes we've seen Olivia following him around wanting to be friends but nothing else when she'd just dumped him, but then seemingly getting over him  and seeing someone else.  He did restrain himself and walk away, but then she follows him an berates him and tells him to leave her alone!    Shame Mason had to overhear she was only 'seeing' Mason to get over him, does a guy's (or gal's) ego a world of good that. Then she got all prima donnerish when he called her out over it, denying it at first, then admitting it, then actually asking if that wasn't such a bad thing, so you'd be fine about it if the boot was on the other  foot would you?  Glad they did resolve it in the end and Mason told her he'd be there when she was ready, second time he's been taken with a girl who's just come out of an intense relationship, first Evie now Olivia.  As Hunter pointed out to Zac difficult to get over someone and to avoid each other in such a small town.

Roo was also dispensing advice to Phoebe over her ongoing problem with Justin, likening Phoebe's situation to her and James', that despite what was staring her in the face, his wife and daughter, she still wanted to see it work, though of course Roo doesn't know the half of it as regards Justin and his family.  Mason came up with a good argument that just because he had to leave Ava behind he give up on the right to be happy.  Ava was far too young to have been able to understand why Daddy had gone away, but Phoebe knows their situation so if they did have to go, she'd understand. 

I'm guessing Decker has got wind of Kat's nosing around hence his appearance and giving her what for.  Two reasons why no-one had heard of the Morgan's  before how ever long she said it was.  They are big time crims or in WP, you're supposed to be a clever cop work it out for yourself, we, the audience did.

 

 

[Homeandawayfan.]

When I see Decker all I see is Luke Cunningham, Luke Cunningham, Luke Cunningham lol.

[TessyBear]

Ooooooof Tate and Nori  sure were fuuuuulllll ooooonnnn yesterday!!! I was waiting all week to see them as I've been wanting them to get together like since they first met! I was veeeeeeery excited (after I stopped smiling, aw, at Tori!) in that final scene they had in the ep. last week! But yesterday... WOAH!!!!!! I was expecting more sorta getting to know each other scenes! Like you have to talk in those yanno?!  Aaaaanyhoo... Still shipping them I guess! Lol! I suppose in her hot mess of a speech to Nate last week that was kinda what Tori said.   But still.

Oh what the heck was that scene later on at the hospital? I thought Nate was being uber professional with Tori to throw that nurse off. Then... um... Did they think that door was in fact opaque? Because er... it's not guys. You wanna still keep this relationship a secret?? Might wanna do your couple thang where everybody can't see you. Just  a suggestion...

This business with Heath and Bianca... I mean I don't know all the ins and outs of their relationship since having got married but seems a bit odd to bring back 2 well loved? characters just so they can get divorced no? Also did anyone else think when Heath was on the phone he might've been talking to a girlfriend? I was like "That better be Darcy!"

[Red Ranger 1]

Alf's episode count this week:Two.

I like Heath, certainly moreso than Bianca (although conversely I think Bianca has dealt pretty well with Irene being very annoying), and so I'm glad things seem to have turned a corner with him.But I do think Bianca has something of a point.It's all right Irene and everyone bleating about how he's changed but the problem is when he changes back.It's been proved time and time again with the Braxtons and similar characters that no matter how friendly they are most of the time, at some point they're going to do something that most people would consider morally questionable at best, and the women in their lives (and it is always women) frequently have to query whether they're willing to put up with that.It looked like Bianca had reached the end of her tether, until that sudden turnaround.I thought at first that Alf might be a good influence on Heath but then he just joined Irene in giving him patronising lectures that he was always going to ignore.Although ironically, it was a lecture from Darcy that pulled them through.Wow, I barely recognised her, although I guess it has been two and a half years.

Jeannie fizzled out quickly, didn't she?She gets what seems like an interesting back story then she's gone in a couple of weeks.I guess it would take time to break the habits of a lifetime, and maybe she and Brody threw themselves into things too soon.Oh well, a happy ending of sorts: Brody's intervention seems to have led Randall to accept she has to make her own choices and she's got another job and a chance at independence if she still wants it.

How many times does VJ have to prove himself?He's stood by Billie unconditionally throughout and yet Ash is still expecting him to cut and run because he just can't deal with the fact that he's nice.Even though I get the point that Leah would be upset if they got married without her, a big part of me wishes they'd gone through with the elopement, because I really want them to be married.Slightly worrying that VJ could only think of names from Harry Potter.I don't think we heard Billie's suggestion that he approved of?

Roo seemed to spend all week giving poor relationship advice, I think Phoebe was the only one where she was actually helpful.Her advice to Matt was absurdly simplistic (Evelyn kissing him automatically means they should be together?) and it doesn't help that it feels like she was saying the same things about him and Maddy not too long ago.Matt gets points for not stringing Zoe along once he realised Evie was an option again...and I guess her dismantling the engagement ring was a start.And Roo's advice to Olivia was terrible:Olivia says she's not ready to start dating again, Roo tells her to go on a date anyway (?) and the result is her realising she's not ready for it.A shame, because while it has come from nowhere, I actually quite like her and Mason together and she did seem happy and relaxed when Hunter wasn't being a jerk about it.Had to laugh at him accusing her of getting together with the first guy she tripped over, since that's basically how she ended up with him.(That said, it's rather frustrating that we've had zero reaction from Hunter to the fact that the guy that killed his mother and the guy who covered it up are going to jail after all, since it was their escape that sent him on a downward spiral and caused tension between him and Olivia.Even Zac only seemed to think about the effect Josh's arrest would have on Evelyn.)

What on earth was Kat playing at?She knows that the Morgans are friends with a federal police officer and that they're on the opposing side to some dangerous people.So why, instead of trusting that Decker knows his job and concentrating on her own (which she's not even that good at anyway), decide to investigate a bunch of people who haven't even committed a crime, on the spurious justification of a couple of sentences from Raffy and the fact she finds Justin "weird"?She even knows that Phoebe's involved, and for all her faults Phoebe wouldn't be a party to threatening a teenage girl without good reason.So why didn't witness protection occur to her sooner rather than whatever wild theories she came up with?Given that somebody seemed to be watching the Morgans, and probably waiting for Decker to show up, it looks like Kat's led some very dangerous people right to them.How does she still have a job?Nice that Raffy got to spend time with Decker, hopefully it won't be the last time (she really fouled up asking Kat for help...). It did seem like the parallel between Justin and Decker, both giving up their daughters to protect them, wasn't used as well as it might have been.

[atrus]

Back after another eleven-episode marathon - and I was heartened to see that the events of 'An Eye for an Eye' had finally been established as more than just a figment of our collective imagination. Admittedly it's probably not entirely satisfactory for those who weren't able to see it - the account of what happened was cursory to put it mildly, and I can imagine many fans shaking their heads in confusion at the revelation that Heath killed Gunno when there's been not a hint of that in the main show since it aired. But it does make me feel better personally about having invested my time in it, as well as (in my view) justifying Heath and Bianca's return somewhat, since they're not essentially kicking off a random new storyline, but tying up loose ends from the special. More importantly, I was glad that the events of the spin-off had taken their toll on Heath; at the time I complained at the typically Braxton-esque violent ending, but to see a year on that Gunno's death is still haunting him at least makes me feel like we aren't supposed to automatically accept the behaviour as justified. Bianca certainly didn't, and proved an unusually tough cookie for the Summer Bay Advisory Board (secretary: Irene Roberts) to talk around - although the fact that she was eventually talked around, much near-death drama later, was probably a foregone conclusion. I found myself glad that she had a change of heart, though - I always liked and appreciated Heath and Bianca as a couple. I didn't recognise Darcy either and had actually assumed she'd been recast until I went to double-check just now, so nice to see that wasn't the case. I'd say it was good to see Cheryl back too, but it wasn't, especially - I've always found her very abrasive and without any real redeeming qualities, although I suppose that that's the point, and that it does justify in part why her sons turned out like they did.

The Morgans continuing to tell Raffy half-truths was getting up my nose - once she knew about the change of name, it was vital she knew the real reason why, so as not to start mouthing off about the place. So Justin's approach of telling her the whole truth was the right one, even if Raffy still immediately rushed off to Kat, thereby putting them all in mortal peril once again. What came next, though, was really Kat's fault. In absence of any evidence of wrongdoing, it simply wasn't her business to use her position to poke about in the Morgans' history just to satisfy her own curiosity. Even when she clocked that it was a witness protection situation, she was still clamouring to be in the know against all established protocol - right up until the moment Decker got shot. We don't know yet that his shooting was a direct result of Kat asking questions, but I'd say it's certainly a possibility. I for one am hoping he survives the attack, as otherwise the Morgans are probably going to end up reliant on Kat to keep them safe - which aside from not being very realistic, isn't likely to end well for anybody. I'm more keen for the Justin/Phoebe relationship to bear fruit than any of her previous yawn-worthy love affairs, and I was even quite enjoying Tori and Nate, albeit more because of Tori than Nate (though that lift scene has been done so many times, and there wasn't enough original about it to justify the invocation of the trope). Disappointed that things went south so quickly for Brody and Jeannie, though, as I could have seen her becoming a more significant character.  

Elsewhere, I was relieved that VJ managed to find it within himself to forgive Billie for the lies and raise the baby as his own. Should she also have told him that she knew the identity of the rapist? Personally, I think so - then all their cards would have been on the table, and it would have been unlikely to change his reaction, I think. As for the rest of the family, were this a real-life situation I could see why they wouldn't feel it necessary to tell them the truth - there's little to be gained from Billie's baby knowing she's the product of such violence, and I sometimes think that truth for truth's sake can cause more harm than good. Really, there's no reason to cause unnecessary heartache for Leah provided that VJ and Billie are happy with the situation. Then again, this is H&A - and if the child doesn't suffer from some kind of rare ailment which requires a blood donation from VJ later in life, she'll almost certainly be kidnapped by her biological father before then when he finds out (which would be supremely tasteless but I imagine irresistible to the writers). So secrets like this have an extra kind of currency which they don't have in the real world. With any luck, therefore, Leah will find out the truth before any of those plot twists become necessary. Luckily Ash already has, so that's one less thing to worry about - although I hate the way he keeps talking to VJ, as if he's somehow been the one in the wrong throughout all this.

The revelation that the Barretts had been arrested off-screen, and that Josh had somehow acquired a new girlfriend while darting between makeshift fugitive shelters under cover of darkness, were more annoying than anything. And so what about the girlfriend: does he really think this gives him a get-out card from facing up to Evie and what he put her through? The whole thing just ended up leaving Josh looking more spineless than he already was - which, for the record, is very spineless indeed - although clearly it was only deployed as a device in order to put Evie's romantic freedom beyond doubt, and therefore to legitimise the pairing with Matt which kicked off again almost immediately afterwards. I'm glad Matt seems to have done the honest thing by the other girl he was seeing who is so interesting I've forgotten her name - but I just hope that Evie goes with her heart and decides to give it a go with him.

What's left? John continues to forget things and snap at everyone more than usual - except on those occasions in between when he seems perfectly normal. I was glad he managed to bury the hatchet with Hunter, at least, but my feeling is there's more odd behaviour to come from him. The Hunter/Olivia stuff continues to drag, and you wonder whether the only justification for their breaking up is to give Mason someone new to pursue.

[H&Alover]

Don't hold back Darcy, let Heath and Bianca know what you really think about their behaviour!  She's a true Braxton alright, glad they had the original actress to play her the older Darcy. Surprised them both when she said she knew about the divorce.  It worked anyway!  Cheryl may be a useless mum most of the time but she's like a tigress defending her cub when she does decide to step up. Irene had her sussed when she said she'd 'forgotten'  her purse! 

Kat really didn't know what she has stirred up and it took Decker telling her to butt out for the penny to finally drop. If she was a good a cop as she thinks herself to be wouldn't the fact the Morgan's didn't exist before 2009 at least make her think 'oh Witness Protection'.  Now she's gone and got Decker shot, just as he's finally been re-united with his daughter who did her usual trick of bolting when Decker told her he'd have to leave, luckily Phoebe found her and took her home.   She did think on her feet though when Kat came round and was asking Justin all those questions, not even as a cop but in her own time, Justin had  every right to chuck her out and she and Decker were hiding outside. Then she went and tried the same on Tori with no luck. We had, of course,  the obligatory shadowy figure watching Phoebe and Justin.  Justin shouldn't have had to defend his telling Raffy the truth to Decker, she'd already worked most of it by herself so he and the others had no choice. She's 13 not a young child so old enough to not to let anything slip.

Tori and Nate trying to act all normal when they got arrived at work wouldn't have fooled anyone, it took Gretchen all of five seconds to twig, all that trying to act as they usually would it was so obvious they were a couple.  Then Nate 'asking' Tori to join him in the office then having a snog against the door which had a clear panel on it!  Just as well there wasn't any patients or relatives of patients waiting at the desk!