Latest UK Episode Discussion (2006-2017 Seasons)

[Red Ranger 1]

And there it is: These days they can't do a Blake and Meg without having the latest semi-criminal type punch the Blake in the face.(Incidentally, people are thinking of Aden and Belle because that copied Blake and Meg as well.Although curiously, the bird reminded me of Bobby.)I don't blame George Mason because there's no other way to play the script that he was given, but Ash's behaviour was pretty disgusting and made it very hard to sympathise with him.His only caring about the effect it had had on himself was in stark contrast to VJ focusing on looking after his daughter.And it was frustrating that no-one seemed to want to tell Ash just how out of line he was: Justin had a go beforehand (which I was relieved about, since the promo made it look like he was egging him on) but Leah prefers to use it as another excuse to have a go at Zac rather than take a few steps to the caravan (or is it half a mile away now?) and tell Ash herself.It made it hard to sympathise with her either, despite some sweet moments with Veej.Not that Zac isn't playing with fire hanging out with Sam, whose promise to stay away from him didn't last long.

I think John made a mistake telling Marilyn not to go to the house, her wanting to go was an important moment and should have been encouraged.Incidentally, Angelica, they didn't have Billie did from smoke inhalation because that would have meant John killed her, whereas cancer that was terminal anyway means he just sort-of-maybe made her die a bit sooner.

What I'd love to see now is VJ, Leah, Zac, Ash and Irene all put aside any petty concerns and unite to raise Luc the way Billie wanted.It'd be the best tribute they could give her.

[Slade]

13 hours ago, Angelica said:

Slade, as far as I am aware, I don't think marrying Billie would affect VJ's claim on Luck but rather whether Billie put VJ on birth certificate or father unknown. If she did put his name than as the presumed father, he would have the most rights to her unless someone disproves his paternity or can demonstrate he would be unfit to be a father

Thanks for the explanation.

Even though I could understand why VJ took Billie to the beach I could see exactly why Ash had a go at him early on in that episode.  I would have been annoyed too if I wasn't able to say goodbye to my sister.  However I ended up being quite disgusted with Ash when he punched VJ and thought he was acting completely irrationally, especially when he shouted "You killed her".  Although at the same time still finding him getting annoyed quite amusing (Although Kat uses his grief as an excuse to sleep with him).  The scene at the end where Ash was crying wasn't quite that of the one where Kyle broke down when Phoebe lost the baby.

I do take my hat of the VJ if he's determined to look after Luc.  I've always felt he didn't really want a child and was doing everything for Billie which includes this.  I also think he's too young to be raising a child on his own especially one that isn't his and I also think he would be better off if he hadn't met Billie.  Perhaps I will be proved wrong.

Really liked the scene with Leah and VJ.  I like seeing her when she's sympathetic and hurting for VJ and is there to support him.  It was quite similar to the scene where Billie jilted him at the alter a few weeks ago.

I initially didn't blame Leah for having a go at Zac when he told her to give VJ some time to himself as Zac did the same thing to her regarding Hunter a couple of weeks ago.  However I was shaking my head when she blamed him for Ash assaulting VJ.  This really is Leah and Miles all over again i.e. she is being a total cow.  I can understand why Zac wants to talk to Sam now.  She was looking mighty fine in that blue dress BTW.

Good to see Justin in an episode which doesn't revolve around Phoebe or the other Morgans.  Thought he handled Ash quite well considering.

[H&Alover]

I asked on an earlier post whether VJ and Billie had registered Luc's birth, and if so was VJ named as the father, that could make a big difference later as to who has claim on custody. VJ wasn't obviously thinking of it, doubt it had never even occurred to him, but the fact he was married to Billie does make a difference in one way, that is if Australian  law follows British law.  Here if a mother dies and they are not married to the father he doesn't have automatic parental rights, unless mum has made some written declaration, the next of kin has prior claim, in Luc's case Mick or seeing as he is banged up, Irene!  She of course she has no idea of what has occurred despite several people trying to get hold of her.

I knew that death scene had been done before but I couldn't remember their names so thanks guys.  Am I wrong though or was there another couple where the girl/woman died on the beach?  It seemed to me a very peaceful death and she was with two of the three people she loved most. Billie sent Ash home because she knew he would never agree and wanted her safe in hospital, she wanted to be free of all those bleeping machines, pity she didn't leave a note explaining it all to Ash she knows/knew what a short fuse he has. Ash and Billie were estranged for such a long time and in his eyes the time they have had together is no where long enough to make up for it and now Luc is the only relative h has. One thing, Ash kept saying she was too sick to leave her bed, but that nurse who Billie and VJ encountered seemed perfectly happy to let them out to get some fresh air!  Hope Ash lets VJ follow through with Billie's request to have her ashes scattered in the sea.  I'm hoping when he's calmed down he'll see VJ did right by Billie in granting her one of her final wishes. I'm don't sure Kat did sleep with Ash, all she said to Justin was she spent the night with him, he had been drinking so may not have been in a fit state and Kat isn't the type to  take advantage of a drunk grieving bloke. His breaking down in her arms when Kat and Justin found him was heartbreaking. All the clichéd soap reactions, though natural I guess you'd hardly say 'OK, that's it then', when the bad news was broken by Nate, all blaming him, shouting that there must be something he can do.  So if I've got this right she'd had the cancer for ages but it was the smoke inhalation that accelerated it, she could have lived for years.

It was a lovely ceremony, very poignant, she had all her friends and extended family there, Alf admitting later he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Is it OK me wanting to slap Leah?  No, love, Zac wasn't referring to not telling you Sam was back in town and meeting her on the quiet, he meant them getting through this tragedy that has just befallen the family.  A  moment for me when she said to Zac 'I think I know what's best for my son!' Didn't I say it'd be a different matter if the boot was on the other foot. Btw she was on her way up to see VJ who was in his and Billie's bedroom, we saw him talking to Luc, looking out of the window, but where was Leah, did she disappear into another dimension? Of course he hasn't cried yet as Zac said he's in shock, it will hit him, some little thing will bring it home to him. He has shown a maturity way beyond his years and it will be struggle but he's got Leah, Zac, Alf, Phoebe, Kat and ash when he's calmed down and Leah has forgiven him.  Then she blamed Zac for not trying hard enough to stop Ash hitting VJ!  She's pushing him into Sam's web where she is waiting to pounce like a predatory spider, she is showing him the sympathy, though I reckon, for her own purposes that Leah should be showing him.

Seems John had completely forgotten he set the fire by the way he was hoping they caught the mongrel,  I think he should have let Marilyn go and see Leah, it does put her injuries into perspective.  I agree with your last sentence Red, it would be great if it worked out that way, that is all Billie wanted for their daughter.  There will be another tough day to get through when they hold Billie's funeral.

[Dan F]

37 minutes ago, H&Alover said:

Am I wrong though or was there another couple where the girl/woman died on the beach?

Emily Armstrong in Dan Bennett's last stint - though technically it was on cliffs overlooking the ocean as opposed to the beach.

[H&Alover]

19 minutes ago, Dan F said:

Emily Armstrong in Dan Bennett's last stint - though technically it was on cliffs overlooking the ocean as opposed to the beach.

Thanks for that Dan F, not denigrating any of it but is it just a woman thing to want to watch the sunrise and die on the beach?

[Red Ranger 1]

It was always going to be a problem when they hit the point where the main players had used up their three episodes, but I think the show did a good job in picking up on the aftermath of Billie's death by focusing on how other characters like Phoebe and Marilyn are reacting to it all.I'm not sure it was so smart to save Hunter and Olivia for the dog leg of the season: Hunter has been particularly conspicuous in his absence from the household and I'd have quite liked to have seen some follow-up on Olivia's declaration of friendship at the end of last week instead of her and VJ being kept apart.To start with it felt like John was needlessly holding Marilyn back again but in the end he was supportive, it was her that felt she couldn't go out (which is a shame, and that rather than the burns could be the biggest obstacle she has to deal with) and the letter was a decent idea.

There was the right amount of humour in Justin's attempt to get Phoebe's household back together ("What do you live on?Air?") complete with Raffy and Ellie's double act.We're at the point where he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't where Nina's concerned, so the best thing to do would probably be to tell her the truth about the stabbing so at least he gets damned for what he really is.

Sweet moment between Matt and Evelyn on the wharf, but now life's thrown a curve ball at them which Evelyn seems to be trying to ignore.Was Olivia seriously going to kiss Hunter at the end?That's a pretty lousy thing to do to both him and Mason, and I guess I should applaud him for walking away.

[630si]

Ok I'm team Mason. So I too felt the kiss attempt was lousy but also on Hubter it's taken a lot for him to move on from their relationship she's messing with him and not coming off well. 

I loved Marilyn's letter. Although it does mean she's still suffering with her recovery mentally, it was a good compromise and she's thinking of Byron and her losses also in this time. We all now when people around us lose people we think of our own losses too so I thought that was sweet. 

Justin was very selfless today. Let's not forget it's only a fortnight or so since he and out of whiteness protection, got stabbed last week as a result and has missed out on his daughter. With Nina being stubborn he still tries to put Pheobe first. Pheobe being Pheobe got it out of him though and I'm almost certain she will be spearheading a reunion in the coming episodes. 

[Homeandawayfan.]

Loved the nod to the Blake and Meg days with VJ and Billie on the beach at sunset.

[H&Alover]

The thought struck me that Marilyn could be suffering from agoraphobia with her reluctance to go and see Leah, even with John offering to drive her there. I know she wanted to go and open up The Diner but both John and Olivia were right that would be too soon. That was a beautiful letter we heard her composing, not overly sentimental, just simply put about hard it is to lose someone when writing a letter like that you can think about what you are going to say.  Nicely btw interposed with the scene of VJ and Luc which gave it more impact.  Does anyone know the song that was being played when VJ returned with Luc, something to do with saying goodbye? Yes agree Red, good move by TPTB to see how Billie's death have affected others outside of the immediate family.  I guess Olivia  had been at the house at some point, even if VJ wasn't seeing anyone, Hunter too by what he said.  Tricky situation, which is why Marilyn felt upset about not visiting, you don't want to overcrowd people at a time like that but on the other hand you don't want to stay away and run the risk of them thinking you don't care. Marilyn could cook them up something which ironically is something Leah normally does when other people go through traumas. Olivia did show her grown up side by opening The Diner which is as John pointed out Leah and Irene's livelihood.  Great to see all the young 'uns Evie, Matt and Hunter pitching in,  even if the menu was on the limited side.  Bless Olivia having a melt down because she burned the muffins and maybe have been a cheat by Hunter by buying muffin mix but hey he was thinking on his feet. She did have to go and then spoil it at the end, though I get she was thinking of happier times, her, Hunter, VJ and Billie,  by making  a pass at Hunter who full credit to him gently stopped her and walked away. I think he realised that was why she was doing it rather than wanting to actually get back with him.

Good point made by old, but wily Alf, to quote Matt, if they put their plans to go to Greece on hold because Evie feels she doesn't think it's right to leave Leah, they would never go.  Yes Greece will always be there, but they may not be, Billie thought she had all the time in the world. Though it does look like something else has come up that could scupper their trip, was that a job offer she got in that letter and she will have to take it up right away? Matt may understand but it'll be  a big disappointment for Ellie.

Talking of whom her and Raffy are a good pair, trying to get Justin to cough up $20 each for cleaning the house, they did a good job too.  Nice try by Justin trying to keep his own bad news from Phoebe who he felt has got enough on her plate, but in true Phoebe fashion she got it out of him.   They are a couple so should share each others problems and she'll back him whatever he decides to do. Although it seems harsh Nina telling him to not contact them  then changing her number, she is thinking of keeping Ava safe. The last time Justin told her everything was all settled with regards The Syndicate he went and got stabbed so it's no wonder she's wary.

[Red Ranger 1]

Alf's episode count this week:Five, for the second week running.

Bit weird that everyone except Justin was running around trying to make Tori and Riley's date work, even if in some cases it seemed to be a distraction from Billie.As Raffy hinted, switching from a drink to a picnic might have been less "sexy" but was more romantic.And the outfit they all picked out for Tori didn't really look any different to what she normally wears.Justin trying to trick Nina into talking to him went as well as you'd expect.Time will tell if Phoebe's message goes any better, at least she can get Justin's side of the story across.

Mason handled the situation with Hunter and Olivia fairly well: He didn't overreact when Alf revealed they'd been hanging and stayed reasonably calm when questioning them, although I agree with Hunter that it's Olivia he needs to question about what she wants.But then she'd probably lie, since she was very disingenuous here.I'd like to applaud Hunter's decision that they should stay away from each other but I doubt it'll last: This seems to be one of those "break-ups" when they can't get through an episode without one or both shooting moody looks.It's frustrating that VJ and Billie, one of the best couples in recent years in my opinion, got cut short while this annoying pairing just drags on.

Marilyn going out for a walk, even at night, was a good sign but looks like John's forgetfulness might be related to him suddenly putting the black hoodie on again...