UK Episode Discussion

[Red Ranger 1]

I'm really not happy with what the writers have done.Although having said that, I did enjoy most of the week, which I think was down to the actors and the individual writers giving it their all and crafting some believable reactions rather than the overall direction of the show.I really don't like that they killed Ringo, it wouldn't have taken much effort to give him and Donna a happy ending

since we know she's leaving as well in a few months

, it just feels like shock tactics that will probably have no effect on anything in the long run.(Much like the damb squib the "Who Pushed PR" storyline seems to have turned into.)And they've just made Steph guilty of manslaughter but in the Neighbours world, she'll probably either get away with it or be let off with a slap on the wrist.If she is, I really will have to give serious thought to giving up on the show.

[Slade]

Can I ask why you would want to consider giving serious thought into giving up the show? This was no worse than what happened with Aden and there was never any indication that you would give up on H & A.

Personally I’ve found the whole Steph storyline a little frustrating. It’s not so much Steph herself but the people supporting her in particular Lynn, Toadie and Lucas. I understand for varying reasons they want to or feel obliged to protect her but what I don’t like is how if anyone is seen to do anything that is a detriment to Steph they’re seen as the enemy or in some people’s eyes Steph can do no wrong. For me personally it really does feel as though the whole street revolves around her at the moment. I don’t like the way Lynn fired Kate when Kate said she thought Steph was responsible at first even though she offered Kate her job back. I don’t like the way Lucas reacted either to Kate simply because he’s still head over heels in love with Steph. That much was indicated by his “I can’t get a look in” remark. And as far as Toadie is concerned it doesn’t matter what Steph does he still thinks the sun shines out of her backside. Since her and Libby are best buds again, Libby’s prepared to commit perjury, Susan is sitting on the fence. Karl seems to be in the minority on the street however. I am starting to feel a bit sorry for Steph though and think it is an unfortunate situation. There’s no doubt it was an accident but the question is how much at fault was Steph. She was over the limit but she was drinking the night before although even Libby didn’t think she was in the right state of mind to be driving. And there is still the question of Ringo’s family i.e. Donna and his mother and the justice they are entitled to for Ringo.

I think it’s interesting having Sam return as the prosecutor. I think her and Paul teaming up is ideal as for both of them it’s personal. Paul does care about Donna IMO but I still feel there is some sort of residual hatred towards Lynn. Sam on the other hand does seem to have a real reason (to her mind) to hate Steph, the same reason that Libby resented Steph before they kissed and made up. Namely that Steph gave Dan the one the one thing either of them couldn’t – a baby so much so that’s she’s even forgotten about Libby now. It is funny that Paul wants Steph to pay as in a way he was indirectly responsible for this whole mess in the first place.

[Red Ranger 1]

Can I ask why you would want to consider giving serious thought into giving up the show? This was no worse than what happened with Aden and there was never any indication that you would give up on H & A.

I kind of take your point, I guess the only real difference is Aden didn't actually kill anyone(although not for want of trying), and I think a better parallel would actually be with Larry, who killed someone in very similar circumstances and was rightly jailed for it.I think it's a cumulative effect rather than one incident, for a long time now I've been finding there are fewer and fewer characters on the show that I really like and it increasingly seems like they can do what they want without any consequences. So having a supposedly sympathetic character get away with killing someone, and someone that we knew and care about to boot, and expecting us to cheer really would be the final straw.They did exactly the same storyline a few years ago when Susan ran over Bridget and had the entire street rallying around her and victimising Bridget's family because they had a problem with it, again the only real difference was Susan didn't actually kill anyone.

Having said that, I am a bit less angry than when I made that last post and maybe when you made your post although I'm still disgusted by the whole storyline.I'm not happy with the way they're trying to manipulate our sympathies and hide the rights and wrongs of the case in a "Sam's mean so she deserves to lose even though she's got the law on her side, Steph's a nice person who loves her mother and has a cute little boy so she should get away with it" sort of way.The ending of the last episode, with Susan effectively telling Libby she should go ahead and commit perjury if she wanted to, was yet another step along the road to an increasing lack of morality.I found Susan's implication that Steph going to jail would be as big a tragedy as Ringo dying downright insulting, with her "Losing one child is enough" comment.Ringo's dead.His family aren't going to see him again.If Steph goes to jail, she'll presumably be let out at some point and Lyn will be able to visit her, so she'll no more have lost her than the four other children she never sees.Next time one of Steph's supporters starts up the whole "She has to live with this" argument, I'd like someone to point out that Ringo doesn't have that luxury.

[Slade]

Wow Sam was ruthless but I have to say efficient and effective. She totally owned Libby on the stand but it was Libby’s own fault. Karl warned her not to go down that route but she decided it was more important to save Steph.

It’s funny for years I couldn’t stand Steph but I do quite like her now. My first instincts were she should have gone to jail but now I’m not so sure. I have to say I did feel quite sorry for her when the judge passed the sentence but I shouldn’t really be surprised with some of the reactions. I felt that half the street had Steph on a peddle-stool.

I found Toadie really funny giving Libby the cold shoulder and blaming her since she was caught out by Sam but I have to say he’s acting like a complete jerk. Also the way he spoke to Karl was uncalled for. Sure Karl wanted Steph to go to jail but that was more justice for Ringo than wanting Steph to pay like Sam did. Incidentally where was Ringo’s mother during the trial? Toadie’s finding it really hard coping without his best friend and I’m sure at least for the time being he will get worse. And I’m still wondering if part of him is in love with Steph. I was half-expecting him to immediately say Steph should appeal against the sentence.

Lynn annoyed me the way she warned Andrew off Summer which drove Andrew to get back with Tasha even though you can tell he likes Summer. I do want Andrew and Summer together but even if I didn't I don't like the underhand way Tasha has manipulated the situation with Andrew (i.e. stealing the money from the school so Andrew couldn't host the party allowing her to spend more time with him).

I’m not surprised Rebecca and Michael have gotten closer. I thought Paul should have just let Rebecca go rather than forcing her to stay in a marriage that was obviously making her very unhappy. I suspect if they do decide to pursue a friendship, things develop further and Paul finds out it will turn ugly.

[Red Ranger 1]

Wow, Steph went to jail, Sam turned out to be a pretty competent lawyer and I'm still watching.I think Steph did deserve to go to jail:Six years was a bit harsh but I got the impression that was just the judge sending out a message to other drivers, she'll probably be out in two which is fair given that she caused an accident in which someone died.So the way everyone's walking around as though she's dead, whether she refuses to see them or not, is a bit melodramatic.Not happy about the way Lyn and Toadie have been treating Karl like the enemy because he was the only person brave enough to say she should be punished for what she did:Toadie thankfully seems to have got over it but Lyn's still acting like a witch.

I don't want Andrew and Summer together even though it seems to be inevitable.I want them together even less than I did when Harry was around, Summer seems to have followed the usual soap route of coming in fiery and lively and quickly becoming dull and miserable and I think those two together would just be unspeakably dull.I was cheering for Tasha right up until she stole the money but it's obviously a lost cause given that they seem to be hammering home the point that Andrew isn't interested in her with a sledgehammer.Not happy with the way Michael gave Tasha the minimum acceptable punishment when she'd stolen from the school and spoiled everyone's night for her own selfish reasons.It's the whole "no consequences" culture about the programme which means it annoys me so much at times.

[Slade]

I was considering not watching Neighbours (because I’m watching so many things at the moment and with work it’s really hard catching up) but I am now really enjoying it. I thought the fire episodes were really exciting. It actually didn’t click that it was the season finale until I realised they were buying Christmas presents.

I want Summer and Andrew together but not like this. I really didn’t like the way they slept together behind Natasha’s back. They should have been honest with her first. To compound things she was genuinely concerned for Summer’s safety and you could say risked her life to go in after her. That’s actually changed my opinion of her. Before I saw her as a spoilt materialistic little brat but now I feel quite sorry for her and that goes to show she actually values friendship even though I don’t think Summer really likes her anyway (which I believe has been fuelled by jealousy). I’m glad that Summer’s feeling guilty now that she’s a guest at Natasha’s house so it will be interesting to see how Summer’s conscience fairs. I’m glad Lyn spoke to her about it too.

It’s funny, I’m a strong disliker of Lyn but at the moment I actually feel quite sorry for her. Her daughter’s gone to jail, she’s struggling financially, was prepared to make a deal with the devil to launch Steph’s appeal and now it looks like she probably won’t get the insurance from the fire as batteries in the smoke alarm weren’t replaced and the faulty fairy lights should have been disposed off (Incidentally don't most systems nowadays have circuit breakers to prevent this type of thing?). She’s also got Paul breathing down her neck wanting to publish an article to expose her and she’ll probably have to deal with the police at some point.

Like I said before I’m so over the stuff with Paul and Rebecca. I actually really hope that Rebecca and Michael do have an affair and are exposed so we can see the end of Paul’s marriage.

I have to say that I rather like Jade. She might be a bit on the wildside and slightly immature but she’s lively and not to mention hot. I like that she and Sonya are sisters but are at completely different ends of the scale – one an introvert the other an extrovert. I think there’s potential for some really good stuff assuming the writers get it correct. The whole Sonya not wanting Jade around thing has been absolutely killing me. I’m dying to know what Sonya’s problem is exactly and why she’s been acting so irrationally. And judging by Friday’s preview it looks as though we might find out on Monday. Can’t wait.

[Red Ranger 1]

I've never really wanted Andrew and Summer together and I certainly don't want it now.I've long come to the conclusion that I'm just not on the same wavelength as the Neighbours writers and other fans:They stick together two characters who have nothing in common and who I just can't believe in as a couple, yet somehow they become popular.I'd rather Andrew stayed with Tasha but it's obvious they're not going to let that happen.My opinion of Tasha shifts quite a bit:At the moment I think she's rather shallow but deep down there is a good person in there.She certainly doesn't deserve to be treated like Andrew and Summer are treating her.It's ironic that the publicity keeps insisting Andrew and Tash bring out the worst in each other when it seems Andrew brings out the worst in Summer.

I rather like Jade and I'm liking her even more now she's been allowed to develop beyond the party girl and actually has some purpose.I actually don't mind this whole thing with Sonya being Callum's mother, it hasn't damaged the character or continuity too much.I just hope people find out soon and it doesn't get dragged out for six months.

I didn't really feel any sympathy for Lyn in the events either side of the finale.I'm glad the insurance aren't paying out because the fire was down to her negligence, and the added irony is that if she had gone ahead with the arson she wouldn't have got the money anyway.But that should have been enough, she'd been "punished" for her actions, storyline should have been over.Instead we've got Paul muscling in on the storyline and blackmailing yet another person.It is way past time that someone bit the bullet and got rid of the character.He'd run his course six months after coming back but six years later he's still there.

[Slade]

Been quite a while since I last posted.

I liked Jade to start with but I've gone off her now. She was really getting on my nerves with her attitude towards Lucas the week before last. Lucas was definitely in the wrong for participating in the illegal bike racing but I hated the way she let herself into his garage and started going through his stuff. Then there was her attitude towards Toadie shortly after she first turned up. I didn't think much of it at the time but it is starting to look like she is quite a judgemental and self-righteous person (and one who thinks extremely highly of herself). Again there was her reaction when Karl wouldn't let her and Sonia join their all male club. And I hated the way she was acting towards Zeke, putting pressure on him to put and end to this thing with Sophie and her crush and then encouraged Sophie to lay into a punching bag with a picture of Zeke stuck on when he did do it. In fact I don't really like the way Zeke has been made out to be the bad guy period. It was clear that he didn't want to hurt Sophie's feelings.

I'm glad Rebecca managed to talk Paul out of continually blackmailing Lyn as in spite of everything Lyn didn't deserve that.

So Natasha knows now about Andrew and Summer now. I felt sorry for her. She must feel really betrayed. It's a shame because I genuinely thought she was starting to see Summer as a friend. Someone she cared about. I've said this before but from what I've seen Summer doesn't really seem to like Natasha. She just tolerates her. They only thing those two have in common is that they live on the same street. I find it hard to believe that neither of them have any other female friends but for the purposes of a soap I'll accept that.

Even though Natasha is understandably annoyed about being betrayed I don't agree with her making up the whole pregnancy thing. Can't decide whether she's doing because she wants to hold onto Andrew or whether she wants to get back at him and Summer. In saying that (being hypocritical here) I'm finding the whole think quite amusing. Firstly when Andrew was shaking the pregnancy test kit because he couldn't believe the result at first. Also, Natasha seeing how cut up Summer is at not being able to spend time with Andrew. Michael's reaction when Andrew told him about the fake pregnancy was priceless...

[Red Ranger 1]

I mostly like Jade, although her man-hating cod-feminism can be a bit wearing at times, but I wasn't impressed with the way she handled Zeke and Sophie.She forced Zeke to tell Sophie he wasn't interested when he'd have been better off keeping quiet, then encouraged Sophie to use his photo as a punch bag when he'd only done what she told him to.

I'm not sure if Tasha lied to hold onto Andrew or to teach him and Summer a lesson and I did find the way she had them running around after her rather amusing.But it's gone beyond a joke now and reached the point where she really needs to come clean.I do wish the pregnancy was real, because of the way Andrew's shown maturity and stepped up to the plate to support her and the way it seems to have cemented the bond between Tash and Michael, and they're both going to be left really hurt when the truth comes out, when Michael's an innocent party in all this.Not happy with the way it feels like we're almost supposed to side with/sympathise with Summer, even though she's just as much in the wrong as Tash is.I found her attempts to expose Tasha's lie rather smug and self-serving and I don't see why I should want her to get her own way, although I've an uncomfortable feeling she and Andrew will end up together once the truth comes out.

I wasn't particularly keen on Lucas' street racing storyline to start with, it felt like another case of a Ramsay Street resident doing the wrong thing and breaking the law and I was expecting a cop-out ending.But the way that Brennan's become involved, with neither of them knowing what the other's up to, has piqued my interest a bit and I'm looking forward to seeing how it progresses.

[Slade]

I’m so glad that Rebecca left Paul and that Paul knows about her and Michael now. In his own warped sort of was I guess he did love her (or what he believed was his version of love). It will be interesting to see how he seeks retribution now that he has signed the affidavit (presumably there’s no way he’s going to let this drop). I thought Michael’s reaction about Natasha’s pregnancy was good but I thought Paul’s was even better. Funny how he immediately thought Natasha was lying. In terms of scheming and manipulation, I guess it takes one to know one!

Even though I found Natasha’s amusement at making life difficult for Summer quite funny and agree it has gone on too long, I definitely think she’s overstepped the mark this week. The whole Zeke/Summer rumour thing could have potentially had serious consequences for Zeke’s career path. I’m not sure if Natasha thought of that but it annoyed me how she was prepared to involve an innocent person in her payback. I suspect there will be pretty much hell to pay when this all comes out (because we all know it will) and Natasha’s going to be completely isolated from everyone.

I wasn’t sure with Brennan to start off regarding this whole Lucas thing. When he found out Lucas was involved in the illegal bike racing I thought he was trying to bully Lucas into going along with his plans in order to secure a conviction and boost his chances of a promotion. Whilst I still think that was partly true I do now think he was genuinely looking out for Lucas’s best interests and trying to prevent him from going to jail. I still wonder if there will actually be consequences for Lucas for ratting on Garland as presumably someone like him must still have people who weren’t arrested that day. Kate’s attitude towards Lucas hasn’t surprised me in the least and is totally expected. She went into one of her self-righteous rants but TBH I don’t blame her. Lucas clearly didn’t want to harm her but he put her and Sophie in danger and the guy does need some sort of help and guidance at getting his life back on track and I’m glad he’s doing something about it.

Jade’s I told you so attitude about Lucas has REALLY annoyed me. She just kept going on and on about it. We get that she doesn’t like the guy but Sonia and Toadie do and I’m glad they disregarded some of her claptrap. She doesn’t know him and I would take a guess and say that most people on the street like Lucas and understand that he’s not a bad person just an incredibly weak one. I’m not finding Jade very likeable at present although she’s very easy on the eye and I did enjoy Toadie getting her to be her slave for the day and getting her and Sonia to dress up as 1950s maids. It didn’t occur to me that she was a man hating feminist at first but thinking about it all the people she’s had disagreements with have been male and since she arrived I can’t think of a single female character she’s fallen out with. I would like to see the interaction between her and Libby when Libby returns though. With her and Sonia’s grandma dying that’s thrown an interesting spanner in the works regarding their attempts to conceal the fact that Sonia is Callum’s mother from Callum and Toadie. Sonia now has a very difficult decision to make.