1990 Episode Discussion

[Skylover]

I actually enjoyed Celia's send off and Celia's Rap. I miss her already.

Celia I know I keep on saying it, but they need to bring her back to the current show. She'd be awesome. I'm surprised by how much Sally has dominated scenes lately. For instance in Summery Bay House when Celia was over for dinner, Tom and Pippa barely had a thing to say while Sally had loads of lines! I think it's nice that the writers obviously had so much faith in Sally/Kate to carry scenes. I'm not complaining, I love the Sally scenes. I think it's a shame that from what I've heard, she goes on the outer in later years before around 05.

Aussiesoapfan - another poster from Norfolk. There seems to be a lot of members from Norfolk!

[alexx]

I'm not complaining, I love the Sally scenes. I think it's a shame that from what I've heard, she goes on the outer in later years before around 05.

Yeah, I'm not sure exactly when it started but I've got a feeling it was around 1994/95, when Sally was 15/16. Thinking about it now though, I'm not actually sure she was given less scenes than she has in the current early years, in fact I think she was given the same amount of screen time as she was given as a child - but, the difference was she was a teenager and so it made her stand out when compared to the other teenagers at the time who were all given the same amount of screen time as characters like Bobby/Emma/Stevo got as teen characters.

I think the writers had just got used to writing Sally a certain way and it may have had something to do with Kate still going to school. It didn't stop them from developing the character realistically though and they incorporated the fact that she wasn't always hanging out in scenes with the other teenagers as part of the character being considered more of a homebody or a 'nerd' by the others, often seen helping Pippa out with the housework etc. Having said that, you did see her hanging out with 'the gang' at times.

I remember when Kate finished school in 1997/98, there was an article and she was saying she could now devote every day to Home and Away without school and hopefully get more storylines. But Imo it didn't really happen, she got more screen time but the character was written more like how the older characters were, doing things and developing on screen, but not being given the same attention as other characters her age. I remember during 1999 especially I think they focused more on her antics with Vinnie and Bonza Burger but didn't particularly give her much else to do but I didn't really have a problem with it.

And then yeah, 2005 came and she was suddenly one of the major stars of the show until she left. I think out of all the major changes they made to the show from 05-onwards, giving Sally a more prominent role was a positive.

[Skylover]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Kate/Sally, Alexx. It's interesting to read. Now up to 522, thanks mate!

I've been thinking a lot about the development of the show and the reasons why the community feeling has become so prominent at this point in time, as we've all been discussing. For me it's fairly simple, and I think it's that the producers have cleverly interwoven the cast and linked them all together somehow, so that each and every character has a strong relationship to the other characters. I mean, if you think about it, there's the teens who naturally interact, Viv and Bobby living with Donald, Steven and Sally with Tom/Pippa and Emma with Alf and Ailsa. Making Grant a teacher was a masterstroke in my book because they're automatically given him a role which means he will interact with all the other characters. I think that's why the show naturally feels like a community at this point in 1990 rather than it all being forced. I also think this explains why Ben and Marilyn have not integrated into the cast as naturallyas they could have. Ben only really has Carly, and even then his link to her is quite weak. I find him the weakest character at the moment, I think the actor is good, but his characterisation has been fairly lacking. And I started off really liking him because I think a guy coming in and sweeping Carly off her feet had potential, but at points he's become fairly unlikeable, selfish and a bit arrogant and patronising. As for Marilyn, she was great in 1989 but Morag's departure left her as an add-on to Lance and Martin and now they've gone too. So she's just sort of floating around looking for purpose, but her links to other characters need to be strengthened. If the Early Years continue to be aired, I literally cannot wait to see her in her 95 role onwards!

I'm also really happy that Matt features a lot more too, he's quite a loveable dopey kind of a character, and Greg Benson's acting has vastly improved since the previous seasons. I think the producers were very lucky to have reached this balance while there are so many cas departures occuring because without it, the show could have fallen apart.

I also view the Diner as a vital part of the community feeling. A lot of characters interact there which creates a sense of community and it's a shame the current show doesn't use this more. It also automatically makes Ailsa and Bobby the heart of the community, both strong characters but I sense that they could have gone stale without being at the diner. Especially Ailsa. She was such a feistry, strong character in 1988 and I feel like we're gradually losing that aspect of her personality but the diner keeps her strong. Bringing in Bridget is a much-needed boost to her character IMO, as it's given her something to do. I really feel sorry for her, you can tell she clearly cares a lot about Emma. Who I'm loving by the way. Dannii Minogue is one fine actress, she really shines, and can play the comedy and drama both really well.

I will be sad to see her go when she does

Viv also stands out as a weak character when she has a plot of her own such as the sleeping with Steven one. She comes across as so wet and bland. I think she thrives off the fact that she is surrounded by strong characters.

As for Tom dying in three episodes, well, all I can say is, I think it's one huge mistake. Others have mentioned it was likely/had been confirmed he was sacked/axed. I can't for the life of me figure out why. They pretty much ruined him in the Zak plot, but thankfully he has been salvaged, and he has really become a favourite of mine. I love his relationship with Sally, and I actually think as well as Sally, he is one of my faves from Summer Bay House. It's such a shame they let him go, there was so much mileage left in the character and I'm not ready to see him off yet. One wonders whether Tom and Pippa in the first incarnation would have stayed for many more years, had the producers decided not to kill Tom off. Obviously that was a possibility hd they kept him on as Vanessa only left the role of Pippa because she missed Roger. I'm frustrated and heartbroken to see him go.

The current sow would never evoke so much emotion and discussion from me. Sorry for the huge post!

[beau_t]

Ahhhh hahaha the Celia rap! I always wondered whether or not that really happened, or if my memory had just made it up. 20 or so years later I discover my memory has not deceived me after all!

A semi-decent send off for Celia. It certainly could have been much worse. But she suffered from her send off not being the focus of the episode. If they had written the episode around Celia's exit, all the necessary characters would have been there at the party, eg Alf, Donald etc. But Alf was needed at the store for the sake of that cliffhanger, and Celia ended up sharing her exit with other characters who just happened to be in that episode because of other storylines that featured that day. But the writing was good, and there have certainly been much worse H&A exits over the years.

I agree about Sally in her teen years. I always found it really annoying that even though she was the same age as Jack, Shannon etc (maybe a year younger?) she was never really part of that "group". At least not originally. They did try and fit her into that group later on but it seemed forced. I remember at the same time, they moved her shot in the opening credits to follow on from Jack/Curtis/Selina/Shannon. Then when the next generation of teens came along, she was too old for them. She never really had a group of her own. But to the writers' credit, they saw this and made storylines out of it, with Sally's lack of confidence and feeling like she didn't fit in.

[English Invader]

I agree about Sally in her teen years. I always found it really annoying that even though she was the same age as Jack, Shannon etc (maybe a year younger?) she was never really part of that "group". At least not originally. They did try and fit her into that group later on but it seemed forced. I remember at the same time, they moved her shot in the opening credits to follow on from Jack/Curtis/Selina/Shannon. Then when the next generation of teens came along, she was too old for them. She never really had a group of her own. But to the writers' credit, they saw this and made storylines out of it, with Sally's lack of confidence and feeling like she didn't fit in.

The reason for this might be that she was always given special treatment by Tom and Pippa. She was the only one they formally adopted while the rest of the kids were wards of the state.

Sally was always Pippa's "little girl" and that favouritism created a divide between her and the foster kids.

[beau_t]

I agree about Sally in her teen years. I always found it really annoying that even though she was the same age as Jack, Shannon etc (maybe a year younger?) she was never really part of that "group". At least not originally. They did try and fit her into that group later on but it seemed forced. I remember at the same time, they moved her shot in the opening credits to follow on from Jack/Curtis/Selina/Shannon. Then when the next generation of teens came along, she was too old for them. She never really had a group of her own. But to the writers' credit, they saw this and made storylines out of it, with Sally's lack of confidence and feeling like she didn't fit in.

The reason for this might be that she was always given special treatment by Tom and Pippa. She was the only one they formally adopted while the rest of the kids were wards of the state.

Sally was always Pippa's "little girl" and that favouritism created a divide between her and the foster kids.

The only time anything like that was mentioned was by Shannon during her eating disorder when she said she felt like a waste of space compared to "perfect little Sally". But that was less about Sally and more about Shannon's insecurities (she also felt insecure later on when Steven returned and seeing Pippa's delighted reaction to him). I don't remember any kind of divide between Sally and the other foster kids being mentioned due to her being a favourite. I think Pippa and Tom/Michael tried very hard not to make this the case.

More often than not it was Sally who felt inferior to the other kids who, through their various problems and teen angst, got the majority of Pippa's attention while she was just reliable old Sally.

[Natasha]

So it turns out Adam was the one who faints, not Donald. I had to laugh and he was the one who was going to take the photo.

Did the students have a choice at donating blood or were they made to? I don't thats very fair. You should be given a choice whether or nor you want to donate blood.

Tom's feeling woozy. Uh-oh, Pippa take more notice of your husband and stop your whinging! You're going to regret it later!

[Red Ranger 1]

I've now seen 516 to 520.I kind of take the point about Marilyn being a spare part but, whilst it might not have seemed it to the original viewers, we're seeing the beginning of her friendship with Alf here and hopefully that'll see the character cementing her place on the show.

The touch footie storyline was a bit weird, it did feel like the girls mainly won because some unwritten rule of television says they had to.At least Bobby had the maturity to vote for Adam as captain.Viv's ridiculous comments about traitors when they're all supposed to be on the same team just had me rolling my eyes.

Kind of in two minds about Celia's departure.It did feel like it was squeezed into a few minutes of an episode that was mostly about other stuff.And Sally suddenly saying she's friends with Celia when they've barely spoken for, well, two years was a bit strange.But it was better than Martin's.I did think, when it cut to Alf, that Celia was going to turn up and say goodbye to him and I'm not sure why they felt the need to reveal who Bridget was in that episode rather than stringing it out for a bit longer.

[aussiesoapfan]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Kate/Sally, Alexx. It's interesting to read. Now up to 522, thanks mate!

I've been thinking a lot about the development of the show and the reasons why the community feeling has become so prominent at this point in time, as we've all been discussing. For me it's fairly simple, and I think it's that the producers have cleverly interwoven the cast and linked them all together somehow, so that each and every character has a strong relationship to the other characters. I mean, if you think about it, there's the teens who naturally interact, Viv and Bobby living with Donald, Steven and Sally with Tom/Pippa and Emma with Alf and Ailsa. Making Grant a teacher was a masterstroke in my book because they're automatically given him a role which means he will interact with all the other characters. I think that's why the show naturally feels like a community at this point in 1990 rather than it all being forced. I also think this explains why Ben and Marilyn have not integrated into the cast as naturallyas they could have. Ben only really has Carly, and even then his link to her is quite weak. I find him the weakest character at the moment, I think the actor is good, but his characterisation has been fairly lacking. And I started off really liking him because I think a guy coming in and sweeping Carly off her feet had potential, but at points he's become fairly unlikeable, selfish and a bit arrogant and patronising. As for Marilyn, she was great in 1989 but Morag's departure left her as an add-on to Lance and Martin and now they've gone too. So she's just sort of floating around looking for purpose, but her links to other characters need to be strengthened. If the Early Years continue to be aired, I literally cannot wait to see her in her 95 role onwards!

I'm also really happy that Matt features a lot more too, he's quite a loveable dopey kind of a character, and Greg Benson's acting has vastly improved since the previous seasons. I think the producers were very lucky to have reached this balance while there are so many cas departures occuring because without it, the show could have fallen apart.

I also view the Diner as a vital part of the community feeling. A lot of characters interact there which creates a sense of community and it's a shame the current show doesn't use this more. It also automatically makes Ailsa and Bobby the heart of the community, both strong characters but I sense that they could have gone stale without being at the diner. Especially Ailsa. She was such a feistry, strong character in 1988 and I feel like we're gradually losing that aspect of her personality but the diner keeps her strong. Bringing in Bridget is a much-needed boost to her character IMO, as it's given her something to do. I really feel sorry for her, you can tell she clearly cares a lot about Emma. Who I'm loving by the way. Dannii Minogue is one fine actress, she really shines, and can play the comedy and drama both really well.

I will be sad to see her go when she does

Viv also stands out as a weak character when she has a plot of her own such as the sleeping with Steven one. She comes across as so wet and bland. I think she thrives off the fact that she is surrounded by strong characters.

As for Tom dying in three episodes, well, all I can say is, I think it's one huge mistake. Others have mentioned it was likely/had been confirmed he was sacked/axed. I can't for the life of me figure out why. They pretty much ruined him in the Zak plot, but thankfully he has been salvaged, and he has really become a favourite of mine. I love his relationship with Sally, and I actually think as well as Sally, he is one of my faves from Summer Bay House. It's such a shame they let him go, there was so much mileage left in the character and I'm not ready to see him off yet. One wonders whether Tom and Pippa in the first incarnation would have stayed for many more years, had the producers decided not to kill Tom off. Obviously that was a possibility hd they kept him on as Vanessa only left the role of Pippa because she missed Roger. I'm frustrated and heartbroken to see him go.

The current sow would never evoke so much emotion and discussion from me. Sorry for the huge post!

I agree with everything you said there...really is a shame the whole show could have been different....

[lucky999]

The website that Gergless used to put on is gone:(. I'm literally in tears as only got up to watching s02 ep179 and was really looking forward to watching the rest of these. Has anyone got the files for these? I really don't mind paying as love the old days and it would be worth it!! I would really really really love it if I could get these from someone! Sorry for causing such a pain - was meant to study tonight and got home and found the website shut .