1990 Episode Discussion

[home and away 1988-2000]

I agree with you Edward, I'm enjoying this period more than late 1989 which I started to find monotonous.

Well I suppose we'll find out within the next week whether it will be back! Hopefully.

Im pretty sure it will come back, I dont think 7two would have it in them to axe Home and Away, Sons and Daughters, Corrie and Emmerdale all in one go.

[Ryan]

I always think that those first 350 episodes looking back as like one of those South American telenovelas. I've never watched one, but effectively from what I gather they are soaps, but they last till the story has finished and I think that happened in late-1989. The story finished.

I think now we're watching it day-to-day as it originally aired, you can say perhaps bits of the show are overated. I was slightly unimpressed with a lot of 1989 after Dodge left, meandering through the Rory, bunyip, Danny Price and shark stuff.

The show still kinds of feels transitional though.

[Natasha]

I really miss sitting down at the end of the day and watching HATEY. I can't wait to see the 1991 season either. Waiting eagerly for the 16th. It seems too far away.....

[Dibble Investments Inc]

I'm sorry but compared to the last 50 or so episodes, late 1989 was much better in my opinion. What have we had since Martin, Lance, Celia, Tom & Viv departed??? This wedding, which has dragged on ridiculously, the council elections (which also have dragged on) and Adam/Paul's dust ups?? So what, my own life is more interesting than any of that....

The saving grace has been Maz moving in with Matt & Adam and their hi-jinx - Adam scaring Melody's boyfriend out of the beachhouse with the snake; the fleas in the grass matting; Adam's flea bomb; breaking the window at the Stewart Store and the chicken pox.....now this, as far as I'm concerned has single-handedly saved the show from being a complete debacle....

Image, Tom's stroke, Danny Price's shock tactics, the Bunyip, Rory & the shark, Zack and the tension it caused between Tom and Pippa are streets ahead of anything in early to mid 1990 thus far.....

[alexx]

I agree about Rory, I liked him and still consider that period as connected to the 88 season somehow. For me it was pretty much during the Danny Price/Morag's exit and Sophie's introduction storyline that I started to find the show had 'lost' its way slightly. I also think during that time the community 'spirit' had been kinda changed/slightly lost when compared to earlier in the year or 88 and even compared to 1990.

I think the show over the last few weeks has been more focused on the character based stuff and light-hearted storylines. Exploring the character of Sophie further, establishing Summer Bay as a community without Tom, Celia, Lance, Martin, re-establishing Pippa's role in the show now she is alone.

I've also got to say I've enjoyed Carly and Ben's relationship formation way more than I enjoyed Zack and Pippa/Tom which I think was one of the worst storylines of 1989 - so frustrating to watch because Pippa and Tom were so out of character it was impossible to believe in. I've also enjoyed what they've done with Ailsa and the introduction of Emma during 1990 more than I enjoyed Ailsa's depression in later 89.

[Skylover]

Image, Tom's stroke, Danny Price's shock tactics, the Bunyip, Rory & the shark, Zack and the tension it caused between Tom and Pippa are streets ahead of anything in early to mid 1990 thus far.....

I think 1990 storylines are far superior to those you've mentioned. I'd much rather have these light-hearted, community-based stories than the ridiculous far-fetched villans which characterize and have ruined many eras of Home and Away. I'd go as far as to say that Home and Away is at its worst when it has a villain/villains, they seem to ruin the show and crop up far too frequently for my liking. Danny Price was a horrible storyline. Image just seemed like a really unrealistic comedy plot for me, and saw Lance and Martin at their worst. Rory was an ok story yet you have to wonder what the whole point of it was? I thought the Zac/Pippa/Tom story was the worst storyline in the first 550+ episodes I've seen of the show so far.

I also found it difficult to invest in Emma during late 89, she had a horrible ropey introduction despite Dannii Minogue's fabulous acting, it's hard to believe 1989 and 1990 Emma are the same character.

I hope you enjoy the show a bit more when it comes back DibbleInvestments - perhaps you're missing Lance and Martin? I do agree with you, however, that Matt, Adam and Marilyn are heavily carrying the show. There are stories I'm enjoying, I'm intrigued by the Bobby/dating agency storyline and I've loved Donald throughout the entire story, the Amateur Night is ok, it's nice to see Sophie have something to do and for Grant to remain a prominent member of the community.

I agree about Paul Jensen. He was acting all calm, then a few hours later burst into the Beach House launching at Adam like a wild animal. It didn't seem to make much sense - if he was that angry why didn't he head over straight away? It was random.

P.S. How does Rebekah Elmaloglou manage to look at least late 20s wearing that dress? I was shocked!

[Dibble Investments Inc]

Edward, definitely agree with you about the concept of light-heartedness, something which the current H&A is sadly devoid of. And I can certainly understand your enthusiasm of the current community-based storylines, as these are building what were previously less important characters (such as Matt, Adam and Maz). I do concede that 1990 is a transitionary period, so maybe this is the lull before the storm, so to speak.

I guess I have just found recent storylines to be mundane and this may very well be due to the writers taking time to develop newer characters, after so many of the 'old guard' departed. Hopefully the stories will improve (if TEY returns later this month), I must say that I was looking forward to the introduction of Blake & Karen Dean.

It's not all doom and gloom, as we both can agree that Matt, Adam and Maz are keeping things interesting. Add a pinch of Ernie Jacobs and voila, we've got some great comedy moments

I do also agree with you in regards to Emma - I re-watched eps 400 - 410 recently and saw just how bad she treated Alf & Ailsa - I know she was abused but she was unreasonable and ungrateful towards them in the early days. You would not even believe that she's the same character in 1990.

Well, I've already talked about 1989 in my previous post, my opinions of 1990 storylines thus far are:- Talent Quest (had potential to be so much more entertaining but was really boring); Bobby's dating agency woes (Geoffrey Lime was amusing but it was obvious that Chris was a sleazebag); the Paul/Adam rivalry (I believe it's unneccessary and shows Adam in a bad light - but I nearly fell off my chair laughing when Paul punched Adam in the mouth at the Diner and Alf and Matt had to separate the rabble watched by all the patrons!!!); Ben & Carly's Wedding (has dragged on unneccessarily); Council Elections (had its moments but has also become completely monotonous); Paul & Emma's Romance (has been up and down more times than a yo-yo). By far, Adam, Matt & Maz have carried the show during this transitionary period and we can agree on that, hooray!!!

As for Sophie looking late 20's, well she did come up very nicely. Mind, I am about her age and remember watching these episodes back in 1990 - having re-watched them now, I can see why I fancied her back then and all of my school friends did too And Fisher - even back in 1990 I thought he was a stick in the mud but our Principal made Fisher look like a pussycat, so we would've taken Fisher any day

And finally, you're right Edward, I am really missing Marty & Lance (and Tom too), I won't try to conceal that fact (though it would certainly be obvious to anyone who has read my profile or signature ). I must admit that when Marty got on the bus and Lance drove off in his Holden (and Tom's accident) that I truly felt it was the end of an era. I concede that Marty & Lance had probably reached their use-by date and short of the writers perpetuating village idiocy, there wasn't anywhere they could take the characters. I guess I felt the same sadness when Vinnie went off to gaol as well.

It's curious how people develop such a fondness for fictional soapie characters (Ken Barlow in Corrie is another that comes to my mind as a fave). Many people watching H&A over the years have been saddened by their favourites leaving or dying, be they Ailsa, Shane Parrish, Michael Ross etc - but Marty, Lance and Tom were the 'old guard' that I fondly remember watching back then and they hold a special place in my H&A fandom.

[Ryan]

I'd say whilst there's many reasons one doesn't like an episode, in late 1989 I just wasn't buying a lot of what of was going, whilst in 1990, some of the stories have just been low key or boring. And if you don't actually believe what's happening, as I did in 1989, it's more damaging than it not being exciting enough.

[beau_t]

All this talk of missing Tom/Celia/Lance/Martin... Does anyone miss Morag?

[Skylover]

All this talk of missing Tom/Celia/Lance/Martin... Does anyone miss Morag?

In short, no.

I think Morag is a great character but I haven't missed her at all since she left. I hated the Danny storyline so I don't know if it was perhaps the writing and this story that let her down, as well as being associated with the poor part of 1989, or just that her character in the scheme of things wasn't as good as people make out. The vindictiveness of Morag in 1989 is something that did become quite tiring and predictable at times, but on the other hand you could say she was just a very strongly defined character. Seeing my thoughts typed out like that do make me think it was the writing that let Morag down in 1989 because when I think about it, some of the iconic and most memorable moments of 89 are Morag moments. That scene when she broke down to Nigel is one of the most powerful scenes in the entire history of the show, and having Marilyn as her housekeeper was priceless but alas, some poor writing let her down and unfortunately seeing as she left after a stint of poor storylining, that has been her lasting legacy (at least until she next returns).

In contrast, I always miss Morag when she leaves the current show and look forward to her coming back. She's become much more well-rounded in later episodes but still has that edge (although I'd argue her 2011 stint was quite naff).

Talking of Lance and Martin, while I think they're two of the best characters the show has ever had, I'm not missing them either. Marilyn, Matt and Adam has adequately filled this gap for me. Admittedly the history of the friendships isn't there, but the 20 something gap is filled by this lot and the spirit of Lance and Martin sort of lives on in Marilyn.

Having said all this, I do think the cast are carrying the storylines quite well. Most of the new cast seem fresh and engaging; Ben being the weak link for me, I think he sometimes comes across as quite unconvincing. In contrast Grant and Sophie are brilliant characters, Sophie probably being my favourite at the moment. I don't know what it is about her but she just seems very relatable. Rebekah's sometimes unsure approach to the character has actually enhanced that sense of the character not really knowing where she belongs. Her friendship with Gus has been really interesting to watch, all her problems haven't just been swept under the carpet because Simpson's gone and that really makes the character believable. Her relationship with Pippa has also developed a lot, and dare I say it, but Pippa's role in the show somehow seems much more important now that Tom's gone. I quite like seeing her coping on her own and the relationship between her and all the foster kids developing in a way that we wouldn't have seen had Tom not died (I'm not saying I wanted Tom to die) but at least there's a new dynamic to explore I suppose.

The Jensen family has been quite weak but Murray has improved, the comedic stuff with Sally has been good. I don't understand why Adam's suddenly acting like such a jerk though, he would never have agreed to fighting Paul in 1989, or is it jsut me?