1991 Episode Discussion

[beau_t]

Pippa and Michael failed Tracey as much as they failed Sophie. If they had listened to Sophie and caught Tracey's behaviour earlier on before it got so out of hand, they could have helped her adjust to family life and showed her that she can be happy that way. I thought Tracey's final couple of scenes showed that deep down she was very unhappy and resented Pippa for not noticing her cries for help.

[Old H&A Fan]

I wish everyone stop carry on about Marilyn and Hayden as Marilyn is about 6 years older then Hayden.

Yeah, what is it with the attitudes of people in Summer Bay where only a guy is allowed to be older than the girl in a relationship, but if it is other way round, the girl is some kind of "cradle snatcher", and how does being 6 years older make her old enough to be his mother? Just wait till we

get to that scumbag David who is much too old for Sophie, he takes advantage of her, makes her pregnant, and he's the poor innocent victim of a fatal accident, and Sophie spends the rest of her life dwelling on "poor David" who got killed.

[Bretto]

Pippa and Michael failed Tracey as much as they failed Sophie. If they had listened to Sophie and caught Tracey's behaviour earlier on before it got so out of hand, they could have helped her adjust to family life and showed her that she can be happy that way. I thought Tracey's final couple of scenes showed that deep down she was very unhappy and resented Pippa for not noticing her cries for help.

That's what I think. I think Tracey would've been happy if Pippa seen through her behaviour when she first arrived. And I'm sure that her and Sophie would be friends had Pippa and Michael helped her settle in

[Ryan]

I think my favourite part of the story was Sophie walking in with that massive ghetto blaster.

[Red Ranger 1]

Now seen up to 810.I found Tracey a curious character, the sort of person that in later years may well have turned around and become a respectable member of society in a year's time.Certainly, I think she's Pippa's last long-term failure.(There's at least one short term stay in the late 90s who she didn't have much of an impact on.)Interesting that again Ailsa is more suspicious than Pippa without really having any reason to be so:Maybe a sign that Pippa can be impartial literally to a fault while Ailsa's more inclined to trust people she's known for longer.While I think Pippa's had so many successes that she can sometimes be lazy and not recognise that a child isn't as settled as she thought...I'm not sure I'm willing to write Tracey's nastiness of as "cries for help" and see her as the victim in all this. Maybe deep down she's unhappy and maybe even deeper down she recognises that her way isn't the only way or even the best way.But I don't think she really wanted to change.We weren't given much back story to her so it's hard to tell but probably something in her past made her stop trusting people so she's not interested in showing any empathy or forming connections with others.I'm not sure what was at the root of her behaviour towards Sophie.Initially I thought maybe she thought she'd stand a better chance of fitting in in Summer Bay if she got rid of the other teenage girl in the place but now...I think either she was reacting to Sophie's initially off behaviour with her(she was equally ruthless with Margaret once they ended up at odds)or she's just a bully and would have started on anyone, as her comments about amusing herself in the "dull hick town" suggested.

Interestingly, you can see Sophie starting to go down the same route:Her surrogate family have all her turned on her, the only adult on her side has rejected her, her best friend is actively working against her and she's pretty much decided it's not worth trusting people.It's lucky Margaret was able to step in and turn her around.Meanwhile, even though she can be friendly towards them at times (usually when the writers forget about the storyline), Karen has stopped trusting Alf and Ailsa and is heading down a dark route.(And oddly, a lot of it's down to Bobby giving very questionable advice...)

In other news, I'm sorry to see Margaret go and kind of glad they didn't wreck the character by making her the nasty Reefton Lakes principal.Surprised at the way the Nick/Lucinda storyline, which seemed to be setting up for a traditional "Show up the dumb male" storyline, ended up twisting things and making Lou the one whose nerves got the better of her while when Nick got into the swing of things he actually enjoyed himself.And Adam and Karen...Looks like another case of Karen falling for someone who might actually have been good for her but he only sees her as a friend.Alf and Ailsa really should be sticking with the devil they know.It's not like dating him did Emma much harm.

[Blaxland 89]

Yes, I was going to mention the Emma thing myself. She was much more mature savy to boys and possibly more mature though. Alf and Ailsa to seem more parental about Blake and Karen. Where as, I did feel more of an aunty/niece relationship with Emma and Ailsa. Maybe because Emma's mum was still around.

Shame about Tracey. She seems damaged beyond repair. He background seems very similar to Tiegan's. Lots of foster homes and a gran that couldn't look after her. And the sense of not trusting anybody and pushing everyone away. She even ripped up some of Sally books as I recall. Luckily Pippa got to her before it was too late as Tracey seems a lot older. This is why I think Dodge is such an interesting character. As he had a nice upbringing but preferred living on the street and a foster home and causing trouble for no particular reason.

Will also miss Margaret Lynch. Would have liked to see her say goodbye to her housemates. What a coincidence there is a free room for Sam now. Lol

[Blaxland 89]

Does anyone know if we wait until 1992 to see Lucinda in the opening credits?

[Ryan]

As far as we believe in BTTB HQ there's 3 more sets for 1991. Blake and Karen are removed when Karen leaves, Sophie and Haydn are removed when Haydn leaves. Then in Episode 866 we believe Finlay, Simon, Greg, Sam and Lucinda are all added, as well as Sophie and Blake returning.

[Blaxland 89]

As far as we believe in BTTB HQ there's 3 more sets for 1991. Blake and Karen are removed when Karen leaves, Sophie and Haydn are removed when Haydn leaves. Then in Episode 866 we believe Finlay, Simon, Greg, Sam and Lucinda are all added, as well as Sophie and Blake returning.

Looking forward to seeing those. They're very rare aren't they.

[rachel1990]

As far as we believe in BTTB HQ there's 3 more sets for 1991. Blake and Karen are removed when Karen leaves, Sophie and Haydn are removed when Haydn leaves. Then in Episode 866 we believe Finlay, Simon, Greg, Sam and Lucinda are all added, as well as Sophie and Blake returning.

Wouldn't have made more sense to put Sophie and Blake together?