1991 Episode Discussion

[dncllpyk]

I'm glad Fin has arrived we already know her back story. Well some of us would. The computer I'm on won't let me use spoiler tag grr.

[Red Ranger 1]

Slightly bemused that all the characters seem to think that Karen only got jail because she got a harsh judge.So, she's the accomplice to a string of robberies, one of which leaves a man injured, then tries to flee the consequences by stealing a car, driving it without a license and causing a car crash that left someone dead, then compounds the offence by trying to pin the blame on someone else.And everyone expected the judge to just say "Don't do it again" and send her on her way?

Odd departure for Haydn, basically he doesn't say goodbye to anyone apart from Blake and he's last seen being left by the roadside by an oblivious Michael.Thought he'd get a farewell with Sophie, given how close they are and given they'd made a point of getting back on good terms in the previous episode.And it felt like the show was building up to a big showdown between him and Michael that never came.Mind you, Michael's slow epiphany in the fallout and realisation that he'd misjudged things made up for it somewhat.

Still, bit of a shame that Blake and Sophie won't be around for any of Haydn's return visits.

Grant's exit was even weirder:Turns up, hangs around for a bit, then announces he's going again.Mind you, that's his third exit in less than a year, hardly a surprise they didn't make a big deal out of it.

I genuinely found myself close to tears when Alf told Blake he thinks of him as a son.It's a side of Alf we arguably don't see that often in the early days, when he's often playing the grumpy old man to Ailsa's softer approach, but nice to see it there.

Fin!!!!The show is getting closer and closer to the point where I started watching(about 140 episodes to go)and so I'm becoming more and more aware of where the characters are going to be in the not too distant future.It's making it seem, from a purely personal point of view, like a kind of work in progress that's not quite how I remember it yet.

Scenes like Fin working in the Diner or Greg, Adam and Sam hanging out together at the beach house look like they've been beamed in from a year or two later when at the time they were kind of throwaway details.I believe the forthcoming week has the last of this glut of new arrivals so hopefully it won't be too long before the opening credits get bolstered again.

[rachel1990]

Slightly bemused that all the characters seem to think that Karen only got jail because she got a harsh judge.So, she's the accomplice to a string of robberies, one of which leaves a man injured, then tries to flee the consequences by stealing a car, driving it without a license and causing a car crash that left someone dead, then compounds the offence by trying to pin the blame on someone else.And everyone expected the judge to just say "Don't do it again" and send her on her way?

I agree what Karen did deserved a jail sentence and in the end she was responsible for someones death and nearly killed Adam as well

[beau_t]

Following on from the above two posts - Karen has also shown no real remorse for what she did. It's strange that we didn't see Karen up until her trial, but I like that even though we stopped seeing her a few weeks ago, Ailsa's been given some great monologues to keep us updated on her. It feels like we have seen the storyline develop to its conclusion even if Karen didn't appear. Her description of the look in Karen's eyes and how she's become so hard was chilling. The idea that "she'll be in and out of prison for the rest of her life" was certainly one of the most dramatic ends for a foster child on the show.

[Blaxland 89]

Think I'll miss Grant popping up I always found him annoying but liked him since the storyline with his sister

These credits are weird. I would have preferred Michael and Pippa's and then Sally shot, followed by the windsurfer and fisherman and then carried on with thw rest of the cast. Like the 88 ones. And the surfers would still all be together.

When Blake and Sophie aren't in an episode, they are even cut out of the ending credits. Even in the first 100 episode the main characters that weren't in the opening were put at the end regardless.

[stitch]

What a rubbish exit for Hayden! And poor Blake losing his sister and best friend in such close proximity.

I am not liking Michael at all. I don't remember him being such an old misery guts.

I liked the scene where Bobby visited Pippa at home to discuss Fisher's resignation. I'd almost forgotten that Bobby ever lived there. It feels so long ago.

I have an enormous soft spot for him but Grant's latest stint really has an air of 'what are you doing here?!' about it. Although that's probably because we know that he won't actually stick around.

[Old H&A Fan]

Why is it that Nick kneeled on the floor in the Diner when asking Loo to marry him??

[beau_t]

I am not liking Michael at all. I don't remember him being such an old misery guts.

I liked the scene where Bobby visited Pippa at home to discuss Fisher's resignation. I'd almost forgotten that Bobby ever lived there. It feels so long ago.

Welcome, stitch. Your avatar is great! I agree about Bobby, she has become so mature, they have really aged her character, although that is not a bad thing. The whole foster storyline with Sam has given her a new lease of life as a character. If you just started watching the show at this point I don't think you'd believe that 3 years previously when it began she was a high school student.

Michael is a misery guts but I can't help but find him likeable. Everything he does, right or wrong, he does with the best of intentions.

Why is it that Nick kneeled on the floor in the Diner when asking Loo to marry him??

Probably for the same reason that Martha knelt on the floor when proposing to Jack. There is a non-compulsary tradition where the person asking the question gets down on one knee. Not everyone does it, but some people choose to. Sorry I didn't provide the bait.

[Natasha]

I missed the episode when Grant left. that's a shame, I always had a soft spot for him.

Hayden's exit was crap I agree and I feel sorry for Blake. Loosing his sister and best friend.

I don't know much about Fin but I'm liking her so far and that she connected with Sophie instantly.

[nenehcherry2]

I am not liking Michael at all. I don't remember him being such an old misery guts.

I liked the scene where Bobby visited Pippa at home to discuss Fisher's resignation. I'd almost forgotten that Bobby ever lived there. It feels so long ago.

Welcome, stitch. Your avatar is great! I agree about Bobby, she has become so mature, they have really aged her character, although that is not a bad thing. The whole foster storyline with Sam has given her a new lease of life as a character. If you just started watching the show at this point I don't think you'd believe that 3 years previously when it began she was a high school student.

Agree, Bobby has really matured and the growth in her character has accelerated and her school days seem like 6 - 7 years ago maybe! I believe that it's all happened very gradually (albeit quickly) though - for example late 1989 / early 90 Bobby really is somewhere in the middle of the current eps on 7Two and the pilot in terms of her characteristics, and she still FEELS like exactly the same character, just older and wiser. She's still very quick witted, dry, sarcastic, a wind up merchant (especially towards Donald) and to the point; the main difference is that she THINKS more before she acts and is not afraid to show her feelings; she always was an extremely loyal and caring girl, but she just didn't want to show it, as life's hard knocks had toughened her up. I love how she's combining this accomplishment of conquering her self-image with remembering her own history to help other "lame ducks" (as Ailsa put it); Viv, Emma, Fin, and later down the line, Tug.

Definitely a rare occassion in H&A where a character has evolved but still remained very consistent in key areas.