Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[alexx]

What they should do (if they ever bring them back) is actually address and incorporate the reason why they haven't bothered to visit her, particularly Damo. Create some decent drama out of the situation they've created. Irene of old would have taken it quite personally (and when I say Irene of old I mean Irene up until 2004, not when she first came into the show).

Completely agree Alexx, but I strongly believe they wouldn't even think to do that. If for example they did bring Damo back, they'd treat it like it's only been a few weeks since they last saw each other! They'd want to jump straight into whatever storyline-reason they have brought him back for and completely skim over any of that stuff, they wouldn't even be aware of it.

Neither would a large proportion of the audience.

I think that’s an excuse they could use to justify poor writing. And it’s the excuse some viewers use to justify poor writing too. They should take advantage of the situation they've created and turn it into some good character focused drama, surely that's a no brainier of an idea.

I disagree. I think it is a simple and very straight forward exercise. They see if Matt Doran is willing and available to return for example, he is still a jobbing actor so it’s more than possible that he would agree to a guest stint at least. Then they write the storyline.

Irene has a son she never talks about, if the current viewers aren’t aware of him, they will get a nice surprise and if it’s confusing for them, so be it. They can look into the history of the character online if they’re that confused but they shouldn't be because it's very straightforward. She has a son she hasn’t seen or heard from in more than fifteen years – that’s all they need to know really and the rest would be incorporated into the character development and storyline.

[j.laur5]

But nothing to say Irene does not talk to him over the phone.

Its like Debra Stewart'. We never hear Alf talk about her but it does not mean Alf does not have some contact with her.

[Red Ranger 1]

See, that's not really how I see the situation.I haven't seen anything to suggest Irene is estranged from her children, the few references we get suggest that they're still on good terms.So if they did have Damian turn up and have Irene berate him for not visiting, I'd actually see that as a bit of a betrayal of the characters.There was a lot of silliness when Roo came back about having her apologise to Alf for things that happened over 20 years previous, even though they'd seen each other plenty of times during that period.Having Damian come back, go "Hi, Mum, how are you?" and them pick up where they left off would actually be more appropriate to me, rather than inventing drama about a falling out the viewers have never seen.I don't know, I think it's making assumptions to say Matt Doran would come back if they asked him, but then again he might and it might be that they've never asked him.

[Homeandawayfan.]

A Damo or Fringelay Finlay return I would always welcome, even for just a few episodes. As long as they never recast them like some Neighbours characters have been, Brad and Lauren.

I am quite pleased about the latest developments in Home And Away and the return of the exterior of the Summer Bay House and Dan Bennett returning, we may see better scripts.

[CaptainHulk]

In all fairness, there was NO way Scott Michaelson or Sarah Vandenbergh would come back. I think they did ask the former but he had since retired from acting, and I don't think Vandenbergh would have come back.

It would be good to see Irene's actual family (I'm assuming they alll gathered in the city when she told them about the cancer a few years back). But as I said, I don't think Matt Doran would come back. Tina Thomsen would probably be most likely (as Fin is the child she is on best terms with) but it would depend on a script. Maybe David Dixon could reprise the Nathan role as they recently recycled Craig Ball as Grey Page.

[cadyctslover]

Actually I would like to see some of Irene's grandchildren appear on the show also some of her fostered children who now have children. But this would be a huge and complicated logistical and story writing exercise. Actors would have to be available and willing. Storylines would have to be written which explained to viewers who have been attracted to the show in recent years just who these characters are who have seemingly "appeared out of nowhere" for no good or apparent reason ( to them )

Storylines would have to be written to then have them meet and interact with others characters in the Bay so that the involvement of current characters could still continue alongside the returnees.

I'd still like to see it happen but it's not a simple exercise.

How is this any different to the introduction of any new character or set of characters?

To use an example you would appreciate John, the Braxton's arrived in the bay with no links the rest of the cast. The backstory to the characters was written into the storylines and developed (to some extent) as time went on.

[John]

Actually I would like to see some of Irene's grandchildren appear on the show also some of her fostered children who now have children. But this would be a huge and complicated logistical and story writing exercise. Actors would have to be available and willing. Storylines would have to be written which explained to viewers who have been attracted to the show in recent years just who these characters are who have seemingly "appeared out of nowhere" for no good or apparent reason ( to them )

Storylines would have to be written to then have them meet and interact with others characters in the Bay so that the involvement of current characters could still continue alongside the returnees.

I'd still like to see it happen but it's not a simple exercise.

How is this any different to the introduction of any new character or set of characters?

To use an example you would appreciate John, the Braxton's arrived in the bay with no links the rest of the cast. The backstory to the characters was written into the storylines and developed (to some extent) as time went on.

I never thought the arrival of the Braxtons was particularly well done. There was so much potential in their unique character and background that was never explored or exploited much as I liked the concept. The only somewhat vague link they had with the show was that they came from Mangrove River, that "dark place" on the "other side of the tracks" from Summer Bay

You are right, the re-introduction of characters from the past would present all those challenges but added to that would be the re-establishing of forgotten links with past and present characters and the explanation, if only in very brief summary, of their journeys since they were last a part of the show.

Whether that would be judged to be worthwhile alongside the introduction of new characters to keep pace with society changes over the years and keep the show relevant and up to date is something the "powers that be" have to ponder continually I guess.

I'm not against the re-introduction of characters from the past. But it should be done to serve some real purpose in the ongoing lives and character development of current characters. I think Marilyn and Roo have been good examples of this which I have appreciated.

Visits or returns should be carefully written and researched so that they accurately portray the characters. I disliked the returns of Will and Gypsy which I thought served no useful purpose in terms of the current day show and did some "violence"to both characters. ( I have to confess both were among my favourites before that. )

One that could work and that I'd like to see would be the return of Hayley ( Bec Hewitt/Cartwright) together with children to re-unite with Irene. She would also be known to Alf and Leah. This would introduce a "family" with three generations. Hayley would also fill what I believe is a gap in the cast make-up between the older and younger casts and provide a unifying point between the two. Bec is also likely to spend more time in Australia after this year as her husband takes up his responsibilities with Tennis Australia.

I guess we can all dream.

[alexx]

See, that's not really how I see the situation.I haven't seen anything to suggest Irene is estranged from her children, the few references we get suggest that they're still on good terms.So if they did have Damian turn up and have Irene berate him for not visiting, I'd actually see that as a bit of a betrayal of the characters.There was a lot of silliness when Roo came back about having her apologise to Alf for things that happened over 20 years previous, even though they'd seen each other plenty of times during that period.Having Damian come back, go "Hi, Mum, how are you?" and them pick up where they left off would actually be more appropriate to me, rather than inventing drama about a falling out the viewers have never seen.I don't know, I think it's making assumptions to say Matt Doran would come back if they asked him, but then again he might and it might be that they've never asked him.

I'd find it more jarring if he turned up and she treated him as if they'd only spoken a few weeks ago. Even if we are supposed to presume that she has seen him regularly over the last 15 years, he still hasn't taken the time to visit her. Why?

I also think that's a really boring approach to the situation too. Surely we want to see good drama coming out of these kind of situations, instead of just a run of the mill and (I think boring) return for a few episodes, to establish that she still has a connection with her kids to shut up people like me haha! It would also give Irene a proper character lead storyline which she hasn't had in years.

It’s not about making up a disagreement that we haven’t seen. That would be stupid and nonsense. I don't mean harking back to old issues either, but expanding on their relationship. She was out of their lives for a large chunk of their childhood so it could be seen as quite natural for someone like Damo to drift off and do his own thing, without really having that much interaction or that much of a relationship with his mother as an adult. How does Irene feel about that?

We know that she seems closer to Fin because she often visits her in the city, so I think she could realistically visit her without question, although it would still be wise to reference how slack she's been not to bother visiting her mother in over fifteen years and she's just left it up to Irene to make all of the effort.

But is she embarrassed or hurt that Damien doesn't bother and she isn't close to him? It’s just about exploring why she hasn't seen him (as far as we know) in over fifteen years and exploring why they don't have a very close relationship. I don't really get why people would find that jarring. Perhaps Irene see's it in a more intense way than Damien and he hasn't ever really thought about it. It doesn't have to be that he has deliberately avoided her.

I'm not against the re-introduction of characters from the past. But it should be done to serve some real purpose in the ongoing lives and character development of current characters.

I think if any past characters should return to help with the continuity and character development of a current cast member, its Irene’s kids.

[adam436]

It just makes no sense from the view of a character writer, that they wouldn't have brought back Fin, Damien and her grandchildren. It's literally been more than 15 years since her children came to visit her. So unbelievable. That is what makes it obvious that Irene is just not a priority and character development and consistency hasn't been the aim of the producers. At least not for Irene anyhow.

What they should do (if they ever bring them back) is actually address and incorporate the reason why they haven't bothered to visit her, particularly Damo. Create some decent drama out of the situation they've created. Irene of old would have taken it quite personally (and when I say Irene of old I mean Irene up until 2004, not when she first came into the show).

Nathan came to visit in 2002 I think.. he fell in love with a nurse(?) and was never seen again. When he returned in 2002, he was played by the actor who played Matt's dad just recently.

[CaptainHulk]

Yeah, Craig Ball came back as Gray. That's what I said a few posts back.