Darryl 'Brax' Braxton - Steve Peacocke

[~Lynd~]

I actually liked him when Charlie was around.It was around the time he was waving a gun around a hospital and everyone was 'poor brax'' that I went off him.He's not my most hated character but I'm glad he's gone because he's the most ridiculously hyped and overrated by a long shot.You'd think someone had died with all the publicity his exit is getting.It was a good exit for him though.Very in character even if some of the events before were completely unnecessary.

Edited June 10, 2015 by ~Lynd~

[KIMIF1]

Brax for me was the best character on the show, Steve portrayed him brilliantly - loved him. 

 

[Fyn3]

Ricky had her tribute to Brax tonight, so I thought it was a fitting time for me to pay tribute to my beloved all time favourite character.

 

Darryl Braxton. Brax.

 

Family man. River Boy. Leader. Surfer. A man of action. A man of few words. Stubborn and uncompromising. Streetwise and resourceful. Problem solver. Protector. Intensely passionate. Fiercely loyal. I think it was this intensity that drew me to him right from the beginning. He loved deeply and hurt deeply. There was no middle ground with Brax. He was very much ‘All or Nothing.’ I identified with his profound passion and he won my heart!

 

I have always been a lover of stories and storytelling and Brax has been one of those rare characters that has managed to go beyond the story and get under my skin. A one in a million character. There was something about him that sparked my imagination and had me captivated.

I grew up watching H&A, however I reached a point a few years ago where I genuinely thought I had outgrown the show. I hadn't watched Home and Away for years before Brax and his band of brothers generated enough curiosity to draw me back in. The River Boys had become a huge talking point within some of my friendship groups as well as sections of the media and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about. I could have never imagined that I would fall in love with these characters the way that I did or that I would develop a loyalty to Home and Away that I had never felt before. It completely took me by surprise.

I started tuning in sporadically at the end of 2011 and Brax caught my attention enough that I found myself watching daily from the first episode of the 2012 season. His intensely passionate reaction to Charlie's death had me intrigued, as did Casey's decision to choose Brax over Ruby, and it all grew from there. But it was the Danny Braxton storyline in mid 2012 that took it to the next level for me. Watching Brax fight so desperately to protect Heath and Casey from their psychopathic father - at all costs - despite their attitude and protests, was when Brax really won my heart. And there was no looking back! I didn't go back and watch any of his early River Boy/Charlie days until after this point and maybe that is why I view Brax differently to some. Brax had long left behind his drug/gang days by the time I had fallen for him, so to me they were such a small part of his overall story.

I've been reflecting back on Brax's journey and reminiscing. There have been so many highlights. The main highlight for me was unquestionably his relationship with his brothers. So many of the Braxton storylines centred around family loyalty and these were my favourite moments. Both the good times and the bad. So much of Brax's time on the show was spent dealing with family problems and that was how I liked it. The dynamic between the boys was natural, real and so authentic. They played off each other perfectly and I easily became invested in this unconventional family. I take my hat off to whoever made those casting decisions because they struck gold.

I loved the relationship that all four of the brothers shared but it was the relationship between Brax and Casey that was by far the most special for me. It is fair to say that I would have never loved Brax the way I do if it wasn't for Casey. I enjoyed seeing Casey's protectiveness of Brax just as much as I enjoyed seeing Brax's protectiveness of Casey. They put the needs and safety of the other over their own time and time again. In the end Casey paid the ultimate price for this loyalty. It felt heartbreakingly inevitable when it finally ended this way. It has been hard for me to watch Brax living in a world without Casey these past few months. Part of Brax has been missing and he has been a shadow of his former self without his little brother by his side. Brax and Casey scenes were always my favourite and they are the ones I will always remember.

 

His relationship with Ricky has also been a highlight. Steve and Bonnie had a very natural chemistry and it is hard to imagine Brax with anyone else. Ricky understood Brax in a way that none of his previous partners could and I think they were made for each other. My heart now aches for Ricky and their son terribly.

 

It did not end the way I hoped it would and I'm not at all satisfied with Brax's exit. In my mind Brax could never put Ricky and Kyle (and Heath and Cheryl) through that grief if it could in any way be avoided. I don't think they did justice to his character but the end does not overshadow all that went before. The one thing they have got right is the selection of Conrad Sewell's beautiful song to be the theme song of Brax's departure. The song is gorgeous and the lyrics so apt.

 

I think a big part of the reason that I have loved Brax so much is because of Stephen Peacocke’s exceptional portrayal of this complex character. He obviously understood Brax and he really brought the character to life. Steve was just as good at portraying the softer side of Brax as he was at portraying the angry, intimidating, hardened-criminal side of Brax. So much of Brax’s intense emotion had to be expressed through action and expression because of Brax’s reluctance to verbalise his feelings and Steve portrayed it all so authentically. I cannot imagine anyone else being able to play this role. And I have come to love Steve just as much as Brax. He comes across as humble and hard-working. A lover of the acting not the fame. He has not forgotten his roots and it is refreshing. The story of Steve's journey to get his first big acting role as Brax has really resonated with me. He spent years chasing his dream and he never gave up or lost heart despite not getting his break until he was nearly 30. His story has inspired me to reflect on my own life and my reluctance to be bold, follow my passions and take the path less travelled. For this I will be forever grateful.

 

It is with a heavy heart that I farewell Brax. It is hard to say goodbye to a character who has brought me so much joy over the past few years. I'm extremely happy for Steve that he is moving on to the next chapter and fulfilling his dream to work in movies but I'm equally sad for myself that I will no longer get to enjoy watching Brax on my screen every week and reflect on his every move with like-minded fans on this board. Brax is irreplaceable for me and he has left a hole that can't be filled.

 

Farewell Brax! I will miss you endlessly!

 

 

Edited June 22, 2015 by Fyn3

[Candy_Cane]

What a gorgeous post fyn3. I resonate with all of it!

Brax was an immense character - complex, loyal to a fault and fiercely protective of the ones he loved. In part the ending makes sense, Brax did what he did to protect Ricky and their beautiful baby son. He didn't want history to repeat itself any longer. But I just can't reconcile the fact that Brax would be remotely okay with letting the woman he loved and his family think he had died. You could see how broken he was when watching them through the trees before he drove away for the last time. I am far from satisfied!

But having said that, there are so many highlights to look back on that will stay with me for a long time to come. I will miss Brax immeasurably and he will stay in my heart forever.

And I, like you, adore Steve's acting (he played Brax perfectly!) and his journey too. A huge inspiration to all to never give up on your dreams.

 

[Homeandawayfan.]

Farewell to the greatest character in Home and Away history, and it literally couldn't have been more in line with his nature to end it all with a life on the run.

And yes, this deserves It's own thread.

Brax was Home and Away, and he will be missed.

​You must be the only one who thinks that then.

Sally was Home And Away for many years but rightly so, now Alf is Home And Away. Alf alone.

They may take Kyle down a new direction now Brax has gone and he is the last Braxton. Kyle seems to have matured into a young businessman.

Edited June 22, 2015 by Homeandawayfan.

[sindikatas]

Farewell to the greatest character in Home and Away history, and it literally couldn't have been more in line with his nature to end it all with a life on the run.

And yes, this deserves It's own thread.

Brax was Home and Away, and he will be missed.

​You must be the only one who thinks that then.

Sally was Home And Away for many years but rightly so, now Alf is Home And Away. Alf alone.

They may take Kyle down a new direction now Brax has gone and he is the last Braxton. Kyle seems to have matured into a young businessman.

​That is possible considering that Kyle had a decent upbringing and was a normal guy before he got involved with Danny Braxton.

[Fyn3]

In part the ending makes sense, Brax did what he did to protect Ricky and their beautiful baby son. He didn't want history to repeat itself any longer. But I just can't reconcile the fact that Brax would be remotely okay with letting the woman he loved and his family think he had died. You could see how broken he was when watching them through the trees before he drove away for the last time. I am far from satisfied!

Thanks Candy_Cane. I wanted to try to express just how much I have loved this character but it is always hard to find the words. 

I feel exactly the same as you about Brax's exit. I see what they were trying to do but it did not work for me. I know that Brax would sacrifice anything for his family but I can't accept that he would let them believe he was dead. If Ash knows the truth, what difference would it make if Kyle and Ricky (and Heath and Cheryl) know too? The rest of the world can still believe he is dead, if that's what he believes is needed, but not his family. The loss of Charlie and then Casey nearly killed him. The grief consumed him and he came close to throwing his life away on both occasions. How could he put Ricky and his family through this pain? Especially after they only just lost Casey. I don't believe he could do that to them! I wish it didn't end this way! 

[Lila_Q]

^ funny thing is that Steve is actually happy with Brax's exit storyline, as he said its "bookend'' for his character.

[pembie]

He could return at any time though Seeing as Ash knows the secret his still alive...So in some ways it didn't really feel like the end But I doubt Steve would ever come back now.

[Lila_Q]

^for this week's TV Week he said that he has no plans of returning any time soon, and with his US career developing I doubt it as well.