2018 Season - UK Episode Discussion

[630si]

6 minutes ago, atrus said:

Any character without family in the show is bound to end up like this to a degree, unfortunately - they have to shoehorn them into other people's storylines, which makes them look like stickybeaks. But with Leah it's even worse; she lives with Alf and Roo who are even more respected pillars of the community than her, so it's not even like Irene who always has a bunch of young lodgers to hector. Leah has to go further afield to poke her nose in.

 Think you’re right. And I also think the worst thing to happen to her character was the loss if her house. Can’t help but feel her story might have gone a different way if she still lived there.

[atrus]

In other words, we have Hunter to blame for this.

[D.B]

The Astonis storyline is, by far, the best thing this year, it's done so beautifully. Sophie Dillman was perfect today, portraying Ziggy's breakdown supremely. Ziggy shouldn't be blaming herself though it was understandable. The scenes with her hugging Coco were so lovely. It was great to see Maggie waking up again, I hope they get a new donor soon. Brody was a lovely boyfriend as well, as always.

I didn't want to say this, but I am getting pretty tired of Colby and Jasmine's relationship, it just seems so tiring and annoying, even if I can forgive Jasmine for being a bit snappy towards Ebony, she does have strong feelings towards Colby, of course she's going to act a bit jealous. I had high hopes for them, but maybe it's for the best that they took a break. Ebony continues to cause mayhem, but that's getting tiring as well. She's going to reveal Colby's past to ruin his career, which is something on the lines of revenge. But it just seems so petty. Really the only thing that she seems to accomplish so far is that she's as good as annoying the other characters as she is annoying me!

As for you Leah up in arms against the Rover Boys- Um...forgetting your little night with Brax? And in all fairness, Colby has done more than Brax to turn his life around for good, he's a cop for god's sake. Compared to the Braxtons and their actions (even if I did like them), Colby's an infant compared to them. 

Olivia- just go away, please.

Ash is back- 'large never-ending groan'! 

14 hours ago, atrus said:

In other words, we have Hunter to blame for this.

I already blame Hunter for most of the events in 2015, 2016, and 2017 so I have no problem with blaming him for this as well!

[Red Ranger 1]

To be fair, even the original bubbly Leah was a person of rather fixed morals, although she perhaps didn't feel the need to lecture people as much as she does now.They really need to give her some family over than Hunter and occasional shared custody of Ryder.

Anyway, today! To be honest, I almost thought Justin got it the wrong way round.Whilst I don't encourage violence, Dean did kind of provoke the punch, whereas "He's dating my ex" isn't really a valid excuse for firing someone.(Especially when nothing happened until after Justin and Willow split up, although admittedly Dean made his interest known while they were together.)Tori was back to being unlikable the minute she gets something to do other than recite test results and make sympathetic noises.I really couldn't handle her looking down on Willow after everything that's happened with Kat and Ash, and indeed Robbo, in the last year: Other people's feelings have been way down her priorities.I guess it's good that Willow was honest with her, even if it doesn't help Justin.Feeling rather sorry for Dean, who's clearly being used by Willow in more ways than one, and deep down he probably knows it yet he's trying to act like the perfect boyfriend anyway.Willow being hundreds of dollars in the red because of gambling isn't good either.

I love that someone finally remembered Ash has a brother out there and had him go and visit him.Less happy that Mick gets invoked as an excuse to get Irene out of the way for Lynne's panto leave: I've never believed in the supposed bond between them and would rather have that whole think quietly forgotten about than him being used as one of the regular excuses for Irene's absences.Of course it also served as a reminder that the locals are ridiculously friendly with everyone that's hurt Ash's family.Ash does seem in a good place but it'll be interesting to see if his new Zen outlook holds if he sees Robbo again. Robbo meanwhile is off starring in Police Academy this week, which was worth it mainly for the easy interplay between him and Lance which makes them believable as old friends.

[atrus]

The Willow/Dean love-in was pure cringe, but I think it's clear that was the intention. I really like them as friends, but not holding hands - it's testament to how well the characters' existing relationship had been developed that it so obviously doesn't work in a romantic context. Willow's definitely dropped a few respect points in my eyes for leading him on like this. I also felt that Tori was an extremely odd choice for her to confide in as regard's Nina's ultimatum - surely she's going to tell Justin sooner or later.

Robbo Goes To Fed School was hilarious, and I don't think that was the intention. Move over Dean and Colby: were Robbo and Lance lovers in their past life? But in vaguely related news, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Ash is suddenly reasonable (or at least, as 'Girlie' put it, 'less kamikaze than before') and doesn't start frothing at the mouth on the mere mention of Robbo or Mick, as has been his wont. Genuinely glad to hear he's been getting some professional help, although possibly notable that we're hearing about it rather than seeing it first-hand: could it all just be an elaborate act until he next gets a chance to lunge at Robbo (and not in a Lance kind of way)?

[D.B]

The Willow-Dean thing is just so hard to watch. I still sympathise with Willow, she loves Justin and she wants him to be happy. But she shouldn't be hurting Dean in all this! He clearly believes that he has a chance with her and she's clearly not interested. I don't like him, but I feel sorry for him. At least now Willow has told Tori the truth, these two haven't had a lot of scenes together so it was nice. As for Dean and Justin- Justin shouldn't have punched him, but Dean did provoke him, especially since Ash did ask him not to be showing off around Justin. But seriously Justin, you can't just fire someone because they're dating your ex, I actually think that might be illegal.

While I did laugh at Ash saying he has anger issues, as that's the understatement of the century, I actually like this side of him. He seems to have really change, he seems calmer and much more...likeable. He apologised to Tori, he gave Justin advice about Willow, the business, Dean and Ava, he didn't set off like a rocket at the mention of Robbo and Mick and he accepted that Irene had to go for her son (even though he did those very bad things), I was very impressed. It's good to see that he's finally getting closure and I loved that they remembered Patrick. Whether he'll stay like this if he sees Robbo again....well that's another story.

The whole Robbo and the Feds was very enjoyable to watch, he finally seems at ease and the banter with Lance and the other recruit was very funny. I hope that Robbo will be able to complete the psych evaluation even if he's not 100% at ease with his past. Though I did wonder why the other recruit was wondering why Robbo was taking the test again, surely he would have heard about the trial. It was big news and Robbo was all over the papers, apparently! Still it's good to see it and I hope that Robbo (or Ryan, as we probably should be calling him), becomes a fed again. 

[H&Alover]

Olivia putting her two'penth in didn't help things at all but did confirm Jasmine's suspicions about Ebony, they though don't know the 'real' Ebony who can more than handle herself.  Her stirring it did have the desired effect but not in the way she was devising. Even I'm getting bored by her though and for me it's not often that happens in a storyline or with a character. At least Jasmine told Colby how she really felt but she knew the score with him that he couldn't get close to anyone in case he needed to go off looking for his sister, he was honest about that from the beginning.  Like Ebony, who hadn't heard of them, Jasmine being new to the bay didn't fully understand the reputation of the River Boys which is why I think she was so taken aback when Leah was so shocked when she accidentally told her the news about Colby.  Colby has been dishonest about his lying, by omission,  about being in a gang to when he joined the police wherever that was, not local obviously they would have known right away when they saw his tat.  It does sound unfair that a guy like Colby who wanted to turn his life round, become a cop, partly for selfish reasons true, but also to do good and to atone for any bad things he'd done isn't allowed to because he used to be in a gang.  As I have said before what did he tell them what the blood and sand tat stood for?  He's been lucky so far he hasn't had to take his top off at Yabby Creek.  Who would have thought you could Google the River Boys!  Makes you wonder where Ebony has been all this time.  Like most baddies, Ebony just happens to overhear Leah and Irene talking about Colby, but guess who will get the blame when McCarthy gets an anonymous tip off?  Who put Leah in charge anyway for her to go charging around to Colby's and lay down the law - sorry no pun intended?  Leah wasn't always that conventional - she did arrive in the bay on the run from her arranged marriage, but can be prudish when it suits her.

It was good to see a new and improved Ash back, he even looked more relaxed than we have ever seen him. It would have taken a lot for  a 'tough' guy like him to admit he needed help Dean's advice to him to thank for that, then actually go and get it.  Nice mention of Patrick who had had had own problems too.  He said himself he still has a way to go, he arrived in the bay angry, he had done time for something Dean did, but at least he was able to mention and hear Robbo's name without blowing a gasket.  Little diversion, strange how no-one knows he has left town, just saying they haven't seen him lately, maybe just as well he isn't around, Ash can settle back in without running in to him just yet. He also kept calm when Irene mentioned Mick, he's come a long way.  Shame he's come back to such chaos with the garage, Justin having pay off Ebony, finding out Justin and Willow have broken up and Dean has moved in on her. Speaking of whom, I feel sorry for him, he really thinks he and Willow are a couple and they have a future when it's plain by the look on her face when Dean isn't looking at her she's not happy and that's putting it mildly. I think her gambling the way she is is a way of blocking it out.  It didn't excuse him goading Justin the way he did and he was lucky he only got the one punch. I agree D.B I don't think firing an employee just because he's dating your ex is legal. 

Tori love, wind your neck in, you and Ash weren't together, you weren't even talking, when  he left so why would he tell you?   Whether their relationship will get back to how it was is debatable, such a lot has happened. She did redeem herself though with her talk with Willow and I'm glad Willow confided in her, Ava is Tori's nice so knows what Nina is like. 

Like atrus said the Astoni's were the highlight.  A relief that Maggie responded to the antibiotics but then had to be told the transplant didn't work and of course she didn't blame Ziggy, she was the nearest match, the chance had to be taken. Ziggy's breakdown was so heart breaking and the scene of Ben and Coco comforting her brought tears to my eyes.  It was right it was just family. Her sending Brody away, accusing him of thinking it was all about him was echoing Coco, but he came back next day and she was glad he was there.

I'm of  a different opinion about Robbo going back to basic APF training, he obviously accepts he needs to get back to speed and be match fit for whatever job he may need to do.  But he's finding it harder than he thought he would, he must have ten, twenty years on the other recruits.  He does have actual experience of working in the field though and could teach them a few things in that respect, raining  is one thing but being out there another.  He would have had to pass a psych assessment when he first joined but 'they' seem just to want to focus on what happened to his family according to Lance, who was being very pushy about it,  who I'm beginning to dislike.  He may well have known Ryan very well, but he hasn't been him for a while, he's been Beckett Reid, however long that was, it's never actually been said, then Robbo since then. Also if Lance was supposed to be such a good friend as well as partner why did he allow Ryan/Robbo to be left stranded in the bay for so long, is there something going on there we don't yet know about? 

Well that was a brief Alf appearance, will he be back tonight?

 

[Red Ranger 1]

I think I feel sorry for both Willow and Dean.Willow's being a bit cowardly but she really doesn't want to hurt Dean: She likes (loves?) him as a friend but doesn't view him romantically and is grimacing through the whole of their time together.Deep down I suspect Dean knows that, and it's not even a case of him ignoring it, he keeps giving Willow opportunities to be honest, yet he always accepts her reassurances and convinces himself it'll work out in the long run.Justin didn't do himself any favours with his attitude but Willow probably deserved that serve from Ash.

 

Irene's overly long goodbye with Ash suddenly makes sense if you realise it's probably going to be the last time they see each other.

So remember, kids: The internet is evil. I'm not sure how realistic it is that Leah would start getting trolled that quickly, although she could probably use a moderator.Mind you, it did seem like all the comments were from the same two people, who are probably online buddies.Meanwhile, Ty and Raffy seem to be getting along like a house on fire, until his sudden weird reaction.I hope it's not just going to be a case of him fancying her as the preview suggests and there is actually a reason why he's keeping it quiet.

And then we have Robbo.I do kind of like Lance and I don't think we're meant to look too closely into the question of where he was for the nine months or so Robbo was in the Bay: It feels like we're just meant to accept the explanation that the feds thought he knew what he was doing and didn't want to blow his cover, even after Novak was dead, the corrupt cops were either in jail or missing presumed dead, and even the people he was meant to protect were dead.But Lance needs to take his own advice: It's all right him saying that Robbo calling himself Robbo doesn't make him a different person, but calling him Ryan doesn't make him the same person either.It's been suggested that he became Robbo because he didn't want to remember being Ryan Shaw and the pain that went with it, and it does seem like he's disillusioned with a job that cost him his family. Of course, that doesn't mean he shouldn't deal with it and at one point he will need to come to terms with what happened.But it seems that's not going to be today.

[atrus]

It says a lot about how interested I am in Fed School that I tuned back in every time Leah's blog storyline came on. If you weren't a regular viewer and had just watched the last scene between Leah and Roo, it looks like Roo is baiting Leah! She just happens to notice as they run into each other that her site's had loads of views, and then acts all innocent as she makes Leah read out the mean comments and pretends she hasn't already seen them. It came across as if Roo had written them all herself. I have to say I'm cringing at all this, as I usually am when soaps attempt cyber-storylines. There's absolutely no way Leah's site would be attracting any attention whatsoever at this stage, other than from people she's personally sent the link to - which further supports my theory of Roo being a massive troll...

So, John and Marilyn seem to be getting Shannon-and-Curtis vibes from Ty and Raffy, but I'm not sure I am. On first viewing, I actually thought Raffy was just talking about the commercial songs that Ty had on his player

 

and was momentarily terrified that they would later be exposed as what's perceived to be 'the kind of music gay people listen to' in an offensively clichéd reveal

but no, it seems they're Ty's own songs they're talking about. I can only assume either that Ty is very self-conscious about his music and worried people won't like it, or that he feels the lyrics are private, like poetry or something. All the same, his reaction was totally OTT, so hopefully the reason behind it will justify his snapping.

[H&Alover]

I think Willow is just digging a bigger and bigger hole for herself over Dean, he gave her the perfect out when he asked if she wanted to be his girl but she caved in and said OK.  If or rather when it does go pear shaped their previous close relationship will have been ruined.

Leah's Initial intro was stilted, good for Raffy speaking up when Roo, Marilyn and John were too nervous to oh and Alf popped in and out again. Neat way of getting round it from Roo and Hunter.  I thought she had put it out there out there.   From we normally know of it I'd hardly call those comments trolling - she hasn't been threatened or wished dead, just snidey comments about her whinging - was she? Negative comments are to be expected along with the positive, it comes with the territory, Olivia had her own bad comments about her designs.

Oh John made me laugh when he was worried about close Raffy and Ty were getting, he wanted them to get on but not to get on!  Marilyn didn't notice. It was certainly a hell of a U-turn in temperament by Ty, he didn't need to lose it quite that badly, all he needed to say was the songs he was listening to were private and just for his ears, Raffy would have been perfectly fine with that. Instead it was back to both of them storming off to their rooms and slamming the door.

Lance did appear to back down from pushing Robbo into the psych test by suggesting he become an instructor instead. Btw do we know what the young guys name was?  The talk Robbo gave the new recruits didn't pan out as Lance expected though, he tried to shut him down at one point, they were all gung ho about it, thinking it was all excitement, gun fights, catching the bad guys/gals and saving the good guys/gals, blame films and TV shows for that.  But he told it as it really was.  Bad enough when you are a everyday cop and they have to worry about you facing all sorts of danger on the street, but once you go under cover you are apart from your family for months, maybe years with little or no contact and they have no idea of what is happening to you. I think he has made the right decision now he's realised being an AFP is no longer for him.  It looked like he and Lance will be parting on good terms at least. He'd been with them for a long time apparently as he told that young cop he'd joined after leaving school. Like anyone who's been through a traumatic experience and hasn't yet dealt with it it'll be in their own time, it can't be forced on them. Ironically the best person to advise him and who wasn't the talkative type either is Ash!  Of course Robbo won't be aware Ash is back so a shock in store for both of them. Will we be seeing the locals  rushing home, locking their doors and boarding up the windows when Robbo and Ash meet in the high street?