2021 Season - UK Episode Discussion

[CaptainHulk]

17 hours ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

Well, Mia told Chloe her version of events and we even got the R word: I'm not sure how significant it is that it was Chloe that used it rather than Mia. I don't know. It makes sense that Chloe's first loyalty would be to Mia, but the whole thing seemed a bit pat, with Chloe accepting it all in a matter of hours and them having a big love-in together. (Of course, this is a conversation VJ's probably going to have to have with Luc one day.)I'm not sure how in-character it is for Bella to suddenly be acting like Chloe's bestie either, and Chloe didn't really seem to be following her line of reasoning. (Bella left out the "How did he die?"/"My brother shot him" bit as well.) 

In Bella's Defence "My Half-Bro popped a cap in Pops now he's doin' life, G" isn't something you drop into casual conversation with a virtual stranger.

[Red Ranger 1]

I meant to say last week: Isn't it Dean and Bella's names on the lease? That seemed to get forgotten today with Bella asking Dean to sort things out for her (mercifully unaware that it was his idea). I can see Bella's point of view to an extent: Mackenzie was inconsiderate not even letting her know Logan had moved in, let alone asking how she felt about it. Still, I kind of wish Bella had been willing to give their new household a try. Instead, both she and Mackenzie seemed to decide to live separate lives in the same flat (which is actually what Colby and Robbo seemed to do at times!). I can see why Logan felt it was best he get out of there.

Hard to feel much sympathy for Ziggy.Fair enough, Brody and Simone treated her pretty badly, but she was copping off with Dean five minutes later and copping off with Tane five minutes after that and copping off with Dean again one minute after that, so her bitter ex license has long since expired.

What was the point of ending the last episode with Nikau acting like a div only for him to make up with John in the first five minutes of this one? It just meant we were left to stew on his behaviour overnight.

Felicity does seem to be more or less holding it together, even if her bond with Cash has suffered a knock.Jasmine kind of felt on the outer a bit here.

[Slade]

Well I appreciate Nikau apologising to John and I'm glad they're good...for now anyway.

I do actually sympathise with Bella, Mackenzie just inviting Logan to stay although Mackenzie did have a good argument as at the moment Bella is taking out more than she's putting in.

I actually felt a bit sorry for Ziggy.  I know it's a long time and it's hypocritical but as she was married to Brody I guess she thought she would be spending the rest of her life with him.  Focusing that much on how good things are for him wasn't healthy although her talk with Dean does suggest something is missing for her in the relationship.

[Red Ranger 1]

Ah, Wednesday of finale week. Where the thrills never start.

So, after all that build-up, Chloe tells Matthew she doesn't want to see him anymore off screen? I suppose the scenes of the Paratas enjoying life blissfully unaware it's that time of year when bad things happen to everyone were okay in concept, but I've never really bought the idea of Ari and Mia as the love of each other's lives, even if Rob Kipa-Williams was doing a good job of making Ari seem happy, so it was hard not to role my eyes at the proposal.

Ditto Dean and Ziggy actually, although I find them mostly inoffensive.Ziggy's still in the dumps about Brody, and I noticed Mackenzie's comment about it being hard to see an ex happy: Could she be about to hear about a certain engagement? And right after Logan's decided he doesn't fancy having Bella as his new CO. When Ziggy called out to Dean before his surf, I wondered if she'd put him off, but he did okay, even if he's probably not going to win any competitions any time soon.

Alf seemed more human here than he has in some recent episodes. Irene seemed to be just as blunt with Roo as Marilyn was, but I guess it did the job!

[H&Alover]

I thought, though I could be wrong, Dean signed half of his share of the lease over to Bella so he still does have a say, even if he's not living there.  Mac said what I had said, she pays the rent, bills, buys all the food while Bella just dosses down there when not at the Parata's so claim the high ground too much.  But it would have been a courtesy at least for Mac to mention it to Bella - you being busy is no excuse - more wimping out more like. It would have been a shock for Bella to walk in on Logan half naked - not that I was complaining without knowing she had flat guest.   Don't forget it wasn't that long ago there were quite a few random guys popping out of the woodwork - well Mac's bedroom to be precise.  

One divvy up doesn't give you carte blanche though Bella - need to keep it up to have any proper real say. 

It does seem an odd about turn, got to be more to it then he doesn't like being regimented and having to follow a roster at home when he gets enough of that at work. 

Off track a mo - when Mac had just asked Logan to move  in and he and her were snogging each other's face off - did you clock the member of staff in the background who just 'd her eyes and walked back into the kitchen.

Are we to assume Logan was giving Dean secret surfing lessons while Ziggy was otherwise engaged working and Mac was in on it?  They would have had to been timed well.  But great Dean has got his mojo back - 

Talking of whom, let's get it straight Red - Ziggy didn't cheat on Brody with Dean, nor did she cheat on Dean with Tane or Tane with Dean.  It has been a year now since the divorce and she likely hasn't given either of them a thought, then suddenly Justin announces Simone has had a baby - so not any news - very life changing.  They did have a rushed relationship, part rebellion against Bens' objections, and marriage whereas with Dean it was more a slow burn - friends then lovers. Can't really blame Justin being over the moon and they've named him Mason, but maybe not rabbit on about it at work unless he wants a round his head.  We did get   a slightly panicky Tori on the other end of the phone. 

Flick did kind of get bullied into listening to Cash but at least she heard him out but now he needs to let her work her head around the whole thing - the fact her (and Cash's dad) felt his two kids, who were only young, weren't enough reason for him to carry on with without his wife.  Not just me then having that feeling about Jasmine.  Seems she does talk to Tane about it. 

Chloe did say she had told Matthew to stay away and she didn't want to see him again - of course he's going to take notice of that  - did she say if she told him why? If she did no right minded person would let it go at that and Matthew certainly wouldn't. 

I like Mia and Ari as a couple - they weathered quite a separation and found their way back together - got to count for something.  They are both strong characters but each give the other support when it's needed.  He did a good job of rounding up Nik and Tane and his breaking the news to Chloe was so sweet, he was actually nervous about telling her what he was going to do but she was overjoyed - maybe a mare at times but she loves them both so much - she'd love Ari to be her official step dad. Mia was really fooled into the impromptu Maori bbq.  Although she did look lovely-  word to make up department that red lippy does nothing for her - it was too bright for her fair colouring.   Of course as any seasoned soap watcher knows any really happy news like that will have it's downside. 

Very moving scene with Alf having a yarn with the Man Upstairs in the hospital chapel - he cares so much for both Martha and Roo and just wants the best possible outcome for them both. Roo got over her wobble after Irene gave her the benefit of her wisdom. 

Nik came to his senses and offered his idea of an olive branch to John  in the shape of a sarnie, though politely told him to back off when he enquired about 'problems at home'.

[Shortiepam1987]

1 hour ago, H&Alover said:

Talking of whom, let's get it straight Red - Ziggy didn't cheat on Brody with Dean, nor did she cheat on Dean with Tane or Tane with Dean.

Ziggy did cheat on Tane with Dean. She kissed him when at the art exhibition while very much in a relationship with Tane. 

[CaptainHulk]

Ryder's been watching one too many Undertaker buried alive matches!

[Red Ranger 1]

Well. Ryder and Theo's stunt would be a good idea if they weren't one episode away from the time of year when half the town nearly dies, and occasionally actually does die.They did show the first signs of a genuine friendship here (as Justin said, very odd to see Theo being nice to him!). "Why's that still there?"Alf demands about the coffin brochure. Ooh, maybe because you put it there? So...all systems go for the transplant, maybe?

So, despite what she said yesterday, it turns out Chloe didn't tell Matthew she didn't want to see him again, she just stopped taking his calls. Was there any way that wouldn't involve him turning up wanting to know what's going on? I'm slightly disappointed that she isn't willing to hear him out, even if I do understand why her loyalty's with Mia.

Tane's back being Felicity's...shoulder to cry on? Carer? She was actually pretty reasonable in not expecting him to leave Ari's celebration, but he wasn't going to let her disappear on her own, and despite what the promos are saying, he seems to be doing a good job.

[H&Alover]

I don't think that is all that is going to happen this week from what I've read.  Be a lot to pack into one episode. 

Mayhap they'd forgotten all about the brochure.  Ryder did have that  moment when he saw it.  It certainly didn't look like things were turning out as simple as they thought it would.  Theo and Ryder did seem to be getting on better and they joined forces to deny they were up to anything. 

As happens in soaps the transplant can happen the next day!

That was confusing about Chloe and Matthew so of course he'd turn up to find out why she'd cut all contact.  It could be argued he does deserve to give his side/version/remembrance of that night but as you said Red Chloe wants to be loyal to Mia.  

Is that what comes with working for family - you get to take off at a moment's notice?  Flick was quite calm and reasonable though arriving at The Little House on the Prairie did throw her. For somewhere in the middle of nowhere it looked in pretty good nick.  How did he know about it and who owns it? Tane said he had been there before. She opened up to him about the news Cash had thrust on her and how it made her feel, she would have been pretty young so would have been very confusing for her.  He's been a good friend - with the odd benefit - and maybe they could become  a couple.   Has she let Cash know where she's gone and who with? 

 

 

21 hours ago, Shortiepam1987 said:

Ziggy did cheat on Tane with Dean. She kissed him when at the art exhibition while very much in a relationship with Tane. 

Oh yes, my bad, I'd forgotten about that. 

[Red Ranger 1]

Alf's episode count this week:Three. Things go crazy in finale week again, with Ari, Tane, Chloe, Mia and Felicity all managing four episodes.

Okay, positives first, possibly going down to not-quite-as-positives.After Tane and Felicity were as emotionally intimate as they've ever been last episode, the shutters came back up.I liked the odd dance going on, with Tane asking Cash for advice and Jasmine convincing Cash to trust him (although she must have sharp hearing to know what Tane said over the phone!).I'm not convinced by Tane's argument that Cash was the only one that could help her through it, but they did need to talk at some point.

Ryder and Theo's challenge inevitably hits a bit of a snag via Theo's short attention span.No point having a safe word if no-one's there to dig Ryder out.I don't know if Theo's chat with Chloe was meant to balance that out with a softer side, but after the way they treated Ryder before, it will take a lot for the show to convince me to accept them getting close if it's heading that way.

Meanwhile, Martha still isn't being objective and is actually being quite selfish.She can't cope with the guilt of Roo being put in a small amount of danger to save her, so she's risking Roo going through the trauma of losing her again. How does she see this ending? Alf doesn't help things by pussyfooting around the issue.

And now the last five or ten minutes. What on earth were they thinking?! It's only a year since we finally got rid of Colby, and now Chloe and Mia have done the same thing! Well, okay, Matthew wasn't lying helpless on the floor and Chloe didn't mean to kill him, but that's all I've got. I said back when this started that I suspected there wouldn't be much nuance in Matthew. Instead, the nuance was there but it's hard to shake the feeling that it was there by accident. I rather think we were meant to see him the way Mia does, but instead I found myself nodding in agreement with Matthew far more than I was her. He wasn't a bad man. Ideas about consent were different back then. (I don't think even Mia saw it as rape at the time, given she went to him and his family for help, she's just built it up in her head since then.) And I definitely don't think that he deserved to die or that he was any sort of threat to them. I can understand why Chloe and Mia might have thought he was, but that's what happens when you convince yourself that someone's worse than they are and think that a spoilt rich kid who misread a situation twenty years ago is some sort of irredeemable monster. Whereas the show at least made Ross Nixon into someone the world was better off without, here they've had characters we're meant to sympathise with kill someone who was no angel, but no worse than Ari, Nikau, Tane, Mia and now Chloe. The spoilers claimed he "grabbed" Mia but I didn't see that: Sure, he took hold of her and turned her round, but he did it in a pretty gentle manner and didn't seem to be hurting her or about to when Chloe killed him. So here we are. As with Colby, and Andy and arguably Josh before him, the show has taken two characters who were already pretty unlikable and made them worse, to the point of being practically irredeemable. Happy 2022...