2024 Season - UK Episode Discussion

[Red Ranger 1]

So...the mystery donor is Alf? That's a bit of an anti-climax after all the names we were throwing about! Oh well, at least we get the prospect of him ripping a hole in Roo and John for being a pair of flaming galahs...

It was grossly unfair of Mackenzie to leave Felicity to break the news to Xander about her rejecting his idea and, it seems, him.Felicity definitely seems to be being the grown-up at the moment, once again showing that the days of her being Cash's irresponsible sister are long gone (well, you know, except when the storyline requires her to be) as she's sorted while he hasn't even got a job now. Has he ever slept this week? He seemed to come off shift, spend hours hanging around Salt with Felicity, then go back to work!

Justin handled things extremely well with Leah. I don't know if we should be worried about her going back to the clinic or not: The fact it's only a week suggests it's mostly an excuse to have Leah off screen now she's done her three episodes for the week!

Irene really can be a blabbermouth at times. We get some more nice sibling banter between cat ladies Harper and Dana before Harper makes the mistake of encouraging Dana on very little evidence, leading to her being humiliated.

Edited April 17 by Red Ranger 1

[H&Alover]

It didn't still explain that response from  Cash when he answered that call though.  Alf had  already given that money to the club, did he then go to see Martha and told her what he'd done and maybe mortgaged the house unless he has A$30,000 just lying around.  He'll have to tell Roo, if not John, where the money came from. 

That was grossly unfair of Mac leaving Felicity to break the bad news to Xander. 

I guess Cash has  been called in to cover that bloke who's off sick as he's the newbie so he's first on call. What's the betting something will happen. 

I'm glad Justin told Leah he'd overheard her so she could tell him  that she was going to talk to her therapist again.  He did admit, once again, he'd been rushing things.  Good that he is supporting her decision and it's voluntary this time.  How will they explain her absence to Maz, Irene and Theo, will they tell them the truth? 

It was obvious when Irene saw Xander and Dana acting the way they were that he was her secret crush and she didn't know Harper didn't know.  From what Harper had seen she may have got the impression Xander did like Dana that way.  I've said before Xander is nothing like Olly, he is a good guy. Give him a lot of credit he did let her down gently. 

 

[CaptainHulk]

^I can just see the Matheson sisters mid-50s, still in the Beach House with about 48 cats between them lol.

Anyhow... Abandoned Baby... Seems like it's gonna be a big one. They got the helpline up!

[c120701]

I had a feeling Alf would be the mystery donor, wonder where that’s come from as he’s had the Caravan Park closed and the Bait Shop barely staffed. I wonder if it’s something to do with the Bait Shop seeing that the location has changed a fair bit.

[Red Ranger 1]

Those were some fairly excruciating chats between Xander and Dana. Xander was doing his best to be nice about it but didn't really manage to backtrack on the humiliation.It sounds like he actually does like her but doesn't want to ruin their friendship, and doesn't have his sister and Irene giving him "Be bold!" speeches. Dana did seem a bit more relaxed when they chatted later: Possibly she has other things on her mind but hopefully that's them on an even keel.Maybe Xander will end up getting his dog to go with the Matheson sisters' cats.

Alf seemed to be trying to get John and Roo to cut it out and stop being silly but in the end had to resort to telling them the truth.I kind of wish he'd given Roo more of a serve:Instead, he settles for putting the fear of God, or rather Alf, into John and letting Roo off the hook because she gives a speech about how great he is.It's one of the unwritten rules of the show that, whenever the plot calls for it, Alf has unlimited funds at his disposal.No sign of Banjo among the bronze medallion recipients (most of whom didn't get awards or names because they're not main characters...):Guess he really has just disappeared in a throwaway line never to be seen again.

After all his recent obsession with having a family, Tane has an abandoned baby drop in his lap.Guess that's Mali's night out off then.I had to smile at the crying noises being dubbed onto the perfectly content looking baby.

Edited April 18 by Red Ranger 1

[c120701]

8 minutes ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

It's one of the unwritten rules of the show that, whenever the plot calls for it, Alf has unlimited funds at his disposal.

True, I presume it’ll also be swept under the carpet that this is supposed to be an annual sponsorship so unless Alf’s unlimited funds stem to that he’s only solved the issue short term.

[CaptainHulk]

47 minutes ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

Those were some fairly excruciating chats between Xander and Dana. Xander was doing his best to be nice about it but didn't really manage to backtrack on the humiliation.It sounds like he actually does like her but doesn't want to ruin their friendship, and doesn't have his sister and Irene giving him "Be bold!" speeches. Dana did seem a bit more relaxed when they chatted later:Possibly she has other things on her mind but hopefully that's them on an even keel.Maybe Xander will end up getting his dog to go with the Matheson sisters' cats.

Alf seemed to be trying to get John and Roo to cut it out and stop being silly but in the end had to resort to telling them the truth.I kind of wish he'd given Roo more of a serve:Instead, he settles for putting the fear of God, or rather Alf, into John and letting Roo off the hook because she gives a speech about how great he is.It's one of the unwritten rules of the show that, whenever the plot calls for it, Alf has unlimited funds at his disposal.No sign of Banjo among the bronze medallion recipients (most of whom didn't get awards or names because they're not main characters...):Guess he really has just disappeared in a throwaway line never to be seen again.

After all his recent obsession with having a family, Tane has an abandoned baby drop in his lap.Guess that's Mali's night out off then.I had to smile at the crying noises being dubbed onto the perfectly content looking baby.

Just like they would do with Miranda Fryer's (God Rest Her Soul) Sky in Neighbours in the late 80s. Directors were "screw it" and let a knackered tape run to simulate her crying when she looked perfectly happy.

*Palmer impression*

"Maybe Banjo's old man bought him one. I'm of the "If you don't stop crying I'll give you something to cry about" generation whereas HIS mob are of the "If you stop crying, I'll buy you something!" Generation!"

[H&Alover]

Mostly a light hearted episode, Alf fessing up as he felt it was his fault the Surf Club lost Anderson's sponsorship, but he can't be doing that every year can he.  It suddenly occurred to me Gerald, seeing as he is the accountant, would have known all along who it came from  and maybe tipped Alf off so that is why he revealed all to Cash?  He did swear Roo and John to secrecy even though John couldn't resist saying thanks to the generosity of Alf Stewart the awards ceremony were going ahead.   Banjo did drop out in case people had forgotten due to his dad's  bribes to certain committee members.  We hadn't seen much of their training but obviously they all passed thanks to John training them so well of course.   

Someone should have taken that spade off Xander to stop him digging that hole any deeper.  Bad enough him not  seeing Dana romantically just as a friend but to add he thought of her as a little sister - YIKES! Mali very wisely decided to leave him and Rose to a family discussion.  I can see his point, he hasn't known Dana that long so doesn't want to go there and ruin what could be a good friendship if it doesn't work out.  Dana can  hardly avoid him for ever, lots of people have found they can't do that in such a small town.  Glad he bit the bullet later and explained to her a lot better than he had before.  We don't need any more neglected pets in the bay do we  now - look at poor Buddy. 

Seems Mali did pop in at Mac's but left when he found out what a foul mood she was in and we know why, but still no indication of where Tane is staying.  

Then Tane finds the baby on the beach and what a cutie she was too.  All soaps do that with babies if they aren't crying on cue.  Just as well she 'did' otherwise she wouldn't have been found.  It was in the afternoon wasn't it so not an early drop off and whoever it was could have been seen.  She wasn't  a  new born that was for sure, which was confirmed at the hospital, she was about three months old.   She was healthy, cared for so hadn't been neglected in any way, wrapped up in good clothes and had a toy with her so is well loved.   Whether it's due to his culture not being able to envisage any Maori family doing that or a knee jerk reaction anyone would have Tane couldn't understand how anyone could do that.  Harper, wearing her SW hat, could see why it could happen and maybe had met mums/dads who had done the same thing.   They whoever they were had card for her for three months.  Why though on a beach, why not at a hospital/doctor's surgery, a  more public place?  Did this 'they' know Summer Bay?  I'm guessing the cops took the bag to check for any clues, take DNA etc. BB - beach baby  seemed to like Tane so got good taste, she's a lovely little actress/actor already. I've never been a mum so I'm only guessing the fact she was sucking her fingers is because she's teething? 

[Slade]

Who would have thought when they first rocked up Felicity would be the one with the stable income and Cash would be the struggling to hold down the job. It wouldn't surprise me if Cash decides to rejoin the force eventually.  Not sure what to make of Alf being the donor.  As someone who doesn't like his character, I have to say watching the old episodes of Prisoner Cell Block H on Channel 5, I'm really enjoying Ray Meagher's role as Geoff Butler.

Given how Dana told Xander Harper didn't see him romantically, and whilst I appreciate it took a lot of guts for her to put herself on the line, I can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction when Xander rejected her.  Let's be honest, she's pretty immature and (I can't tell if that's how the character is meant to be portrayed) often comes across as insecure and disingenuous, so when she says something it's hard to take her seriously.  It didn't feel genuine for me when she told Xander she liked him.  I will say that after her outburst to Irene and Harper, she shut up for a little bit at least, although she was being professional at the end of the episode.  I wasn't sure about Xander's reasoning.  Like Harper, this is presumably not being that attracted to the other person.

I don't think I'm going to like this Tane finding the abandoned baby storyline.  He immediately seems to be getting on his high horse given what he said at the hospital.  Looks like Harper has already spotted an issue with him becoming attached.  I suspect it's not going to be very long before she has to have a talk with him.

[Foellfan]

4 hours ago, H&Alover said:

I've never been a mum so I'm only guessing the fact she was sucking her fingers is because she's teething? 

It would depend on the age StoryBaby is 3 months so it would be possibly that she would be hungry, it's often why you might notice Mum's offer their baby their figer to suck it's a comfort thing too. However, ActualBaby I think would be older for regulations so yes, teething. (Gotta love having a mate who watches the show and is a midwife! )

I'll admit seeing Tane cuddling the baby made me  ; according to Mum in that pose he would've been the perfect candidate for a reboot of a certain iconic 70's/80's poster!