Home and Away's lack of Returnee Characters

[homeandawayroxsomuch.]

  On 05/10/2024 at 13:29, cymbaline said:

I think tying the Matheson sisters to Steven would take away the writers' blank slate for them. It is a nice idea but I think it'd be more trouble than it's worth. For starters, Adam Willits is no longer acting and they'd probably have to recast the character. I don't think that'd make long-term fans happy, and newer viewers wouldn't care one way or the other. Steven and Selina and foster families and Dodge and the school are long gone.

 

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For some reason, I feel like Dana is played like what if she could be Steven Matheson's daughter?

But then it's been explicitly said that Harper and Dana suffered from neglect due to their parents' drug issues.  Steven Matheson would never touch drugs.

[atrus]

  On 05/10/2024 at 21:00, adam436 said:

I agree. I was referring more to the unfortunate coincidence being they had the surname of an iconic original character. 

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I prefer to think it's less of a coincidence, and more of a sneaky tribute by writers who would absolutely love to have iconic original characters back on the show, but aren't allowed and so naming new characters after them is the best they can hope for.

But that's pure speculation.

Edited October 10, 2024 by atrus

[cymbaline]

It'd be funny if it was a sneaky tribute. They've also smuggled a Morgan in, so all we need now is a Fletcher or a Fisher to complete the set. 

[atrus]

  On 10/10/2024 at 22:13, cymbaline said:

all we need now is a Fletcher or a Fisher to complete the set. 

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Ooh, could be a bit close to the bone. Someone at the network might spontaneously combust.

[greg098]

I feel the producers and writers dont want to bring old cast back as they want to move the show forward which is understandable but I find it very arrogant as they wouldnt be here today without that original show they have seem to have forgotten about. This show is about fostering and broken up families. It's not about 'love island'.
The originals who are still in the show bearly get any good storylines and when they do its so badly written and make no sense. Marilyns lost crazy daughter? Make no sense. Irenes lost crazy son? Makes no sense. Alfs wife suddently alive and crazy? Makes no sense. Leah getting kidnapped and forced to marry? Makes no sense.
At this point to me the show is a joke and I refuse to watch. I feel the whole 'behind the scenes' people need to be replaced and revamp the show as clearly something is right behind the scenes.

[hapitoby]

  On 23/01/2025 at 23:54, greg098 said:

I feel the producers and writers dont want to bring old cast back as they want to move the show forward which is understandable but I find it very arrogant as they wouldnt be here today without that original show they have seem to have forgotten about. This show is about fostering and broken up families. It's not about 'love island'.
The originals who are still in the show bearly get any good storylines and when they do its so badly written and make no sense. Marilyns lost crazy daughter? Make no sense. Irenes lost crazy son? Makes no sense. Alfs wife suddently alive and crazy? Makes no sense. Leah getting kidnapped and forced to marry? Makes no sense.
At this point to me the show is a joke and I refuse to watch. I feel the whole 'behind the scenes' people need to be replaced and revamp the show as clearly something is right behind the scenes.

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1000% agree.

[adam436]

There are very few characters with links to the past now who would realistically return now.

Even when we look at past characters connections - many actors are happily retired now (i.e. Celia, Colleen, Fisher) or we'd be realistically looking at a recast (i.e. Duncan, Finn, Damien). 

Even the actors behind more recent connections like Brody Morgan and Jett Palmer seemed to have moved on from H&A now. We've seen Tori and VJ recently. Ryder may one day make a comeback, but I think many actors have moved on or the characters become irrelevant after they leave.

Maybe Lance Smart or Frank Morgan could return to try win back their first loves? Or Martha McKenzie return to appear alongside Roo for the first time since 1988? 

But most other past characters, especially 80s and 90s ones, would feel shoehorned and forced, which Neighbours have proved time and time again that those are rarely successful.

Given the show's obsession with twentysomethings and River Boys, how have they not thought to recast Darcy Braxton? It would open things up for Heath and Bianca to return over time.

[Sb boy]

 The river boys should never come back. The were an era. I didn’t really care about  not a huge lyric fan  but much prefer them to  Brax and co  dean. And ziggy also should be leaft in the past but no

[adam436]

  On 24/01/2025 at 19:22, Sb boy said:

 The river boys should never come back. 

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Agree! I'm just thinking the current producers loves them and Darcy would now be the right age to fit in with the show's demographic, so it's surprising they haven't thought to go there yet. 

 

[Revealed]

I watched what was supposed to be the last ever episode of Neighbours having not watched it for over 20 years and bringing back the old characters was a factor in me deciding to watch it. I had no problem identifying Guy Pearce or Kylie and Jason because they've remained in the public eye since, but I had real trouble identifying many of the other characters. Jane for example looked nothing like her younger self.

I could see this being a problem if Home and Away was to bring back older characters. That said I do think that a character has to be gone for a certain length of time for their comeback to mean anything. 

  Reveal hidden contents

I have a lot of apathy towards the upcoming return of Dean and Ziggy because it feels like they've only just left and I thought they overstayed their welcome by the time they finally left.

 

Edited March 5 by Dan F
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