Home and Away's lack of Returnee Characters

[j.laur5]

5 hours ago, adam436 said:

Will and Gypsy's was amongst the worst too. 

Chloe's death made little sense to me - Other than generating some hype for the 4000th episode by publicising that "someone would die", the only purpose her death served was to facilitate Jesse's exit, which could have been achieved with him killing a random guest character. But then Jesse's exit made no sense either - he could have simply moved away to be closer to his daughter, or got a happy ending with either Chloe or Josie, who was written out at the same time.

But when they killed off Chloe we got epic battle between Morag and Diana as those characters I always wished had screen together and was so glad when happened. 
 

When watching Diana in 90s I thought Morag would be best person to bring her down and at least Morag even at her worst wouldn’t crossed lines Diana did . 

[Homeandawayfan.]

Not sure why my previous post got a "confused" reaction unless they are confused at me saying what others said about Sally's 2013 return, as I am just saying what some said and one member even had quoted for a while "H&A ended when she left but died when she returned".

 

[Red Ranger 1]

1 hour ago, Homeandawayfan. said:

Not sure why my previous post got a "confused" reaction unless they are confused at me saying what others said about Sally's 2013 return, as I am just saying what some said and one member even had quoted for a while "H&A ended when she left but died when she returned".

 

What does that even mean? And if you don't know, why are you apparently endorsing it by "reposting" it?

[Spinach]

On 18/05/2024 at 11:25, adam436 said:

Chloe's death made little sense to me - Other than generating some hype for the 4000th episode by publicising that "someone would die", the only purpose her death served was to facilitate Jesse's exit, which could have been achieved with him killing a random guest character. But then Jesse's exit made no sense either - he could have simply moved away to be closer to his daughter, or got a happy ending with either Chloe or Josie, who was written out at the same time.

I always saw it as Dan Bennett's homage to (or desperate recreation of) Bobby's death. A more extreme version in some ways, but still...

Chloe was Bobby; Jesse was Adam; Troy was Greg; Olivia was Sam; Diana was Morag; Irene was Ailsa.

But yes, hype for the 4000th episode was also a factor. To be honest, who knows if Chloe would ever have returned after 2005 even if she hadn't died. I suspect she probably wouldn't have. The great shame was for Jesse's character and, in the lead up to episode 4000, it almost looked like they were setting things up for Chloe to return permanently (at least that's what I was hoping at the time).

[Martin Dibble?]

Absolutely loved reading this discussion, thanks for all your comments.

Providing H&A is still on the air in 2028, does anyone think it will honour its past, in any way, for its 40th anniversary? You just know Neighbours will do something special for its 40th anniversary next year, as it does for every milestone. But even if Neighbours didn't, its whole existence is already based around respecting its past.

Could Channel Seven perhaps convince Bevin Lee to come back for one last hurrah? Maybe Sally wins a holiday though a competition, allowing her to choose any destination in the world to celebrate her 50th birthday in style. She chooses Summer Bay, obviously, and invites everyone she ever had anything to do with, including all he foster brothers and sisters.

Maybe it coincides with a separate town-wide Summer Bay event? Maybe Selina has become a successful podcast host, and is doing a new podcast about the history of Summer Bay? It could also coincide with something like Marilyn's 60th birthday, Irene's 75h, Alf's 85th, or Don Fisher returning to die in the place he grew up in? So many possibilities if those calling the shots wanted it to work.

[Red Ranger 1]

4 hours ago, Martin Dibble? said:

Providing H&A is still on the air in 2028, does anyone think it will honour its past, in any way, for its 40th anniversary? You just know Neighbours will do something special for its 40th anniversary next year, as it does for every milestone. But even if Neighbours didn't, its whole existence is already based around respecting its past.

It depends what you mean by "in any way". Do I think they'll do a self-indulgent episode bringing back any actor that's desperate enough for work to reprise a role they played 40 years ago? No. But I think there'll be some acknowledgement of the anniversary, even if it's not in the show itself.

"Its whole existence" is a sweeping statement that doesn't even come close to standing up to close scrutiny. Periods of ignoring the past and, perhaps even worse, the current continuity porn attitude of coming up with retcons of past events that seem designed to annoy everyone who actually does respect the show's past. (Honestly, Home and Away deciding Alf's first wife is still alive is nothing compared to Neighbours constantly rewriting the Robinson family history.)

[cymbaline]

All of the characters you've mentioned are well in their forties or older. If they were brought back for an anniversary special, most of today's viewers would scratch their heads and wonder who the geriatrics were. 

Home and Away is the ultimate shape-shifting soap, which pivots based on what will keep its audience. If they thought that pivoting back to Braxton-esque gang violence was the way to go, they'd do it in a heartbeat. 

[Homeandawayfan.]

If you went by Alf's original age, then he would turn 85, bang on in January 2028. He said he was 45 in April 1988, and in 1993 his police file said born Jan 1943. However since when has ages in H&A been consistent? He was said to be 47 in 1995 then 60 in 2005.

[adam436]

8 hours ago, cymbaline said:

All of the characters you've mentioned are well in their forties or older. If they were brought back for an anniversary special, most of today's viewers would scratch their heads and wonder who the geriatrics were. 

I hate to say it, but you're right. Most viewers wouldn't care, even if those characters do have links to the current cast. 

Any sort of 40th anniversary reunion is likely to be top-heavy with cast from 2011 onwards like Heath and Bianca, Ricky, Dean and Ziggy, Ash, Jasmine, Jett, Bella, Ryder, VJ, Tori etc. with maybe one or two token early years icons like Sally, Gypsy and Colleen. 

[John]

13 hours ago, cymbaline said:

All of the characters you've mentioned are well in their forties or older. If they were brought back for an anniversary special, most of today's viewers would scratch their heads and wonder who the geriatrics were. 

Home and Away is the ultimate shape-shifting soap, which pivots based on what will keep its audience. If they thought that pivoting back to Braxton-esque gang violence was the way to go, they'd do it in a heartbeat. 

I have to agree with this post.  I have been watching the show since the early 90's and have thoroughly enjoyed many of the iconic characters over the years.  Unfortunately the producers are slaves to the harsh realities of commercial TV.  If a show doesn't draw an audience and with it paying advertisers then it doesn't last.  Hence the "shape-shifting".