Classic Episodes on 5★

[James Martin]

Next week we head into the era of Shane & Angel, the Kane & Kirsty of their day. I remember they were a real-life couple at the time. then split. There was an interview with Melissa George in FHM (UK) a few years ago, and she genuinely didn't remember that Shane had died. So anyone wanting her back for the 25th might be disappointed.

Looking forward also to seeing a young Isla Fisher on our screens again.

I get the impression many hold the era we cover next week as the show's high point, ebbing away after 1997/8. Would most agree?

[Skylover]

I get the impression many hold the era we cover next week as the show's high point, ebbing away after 1997/8. Would most agree?

For me 1988-1990 is the best era. Pretty much until around Tom's death. 1994-1996 would be after that for me.

[Blaxland 89]

I think 1995 is an excellent year but there are some parts in 1996 that I think are terrible. I actually really like late 1997 and 1998 though.

[Ryan]

Its just dawned on me what a great character Karen was. Thank you to the repeats to make me see this. Someone with so much potential, but it all goes wrong because of the need to be loved by a boy who couldn't give a monkey's about you. So sad, but so identifiable. If only Steven of Hayden would have seen what a great girl she was. Nice to hear she sorted herself out by Blake in 2002. All in all, a underrated character.

I agree entirely.I think if Dodge was Pippa's personal failure, then Karen was Alf and Ailsa's:More so, in a way, since her fate was almost entirely down to what happened while she was in their care.I seem to remember Alf in particular was always scared that Sarah was going to go the same way.I'd love to know how much of her storyline was planned from the start and how much they made up as it went along: You can see the subtle character arc as every boy she likes only wants to be friends with her and even though she puts on a smile and accepts it, deep down she's hurting, so when someone actually does take an interest in her she ends up sacrificing almost literally everything to hold onto him.

And without meaning to be too cynical about the current show, it's nice to be reminded of a time when it showed teenage girls that being in a relationship with a bad boy/criminal was something that would ruin their lives rather than something to aspire to.

What can be so frustrating is you get points in the current show where they make a decision and you think that this could go somewhere interesting and within weeks it's turned into something shallow.

[-Andrew-]

I count 1988 as a mini 'era' of it' own (same with 2000 and 2008) and I think it is the best, with the 1995/6/7 era coming in close second. 1989, despite a strong start was quite a weak season imo, which was a big surprise considering how highly it was rated by those who had remembered it. For years and years, 1990 had held a pretty 'blah' reputation on the boards, when it was actually FAR superior to the previous year, imo.

Looking forward to Bobby in the fridge this week

[Ryan]

I thought 1989 started very, very strongly, but a lot of that was because of Bobby, Morag and perhaps to a lesser extent Celia, followed by Dodge. Then sometime about half way through year, it's almost as if well that's done, what do we do now? Oh, we'll have Morag stalked by a psycho, we'll have a random guy eaten by a shark and we'll devote acres of screentime to Lance and Martin's band,

[ebrett84]

Next week we head into the era of Shane & Angel, the Kane & Kirsty of their day. I remember they were a real-life couple at the time. then split. There was an interview with Melissa George in FHM (UK) a few years ago, and she genuinely didn't remember that Shane had died. So anyone wanting her back for the 25th might be disappointed.

Looking forward also to seeing a young Isla Fisher on our screens again.

I get the impression many hold the era we cover next week as the show's high point, ebbing away after 1997/8. Would most agree?

I'm pretty sure that wasn't the case. They hated each other from pretty much day 1. There's a well known story about how during their hugging scenes they'd actually each dig their nails into the other one's back.

[alexx]

^Yes, I've never heard of them being a real life couple, only the stuff about them disliking and irritating each other in real life.

I'm sure Melissa George can remember every bit of Shane's death. She was probably being sarcastic considering how big the storyline was at the time. Or she could be thinking about baby Shane.

[H&Alover]

Its just dawned on me what a great character Karen was. Thank you to the repeats to make me see this. Someone with so much potential, but it all goes wrong because of the need to be loved by a boy who couldn't give a monkey's about you. So sad, but so identifiable. If only Steven of Hayden would have seen what a great girl she was. Nice to hear she sorted herself out by Blake in 2002. All in all, a underrated character.

I agree entirely.I think if Dodge was Pippa's personal failure, then Karen was Alf and Ailsa's:More so, in a way, since her fate was almost entirely down to what happened while she was in their care.I seem to remember Alf in particular was always scared that Sarah was going to go the same way.I'd love to know how much of her storyline was planned from the start and how much they made up as it went along: You can see the subtle character arc as every boy she likes only wants to be friends with her and even though she puts on a smile and accepts it, deep down she's hurting, so when someone actually does take an interest in her she ends up sacrificing almost literally everything to hold onto him.

And without meaning to be too cynical about the current show, it's nice to be reminded of a time when it showed teenage girls that being in a relationship with a bad boy/criminal was something that would ruin their lives rather than something to aspire to.

What can be so frustrating is you get points in the current show where they make a decision and you think that this could go somewhere interesting and within weeks it's turned into something shallow.

Or forget it altogether!

[Blaxland 89]

The last scene of Bobby's funeral with Fisher and Sam on beach. As its starts, did anyone notice a group of people in the background forming a circle with their arms around each other?