Classic Episodes on 5★

[Red Ranger 1]

I had forgotten about Sophie had given Tamara up, albeit briefly. Was that Mary the same one she had all that trouble with later?

I see Marilyn was missing from the opening credits, had she left again?

Not quite sure what you mean:Sophie left pretty much straight after that episode, hence her already being off the titles, both she and Tamara went to live with Mary and Sophie wasn't seen again until 2002.I understand Mary took a long time to warm to her when they first met(just before my time), was that what you were thinking of?Marilyn left towards the end of 1992, then returned partway through 1995.

Anyone else suddenly realised, by the way, how much Belle was basically a recycled Bobby, albeit with a slightly happier ending.

Took a long time for me to decipher what you meant but I'm guessing you mean the whole "searches for her mother who turns out to be her arch-enemy living in what's possibly meant to be the same house" plotline, whereupon Belle ended up on fairly good terms with Amanda whilst Bobby and Morag never got past the arch-enemy stage.Rather than the fact they both ended up, you know, dead and Bobby was arguably happier when she died than Belle was.

Meant to mention earlier:Having both a Daniel Amalm and a Shane Ammann among the regular cast makes it awfully easy to get their names muddled up.

[Blaxland 89]

I really really really hope 7Two makes it to the 1994 season. The wait for the 1994 season is almost exactly as long as the 7Two eps have already been playing.

I noticed that the shot of Damian and Jack is slightly different between versions, has anyone else noticed this?

Really? How? I am sure I remember someone saying that the girl in that shot its Kristy Wright.

[Blaxland 89]

The 1994 season was very good in that because it was a little under-dramatic it made the high drama in 1995 more effective. Also the year before we had a cot death and lost Bobby. Also the were a few new characters such as Jack, Selena, Shannon, Curtis, Rob and Irene had settled in the beach house that season. Its hard to get to know characters so well when the stories are so big. By having more smaller ones you grow a love for the characters, understand what they are about then if you hit them with the harder stuff say in 1995 you care more as a viewer. In the Pippa/Michael break up in 1994 was very character lead.

That's the problem I have with today episodes. It just one thing after another with no light or shade. Nothing effects the characters and they are much harder to care about as a result.

[Dan F]

I really really really hope 7Two makes it to the 1994 season. The wait for the 1994 season is almost exactly as long as the 7Two eps have already been playing.

I noticed that the shot of Damian and Jack is slightly different between versions, has anyone else noticed this?

Really? How? I am sure I remember someone saying that the girl in that shot its Kristy Wright.

Yes, when you look at them both together they're obviously different takes of the same shot - in the later one the girl gives a sideward glance to the boys and Jack's reaction is different, certainly not a big enough change for the casual viewer to notice so you do wonder why it happened.

I've always believed it was Kristy Wright, if it's not her it's her doppelganger, but can never be 100% sure

There were also a number of other subtle changes in the credits - a few colour changes for the name straps and a (much needed since 1992) drop shadow applied to the text by the time of the 2nd episode.

[James Martin]

But, the Sutherlands just provided 3 of the teens in that era's "Teen Group" which is why it seemed like they were always there. And, of course, they took Brodie in so the tradition of fostering at SBH was carried on.

For that reason, my BC/AD point comes far later - the 2004 Season Finale. That for me is when the show took a new direction practically overnight.

[Skylover]

Funny you should say that as Neighbours went downhill after the 2004 finale too!

[James Martin]

Hmm, true. I don't watch Neighbours but the fact it still outperforms Home & Away in the UK despite both shows now being on the same network says a lot IMO.

Anyway, exciting times tonight - it's bye-bye Mark & Karen and hello Doug & Erana, and in my opinion the best version of the theme tune!

[Skylover]

Hmm, true. I don't watch Neighbours but the fact it still outperforms Home & Away in the UK despite both shows now being on the same network says a lot IMO.

Anyway, exciting times tonight - it's bye-bye Mark & Karen and hello Doug & Erana, and in my opinion the best version of the theme tune!

Going by the same argument you could say that Home and Away outperforms Neighbours in the Australian market. I don't think it's a really fair comparison either way though - from what I've heard Network Ten has a bad reputation and most of its programmes rate fairly poorly - while, in comparison, 7 seems to have a good reputation and has shows like Winners & Losers and Packed to the Rafters which rate very well.

Likewise Neighbours spent over 20 years on the primary channel in the UK (BBC One) while Home and Away has been on Channel 5 for over ten years (it has a bad reputation) so I'd say if Home and Away had spent longer on ITV the ratings would be more even probably.

Sorry, getting OT now, but I am really looking forward to hearing the second version of the theme tune tonight!

[Dan F]

Though of course the first of tonight's episode will still have the original theme tune - what's easy to forget is that the Doug and Erana version didn't debut until June 1995. It is quite jarring sometimes when that is forgotten and you see the titles you associate so much with the 2nd theme tune.

And if the original broadcast of 1710 (Bobby's Ghost) is anything to go by, we'll be getting the alternate Shane & Angel shot seen at the bottom of this page

[James Martin]

Wow - learn something new every day, don't you? Gonna seem odd watching those titles with the original version.