Classic Episodes on 5★

[James Martin]

That scene when she was telling Dylan that Shane had died was so sad, she kept it together well when he asked why he wasn't coming back, hope they didn't have to upset the little lad to make him cry.

Eye-drops, possibly. Impressed with the teens' ability to cry on-spec in the episode with Michael's funeral. Starting to see Kate Ritchie's acting ability really come to the fore now. Although it's one of the reasons teens are often played by actors/actresses a couple of years older than the character, because they've got a bigger bank of experiences in their own lives to draw on in order to deliver a more convincingly emotional performance. Ruby Buckton is 18, for example (apologies if she's already finished in Oz, she's still on-air in the UK when we start back in 3 weeks) but Rebecca Breeds is 24! (Or 22, one of the two.) It's probably why the producers have put Ruby through so much.

I honestly think 1995/96 Home and Away is possible the best looking cast any TV show has ever had. And they could mostly act too

Agree with that. Although in the 00s you have Dani and Kirsty... Maybe BTTB could do two "Sexiest Character" polls (one male, one female obviously!) For me, it's a toss-up between Shannon, Sophie, or Dani.

[alejandro5000]

last few days have been just too sad with those deaths/funerals. bit of a break now on that front... really swinging into my era now with vinnie (my joint fave with don and ailsa), the nashes and smiths soon to arrive, followed by the sutherland clan . can remember bits and bobs of 95/96 but i was a bit young really. It has been interesting rediscovering how i used to be involved emotionally in the show and care for characters . nowadays i feel (next to) nothing. eg Charlie's death

I dont half love the revamped theme tune too with the sax (or watever it is!). Soooo nostalgic

[Skylover]

Although in the 00s you have Dani and Kirsty... Maybe BTTB could do two "Sexiest Character" polls (one male, one female obviously!) For me, it's a toss-up between Shannon, Sophie, or Dani.

Love the idea of a Sexiest Character poll. Although I fear that Joey, Curtis, Shane & Jack would lose out to the River Boys and likewise Shannon and Selina would probably lose out to say Charlie and Ruby Buckton. The repeats may have refreshed some people's memories though, like mine.

Lol there weren't any hot guys in the early 00s period you mention though I am certainly liking the look of this Joey character though ;) So just watched the Irene gives birth episode...since when did Fin have such demonic eyes? And she seems to have aged about ten years since 1992.

And Jesse...I find he's one of those characters I've never understood the appeal of. Nice that one of the younger cast stuck around for such a long time which seems extremely rare by H&A standards but I just switch off when he's on. Please God let 7Two get to the Jack/Joey/Curtis episodes </prays> So superficial.

Anyone mind me asking when Selina drunk a coke can and got stung by a bee? That's my FIRST ever memory of H&A, yay!

[Dan F]

Anyone mind me asking when Selina drunk a coke can and got stung by a bee? That's my FIRST ever memory of H&A, yay!

1788/1789 on 27th/28th September 1995. Nice bit of freaky 'light at the end of the tunnel' effects...

[Skylover]

Thanks Dan. I think I was traumatised watching that as a 6 year old. Maybe just because I loved Selina Speaking of Selina, they really chose an unflattering camera angle when she was crying to Jesse on the beach in the first eppy tonight.

James Martin - surely Shannon is the hottest, followed by Sophie then Dani? Gotta say Finlay struts around like butter wouldn't melt in the 92/93 eps but seems a bit of a minx at the same time

[c120701]

Red, glad I wasn't the only one who found that music during the whole of part one of Shane's death episode too much. It was so intrusive, maybe if it had been just a little quieter. Apart from that the telling of the news was very well done. Everyone's reaction was so believable and said a lot for Shane that he had gone from tear-away to someone they would all miss. The second half was much better, Angel slipping on Shane's jacket, probably because it smelt of him, was so typical of anyone who has just lost someone and so Angel. That scene when she was telling Dylan that Shane had died was so sad, she kept it together well when he asked why he wasn't coming back, hope they didn't have to upset the little lad to make him cry. Wasn't it Roz (Shane's mum) who Donald was on the phone to?

As to Jack don't going to comfort Sally, maybe he thought she wanted to be on her own and then wasn't the right time to approach her?

As an aside it was nice to see the original owner (Travis) living in what is now Leah's house.

On a much lighter note Donald and Marilyn's wedding

Did Donald have connections in high places to warrant a more senior member of the church conducting part of the service? Was a neat idea to use the camcorder and get people's usual reactions to it, from posing to 'get that out of my face'! I see Pippa was actually wearing something more styled, looked a lot better. Marilyn's dress was so lovely. Typical Donald, getting all bossy about the way things ought to be done and who should be where. Great speeches by all, fitting that there was a message from Angel, Simon, Dylan and Shane (her daughter) seeing how much Donald had meant to her. Jesse (aka Marti Pellow) obviously wasn't a regular at that moment in time. I wonder if Lynne (Irene) decided to dye her her hair off her own bat or was it decided by tptb? It just came as a bit of a shock seeing as it was still blonde in the opening credits.

I love the jacket scene with Angel, and them using Throw Your Arms Around Me was brilliant, because she was effectively doing that with Shane and the jacket.

Don rang Roz but Nick answered.

I remember an interview or something with Lynne McGranger saying the bleach was damaging her hair, so she asked to go back to her own colour. If you look at her hair it does look rather dry and damaged.

[James Martin]

Yep. Shannon is definitely the fittest female in Summer Bay history. We need to see more episodes with her on the beach (and didn't her and Angel have a catfight in the swimming pool at one point?)

[Blaxland 89]

These old repeats are really showing up the current episode. Its almost embarrassing.

[Si-Co]

Looking at this and comparing it to what we just watched, did ITV cut Kelly saying he went into "septic shock" and Dr McClaren probably being the first to mention Shane's fate, discretely slipped into the conversation.

I noticed that both the parts cut on ITV featured shots of Shane's body on the bed - make you wonder if they considered this inappropriate for the time slot?!

That YT video cuts off early, but some of the later scenes in the Archie Roach sequence don't seem familiar either...

ETA: Dan, love your new avatar!

[Blaxland 89]

Really really like the online 1997 ep. Wish it was on tv. Really good Sally and Steven episode. And classic Fisher and Marilyn double act carry on. A very character lead ep. Made a nice change from all the births, deaths and weddings.

Wasn't so keen with the two that was broadcast though. Donald's mum, I find extremely irritating and I found the fire in the commune ep very melo dramatic. More like a modern episode.

There's a very small section of the show that I think its very good and character lead. Its from around the time of Steven and Selina's non wedding to Pippa's departure.