2023 Season - UK Episode Discussion

[CaptainHulk]

^ Or when it suits the writers.

[Red Ranger 1]

I understand him being upset that his anger management counselling went out the window, but Justin had every right to be angry with Cash here. Not that Justin did a better job himself.When he asked how they couldn't know where Margot, as we now know she's called, is, I thought "Probably because you packed Andrew off in a car with her without making any attempt to get contact details or to inform the authorities of what was going on." The episode seemed to be trying desperately to absolve Cash of blame, claiming he "did things by the book". If that's the case, the book's in desperate need of a rewrite, if it actually says "Hand a kidnap victim over to the first person who turns up looking for him." Also...Andrew having a sister has pretty much just come out of nowhere. Wouldn't a little detail like that have been in the file? Did no-one have contact details for her, if the mother had disappeared? The show is leaning hard into the idea that the police are useless except for our regular cop and the main character have to do everything to an extent not seen since they ignored Leah being kidnapped just because she rang them up saying she hadn't been (which it's a shame she's not around to mention, and you'd think Justin would remember). That has to be one of the loosest definitions of "went with her of his own volition" ever, since the decision was based on the kidnapper giving false information. Problem is, given that Cash was the one who brought the kidnapper to him, the taskforce would pretty much have to shoot Andrew to do a worse job of looking after him.

Ah yes, Leah. That's a very bad time for her to have a sudden case of the disappearances, meaning we don't get any reaction from her to how badly they've screwed up (and apparently Justin's decided to keep her in the dark). The whole "her mother-in-law" thing was a bit random, we're not even told which mother-in-law! My first instinct is that it refers to Stella, but the comment about family rallying around her was a bit odd, does Stella have any family? I suppose Vinnie did have a multitude of cousins who might still be around.

I suppose I should acknowledge Marilyn apologising to John for snapping at him and telling him the truth. In fact, that's probably the nicest she's been to him in years, so things must be bad!

[Dan F]

22 minutes ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

The whole "her mother-in-law" thing was a bit random, we're not even told which mother-in-law! By first instinct is that it refers to Stella, but the comment about family rallying around her was a bit odd, does Stella have any family? I suppose Vinnie did have a multitude of cousins who might still be around.

Don't think revealing the identity would be too much of a 'spoiler' for anyone, but just in case...

Spoiler

It is eventually confirmed to be Stella, though it's not until Leah returns that they do remember her name (maybe Ada had to tell them ). The family thing did have me wondering too, but I guess we never heard much about her side of the family from memory, it was all about the Pattersons.

As you may have gathered Leah's disappearance was very much a last minute thing - Ada had sneezed and ended up with a bulging disc in her spine which required surgery. She had about 4 weeks off but they manage to condense it on-screen.

[CaptainHulk]

Makes sense as [Redacted] still lives in the area.

7 hours ago, Dan F said:

As you may have gathered Leah's disappearance was very much a last minute thing - Ada had sneezed and ended up with a bulging disc in her spine which required surgery. She had about 4 weeks off but they manage to condense it on-screen.

Ouch. Guess there's some truth in those jokes about "sneezing past 40". 

*is 40 next year* Uh-oh.

Justin kicking off in the cop shop at Cash while ON BOND was about as smart as Lance and Martin trying to pass Parsley off as for the dance or Justine rowing in a boat while a cyclone is on the horizon... but I digress, he is frustrated but he needed to remember where he was

Beauty Jerks strike again; Predicted dialogue for next few eps

*Distorted voice* "We Warned you Chambers, about Taking to the Media! Your friend, Granddad's gonna suffer *too*  unless you obey us,  The Brick is *nothing* compared to what we have in store for YOU, Blondie! wahaha!"

(Hey, if we're subjected to this, we may well rip the arse out of it)

And Abandon all hope ye who enter said Commune, lest they beat it from ye... 

 

[H&Alover]

On 14/07/2023 at 20:30, CaptainHulk said:

 

I felt the Leah's had to 'go and see her mother-in-law (or rather ex) as there was an emergency' was a quick slot it.  Odd how TPTB couldn't even to manage to squeeze her name in as Alf would remember her.  That must have been some sneeze -  poor Ada, hope she recovered well.   Justin's 'it's all OK' brief chat with Alf at the beginning ought to have alerted us that it wasn't really.  

I'm supposing the TF had all the info in their file, including the fact Andrew has a sister - Tegan - and a photo of the real Esther - which Cash & co at Yabbie Creek didn't.  The whole reuniting Andrew and his 'mum' took place very quickly, was it really that desperate, I do have to say she was convincing.   Justin remembered about the way she was about about Ted and how vague she was where the photo of Andrew was taken - hindsight is a wonderful thing. Did Margot give Justin and Leah her  number?   Well, as Andrew wasn't dragged off kicking and screaming he did go with  Margot as we now know she is willingly.  It appeared,  to me at least, he'd never seen her before as he would have been a lot more wary.  She is the boss/leader of Vita Nova so wouldn't normally get as involved, leaving it to her minions/disciples to handle - just my thoughts on it.  Is Tegan older or younger than Andrew, he never mentioned any other relative, but as had been said he was only four.   It did come out that Tegan hadn't seen her mum for years, died natural or otherwise? She did remember Ted. I couldn't catch on why the TF couldn't reach her- something about her job?  The TF attitude is a bit "we're not that bothered" but they most have hundreds if not thousands  of cases like Andrew's so just one of many to them but not to Cash and the Yabbie Creek crew, he was a lone lad who needed help and for the most part Cash did. 

Wasn't the wisest move for Justin flinging the table about and going for Cash but understandable in the circumstances, he (and Leah) took Cash's word for it Esther was genuine. Luckily Rose remined him about his GBB before he actually did whack Cash one. Justin was fretting about it when he told Alf the bad news about Andrew and he was seeing people about it about it but thought it was under control, but realised it was as under control as he thought it was.   Wisely - or not - depending on your view - he didn't tell Leah.  He feels bad enough so likely didn't want to take equal responsibility - we know what Leah can be like  "I'm a mum I should have known something wasn't right when she wasn't sure what happened to Ted". 

Not surprising Cash has been taken off the case - but it  does free him to join up with Justin to track Margot and the cult down.   It is the usual setting for  a cult  a compound set in the the middle of nowhere and very spartan  by the looks of it.  She's certainly putting Andrew through it punishing him for what she thinks he's told the cops, but he hasn't said anything, well not from what we've seen.   It seemed J& C found them pretty quickly unless what we saw is in a couple of days from now and not tomorrow. 

Hang on  a minute if Justin is going off cult hunting what about his CS and counselling sessions?   Is Cash going to send in  letters/notes excusing him from not attending? 

Next drama - Maz and SO.  John may not always be the sharpest knife in the drawer but he does know Marilyn and knows when something is bothering her.  He did catch her out on her lie to Alf about seeing this girlfriend in Yabbie Creek when he knew she stayed at Irene's, as she wanted to keep Alf & Roo safe and she was keeping him out of it too or was trying to.   OK do we think this suited guy sitting at the Coffee Cart table was behind the brick through the window?  Was he close enough to hear what Maz was saying to John about the journalist wanting a follow up to the interview she had already given them?  It did seem so blatantly obvious he was reading the paper with Maz's interview in.  That interview, btw, wasn't face to face was it? The note on said brick said "Don't do the interview" or words to that effect.  Rather daft in the circumstances for her not to take it in to the cops, OK there wouldn't be any prints they aren't stupid but the cops, or rather Rose who does appear to know what she is doing, would be able to find something or the tech guys/gals would. 

 

 

[Slade]

On 14/07/2023 at 16:46, CaptainHulk said:

Couple people on here probably would be salivating at the thought of Heather striking back. 

I hope it's Heather but I don't think so.

I see Marilyn is still unpleasant to John for no reason.  Part of me feels a bit sorry for him but the other part feels as though it's his own fault for allowing it to happen and simply not wasting time with her.  Although I feel he can't do that as he's still in love with her.  Whilst she apologised, these type of scenes serve as a reminder how unpleasant she is so it's often hard to have any sympathy for her when she gets into certain situations.

Found the stuff with Rose and Mali amusing, particularly the way Mackenzie was with her, when she asked Rose if she was OK.  And I also really liked the stuff with Rose and Bree when Rose got dressed up to gatecrash Mail's surprise party and Bree wouldn't let her.

Justin was hilarious again when he lost it which was funny considering he told Alf to relax right before that scene.  I'll never forget after he bashed the guy that helped Ava.  I didn't find that funny but it was funny when Cash arrested him, read him his right and Justin shouted "WHAT?!".

 

[Red Ranger 1]

I passed 40 quite a few years ago and I can't say sneezes have that effect on me!

Is there any reason, other than pride, why Cash and Eden are lying to Felicity about what's going on? Eden had to drag it out of Cash as well. Meanwhile, Justin keeping it from Leah lasted one episode and he's even told Theo, despite him being even more of a liability than Cash is. Margot's your typical power freak, determined to hold on to her position as queen of her particular hill, even if the person she's lording over is a scared boy that she left to starve. Did it occur to anyone that Andrew might have said what he did because he was worried what would happen to Justin and Cash if he deviated from Margot's script? They seem like the type who'd cite the law as long as it suited them and break it as soon as it didn't. Just because someone isn't dragged away kicking and screaming doesn't mean they're going willingly: Coercion and deception work just as well to make someone do something they don't want to. Oh, and Andrew's sister is suddenly a half-sister, which raises all sorts of questions: Was their mother involved with another man before Andrew's father? After?

I don't defend Marilyn if I can help it, but she did treat John like a human being here and even managed to deflect some of Alf's typical nastiness away from him. Well, with him going and Leah disappeared, we kind of needed Irene back to have some long-term faces to hand, as she discovers what Marilyn's done with her house in her absence!

[CaptainHulk]

I was half-expecting Palmer to get his bell rung with that pan but lucky Irene came in the other door. I did get a mild chuckle. Lynne's startled Irene expressions always have amused me. Yes, people there IS another door at that house

I am curious to know name of that death metal track Madame Psycho Pretend Mummy had piped in to screw with Abdrew... Sounds like a generic "Burn your enemies/Death to the Establishments/Total Wasteland" number. A little Slipknot-esque...

 

[H&Alover]

OK 'kicking and screaming' was an exaggeration, but he did go seemingly willingly  but now we know why, he did know Margot but he did hide it well.   I caught her comment about 'they' would have looked after him after his dad died - took them three bloody  weeks though - he could have died.  I've no idea how this cult works, do they train up their 'recruits' then send them off into the community to do their work - whatever it is - but tell them to keep  a low profile? Archie, Andrew's dad was working away somewhere wasn't he? 

Pride - men eh - why Cash isn't telling Felicity, she can het up over things. Nice light touch when her and Eden were on the beach and Flick was getting texts from Tane and Eden jumped in and 'suggested' he leave her and Flick alone.   Is it normal  for an of duty cop just to wander in in the middle of the night/early morning and log in to get info, specially on the case you've just been taken off of? 

Guess James had to go with the hastily rewritten script as Ada had to go off sick with the vague "I'll tell you when you get home", it would be better to tell her face to face.  It was Theo who, innocently, started this off - that is how Tegan found out about it her friend had sent it to her as she is abroad working apparently so older.  That was another sneaky drop in about her about being a half sister. Of course he's going to feel guilty and will want to help bring him home which Justin will put the block on, but as we saw he's found the address. 

The compound, which I guess Cash managed to wangle the address out of from Rose, wasn't that far away, he and Justin made it there and back within a few hours, everyone seemed well armed.  That was absolutely vile what she put Andrew through just because he mentioned at Leah & Justin's he liked music - does that mean 'they' aren't allowed to as it's too happy for End  of the Worlders? 

Irene was lucky she didn't get whacked on the head with that frying pan.  I did wonder if it was John checking on her.  Now Roo, who suddenly popped up again, and Maz have to bring Irene up to date on the SO debacle and why her home looks like a storage unit.  Maz is insisting on paying for the window and has changed her mind about taking the note to the cops.  Just how long was it taking Alf to go and see Martha? Wasn't it supposed to be first thing so he didn't have to push himself with driving but it looked lie he was there most of the day.  I know he's always called him that but now it's just getting irritating he won't call him anything but Palmer!!!!  Always putting him down too so good for Maz standing up for him.  I did notice the look he was giving her when she was defending him. 

[CaptainHulk]

^ Don was addressed as "Fisher" for his entire regular run in the credits