2023 Season - UK Episode Discussion

[Red Ranger 1]

Bree has certainly been earning her pay this last week: First Justin, then Felicity, and now John, Roo and Mali! The latter seems to be mostly all right, but things are definitely touch and go for both John and Roo. Everyone came across pretty well here, being sympathetic and understanding at the right moments, except maybe Kirby, who seemed to take a long time to grasp that the situation was serious. (Not that Cash did a particularly good job explaining it!) Despite us being told the bomb was designed for "maximum destruction", it seems to have only caused survivable injuries to the people that were right next to the explosion.

Aside from the hospital and police drama, only thing going on was Xander having a chat with Kate which didn't really tell us anything new, although at least she's getting to spend some time with Timothy.

[Slade]

I've found it hard to get into the show as of late and wasn't really interested in the Andrew/Cult storyline but I have been enjoying the episodes over the last few days.

It's amusing how Mackenzie is constantly watching Xander interact with Kate, she tried to get involved, apologised and then tried to get Bree involved.  I guess the question is how long before Xander sleeps with Kate?

I haven't minded the storylines with Lyric but that's mainly because it has involved other characters.  I know I said I enjoyed Mercedes antagonising Eden but I do think she is going to be problematic at some point re Remi and Bree.  Although it was the preview which first showed it, I was shocked at what happened to Felicity.  I wouldn't want to be the guy that did it when Tane and Cash get hold of him.  I do think it will cause issues for Tane and Felicity's marriage.  The scene where she told Cash about being 'assaulted' on the beach, I thought....wow!  Amazing acting.  It once again enforces the constant ying and yang with Felicity/Mackenzie.  Once one of them is OK, the other has something serious to deal with.

I'm not Cash's biggest fan but it seems as though he's had to deal with quite a bit over the last few days.  One thing I like is seeing scenes with him and Rose.  Prior to finding out about Felicity, I did quite like the banter between them regarding their respective partners, Rose ditching possible drinks with him and Eden to hang out with Mali and Cash taking the Mick out of her at Salt.  I also like how they support each other at work.

I'm curious to know the face of the person behind the bombing and why it's escalated the way it has.  I'd like to think there is a genuine reason behind it and not simply because the person is deranged.

[H&Alover]

This CEO, if it was him/her, did send Maz a photo. I know I keep saying this but it does seem ultra extreme any head of a company would send  a bomb to put their point across.  Could it be more personal as it was Maz they picked on?  They couldn't have known where it would be when they pressed button B, it may have ended up in the tip and done no physical damage to anyone.    There must  be  a photo of this mysterious CEO somewhere, the equivalent of Companies House in Aus. 

What would have Mali done in the  world before mobiles eh, he would have had to go looking for a phone to call the cops and ambulance.  Not surprising his ears were ringing, clever of TPTB to let us 'hear' it too, lucky it seemed he had no other physical injurie apart from cuts and bruises. He did the right thing by not moving Roo, then going to check on John, he told Cash when he turned up with Rose that it was a bomb so they could call the Special Forensics team.  John was very grateful for what Mali did even if he downplayed it, he's made  a friend for life there. 

Very handy Frances - good name that - finding the detonator that will give them something to start with.  Not highly sophisticated but not thrown together either. 

I said Bree would be busy seeing as she is now to go to doctor when disasters happen.    

Seeing Roo was the more seriously injured she was taken in first and it has been worrying her not being able to feel her legs, arms OK though. It may not be too serious, or was until she seemed like she was having memory problems when she kept asking Marilyn to ring Alf, then her BP falling.  Obviously Alf will be back but will Martha?  He so better not be blaming John!

Not too serious we hope but the fact Mali has a perforated eardrum so can't go in the water temporarily could have a knock on effect to his business.   it does clear up on it's own otherwise he'll be really scuppered.

Btw it seemed Cash and Rose had just brought Felicity back from the cop shop where Felicity had given her statement, then they got the call.   Maybe an old fashioned idea now but it seemed Rose took it, because you know women feel easier telling a woman cop about sexual assault/rape. 

Kirby had been out of the loop a bit since her last filming of Maz, rehearsing with Lyrik and the comp, Felicity's ordeal.   Cash - doing his slightly dim cop impression again - no wonder she didn't immediately get it.  Hope she has kept all the messages, backing Maz's up and her films of Maz.  He did ask her to start from the beginning as did Marilyn ask for her help or did she offer, time scale. 

It is seeming that Kate is calling on Xander a lot.  It must be an awkward place to be in - stepmother/father and their partner/husband/wife dies and leaves a child from their previous relationship.  Jamie's ex, it seems, had custody but he had visiting rights and Timothy stayed at his and Kate's.  I'm guessing the stepmum/dad doesn't have any legal rights as to what happens or where the child lives or if they would be allowed to see them.  That would be unfair on Timothy as he's just lost his dad and maybe his other mum.  Kate has to tread carefully as she doesn't want to antagonise Timothy's mum. 

 

[Foellfan]

Agreed about sexual assault and rape being lumped together, both serious crimes but legally very different in both consequence and methods of proof on occasion.

Felicity has reverted to type I see as per; I feel for Tane in that this is difficult to navigate both intimately and emotionally and he will have his own feelings which will have to be bottled up as Heaven forfend Felicity has to deal with anyone else's feelings.

I felt the way she pounced on Tane was really aggressive, it was actually uncomfortable viewing; she was quite literally using him as a vessel, she wouldn't have cared who it was, a way possibly to project her need for revenge on her attacker if you like. It was a anger transaction and I'm glad he stopped her. Equally, had he let her continue, later on she may well have come out with the 'I didn't want to really but you made me feel guilty' line.

I really winced with Mali and his eardrum, having suffered chronic ear problems and infection in my left ear , on one occasion actually losing my hearing for almost a month, I understood Mali's pain and balance issues and the tentative movements, you don't really realise the balance things until it happens.

[Red Ranger 1]

As with a lot of these storylines, you have to wonder what "the CEO" was trying to achieve. The text telling Marilyn about the bomb came in several minutes before it went off.If she'd had the box in the Diner with her at the time, she could have just thrown it in the sea, or at the very least had the building evacuated so it only damaged property.Actually, thinking about it, maybe that was actually the plan and no-one was meant to get hurt, and it was just bad luck that Marilyn was so far away and John and Roo didn't answer their phones? Well, that's Roo's episodes for the week done as she gets airlifted to the city; John doesn't appear, so his other episode's probably going to come later. Mali didn't really offer an explanation for why he was reluctant to accept praise, he just changed his mind. Rose and Mackenzie were practically fighting over who was going to look after him, although Mackenzie did back off pretty quickly!

It's worth bearing in mind that it's still only a couple of days after Felicity was raped: I think most people would cry foul if she was happy, smiling and well-adjusted. I do feel for both of them and I don't want to criticise Tane because he's pretty much in a situation where whatever he does would be wrong, but it did seem like he made assumptions about how Felicity would be, stealing himself for her being afraid of intimacy, only to not know how to react when she did want it. Whilst her second seduction attempt was rather desperate, the first one would actually seem quite natural if not for the circumstances.(And yes, the fact that they've never been quiet in the bedroom department probably plays a part.)So, we're back to Felicity being the wild card and Mackenzie being the stable one: Thankfully, Mackenzie hasn't got Gabe in her ear this time, so handles it better.But...yeah. Once again the show's made the mistake of finding an actress who plays "traumatised" well and then not giving her anything else. It's only a few months since we had Felicity pushing Tane away because she couldn't deal with nearly burning alive. So far, through a combination of the acting and the writing, the storyline has avoided being a simple retread but I think it could become one if they don't wrap up this stage of Felicity's journey quickly.

[Slade]

I was eager to know what Mackenzie's reaction was going to be to finding out about Felicity and it was everything I expected - initial shock but extremely sympathetic.  She very much seems like one of the main support characters at the moment.

Whilst I agree with the comment that it was uncomfortable viewing watching Felicity try to get intimate with Tane, I can't really blame her as not only does she want to get back to normal but I think she believes maybe sleeping with Tane will get the attacker out of her system.  I do actually think Felicity had a point about him not wanting intimacy because somebody else has been there, whether he admits it or not.  He knows it's not Felicity's fault but I can't help but think subconsciously it bothers him, almost as if you reconcile with someone who has cheated and can't bring yourself to be intimate with them.

Whilst not so keen on the Bree/Remi, thing I do appreciate scenes with Bree and any other characters and I liked that Tane confided in her.  She also seems to be doing well providing support.

[H&Alover]

Re the reluctance of TPTB saying the r word, wasn't it actually said very recently with Bree when she said Jacob had forced her to have sex when he snatched her and she said in her statement he raped her? I had forgotten Bree has been in Felicity's position not so long ago so would have brought back bad memories. 

Anyways - Felicity I got the impression she is trying to behave as if nothing happened although we and she knows something did, like going back to work.   Tane, like any partner/husband/wife is at a loss what to do.  Does he try to be intimate with her only to be rejected or not as he feels she should give her space but then she feels like he doesn't want her because of what happened? She did throw him out of the bedroom but was her reaction down to him stopping or perhaps her being relieved he did?  You may think it doesn't matter to how you feel but you can't control your sub conscience. She did say something to Tane when in the pool about blood tests but didn't catch what she said. Although not easy to watch it was good - if that is the right word - that TPTB are carrying it on and not brushing it under the carpet. As Bree said when Tane asked for her advice everyone reacts differently - men and women  - so he has to go with Felicity and  let her go at her own pace.  She had been  offered counselling  but said no and as we have seen many times people can't be forced into it.  It's when they feel they are ready, Flick has had counselling before so she has been there.  I think her bold announcement to Mac about what happened to her was her way of taking control and that she wasn't going to hide the fact which is so Flick.  Maybe a tad overreaction about people leaving their drinks unattended and announcing the new rule that no-one buys drinks for anyone else only themselves.  A small problem what happens if someone needs the loo, man or woman, halfway through their drink? 

The countdown to the bomb going off wasn't very long so not much time for anyone to have done anything to get it somewhere 'safe'.  Wasn't it only five minutes?  Man at keyboard had no idea where it was. 

Could have have been an awkward conversation between Kirby and Maz, Kirby blaming herself for talking Maz into doing the vids, but as  Marilyn said she agreed and neither of them were to blame it was whoever planted it. 

Certainly not looking good for Roo and Alf and Martha are joining her in the city so we won't be seeing her.

Mali knows what his family is like so he wants them kept out of it as long as possible, but surely something like the explosion would make the papers even in his home town.  I don't think the shock has hit Mail yet.  Mali - no, no you don't consult Dr. Google, you only read the worst scenarios.  Be hard enough for anyone I imagine but in his job it would have serious consequences, not being able to surf, not just his job but it's something he loves.   Dean did get over his injury in time to be able to get back out there, but a perforated eardrum could be permanent.  Probably at any other time he'd like two ladies fighting over him. 

[Foellfan]

Something else I wonder re: Flick's haste for sex and Tane backing off, whether also they might have been medically advised against so soon after, as it Flick being screened for any nasties that the attacker might have left behind, I know alot of those kinds of tests are quick but I know at one time with the 'Big 2' HIV & Hep C you used to have a test at the time but then a month later and if they were both negative you were definitely free but maybe things have changed now.

[Red Ranger 1]

Impossible to tell exactly how long was left on the countdown when Marilyn got the text: It was 16 minutes when John and Roo left the surf club, and we didn't see it again until the closing scene when there was less than a minute left. But there was enough time for Marilyn to get to the surf club (apparently on foot) and for Mali to then chase after and catch them, so I definitely think there'd be enough time to run to the end of the pier that's right next to the Diner! (Of course, Marilyn wouldn't necessarily know that.)

I want to clarify what I didn't say yesterday: Tane should most definitely not be expected to sleep with Felicity if he's not comfortable with it, consent works both ways. (As to the practicalities, the show hasn't dwelt on it, but they can give you medication to prevent infection these days and there's always safe sex.) Anyway, I'm glad we seem to have moved on from it, at least for now: When Felicity walked away from Tane's attempt to talk to her, I worried her shutting him out was going to carry on into next week, so I was relieved when she realised she needed to talk to him and went and found him and they had that hug. I think Jacqui's performance choices are helping again: That scene between Felicity and Eden could have been played in an aggressive or cold manner, but instead she played it sad, making it clear that, even though Felicity was making assumptions about Tane, she really didn't want their marriage to be over.I am 99% certain the word rape wasn't used where Bree was concerned, the show seems to use it very sparingly for some reason although I have come across evidence it has been used at least a couple of times in recent years, including when Bella was assaulted.

Andrew isn't in the episode so Leah and Justin are left sitting around talking about him.We get some new information, and an important update on what's going on with Justin's court ordered punishment, but it felt like killing time until the important stuff.

Well, the "We're all in this together" attitude with Mercedes didn't last long, at least as far as Eden is concerned, even if she does have a point about why Mercedes is still there.Shame John's in hospital, he might have enjoyed the early morning Bach. Again, given Mercedes hasn't done anything obviously wrong, this feels like Eden's problem.

[pembie]

I think I have noticed more than ever this year that characters just sit around talking about their stories or going over same things for whole episodes maybe that’s why I’m finding it so slow these days or you have important characters like Leah missing when Roo is near dying Also it effects Lyric when half the members are missing I don’t think it’s always been like that or has it?

Roo you can’t leave summer bays healing water how on earth are you going to recover?

Felcity ok it’s a very bad thing that has happened here but at the same time I’m not really gripped by the story im not so sure that her new rules of Salt will go well 

Tane and Felcity I don’t think really feel like a married couple to me they could easily enough just be dating there’s just something a spark I think missing that you had with Aden and Belle of Geoff and Nicole