2023 Season - UK Episode Discussion

[H&Alover]

Meant to add on my last post - John is pretty unlucky health wise - he had that brain tumour which resulted in him setting fire to things, then his stroke now a likely heart problem.  Oh also when Alf comes back I bet he won't be that bothered that Palmer was caught up in the explosion. 

12 hours ago, c120701 said:

I did feel a little sorry for Kirby when Marilyn was sharing the blame onto her, at the end of the day it was Marilyn who got Kirby involved.

I thought it was the other way around when Kirby suggested Marilyn send those vids about SO?  Anyways they have both acknowledged neither of them are to blame it's SO.

[Red Ranger 1]

There was a reference to Marilyn and Kirby living together, but then at the end of Friday's episode, Kirby was back in her usual house! I did enjoy that early scene of Rose playing "Yep, can't hear you" with Kirby but glad they cleared the air quickly. Anyway, the mysterious enigmatic CEO is finally caught but it was a bit insensitive of Marilyn to declare the whole thing over in front of Alf like that, as if she'd forgotten all about Roo. Alf was surprisingly quiet and subdued here: I was expecting him to give Rose an even bigger serve than Kirby did for not acting sooner.

I got the impression that, until recently, Andrew was always kept in cult safe houses so the authorities couldn't find him.We're told here, I think for the first time, that he and his father lived in several houses.The security camera could go either way, making Andrew feel secure or making him feel dependent on them.Leah tries to get the whole thing dismissed but Rose can't give her assurances any more than she could give Justin.

Well, even after the promo showed them kissing again, I wasn't expecting Xander and Kate to go that far, so nice to know the show can still surprise me occasionally! Kate said she wasn't trying to replace Jamie a while back, and it feels like they really haven't thought this through. I liked the interplay between Xander and Mackenzie, especially the scene where they couldn't quite work out whether to answer the phone or not.

[H&Alover]

Was Kirby just dropping in at Lyrik's house though to catch up on the news?  Theo did manage to get Kirby to see it from Rose's point of view and it was nice to see them reconcile. Theo and Kirby have made up as well. Them nabbing this mysterious CEO did come before Alf came back so she did escape Alf's wrath.  Bet the staff at the hospital in the city didn't though.  It always happens and we've seen it ad nausuem, where someone is in a coma and the docs can't tell the relatives how 'they' are going to be until 'they' come round and of course  aren't able to tell  the relatives when that will be, said relatives start shouting and chucking their weight about. We were spared that at least, I wonder if Martha sent Alf back to the bay to give her and them some peace. 

Why did the CEO turn up in one of the bay's motels, would have thought he'd be long gone?  I'm supposing the forensics team will be able to link him with the bomb - fingerprints or DNA unless he wore gloves. 

I get Alf is upset but why the "I'm busy because Palmer's out of action" swipe at John,  he'll be  blaming him next for not moving the box before it exploded.   I do hope Alf will be thanking Mali  in person for saving Roo's life. Not looking good for him by the promo, OK rubbing down/waxing boards but going surfing!

Funny how different people see things different ways, as I got the impression from what Andrew said about his dad putting cameras up in every house they lived in it was to watch out for the cult as he  - Archie - had taken them away from them.  Did the cult allow their members to live outside the compound?   Dad was working away when he died and Andrew had said when Archie did take him out he had to hide in the car.   Definitely a double edge sword there with the cameras, he did panic when one was breaking up.  poor Rose is getting it from all angles, of course she can't guarantee total protection.  Leah did get the DPP to spare Andrew giving evidence because of his vulnerability along with what his counsellor said, Justin is more than willing.  

We should know by now "this must never happen again" line is total tosh as it nearly always does and more.   Btw, small niggle, Kate is Jamie's widow not wife.  Are they hoping if they go somewhere it will ease both of their pain at losing Jamie? Did have to  at Mac's comment about paying Xander not to work as he hardly ever finishes a  shift.  

[Red Ranger 1]

Andrew's previously indicated that members of the cult used to bring them supplies and have private chats with his dad.

Felicity's counselling isn't having the effect that either she or anyone else wanted.I'm glad that, despite the occasional blow-up, she and Tane are dealing with this together and still pretty solid, rather than us getting more manufactured conflict.Glad too that Eden checked Tane was okay: Yes, he's not in the same boat as Flick, but this sort of thing affects loved ones too.I can see why Eden told Felicity about the footage but it's another one that can go both ways.

Pretty harsh of Xander to cut ties with Kate right after they've done the deed! I see why he did it but she's lost Timothy and now him as links to Jamie and it's not clear if she's got anything else in her life.Rose handled things well, listening and passing an opinion without having a go.

You know things are bad when Alf snaps at Marilyn, even if he did apologise.I thought that, by his standards, he was reasonably polite towards John, he just mentioned his absence as a statement of fact and as an excuse to feel needed in Summer Bay rather than worrying by Roo's bedside.

Mali's "I feel fine" might be a bit more convincing if he wasn't nearly falling over on land, never mind in the sea.He pretended to agree with Rose but he's soon back out there...

[H&Alover]

But where were they when Archie had been missing for three weeks?

Maybe the counsellor isn't the right one for Felicity?  Usually you would talk over what happened to you, but Felicity isn't able to  - not because she was traumatised and in shock and doesn't want to - but because she can't as she was out of it.  In time a victim - sorry survivor - may be able to give some sort of vague description, height, build, smell, if he spoke did he have an accent, but for Felicity nothing.  When she was at SALT and  had served those two guys she said to Tane & Eden, it could be one of them, the guy outside or  any guy she passes in the street - that must be terrifying.  I did wonder if there are any support groups for people who have been in Felicity's position she could turn to, other women who could understand how she is feeling because only someone who has been there would understand. It is good Felicity is talking to Tane and  Eden and not shutting them out. 

I think Eden had to let Flick know Cash wasn't avoiding her and why but it is a double edged sword.  Wouldn't the cops where it happened be in charge of looking at all the footage or is Cash doing his own thing?  It looked like he needs some Anger Management courses. It does  mean Flick will be now pouring over the footage that's already up there so isn't it likely they will  be watching the same footage? I have said it's a long, very long shot they will see someone spiking a drink, all I saw was they were left handed. 

I know it's not vital to the story and Tane has had much more important things to worry about but did we find out how it went with Kahu? 

Opposing views again but I thought Xander did the right thing by finishing with Kate the day after them sleeping together and I think Kate got why they shouldn't see each other again, it'll be more painful for them both. I'm not going to use that dreaded word starting with c but for them I think it was a way of saying goodbye to their joint connection to Jamie.  They both need to move on and they can't do that if they stay in touch.  Good for Rose for not overreacting when Kate breezed out of Xander's bedroom and not lecturing him about it, but did show her concern.  She's going to have enough to worry about. 

I guess as Marilyn was the one sat there it was easy for Alf to have  a rant at her but he couldn't lay all the blame at her feet, she did try and keep her friends out of it and it wasn't only her keeping Alf in the dark Roo played a part in that too so he wouldn't put off going to see Martha, though if course he doesn't know that yet and Maz isn't going to say anything.   Wouldn't he be digging his heels in and retaliating if he was being harassed, unlikely I know, but  Marilyn had no other way of getting back at SO but by posting on social media.  He had calmed down by the time the Diner closed down when he said "How about going home" to Marilyn.  Nearly asked where Irene was but of course she would be at the hospital. 

That big "I'm fine" lie.  I get Mali wanted to be doing something  and not lying around at home, he's not got any broken bones and as he said being self employed means he doesn't get sick pay.  He has only just got the business going so needs to keep his customers not just from the board shop but the surf lessons which is the bulk of it and what he depends on and he hasn't got anyone to stand in for him.  Tane is a bit occupied and John isn't there to step in to take deliveries.  I guess someone is looking after JP's?  Anyways not looking good for him, let's hope he hasn't done permanent damage once he's rescued which he will be.  

[Foellfan]

Agree about Xander doing the right thing because it strikes me that had the relationship continued, in a sense he was a Jamie 2.0 for her because he's the only link, so I think her link feelings would've always put a question mark as was the relationship was genuine, same on his side with the hero complex too.

Oooh, I was wincing seeing Mali in the water and thinking of the ear...been in a similar thing, not nice; I did have a slight chuckle when Mac said she was going to call a doc for Mali and Tane's reply 'They can't cure you for doing something dumb.'.  I'd like to see the boys' friendship develop more, it'd be nice to see Tane have mates in the back that aren't attached to home, i.e. Cash/Lyrik.

Also nice scenes with Alf and Mali, proof that, shock horror, different generations don't always have to be at war or disregard one another.

Cash's blow up moment was rather sad but I think it's something that's quite common, whether family or not, that if you work in caring professions i.e. coppers, vets, medics you are automatically expected to not only have all the answers but to erase it, sadly they're only human but I think society in general forget this sometimes as do nearest and dearest. I can also understand why he didn't bring Flick in on it at first because, even in normal times, she borders on the unstable and she would possibly blame him for it later.

It's clear too that Tane's struggling but because he and Cash are men they're not supposed to have emotions about this so bottle them up because although they're both talking to her they can't exactly go unabridged, those toxic attitudes IRL are dangerous too but I think the boxing not a bad stress buster because, contrary to many beliefs, it is actually controlled aggression and the energy release is good for the body, may be he and Cash will box together that would be a fair point.

The thing also strikes that everyone is watching Flick like a hawk but it would be easy for either of the boys, or even Eden, to slip through the cracks and people may only notice when something major happens.

[Red Ranger 1]

I don't think Cash did Tane any favours (or Felicity, for that matter) with a panicked phone call that made it sound like Felicity was on the verge of a breakdown when she wasn't anything of the sort.All it did was worry him unnecessarily and cause him to lose a day's business just to come to the police station and get told to go away again.Both Cash and Felicity seem to have pinned all their hopes on this footage only to realise, as Felicity said, it's a "stupid needle in a stupid hay stack". But seriously, why did we keep hearing a tape rewinding when they were watching video files? It's not even as though there was any need to show they were rewinding, it was just dubbing on a sound effect for the sake of it!

Talking of dubbing, I got the feeling someone realised in post that no-one picked up Mali's board so quickly added a couple of lines and a shot showing Random Bloke had retrieved it. I did like the interplay between him, Tane and Mackenzie, and also Mackenzie both pointing out she's Felicity's friend and recalling her own financial troubles which wouldn't have got as bad as they did if she'd just asked for help. Any tension between Alf and Mali from the early days has well and truly gone now!

Well, we get a photo of The CEO even if he doesn't have a name! Looks like Stunning Organics have cut him loose as a scapegoat lone gunman. It's possible he did do the bomb on his own, but that doesn't cover all the things Marilyn highlighted in the first place, like unsafe products and exploitative contracts.

[H&Alover]

I really liked Alf thanking Mali and that we saw it on screen, Alf, when he's not being a grump, can appreciate a good deed whatever the person's age is.  That look of "What are you hanging  about for?" from Mac to Mali  when Alf said to Mali if there is anything I can do, then walked away. Mali as you would expect is a proud guy and doesn't like asking for favours, but he swallowed his pride, bit the bullet and went to Alf. Who as we know he would is suspending his rent until he gets back on his feet or rather board.  Mali ringing his surfing customers to let them know what is happening  and not just sending an email to them is also so like him.  I'd appreciate that kind of service from someone. 

Cash agreed with me then, it was a very long shot anyone spotting the spiking guy.  Both Cash & Tane know how quick Felicity can fall apart so to me it made sense to be there for her in case she did.  Wouldn't she have been able to pick this up on her own laptop anyway, Eden  and the rest of Lyrik did on the one at their house.   Has this looking for the guy all Cash has been doing, hasn't he any other police work to do? I would have thought the cops would have a proper team to look at all the footage, it looked too much for one person.  There is way too much footage and it's too  wide ranging, camera phones wildly slashing around filming the  band, everything else  is not going to give any clues.  We did see Bree & Flick and there was a guy behind them but he could be completely  innocent.    It hasn't solved anything or course and no-one is any nearer to knowing who did it.  There are plenty of women and men who have been in that situation so live in fear and doubt unless the person who did it cocks up somehow and admits he/she has done it before.   That was one melt down for Cash, he's too close to the  case to be involved, wouldn't have thought his sarge would have allowed it. 

 Pummelling a punch bag into submission is a better way to relive your tension, be it man or woman, better than hitting someone else, walls,  throwing things.  

One good thing for Maz at least the CEO did confess about the bomb, but that does mean we'll and she will never know why he went to such extremes.  He has been thrown under the bus and I'm not making excuses for him, but we don't know what  pressure he was under even if as CEO the  buck stopped with him.  Just as Maz and everyone thought it was all done, SO just seem to ploughing on as if nothing had  happened.  Going back aways weren't there any prints on the brick or the note thrown through Irene's window?   

Looks like we'll be seeing  a different side to Bree!   

Nought to do with storyline but why did Mercedes mum and dad call her that, was she conceived in one? I know it's not a new name, there was an actress called Mercedes McCambridge. 

[CaptainHulk]

Full Disclosure: You could skip today's and not be behind.

Borefest.

After yesterday's cliffhanger, I thought there would be some traction but nope.

[Foellfan]

H&Alover, I literally just did a spit-take from laughing re: the Mercedes comment! Though given her background the conception theory would be about right! 

Agree too about the boxing, something I did for a little while in my twenties, just at home, great workout.