2023 Season - UK Episode Discussion

[H&Alover]

Banjo or as John called him Man Bun  didn't catch what he said before - was a delicate little flower wasn't he, quitting because John spoke roughly to him?  John treated them all the same yet no-one else complained.  Despite his initial objections to what Alf was asking he at the end was the bigger man and rang Banjo and apologised and was nice about it.  John paid  with real money for his coffee.   He, John, had been milking it - sorry - for all this time using his free coffee token waving it around when normally he 'd just buy the one or two.  Was there  a time limit on it or the number of times it could be used in that period?  

Maz didn't explain herself well at all, didn't help she was about to ask just as Irene was saying she'd was looking forward to going on holiday herself to get over her traumatic few weeks.   But, of course, after what we saw with Leah and Justin she's going to need time off herself.   With them both away will Marilyn be running  the Diner all by herself?   I honestly thought when Irene approached Maz at the end she was going to say that she and Leah had been talking and  in appreciation of all Maz's hard work and her willingness to put in extra shifts  they were giving her the option of going in with them, but no it's she's getting a rise - was that it! Wow no wonder Maz was so underwhelmed, even Alf  looked gobsmacked. 

Talking of Leah, natch she pulled the old "I'm fine" lie but she was so snappy with everyone so that didn't wash.   Her panic when she was waiting for Justin was very sad and something she couldn't brush off.  It was happening for real just not the way it looked the night before. Glad she's finally told him and more importantly admitted she needs help, hence previous remark about Leah needing time off.   Will it affect the Wedding plans? 

That was a totally unexpected windfall for Kirby - didn't 'they' say it some contractual deal for any songs she'd written  even though she'd signed over the copyrights to them?  Theo had  a moment but I refer you to the above. 

Just as we thought we were getting over all the traumas/dramas it looked like Mac is going for one of her own, collapsing the way she did after that row with Flick.  At least Xander was there.

 

[Slade]

So Tane cheats on Felicity.  I believe it may be dismissed by some as them being on a break but to my mind it's not finished with Felicity and Tane said he loved her in Wednesday's episode.  Although, if he's prepared to do that without trying to work things out, I guess maybe it will be best if their marriage is over as (let's face it) she just wants him, whereas he wanted her and a family.

As much as I dislike Alf, John has a tendency to be arrogant and look down on people and he was treating the folk on the lifeguard training the same way Alf treats him, so I was glad he was made to eat his words.

[pembie]

Mac will be fine everybody always is so I don’t really care about that part but Mac really should look into getting another business partner and bin Felcity off she’s awful taking money when she wants and bottles of booze giving free meals away and just speaking to Mac the way she does she’s so loud Tane yes I also find very annoying too When you sleep with somebody esle is would say that’s the end the trust is broken 

Far too much Felcity and Tane in that latest catch up for me 

[Red Ranger 1]

Alf's episode count this week:Three. The only other ones to make three were Irene, Marilyn, Justin and Mackenzie.

I think these last few weeks have shown us why Tane and Felicity should be together: Because they're both utterly awful people when they're apart.With Tane offscreen being unnecessarily cruel, Felicity is left with poor Mackenzie as the target of her frustrations once again, lashing out at an innocent bystander.The result is Mackenzie collapsing and Cash getting dragged away from his suspension review to deal with it.I know hindsight's 20/20 and everything but maybe not the best idea to schedule this in the middle of a family crisis? I liked Rose supporting him again, not that it did any good.

Leah opens up to Justin and gets a good night's sleep as a result.Success?I guess we'll see.I did like their little nostalgic chat about how they first got together, including the bits not suitable for public consumption!

Sigh, and Alf and Irene are back babying Marilyn. That didn't take long.

[Foellfan]

22 hours ago, H&Alover said:

Banjo or as John called him Man Bun  didn't catch what he said before - was a delicate little flower wasn't he, quitting because John spoke roughly to him?  John treated them all the same yet no-one else complained.  

Talking of Leah, natch she pulled the old "I'm fine" lie but she was so snappy with everyone so that didn't wash.   Her panic when she was waiting for Justin was very sad and something she couldn't brush off.  It was happening for real just not the way it looked the night before. Glad she's finally told him and more importantly admitted she needs help, hence previous remark about Leah needing time off.   Will it affect the Wedding plans? 

 

 

You hit the nail right on the head about Banjo, though I think it's a shame John apologised, kid needs to grow a backbone!

The Leah bit was really sad I thought, seeing someone hit the edge where they know they're going/gone to a dark, scary place and knowing it's not just going to fade, is often painful and heartrending...yes there will be better days but there will be some of the darkest first and even later they can seem darker than ever and that kind of showed there. Had a random thought though in that moment, Justin should ask Tane for advice, he's been in this position of course, with Mia.

Yep, Tane'snot dealing with this in the best way but then Flick's technique of, in prior times, needing a liver transplant within 4 days or screaming and blaming everyone isn't healthy either.

Felicity's banshee tantrum was truly embarrassing, also the semi-stalker vibes the night before; he knows he'll have to talk to her eventually but trying to force him won't give her the response she wants, she chose to lie and right now he's likely to say things that he or may not regret later and she can't cope with critisism normally, never mind at big times.

Example scenario as of the feelings at the moment.

i.e. F:'I love you, I didn't mean it but you need me.' *Marilyn style doe eyes and mega lip trembles'

T: 'You lied me, get out of the house and I'm strarting divorce proceeding today'.

 F: *storms off to blame everybody except me*

I think Mac was caught between a rock and hard place as Felicity would've ripped her a new one either way, she is right that she doesn't keep tabs on Tane's comings and goings, why would she?  Equally though, if she had let Flick in and she'd seen the empty bed or worse it would've been 'You're letting  him cheat on me, how could you?!'

For once, I both felt for and agreed with Xander, shock horrror, when he said about the shift! 

I'm glad that Rose was the one that was going to support Cash at the hearing, I know Eden is loving and supportive but Rose I think is the better candidate in this because she understands what's a stake psyhologically as a fellow cop.

Mac's collapse was well done, did love the subtle gesture of Mac's hand going up around her jaw and neck, that's usually the pain site in women; apparantly it's like the worst cramp ever that goes through the jaw whereas men are often more likely to feel the classic chest pain.

[H&Alover]

Alf has never, as far as I know, ever taken Life Saving Courses so wouldn't know what is involved, you'd need to ensure everyone, women and men,  are aware of what it actually means, a life could depend on you so you have to listen to what you are being told.  You can't go tip toeing round them in case you upset them. 

Mac lets people she knows - Dean was one - have free meals/drinks so not just Flick. 

I like how Eden was there for Cash and  yes he was unsure but as said better to know now rather then bring kept on tenterhooks, maybe not the best time, but there is always a family crisis with Flick around.   Rose was far the better choice to go with him. Mac's collapse did rather put the spoke in that wheel for him getting out of there quickly.  Flick did initially look rather  when Mac first clasped her chest, but then was genuinely worried when she collapsed.   As I said good job Xander was there and kicked back into paramedic mode and knew what to do.  Cash  though would, being a cop, have had some training as what to do if someone collapsed at a scene.   Btw did SALT staff get the  First Aid training that was mentioned a while ago?   A customer collapsed and no-one knew what had caused it or how to deal with it.  They should also, I think, have  a defib on hand, not just for SALT customers but for anyone using the Surf Club, JP's.  Surfers, we've seen stop breathing and while CPR is the method anyone who knows what they  are doing is the first thing they go for a defib may not be  a bad idea.  If it's the right one anyone can use it. 

Mac was put in a  difficult position with Flick turning up in the middle of the night, she didn't stay away that long did she, even if he had been there who could say if he was alone. Tane is an adult Mac has no control over what he does or who he's doing it with.  Though, in  a way, she would have some say over who he brings home. 

Does anyone else believe that just because Leah had a good nights sleep, it's all over for her and she'll be 'fine'. No me neither.   At least one thing has been settled the Wedding date - 14th Feb.  Of course we are seeing what the Aussies did in October so a good long time to get things organised. 

I know you're not a big Maz fan Red, but I didn't see how Alf and Irene were babying her, Alf just pointed out that Jett had asked her to go on holiday with him and it was before Irene decided to go and see her family.   Jett's holiday had  already been booked so unlikely he could change his dates. 

 

[Dan F]

37 minutes ago, H&Alover said:

hey should also, I think, have  a defib on hand, not just for SALT customers but for anyone using the Surf Club, JP's. 

JP will have one in his office, but a public-facing one happened to appear in the main club room only 2 weeks ago...

[Foellfan]

I did forget to mention it but I did laugh at Leah saying they couldn't use their first date of initmacy as the wedding date, I don't see why not though. They know what it really means but they could say it was the moment they knew they were 'The One', no-one would be any the wiser!  Also liked the Valentine's Day comment as she would be right but then again at one time a Valentine's wedding was daring, these days it almost banal.

H&Alover, you're right about Mac could make the point of no 'out-of-town' guests so's to speak but it wouldn't necassarily change Tane's decision of the doing and it's likely as not Mac would find out anyways in passing so Flick would still blame her I think. Rock meet hard place in the whole shebang; she does care about both of them but I think she perhaps has a deeper connection to Tane through the family and the fact they were both each other's 'knight in shining armour' when trauma and grief came knocking i.e. the miscarriage, losing Ari etc. yes, Flick got he out of financial trouble and I'm not saying that's worthless but I don't think it has the same depth.

 

[Red Ranger 1]

On 04/02/2024 at 15:01, H&Alover said:

I know you're not a big Maz fan Red, but I didn't see how Alf and Irene were babying her, Alf just pointed out that Jett had asked her to go on holiday with him and it was before Irene decided to go and see her family.   Jett's holiday had  already been booked so unlikely he could change his dates. 

Marilyn made her choice to not go on the holiday but no, Daddy Alf has to come in and tell the grown-ups to put themselves out for his little girl. There wasn't really anything else Irene could do once he put her in that position without looking bad.

Pretty tightly focused episode with everything largely feeding into Mackenzie's collapse. We see the best and worst of Felicity: I do think she was genuinely worried for Mackenzie, and probably feels some guilt about what happened, but she's soon sliding into trying to blame it on everyone else.I don't really blame her for tackling Tane when it's the first chance she's had to speak to him in ages, but it wasn't the best time for a shouting match. And while I did feel sorry for her because I do think she was genuinely trying to make up for things, I really can't blame Mackenzie for having had enough of her.

No sympathy for Cash either, I'm afraid. When he snappily asked whether he was supposed to call the review board before or after he did CPR on Mackenzie, the obviously answer was "After": Rose was still there offering him a lift when Mackenzie was in the hands of the medical staff and there was no reason for Cash to forget about his review and go to the hospital to babysit Flick. At least he realised Rose was just being a friend and it's all his own fault. Tane was unnecessarily snippy with Mali, but the chat with Alf was insightful.

Which just leaves Mackenzie, who's conscious but not exactly out of danger. (And I'm not sure she was entirely reassured by having Dana be the one looking after her!) Fortunately, there's a suave, handsome and quirky doctor just round the corner...

[Foellfan]

12 minutes ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

Pretty tightly focused episode with everything largely feeding into Mackenzie's collapse. We see the best and worst of Felicity: I do think she was genuinely worried for Mackenzie, and probably feels some guilt about what happened, but she's soon sliding into trying to blame it on everyone else.

I really can't blame Mackenzie for having had enough of her.

..

I haven't seen the ep yet but those two parts of your post immediately jumped out at me as it reminded me of something that my Mum told me when both had (now ex) friends like Felicity: 'There are the friends you can lean on and the friends that will only ever lean on you'; I think that's Flick in a nutshell in a sense, she can make anyone's disaster about her and her feelings.