Does the show need an injection of life, if so, then what?

[Irishbraxton]

On 06/05/2026 at 02:33, pembie said:

I think axing characters like Mali Abby maybe Leah would help I think they have quite a few pointless characters now I’m not sure we need both Alf and John 

I like Abby she needs to be written better though she needs a strong storyline someone on Digital Spy said she was Felicity’s replacement but she arrived at the same time as Felicity died so I don’t see how she is like Felicity two very different characters I imagine she will be off next year as her three years is up in early 2027, you can’t axe Leah, Alf and John they are untouchable and are linked to old school H&A. Apart from Richie and Amelia are any other castings coming up ?.

Edited May 7 by Irishbraxton

[pembie]

Don’t get rid of John and Alf but I don’t think we need both John is the better character these days 

[Revealed]

On 02/05/2026 at 13:27, ebrett84 said:

Here's the thing: If you look at a picture of a dog and say "actually, that's an iphone", you're not "entitled to your opinion", you're just wrong. And, yes, a moron on top of that.

Your entire thing in this thread is just very obviously projecting your own opinions onto that of an "audience". "Oh no, I'm not homophobic, heaven forbid, how could you say that? But, you know, the audience is. Definitely not me though, not at all". 

I just want you to know that it's very obvious and nobody is buying it.

In my post that you quoted I said that most people aren't homophobic and they aren't.

My own opinions are quite straightforward. Given the choice between having 2 lesbians or not 2 lesbians I'd pick 2 lesbians because I love watching lesbians. Given the choice between 2 gay males or not 2 gays males I'd pick not 2 gay males because I'm a straight bloke who mainly watches the show for the hot women. That is not homophobic, it's personal taste. 

Would I stop watching the show if they introduced a gay character? No. There are other types of character that are much more likely to make me switch off that they have had in the cast before but I carried on watching. 

It would be naive to think that nobody would switch off if they were to introduce an LGBT character though. 

[joany208121]

Does anyone else think the show needs more cross pollination. When was the last time Mali and Leah interacted or Abby and Maz? The show lacks a community feels as characters don’t cross pollinate. 
 

I’d also add getting rid of Jo, she’s one of the worst characters the show has had. 

[pembie]

10 minutes ago, joany208121 said:

Does anyone else think the show needs more cross pollination. When was the last time Mali and Leah interacted or Abby and Maz? The show lacks a community feels as characters don’t cross pollinate. 
 

I’d also add getting rid of Jo, she’s one of the worst characters the show has had. 

It might be because I fancy her slightly I don’t know why either but I don’t really find Jo that bad really people say the acting is bad but I haven’t really noticed that either 

Im sticking with they should get rid of Mali though really dislike him I think Tane is here forever 

16 minutes ago, joany208121 said:

Does anyone else think the show needs more cross pollination. When was the last time Mali and Leah interacted or Abby and Maz? The show lacks a community feels as characters don’t cross pollinate. 
 

I’d also add getting rid of Jo, she’s one of the worst characters the show has had. 

I think they should stop with the Tane stuff now for abit especially with Brax gone now If Tane isn’t leaving anytime soon at least rest him abit I sometimes think even Ethan sounds abit bored lol

[adam436]

On 30/05/2026 at 00:05, joany208121 said:

Does anyone else think the show needs more cross pollination. When was the last time Mali and Leah interacted or Abby and Maz? The show lacks a community feels as characters don’t cross pollinate. 

The problem is that Alf, Roo and Marilyn are often segragated from the rest of the cast unless the story requires it, like the recent one involving Alf. This could be easily solved with one of the younger characters being a lodger at Summer Bay House, or introducing a younger character with connections to them. I guess the Stewart family has been fully explored at this point, that's it's difficult to come up with a younger character in that age group, unless Ric or Ryder had a never-before-mentioned sibling, or they introduce someone from the extended family like Rebecca and Travis' child, who I believe was referenced in the early 2000s I believe. 

I think this is why the Marilyn/Heather retcon was so frustrating. If the producers had used it as a chance to introduce Marilyn's child as a regular character and we had 3+ years (minus the initial reveal/reconcilation) of Mairlyn being in a mother/daughter relationship, it would almost have been forgiveable. The same thing with Roo's half-brother. They could have been used to introduce new connections to both characters, but instead they were just written for the sake of one-off guest storylines. Meanwhile, so many of the younger cast have siblings introduced who go on to become regulars. 

We saw how having Theo and Harper/Dana made Leah and Irene more "connected", so it could work for the other veteran characters too. The writers have been forced to make more of an effort with John since Irene left, but again he could always benefit from a lodger or a younger family member living with him.

[Homeandawayfan.]

I am glad we at least have Alf, Roo, John and Maz around. To think H&A is just a year and a half from another landmark birthday, the big Four O.

Alf is the longest continuous Australian soap character of all time I think. I know Paul Robinson in Neighbours was in the first and last episodes (Mar 1985 and Dec 2025) but he has not been in the show continuously. He took 11 years out from 1993 to 2004. 

[adam436]

20 hours ago, Homeandawayfan. said:

I am glad we at least have Alf, Roo, John and Maz around. To think H&A is just a year and a half from another landmark birthday, the big Four O.

That's come around quick! It will be interesting to see if anything is done onscreen for that. I'm not expecting a massive reunion by any stretch, but something with Alf front and centre could still work. Having said that, Alf's big 30th anniversary storyline was Martha being alive, so I should probably be careful what I wish for

We had flashbacks for Irene's farewell, which makes me think the producers acknowledge the rich history of their mainstay cast, even if the producers don't want to acknolwedge the age of the show itself. 

[Irishbraxton]

Will H&A make it to 50 never mind 40 that’s the question lol, but they won’t acknowledge it with a celebration like Neighbours did when they reached an anniversary milestone, if anything it will be acknowledged quietly as they don’t want to age the show. Neighbours was revived just so it could reach its 40th and then bow out as a soap, it was a lap of honour kind of thing, when they said it was back for two years I knew it was borrowed time for Neighbours.

The Pier Diner also needs a makeover it has been the same since 2010 so it could do with some modernising, I like that they still have the Hamburger Phone but the jukebox was iconic and it hasn’t felt like the Diner since.

[Jamie!]

On 20/06/2026 at 12:49, Homeandawayfan. said:

I am glad we at least have Alf, Roo, John and Maz around. To think H&A is just a year and a half from another landmark birthday, the big Four O.

Alf is the longest continuous Australian soap character of all time I think. I know Paul Robinson in Neighbours was in the first and last episodes (Mar 1985 and Dec 2025) but he has not been in the show continuously. He took 11 years out from 1993 to 2004. 

I sadly think it's more likely for the producers to celebrate 40 years by revolving the anniversary about the River Boys than have it about Alf or about celebrating the history of the show and such like.