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

[adam436]

29 minutes ago, Revealed said:

Also the 20 somethings back then were more responsible adults whereas now they're more like the irresponsible teenagers. Again maybe this is how times have changed.

Yes, considering Travis and Rebecca were only in their 20s when they assumed the role of foster parents at Summer Bay House, as were Sally and possibly Flynn. 

I think part of the current characerisation is due to the lack of teenagers in the show, so the current 20somethings likely get the storylines that would have been once assigned to the "irresponsible teenagers". If that makes sense. 

[cymbaline]

They love to point out that a young Heath Ledger was briefly on the show. It's certainly surreal to see him tangling with Fisher and hanging out with Sally. Unless they decide to start casting young people again, we're not going to see the likes of that again. It's a shame, especially now that Neighbours has gone. Effectively, two outlets for young actors to gain experience are now off the table. 

[adam436]

9 hours ago, cymbaline said:

Effectively, two outlets for young actors to gain experience are now off the table. 

The only outlets really, other than short-run series. We've had a few breakout stars like Thomas Weatherall (Heartbreak High) and Felix Cameron (Boy Swallows Universe), but the exposure is limited due to the length of the series.

[Revealed]

I doubt Heath Ledger got his break in Hollywood because of his brief stint in Home & Away which nobody would remember had it not been Heath Ledger.

By my reckoning the only permanent teenage cast members of the 90s who went onto bigger and better things in the acting world were Melissa George and Isla Fisher. There was also a gap between Home & Away and Hollywood for both of them.

For the rest of Angels teenage group Shane became a window cleaner, Damien a builder, Tug an author and Sarah a make up artists. For Shannon's group Selena became an author, Chloe tried and failed to crack Hollywood but quit acting to start a family, Jack became a musician and no idea what became of Curtis but lack of anything about him on the internet suggests he's not acting.

Several of them have had acting credits to their name since they left but a small part in 1 episode of a TV show once a year is unlikely to pay the bills.

That all said I'm sure anyone who was on Home & Away in the past can make a bit of money now from that fact, other than that I don't really think it's closing the door to a successful acting career for the teenagers of today.

[James Martin]

I'm going to argue the show is at a low point at the moment.  We have three front burner storylines - Eden's health, Zayn's rehabilitation & Damelia - and I'm only interested in the latter.  The other two are completely failing to hold my interest, so much so that, because I've let myself fall some way behind and I'm struggling to find the time to catch up, I'm not just fast forwarding through the Fowler-Newman's stuff, I'm skipping over 8791 entirely because there's nothing in it which will hold my attention, easier just to watch the recap which will let me know what's going on.

[adam436]

7 hours ago, James Martin said:

I'm going to argue the show is at a low point at the moment.  We have three front burner storylines - Eden's health, Zayn's rehabilitation & Damelia - and I'm only interested in the latter. 

I'm really only interested in the Zane story, but even that has some plot holes. Would Marilyn really risk everything to help a pen pal? It might have worked better had he been someone from her past, perhaps someone she was a nanny for or the son of an old friend or something?

I'm not interested in the Eden story and even David/Ameila doesn't interest me, despite being a fan of Nicole and Jeremy as actors. 

I am excited to have Richie back and looking forward to him integrate in the community. Other than that, one of the few elements I'm enjoying right now is the John and Mali scenes. 

[cymbaline]

On 27/09/2026 at 22:23, Revealed said:

I doubt Heath Ledger got his break in Hollywood because of his brief stint in Home & Away which nobody would remember had it not been Heath Ledger.By my reckoning the only permanent teenage cast members of the 90s who went onto bigger and better things in the acting world were Melissa George and Isla Fisher. There was also a gap between Home & Away and Hollywood for both of them.

 

I doubt it either, because I never said it in the first place. 

 

[Revealed]

What you did say was "Effectively, two outlets for young actors to gain experience are now off the table. "

What I'm saying is it's no real loss for the young actors because most of them get no further and those who do were probably going to make it anyway.

[adam436]

I think the twentysomething cast staying longer means less opportunity too, since the cast turnover is lower.

Actors like Stephen Peacocke was a "breakout" star, so it's not just the teenagers who had H&A as their outlet. There just hasn't been a star like that on H&A for a long time that's gone on bigger things - either teen or young adult. Perhaps Phillipa Northeast is the most recent, who's been working pretty consistently in the last few years? No one else from the last 10 years springs to mind.

[cymbaline]

13 hours ago, adam436 said:

I think the twentysomething cast staying longer means less opportunity too, since the cast turnover is lower.

Actors like Stephen Peacocke was a "breakout" star, so it's not just the teenagers who had H&A as their outlet. There just hasn't been a star like that on H&A for a long time that's gone on bigger things - either teen or young adult. Perhaps Phillipa Northeast is the most recent, who's been working pretty consistently in the last few years? No one else from the last 10 years springs to mind.

That's true too. There aren't the opportunities elsewhere, so you can't blame them for staying for as long as they can. It's interesting that older, established actors are increasingly showing up as guests as well. It seems to be happening more than it did, which says something about the way the industry has gone.