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

[Gerard]

On 08/10/2026 at 01:42, Jamie! said:

I think I may have said this before, but with the show's name being Home and Away, it needs to have fostering as a regular element of the show. Because the name "Home and Away" refers to the fostered kids being both "home", (living with foster parents), and "away", (away from their biological families).

no full time characters, (and there haven't been for a good while), that are in Summer Bay being fostered and having a home away from home. Not that I'd want them to, but they may as well give the show a new name that fits what they're doing now.

I remember many years ago (long before the fostering element disappeared) a completely unfounded rumour that the show was going to be renamed "Summer Bay". That would be a more fitting title these days... oh wait, it seems to be set as much in Yabbie Creek with the hospital and police station. Would be more accurate to rename it "Yabbie Creek Blues" or "Northern Shores Emergency" 

I'm surprised they haven't started a grittier spin-off in Yabbie Creek or Mangrove River. But if they removed the emergency services storylines from H&A they might need to start relying on character-driven family stories again.

[adam436]

5 hours ago, Gerard said:

if they removed the emergency services storylines from H&A they might need to start relying on character-driven family stories again.

It would just focus on the romantic/relationship dramas. And to fill in the time in the extra time, we'd have many more plot-driven break-ups/reuinions or more of a relationship-merry-go-round. I can't see it relying on character-driven family stories, though we may see more of them through the Fowlers or the Langhams. 

 

[zoethomas]

IMO the only way this show will get an injection of life again is if they get new producers. The current ones have been around too long; all organizations need a shake up eventually, and this show is no different. I doubt the current producers will do anything interesting for the 40th anniversary in 2028; they don't have any interest in the show's history apart from the Braxtons.

The show needs to bring back more age groups, the only actual young characters are Abigial, Lacey and Richie. But no teenagers, no caravan park, no fostering all just lessens the community feel of the show. They should add a villain to the cast to bring the community together again.

[hapitoby]

On 17/10/2026 at 00:14, zoethomas said:

IMO the only way this show will get an injection of life again is if they get new producers. The current ones have been around too long; all organizations need a shake up eventually, and this show is no different. I doubt the current producers will do anything interesting for the 40th anniversary in 2028; they don't have any interest in the show's history apart from the Braxtons.

The show needs to bring back more age groups, the only actual young characters are Abigial, Lacey and Richie. But no teenagers, no caravan park, no fostering all just lessens the community feel of the show. They should add a villain to the cast to bring the community together again.

Well said. Irene's leaving with no returns really summed it up. The actor that played her son Damian said he'd come back for it if asked. There's easily a good 20 + people they could have picked for Irene's farewell even if just two or three. The flashbacks were great but I feel like it's more Lynne pushing for that given her involvement with the storyline. I made a joke at the time that if Stephen Peacocke was up for it, they'd probably bring Brax back. Funnily enough, the following week, it was announced he and Ricky were returning. It really summed up the lack of interest in characters outside of the Braxtons or just in the last 10 years 

 

I very much doubt we'll get anything for the 40th, maybe some promos and maybe it'll be revealed Ailsa is still alive hah

We've had Irene and Marilyn's long lost kid, I think it'll be Too or Leah next. Maybe Justin. Alf and John have had this storyline too but I guess they could do it again.

I agree about the producers but just don't think it'll happen 

Yes they need a villain like Amanda or Angie.

[adam436]

8 hours ago, hapitoby said:

I very much doubt we'll get anything for the 40th, maybe some promos and maybe it'll be revealed Ailsa is still alive hah

Wasn't Martha being alive "sold" as a 30th anniversary story? My biggest gripe with that story was the fact that it seems that Ailsa was pretty much written out of existence to accomodate it. A simple line about Alf telling Ailsa the truth and them both agreeing to keep it a secret would have sufficied. Ailsa would have understood the need to "start over" more than anyone. And all that, so Alf could have a wife who lives in a completely different town...

I am certainly not expecting an all-singing-all-dancing reunion event, but I think we will get something focused around Alf again. I'm not sure what though - maybe a health crisis?

We've also got episode 9,000 coming up in 2027 too. We had Flick and Tane's wedding for episode 8,000, so I wouldn't be surprised if we get an "event" like that again to mark the occasion. 

 

8 hours ago, hapitoby said:

We've had Irene and Marilyn's long lost kid, I think it'll be Too or Leah next. Maybe Justin. Alf and John have had this storyline too but I guess they could do it again.

Alf's actually had two - Ric's dad and Quinn Jackson! Other stalwart characters Colleen, Ailsa and Donald (if you count Bobby?) all had a secret child too. I don't think Justin having a long-lost child would be that offensive to be honest, because he doesn't have anywhere near the history that the others have. Marilyn's is another that irked me because we were meant to believe that all happened before her marriage to Donald and their journey to become parents. If it happened after Byron, I'd have been more on board. And that still would have put Heather in her early 20s at the time, so not a massive difference storyline wise either. 

 

 

[hapitoby]

11 hours ago, adam436 said:

Wasn't Martha being alive "sold" as a 30th anniversary story? My biggest gripe with that story was the fact that it seems that Ailsa was pretty much written out of existence to accomodate it. A simple line about Alf telling Ailsa the truth and them both agreeing to keep it a secret would have sufficied. Ailsa would have understood the need to "start over" more than anyone. And all that, so Alf could have a wife who lives in a completely different town...

I am certainly not expecting an all-singing-all-dancing reunion event, but I think we will get something focused around Alf again. I'm not sure what though - maybe a health crisis?

We've also got episode 9,000 coming up in 2027 too. We had Flick and Tane's wedding for episode 8,000, so I wouldn't be surprised if we get an "event" like that again to mark the occasion. 

 

Alf's actually had two - Ric's dad and Quinn Jackson! Other stalwart characters Colleen, Ailsa and Donald (if you count Bobby?) all had a secret child too. I don't think Justin having a long-lost child would be that offensive to be honest, because he doesn't have anywhere near the history that the others have. Marilyn's is another that irked me because we were meant to believe that all happened before her marriage to Donald and their journey to become parents. If it happened after Byron, I'd have been more on board. And that still would have put Heather in her early 20s at the time, so not a massive difference storyline wise either. 

 

 

Well said. Yeah it was sold a the 30th anniversary event. It was so poorly executed, it was obvious that the writers knew it. They kept tiptoeing around the whole thing and keeping it as vague as possible. I wish they had acknowledged Ailsa or that maybe Alf had only discovered after she had passed 

Yeah I think at best we'll get a big event or maybe even something low-key but not just a random episode, some sort of event. Alf will probably have a big storyline.

Marilyn's storyline offended me the most. I could accept it more as grieving Marilyn having a child or an affair with the father of the children she looked after in England. Either she can't cope with Heather and was pushed out, or Heather blames Marilyn for her family falling apart...a repeat of Penn Graham's storyline but it'll be much more forgiving.

 

If they were to do it again, I agree Justin's would be the least offensive. He doesn't have the history the others do plus he spend 7+ years in witness protection and was known as having many one night stands during that time until he got with Pheobe. Even Nina couldn't contact him or thought he was dead and the name change didn't help (hopefully the writers remember his birth name is Jack). So yeah I'd be fine with that.

[Red Ranger 1]

18 hours ago, adam436 said:

it seems that Ailsa was pretty much written out of existence to accomodate it. A simple line about Alf telling Ailsa the truth and them both agreeing to keep it a secret would have sufficied. Ailsa would have understood the need to "start over" more than anyone.

 

7 hours ago, hapitoby said:

I wish they had acknowledged Ailsa or that maybe Alf had only discovered after she had passed

I mean...they did and they didn't? It was mentioned at first that Ailsa was around when Alf found out and he didn't tell her, but then it got to the point where they just stopped mentioning her and never really started again.

[pembie]

And when Alf was talking to Sonny about Dana he seemed to have totally forgotten Alisa even existed  

[adam436]

12 hours ago, hapitoby said:

Yeah I think at best we'll get a big event or maybe even something low-key but not just a random episode, some sort of event. 

They've probably already secured Brax, Ricky and Heath for the episodes 

I honestly think them, or maybe Dean and Ziggy, is as much as we can expect in terms of celebrating the past. But then again, with only 4 characters who have been around from first 20 years (that's counting recast Roo, who was around for the first 18 months), coupled with the producers' lack of interest in those years, the early years kind of feel irrelevant now. 

[cymbaline]

Duncan would be a good returning character, but that probably won't happen because of the Martha nonsense.