2025 Season - UK Episode Discussion

[c120701]

I did wonder if Sonny’s description of Irene as “Dana’s Landlady, Irene” was more representative of Remi’s lack of interaction with her rather than Sonny being new to the Bay. 
 

Remi’s spent most of his time at the Surf Club/Salt or the Lyrik house, I guess. The only Lyrik member other than Theo that’s had much to do with the Diner was Kirby.

[Slade]

I wasn't sure what to make of the conversations Tane had with Cash.  He seemed to be asking for advice with regards to Jo's interest, like someone who is relatively inexperienced with women, but since he first arrived in the Bay when he was already seeing one girl, the way Felicity became fixated on him and the way he was sleeping around when their marriage broke down he's never really had a problem getting girls.  So he obviously knows what he's doing.  I still really enjoyed the banter regardless.

I also enjoyed the scenes with Tane and Jo.  They haven't had too many together but already they have way more chemistry than Tane and Harper ever did IMO.  Jo actually reminded me of someone.  Not so much in terms of appearance but certainly in terms of mannerisms.  I couldn't quite remember who until I saw her interacting with Tane yesterday...Hannah.

I'm glad Irene told Harper and Dana.  That really had to happen.

Again, whist Bree is struggling to be intimate, I still think Remi's had no real fallout for cheating on her.
 

[atrus]

Glad that Irene told Dana and Harper; Dana obviously went into overkill mode but only because she's trying to give Irene as much time as possible, I guess. I liked the scene with Harper and Alf on the beach, even if it did feel like some of it was an excuse for Harper to have another whinge about Tane. I think I would have liked to have seen Irene tell Alf herself (head canon is that Marilyn passed it on), but I guess there's only so many times we can see the same thing play out so maybe it wasn't necessary.

Can't decide whether I like Sonny or not. 

[H&Alover]

Irene had to  tell Harper and Dana as they all live together and bit the bullet just blurting it out like she did.  That thought occurred to me too, but no it was the fact he'd been gone awhile fetching Dana.   To be fair to Dana she didn't know it was that important but tamely followed John. Dana, naturally, being  a nurse would be looking into alternative  ways of slowing the symptoms  down but  Irene calmly told to her back off. 

I don't think Sonny other than seeing Irene  in the Dinner has had much contact with her so he would call her Dana's landlady.  He was  a bit miffed when  Dana  called off their time away as Irene wasn't 'very well' but then she told him the real reason which he got. I did notice he didn't tell Remi the news though, btw who is paying for this hotel he's booked?  it's up to Irene who she tells and if she OK's it for others to put the news about.  I did like the way  Irene effectively threw Dana out.  People will start to notice Irene hasn't been in the Diner  at her usual times. 

One good thing, I guess, was Alf being kind to John as he'd heard the news about Irene, telling him he's been such a good friend to her and telling him he can have as much time from his Surf Club duties as he needs. Thought though- hasn't Alf known Irene as long as John has? As an add on I guess as Alf knows Roo does too and it would make sense that Maz told them at home.  I suppose at some time Mac, Levi and Abbey will find out.  it's not his expertise of course but Levi may be able to give some insight into it. 

Tane was a bit of a runaround when he first arrived in the bay and certainly could charm the ladies, and still can, but now he's a dad who's got a big responsibility.  He's got to be careful who he gets involved with, not saying he's got to introduce every woman he meets to Archie to see if they get on, but he'd need to tell any new date he has a son -not on the first date obvs - but maybe the next one.  Woman, like men, could be put off. He wouldn't want  a repeat of his 'date' with Jo. 

Bree did misunderstand Eden's advice about getting the awkward bit out of the way, Bree had said to Eden did Remi kiss  Avalon the same way he kissed her, did he hold her hand the same way.  She obviously didn't mean she should  to go and rip Remi's clothes off and drag him into bed and have her wicked way with him to get it over with.  Anyways it got sorted in the end not counting Abbey again walking in at the wrong moment, she seems to  be doing that  a  lot lately.  Both Bree and Remi wanting to stay together and get through it in their own time.    

Back to Abbey and her vague idea of Remi and Eden becoming  a duet. 

Hotting up again regarding the Langham family it seems.  

[atrus]

Well, very predictably, Roo's offer to Cohen didn't go to plan. I love Roo but she is so frustrating sometimes. Can someone please explain to her the difference between fostering and adoption? If she'd have thought for more than about ten seconds about what the idea of adoption would represent to Cohen at this point in time then she wouldn't be finding herself lost for words at this stage. Of course he isn't ready to say his mum is no longer his mum - they've been separated for a matter of weeks. I'm not sure which of the two potential scenarios going on in Roo's head is worse: Roo having not considered that this would alter things permanently between Cohen and his mum, or Roo having considered it and decided it's fine anyway. Whichever one it is, it doesn't feel like she's putting Cohen's needs first even if she thinks she is. Even if her motives are pure, it makes her look really desperate, like she's trying to claim dibs on Cohen before his mum has a chance to consider what she's done. Really not a good look. 

I'm also frustrated with how Alf is being written - he just seems to blow with the wind as regards fostering and adoption depending on who else is in the episode and has different opinions. First he was dead against fostering, then came back from his break and was miraculously gung-ho. Then he was dead against adoption, and now suddenly, with no particular reason to have changed his mind, he's Roo's biggest cheerleader for adopting Cohen. It's just annoying, particularly because on this occasion his initial instinct to be very wary was the right one. I'm even a bit annoyed at Harper for not going in harder with her obvious reservations. She shouldn't be agreeing to write Roo a reference yet - it's way too soon. Even if Cohen was now singing from the rooftops that he wanted to be adopted, they'd have to seriously consider the context; that perhaps he didn't want to be homeless and didn't want to disappoint Roo, given how obviously eager she must be to have sprung it on him so soon. As I've said previously the initiative or at least the desire to make the arrangement permanent and binding really needs to come from him, and preferably months if not years down the line. Rushing into something like this won't do anyone any favours. There's nothing to stop Roo volunteering to be his long-term foster carer in the meantime.

Continue to think Dana is the standout of the young cast; Ally Harris always brings something interesting and a bit unexpected to every scene. Her upset over Irene was very moving.

Meh at Lacey boring on about how much she hates her sister.

Edited August 28 by atrus

[Red Ranger 1]

Yes, Alf and Roo were both very frustrating here. Alf assuming that because Samantha's distanced herself from Cohen the adoption won't make any difference was absurdly simplistic. I did appreciate Harper trying hard to be a voice of reason. I don't think it was entirely unreasonable for her to agree to write a reference if it's what Cohen wants, because that's a big if. I guess Roo had to address it sooner or later but Cohen ended up asking questions that she doesn't really seem to have an answer for. (Harper continues to work well when just doing her job, by the way.)

I like Lacey, but dragging Dana in to back her up always had the potential to backfire. Sonny did a reasonably good job getting Dana to open up to him, and even Harper seemed impressed.

I do feel like Lacey is being a bit one-note, and taking it out on Theo doesn't help, but when David was saying he was making all the effort and she wouldn't meet him halfway, I found it less than convincing.Sure, he's the one holding out olive branches, but it feels like he wants Lacey back in the family on his terms and is expecting her to accept his version of what happened without giving her any reason to.

[c120701]

55 minutes ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

Yes, Alf and Roo were both very frustrating here. Alf assuming that because Samantha's distanced herself from Cohen the adoption won't make any difference was absurdly simplistic. I did appreciate Harper trying hard to be a voice of reason. I don't think it was entirely unreasonable for her to agree to write a reference if it's what Cohen wants, because that's a big if. I guess Roo had to address it sooner or later but Cohen ended up asking questions that she doesn't really seem to have an answer for. (Harper continues to work well when just doing her job, by the way.)

I agree RE: Harper. I think having a Social Worker in the cast really works alongside the fostering theme, it’s nice that Harper isn’t the looming threat that “The Department” were in the past. Having former foster children in the adult cast helps too.

Cohen pronouncing Mr Stewart as Mr Stoowart is really jarring.

[atrus]

8 hours ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

I don't think it was entirely unreasonable for her to agree to write a reference if it's what Cohen wants, because that's a big if.

Yes, I suppose so. I just think that nobody (especially Cohen) is really in a position to know that at this stage - he's still in the early stages of processing what's happened and has only known Roo for a few weeks, not to mention that they're still in the process of looking for other family members. Adoptions in these scenarios usually happen (if at all) after a matter of years I think, and I don't know how old Cohen is (have we been told? Guessing 13-14?) but I imagine that can be a difficult age to be adopted, where your family identity's already very much in place, and as you're moving into teenage years/autonomy it can feel more intrusive or disorienting to be presented with the concept of having new parents. My understanding is that for these reasons, adoption of teens is relatively rare and that long-term fostering is the more common arrangement. I'm not saying it couldn't be right for them (and I think it would be great for the show to depict the sort of bond developing that would justify it) but it's the sort of thing I'd expect to evolve over months and years.

Anyway, I suppose my feeling was just that Harper ought to have enunciated all this. And I think she would have to be really very sure that he was all in before writing a reference, because I feel even if he's saying 'yes' at this stage there's a good chance it's because it's out of a sense of either fear he'll be moved somewhere worse if he says no, or out of a sense of obligation to reward Roo's kindness to him. Neither of which are good reasons to go into it. 

Edited August 29 by atrus

[H&Alover]

Cohen did catch Roo out when he asked if it meant his mum wouldn't be his mum anymore, he's a smart cookie.  It would all depend on what he decides. He, of course, doesn't know that  Samantha relinquished her parental rights on him which would be a real kick in the teeth for him.  Anyways, wouldn't she  still need to be told he's being put up for adoption?  Harper, to me, has been the voice of reason, she  isn't emotionally involved so can look at it more professionally.  She knows Cohen is in a good home and will be well cared for and she knows Roo, Alf and Marilyn.  Even with her reference  it would still be down to the the real PTB, they may have to come and check the place out, go into Alf's, Marilyn's  and Roo's background. Even Harper thinks Roo is getting way ahead of herself, she's only an Emergency Foster Carer, would she be able to just jump from that to an adopter, plus as Harper said there are forms and processes to go through first. Wouldn't she need to try out long term fostering first, which can last for years? Roo did dismiss the fact TPTB were still looking for any blood relatives of Cohen's.   But this  is Roo though and she does get very obsessed. 

We still  have no idea how old Cohen is I was thinking maybe 11/12, he's a tall lad but that is no guide.  

It was funny when he cottoned onto the fact his shepherds pie was a veggie version and he really pleased Maz  when he asked for another slice. 

Might have known Sonny didn't manage to book anywhere as everywhere was full.  We know he hasn't any money to pay for a room, any room.   I do like Dana but did she have to mention THAT word twice - begins with  S ends with N.   Sonny despite his image as a carefree, nonchalant bloke has a very caring side as we saw when he managed to get Dana open up about her and Harper's parents and how it was for them, drunks and druggies and left to fend for themselves so that is why Dana looks on Irene as the mum she never had.  Irene's recent fall off the wagon must have brought back some bad memories for them. We do tend to not  appreciate our parents and take them for granted hence Sonny's call to his mum. 

How much did that house of the Langham's sell for? David was giving Lacey $1000,000 and Jo the same and I'm guessing he's not leaving himself penniless or  whatever the equivalent is in OZ.  $100,000 is a lot to turn down just to get one over your dad, but Theo who is being used as a mediator between David and Lacey did make a very good point the house had been her mum's too.  Makes sense now why we saw that eternity ring Jo was wearing who said it was her mums.  Methinks Lacey doesn't know this hence David asking Jo to give it to Lacey and the punch up in the surf club.

I know some are finding it tiresome this ongoing cold war between Jo and Lacey but Lacey still blames Jo for the accident that killed their mum and Jo  can't explain how it happened as she can't remember and she thinks David knows more than he's saying.  It would rankle and she can't grief properly neither can David or Jo. 

There seems to be a start of  new friendship between David and  Justin.

 

[Medea Fleecestealer]

Considering Mali cut back on the surf lesson side of the business to concentrate on the surfboard side I can only hope he's doing those while he's off helping his family with whatever.  Otherwise the business is down the drain big time.  

Have to say looking at the little we've seen of the accident why were they not wearing their seat belts?  Isn't it the law to do so in Aussie land?  If they had been no way would Jo have hit her head on the steering wheel.