2025 Season - UK Episode Discussion

[atrus]

There were a lot of nice moments in today's episode, especially between Alf and Cohen, and some tear-jerker moments such as hearing the letter to his mum which was pretty heartbreaking. Being honest I think this 'new mum' business is all still happening far too soon, though. It doesn't ring at all true to me that Cohen is comfortable with that language yet. (I have the sense also that the lines would have been better suited to a slightly younger child, maybe 10-11. Which I know you said he might be 11 @H&Alover but I think he's surely meant to be at least a teen? I've seen somewhere that the actor is 15 I think but likely playing a bit younger I'd say.) Alf was right to explain that there was no wrong answer to the adoption question which mitigated my fears a bit that Cohen would feel pressured into it. But nonetheless it's extremely early in the relationship to be making decisions like this. What if Cohen's mum is so upset by the letter that she changes her mind, or changes it on her release (it's not like she's going down for life)? What if another family member turns up? (I'd put money on one of these two things happening, given he's a guest character!) There are so many unknowns at this point and I just think all this could have waited until much further down the line once the lie of the land was clearer. 

I'm slowly approaching simmering point, too, as it's been several weeks now, at the unaddressed question of how/when/whether Cohen is going to get an education in Summer Bay, given the ban on mentioning the school or seeing the uniform. Why isn't he at school right now, for that matter, rather than hanging around fishing all day? Is it the holidays? Has there been an explanation that I've missed? Will there ever be? 

Good job that Alf has Duncan knots to remind him of actual Duncan, in the absence of any other kind of contact in the last nine years!  I did appreciate the reference though. 

I suppose I have to give Lacey a little bit of credit for being principled enough to turn down $100,000, even if her reasons are pig-headed and silly. Equally though it's not on for Jo to claim whole ownership of the ring without Lacey's assent. I have limited sympathy with people getting so het up over objects anyway, but accepting they both see it as a means of feeling closer to their late mum (guess it's their equivalent of a Duncan knot!), can't they share custody?

Edited August 29 by atrus

[Red Ranger 1]

Alf's episode count this week:Three, plus a stock footage appearance on Monday. Marilyn was in four, but she wasn't credited on Tuesday and only appeared in one early scene before abruptly disappearing, so I'm guessing that was moved from the previous episode.

I can't quite decide if it's Roo that hasn't thought this adoption thing through or the show, because there were a lot of moments that had me going "But...but...but..." Roo tells Cohen that she's not replacing his mum, but that's exactly what she is doing, both legally and practically. Again, she seems to have overlooked the fact that adoption isn't the only way to provide him with a permanent/long-term home, and she's continuing to compare it to Cash being taken in by Gary while ignoring the key difference that Cash's parents were dead and he had no-one else. As atrus notes above, what if his mother suddenly wants to step up again in two years when she gets out? It seems far too early to be proposing something so drastic and irreversible. And the lack of a dissenting voice now Harper isn't in the episode and Alf's done an abrupt 180, with everyone gushing about what a great idea it is, doesn't help. I also felt like Cohen writing the letter to his mum in order to sort things out underlined how little he's really understanding the situation, since it'll almost certainly be sent back unread.

The ring is a difficult one. I guess my feeling is that Lacey took off and left it behind and kind of relinquished her claim to it, so I'm not saying Jo should hand it over, although it'd be nice if she would rather than just dogmatically digging her heels in, which reinforces my feeling that she's not the reasonable one here as she's sometimes perceived to be. Lacey trying to grab it off her neck wasn't the right way to handle it either way. Some very confused dialogue made it sound like their mum got the ring the day she died?

I guess it's not a surprise since we knew they'd gone away, but given that Levi and Mackenzie heard on Monday that everyone has long waiting lists, it's a bit abrupt to suddenly have them doing the IVF anyway!

[CaptainHulk]

Tired of Lacey and her sister tbh.

Glad Alf exercised his Town Sherriff Powers, too bad he didn't crack warning shot!

Surprise nothing took with the way Mac/Levi go at it tbf.

(And yes, I have been drinking. Friday, payday and that)

[atrus]

13 hours ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

Again, she seems to have overlooked the fact that adoption isn't the only way to provide him with a permanent/long-term home, and she's continuing to compare it to Cash being taken in by Gary while ignoring the key difference that Cash's parents were dead and he had no-one else.

And even in that case Cash and Felicity were long-term fostered, not adopted. 

[c120701]

4 hours ago, atrus said:

And even in that case Cash and Felicity were long-term fostered, not adopted. 

As was Roo’s first husband… It’s not unexpected but a reference to that or a “do you know… this house used to be full of foster children?” would be a nice tie in and might even help Cohen as Cash has that he’s not alone in going through this.

[H&Alover]

That was a very articulate and moving letter Cohen wrote to his mum, made me choke up. He's thinking about his mum and how his adoption may be best for her.  I wonder if Roo put a note in saying Sam should read the enclosed and not just return it unread? He's got an old head on young shoulders there and acting very grown up, guess he had to be seeing how much drifting around he and his mum did - unlike Lacey and Jo - more of which later.  Very glad Roo backed off and didn't push him into making a decision and there were tender scenes  with Alf and Cohen's question did flummox Alf.  Roo may well be replacing Samantha as Cohen's mum legally and practically but not emotionally.   Besides Roo has yet to get the adoption process underway yet so nothing settled yet, she may have to settle for being a long term foster carer. 

Lots of actors/actresses have played younger than their actual age, it is frustrating though we don't know his actual age. 

Right Jo and Lacey - what stared off as a quite talk between them soon descended into another shouting match and then the cat fight in the Surf Club.  Any other time David being asked by Lacey if she could have her mum's eternity ring wouldn't have been a problem but of course he had already gifted it to Jo.  I bet David  wishes he was dealing with the RB's they'd be a lot less trouble.  Obviously not a wise idea that Jo brandished it in Lacey's face saying "It's mine".  Theo did try and calm things down but it took Sheriff Alf, didn't have  a stetson but hey a tin hat would be appropriate,  to stop it and he called dad in, but was Salt the right place to sort it out?  Nothing seemed  to get settled - but I have read a compromise is met.     That confrontation did bring on a panic attack for Jo, flashbacking to the accident.  

Then there was Levi and Mac starting off their IVF treatment.  Wouldn't the the first course have to be done in a hospital or doctor's surgery so Mac would know where to inject it?  Yes I know Levi is a doctor but Mac is his partner not another patient.  He was also seeing it from a  doctor's point of view telling Mac there would likely be  side effects, mood swings, etc. does that get easier or worse over time? At least now there are no longer   whopping great big needles used just epi pen type instruments. Seeing as they were doing that in the living room with an unlocked  front door I was half expecting Abbey to come bursting in right at the most wrong moment.  

[CaptainHulk]

On 29/08/2025 at 18:45, atrus said:

There were a lot of nice moments in today's episode, especially between Alf and Cohen, and some tear-jerker moments such as hearing the letter to his mum which was pretty heartbreaking. Being honest I think this 'new mum' business is all still happening far too soon, though. It doesn't ring at all true to me that Cohen is comfortable with that language yet. (I have the sense also that the lines would have been better suited to a slightly younger child, maybe 10-11. Which I know you said he might be 11 @H&Alover but I think he's surely meant to be at least a teen? I've seen somewhere that the actor is 15 I think but likely playing a bit younger I'd say.) Alf was right to explain that there was no wrong answer to the adoption question which mitigated my fears a bit that Cohen would feel pressured into it. But nonetheless it's extremely early in the relationship to be making decisions like this. What if Cohen's mum is so upset by the letter that she changes her mind, or changes it on her release (it's not like she's going down for life)? What if another family member turns up? (I'd put money on one of these two things happening, given he's a guest character!) There are so many unknowns at this point and I just think all this could have waited until much further down the line once the lie of the land was clearer. 

I'm slowly approaching simmering point, too, as it's been several weeks now, at the unaddressed question of how/when/whether Cohen is going to get an education in Summer Bay, given the ban on mentioning the school or seeing the uniform. Why isn't he at school right now, for that matter, rather than hanging around fishing all day? Is it the holidays? Has there been an explanation that I've missed? Will there ever be? 

Good job that Alf has Duncan knots to remind him of actual Duncan, in the absence of any other kind of contact in the last nine years!  I did appreciate the reference though. 

Tbf Alf visited him and Bryce after Caroline died.

And teens playing younger characters is nothing unusual. Francie Muniz was 14 playing Malcom who was 11.

[Medea Fleecestealer]

Honestly, are you really going to sti down in a public place to try and sort out your family problems?  Better that David dragged Lacey and Jo out to the park or beach than sit them down in Salt to talk things over.  

Mail still absent.    It's a wonder any businesses survive in Summer Bay the way people just drop their work and bugger off to do something else.  

[Red Ranger 1]

I dunno, I guess I'm mainly wishing that Theo would show Lacey a bit more empathy and not come out with lines like "this isn't the Lacey I fell in love with" when the Lacey he fell in love with was a gang leader's moll. I think Lacey did a pretty good job of being the bigger person and arranging a truce. David and Jo might be happy with "I just drove the car into a tree for no reason" but I can understand why Lacey feels there's more to it than that. It definitely sounds like if their mum didn't die the day she got the ring then it was certainly not long after. Tane glosses over a few details when talking about Mikaere's death.

I'm not sure if I should be seeing red flags but Cohen definitely still seems a bit insecure about his new set-up and seemed to latch onto Cash's recollection of doing odd jobs while missing the point that he didn't need to. Alf had some nice moments tutoring Cohen on the fine art of barbecuing.

[atrus]

On 31/08/2025 at 14:45, H&Alover said:

Lots of actors/actresses have played younger than their actual age

12 hours ago, CaptainHulk said:

And teens playing younger characters is nothing unusual.

I know, and I think he is playing younger, but in this case I'd say he's not a believable 11. 13-14 seems more like it. 

Not a lot to add today. I'd say Cohen is right to feel insecure, but he ought to be less worried about Roo changing her mind on adopting him and more worried about someone else coming out of the woodwork to 'claim' him or kidnap him or both. (I have no advance knowledge and wouldn't mention it if I did, but that's usually the trajectory of these things.) The Lacey/Jo relationship seems to be thawing to a degree which has to better than watching them try to scratch each other's eyes out.