2025 Season - UK Episode Discussion

[Medea Fleecestealer]

I wish they'd done a bit more about the travel arrangements.  I know it's not really part of the story, but if they're going to use Alzheimer's for her exit it would have been nice if they'd mentioned anything like assisted travel, companions to meet her in places where she doesn't have family/friends to do so, etc.  Sure she's got a detailed folder with all the info, but what if she forgets it or what it's for?  Still think this storyline was a bit silly myself.  

And who on the crew made the decision to use a single story house for the outside shots of the Beach House?  Come on folks!  I seriously doubt those stairs we've been seeing at the place for the last upteen years lead to the attic space!  

[James Martin]

Have we ever actually seen upstairs at The Beach House?

[Dan F]

10 minutes ago, James Martin said:

Have we ever actually seen upstairs at The Beach House?

Yes, we've seen upstairs a few times - in the 90s when one of the bedrooms was occupied by Chloe, and in later years when Tasha, Bianca and Sasha were living there (though not necessarily the same bedroom each time).

And we saw Irene's bedroom properly for the one and only time in 2019.

 

[c120701]

23 hours ago, j.laur5 said:

Possibly Morag too as Morag meet Zac in 2016 and it’s possible Morag might cross paths with Justin in Morag final guest appearance in 2017.

 

I tried to do the maths on Morag too, but couldn’t work out if they crossed over.

3 hours ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

I meant to mention the beach house exterior reappearing but I forgot. Welcome back after over 20 years!

Same. And nice that Lynne’s Summer Bay journey onscreen started & ended at the Bayside Diner!

Edited October 1 by c120701

[c120701]

I can see why they’re using the Bayside Diner location logistically as it’s near to other filming locations and has good parking for the Production trucks. 
 

I guess the issue with other houses in Palm Beach is they’re either not easily accessible, not suitable or not photogenic enough. The below could work well, but the car park opposite isn’t great.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cGycV2ZdTyP9NkZ3A

[Dan F]

2 hours ago, c120701 said:

I can see why they’re using the Bayside Diner location logistically as it’s near to other filming locations and has good parking for the Production trucks. 
 

I guess the issue with other houses in Palm Beach is they’re either not easily accessible, not suitable or not photogenic enough. The below could work well, but the car park opposite isn’t great.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cGycV2ZdTyP9NkZ3A

Fun fact, that's the spot where Max & Chloe Richards' house used to stand (and the road to the right is my secret spot for parking, most recently seen on the show when Lacey left her safehouse).

Funnily enough there's actually two or three houses (not including the old Nash house) further along that stretch of grass from the 'Bayside Diner' which I thought in the past were suitable for the Beach House - and even a couple on Clareville Beach along from the original - though you need to see them from that side rather than the Streetview side.

[H&Alover]

It has been an age since we saw the outside of the Beach House, all scenes have been on  the ground floor and just outside the back door  but I do remember seeing the upstairs rooms many moons ago but we haven't seen the upstairs of the Stewart House either, apart from Cohen's room. 

Well done to all concerned putting that episode together, not just the cast but all those behind the scenes.  It was beautifully done, happy and sad but not maudlin. The right number of people there, excluding the obligatory extras, the ones that mattered to her. Irene really enjoyed herself, hope all that food got eaten.  I did suddenly click it wasn't just Irene leaving the bay  Lynne was too so doubly poignant. That impromptu speech of John's could have also applied to Lynne's time in the bay and her 'speech' to them too. 

I hope Lynne was given a photo of them all standing there.  Leah and Maz covered well for John but as we saw Justin did manage to persuade to turn up and Irene's gentle chiding of him was so her.  Their dance was so lovely, Maz dragging Alf up to dance and Leah dancing with David.  Roo did seem a bit of an add on just  a brief clutch of their hands  but it would have been a bit odd not to have her there.  It was a tad breezy and is Alf's hat nailed on?  Cash and Eden texted to apologise for not being  there but wished her luck.

Sweet talk with Sonny who she also danced with, it was his suggestion she follow her dream to travel  after all.  It did prompt him to ask Dana to move in with him - hope he keeps his promise of fresh blueberry muffins every day.   

John was totally gobsmacked when Irene gave him that ticket to Paris - did notice it was economy though - she's not made of money - so for him and her it's not goodbye but au revoir.

As you said Red, Irene's way of living did inspire Harper to wish  Jo Good Luck for moving into the Beach House and as she said to Dana who looked a bit taken aback if Irene can accept her new reality so can she.  They don't have to be suddenly BBF but she can be civil and polite. 

It was moving 'hearing' Irene's letters to Leah, Maz, Alf, John, Dana and Harper, telling them to be brave and live your best life and to take care of each other. Of course they will fall out with each other, always have, always will but when it matters they are there for each other. 

I do luv Sonny,  his surprise of driving her to the city in a limo and dressed as a chauffeur was wonderful.  So tears of sadness and joy from me. 

It's going to be a bit of an anti climax tonight.  We did see David standing outside the Beach House with Jo.  Despite Lacey not wanting to know Theo's words must have sunk in a bit as we saw her looking through the window and maybe looking  a tad wistful seeing David and Jo standing in the living room. 

I've said before but I hope we 'hear' from Irene now and again and how her travels are going. 

Edited October 2 by H&Alover

[Red Ranger 1]

On 01/10/2025 at 17:50, Medea Fleecestealer said:

if they're going to use Alzheimer's for her exit it would have been nice if they'd mentioned anything like assisted travel, companions to meet her in places where she doesn't have family/friends to do so, etc.

Again, they did allude to all that with her saying she'd be on guided tours with carers when she's not with family and friends. It's not just her and a folder, she has a proper itinerary arranged.

Anyway, onto Home and Away without Irene for the first time since about 1993, although they haven't taken her off the opening titles yet. (I assume Channel 5 have been given a version without her and are waiting to unveil it?)

I thought Theo was unnecessarily harsh towards Lacey. She's not interfering with his family and telling him to see more of his parents, so I'm not sure what he thinks gives him the right to pass judgement on her being estranged from her family. He even knows her reasons but has decided her feelings don't matter? I'm guessing the plan was just for Lacey to look around the house given they weren't expecting David and Jo to be there. They're certainly making the most of having a beach house exterior again!

For once, Roo's instincts about Adrian were spot on, he was obviously uncomfortable with the idea of Cohen meeting his family. I'm guessing they don't know he's got a son, which would be a difficult conversation to have, but he kind of has to. Running away won't solve anything. For the first time, Alf says he has four sisters (presumably Colleen's the fifth), rather than the three (or two, according to an infamous blooper in 2008) previously established. Of course, that's probably because the show did its research on websites that rely on dubious sources (like this one...) and pretend it had already been established.

Nice thing that Mali and Abigail did for Levi and Mackenzie.

[pembie]

On 01/10/2025 at 17:50, Medea Fleecestealer said:

I wish they'd done a bit more about the travel arrangements.  I know it's not really part of the story, but if they're going to use Alzheimer's for her exit it would have been nice if they'd mentioned anything like assisted travel, companions to meet her in places where she doesn't have family/friends to do so, etc.  Sure she's got a detailed folder with all the info, but what if she forgets it or what it's for?  Still think this storyline was a bit silly myself.  

And who on the crew made the decision to use a single story house for the outside shots of the Beach House?  Come on folks!  I seriously doubt those stairs we've been seeing at the place for the last upteen years lead to the attic space!  

I have paid to go on one of these carers packages and they aren’t cheap so I’m not sure how much a lifetime membership is lol

But never less some nice last moments there Theo and Justin’s song should be released as a single it’s as good as any Ed Sheeran malarkey these days 

 

[CaptainHulk]

On 01/10/2025 at 15:21, James Martin said:

Yes, a lot of holes in the name of dramatic license but as I said in the 5 Star thread, I think they've done the best with what they had.  Nobody would want to see her die onscreen.  And in hindsight maybe a returnee would have distracted focus away from Irene.

If it was a light Tina Thomsen cameo ala Laura Vasquez in 2005 but with more dialogue, they could have swung it with a few quick Fin intros and a "Come on, Mum" before they drove away.

But that's what my vision would have been.

Still a good enough moving ep. A fuss was made but not too much.

Yesterday: Seems one step fwd and 13 bsck for Adrian/Cohen