2025 Season - UK Episode Discussion

[Red Ranger 1]

I wonder if Cash and Eden have realised that their original wedding date would have coincided with the season finale and decided to move it back so there's less chance of anyone being kidnapped or crashing a car on the way there. Even though they left things in a better place than they could have done, I was surprised to hear that Eden's not only stayed in touch with her father but invited him to the wedding. And I'm not entirely sure of the wisdom of that, given that chatting on the phone and texting is one thing but Eden did seem to find being in the same room as him triggering, so see how that works out. Abigail being the matron of honour from hell to Eden was amusing and rather scary, and a nice callback to when Eden was on the other side and desperately trying to find a wedding dress that Felicity would like.

John pulling out of being celebrant is a shame. I can see his reasoning, such as it is, but it feels like an emotional gut response.I don't think Irene actually thought he was Jett, she just got the names confused. And while I can understand his desperation, if Irene is going to forget him, I'm not sure spending all his time hanging around her is going to stop it. So I hope he changes his mind, because it would mean a lot to them and it would mean a lot to him. Bad timing for Irene to walk in on Leah and Justin messing around, the fact she wasn't angry, just upset makes it worse.

They seem to be positioning Sonny as a kind of lovable bum, which works to an extent, but even little things like him handing Leah the money for coffee last episode had me thinking "Where did that come from? Does he have a money tree?" Is the idea he does odd jobs to make what little money he needs? I like that someone finally used the phrase "found family" which does seem to be what the fostering angle and the whole show has evolved into, the idea that the people around you that care about you become your family.

Spoiler

Yes, that's Bobby and Greg in the spoiler tagged video above, from Lynne's first scene. Some of the clips were a bit brief and a bit obscure but there was a couple of Ken and one of Angelo.

 

[c120701]

On 02/09/2025 at 15:38, Dan F said:

I was secretly hoping that, since Alf hasn't managed to bring up the fact that he himself was a foster parent (briefly), he might have suggested Roo reach out to Pippa at a point where she could have done with some advice about Eliza or Cohen. Or even when she was first considering becoming a foster parent.

Just a passing comment that she'd spoken to her would have been a nice reference to the past, which I'm sure wouldn't have caused the universe to implode.

Anyway, today's ep was the moment we were talking about a couple of weeks ago, Irene's signing over the diner being a very significant scene both off-screen and on-screen:

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It’s also the first time since 2001 that the Diner has been in sole ownership, I did think briefly that it was the first time in it’s history, but there was that spell between Ailsa’s death and Theo Snr buying Leah’s share.

On 02/09/2025 at 20:03, Red Ranger 1 said:

We got another nice flashback montage for Irene: Mostly post-2004 clips (or whenever they moved to widescreen), although they managed to sneak Selina in there. At some point I'm going to have to go back and look at that latest nostalgic photo shelf: Shane and Angel's wedding photo front and centre, and a familiar Kane and Kirsty photo off to one side. I wondered why they included that phone conversation with Jett, but I guess it was to set up Irene getting him and John confused. Irene still manages to be straight talking with Dana though, and a nice moment between her and Sonny at the end after Justin explains her history.

Shane & Angel’s Wedding was an odd one to be in there, but then Irene & Angel were quite close when they worked at the Diner together.

I always find it a little odd that there are none of her kids, but I assume that’s to not draw attention to there being none of her kids as they are today. Maybe they’re in her bedroom. 

I loved the clips of Irene’s various wards. 
 

I wonder when Alf will ever get a scene with Irene. Does Ray batch scenes in advance or something? You’d be forgiven for thinking that he and Lynne don’t get on.

[Red Ranger 1]

41 minutes ago, c120701 said:

Shane & Angel’s Wedding was an odd one to be in there, but then Irene & Angel were quite close when they worked at the Diner together.

I did ponder the fact that Damian was best man, but if that was the connection she'd probably have one of the whole wedding party up.

[H&Alover]

I personally thought six months was a long time to plan a Wedding, how long does it take to get everything together?   They have happened in a few weeks before now. I know there are processes they have to go through in Aus that we don't have to go through in the UK but still six months? 

Hardly any soap Wedding goes without a hitch of some kind.  I  thought of Eden being Flick's Maid of Honour as she was just like Abigail is at the moment - truly sisters in that regard.    That came out of nowhere that Eden and Jimmy have been  keeping in touch, we still have three months to go so she's likely thinking things will be stable enough by then. 

Is John thinking that Irene won't last longer than three months  in her currant condition which is why he's told Eden and Cash he can't be their celebrant?  He didn't say why so that means her news isn't public knowledge because if Cash did know he would understand as he had been a lodger at Irene's and he thinks a lot of her.  Irene, of course, was not a happy bunny when she found out so he had to tell her she'd called him Jett which she denied.  

It was lovely seeing that talk between John and Dana sharing their concern about Irene and her forgetting names and should they mention it when it happens.  Has Irene been to any talks/courses about dementia/Alzheimer's with others who are going through it?    Of course Dana got a  real  surprise when she got home to find Irene and Sonny having a dance, she's got some good moves.   I wondered how he managed to pay for that coffee and it seemed he did pay for that hotel.  Anyways Irene likes him. 

 That was strange Alf  talking to Leah about being sole owner being  sure she'd manage, no mention he'd been to see her/talked to Irene.   

How much of  a drastic change is Justin thinking of to the Diner, must admit it has looked like  it is for a while now, but you get used to it.   I know Maz doesn't have an invested interest but she works there so her input would be good. 

Looks like there is a big bump in the road to Remi and Bree getting back together going by the promo.  To be fair it did look like he had only just found out about him being mentioned on Avalon's album.   

[Red Ranger 1]

I did feel sorry for Remi, being blasted by Bree over something he'd literally just found out about. Still, he lost a lot of sympathy by going round to corner Mack like that. I'm not sure Levi needed to go as far as he did in response but he needed telling. I'm actually glad that Kirby kept her side of the bargain and publicised Avalon's release. I don't know if the idea is that she couldn't finish the album as planned but she's managed to get one single done? Anyway, it's sent Bree spiralling again.

Eden and Abigail get included in the very small loop aware of Mackenzie's IVF. How serious is Mackenzie about not wanting to go through this again? I'm glad Eden finally put her foot down and told Abby to stop pushing her to make a decision about the dress.

It was inevitable that Leah would have a go at Justin about Irene being upset but they had a nice chat.As Leah pointed out, getting people's names wrong isn't confined to those with Alzheimer's by any means, but I get why Irene thinks it's different for her. The blackly comic part of me wonders what happens if Irene can't remember she's written everyone's names on the back of the photos...

Edited 9 hours ago by Red Ranger 1

[Dan F]

On 03/09/2025 at 19:55, Red Ranger 1 said:

I wonder if Cash and Eden have realised that their original wedding date would have coincided with the season finale and decided to move it back so there's less chance of anyone being kidnapped or crashing a car on the way there.

Cash & Eden:
If we bring it forward several weeks, we'll be perfectly safe and clear of an Australian finale date!

Channel 5:
Hold my beer...