2025 Season - UK Episode Discussion

[Medea Fleecestealer]

I'm a bit surprised that Cash didn't have Gary for his best man given how much he's seen him through over the years.

I liked the way Eden's wedding ring was designed to have the engagement diamond slot into it when she's wearing both rings.

[Red Ranger 1]

Alf's episode count this week:Three. Jo was in four.

So, the episode that could have been the UK cliffhanger. It's a reasonably strong note to go out on, although I'm reserving judgement firstly until we've seen what the return would have been and secondly until we see what we get in two weeks' time. (Will they bother scrapping the First Look if it's not a specially planned cliffhanger?) Anyway, Plot A is the aftermath of the wedding and it was good to see everyone enjoying themselves, bar the suddenly disappeared Levi. Interesting that Jimmy told Debra what was going on there and that she helped cover. Despite the heckling, John did a decent job of MC (I loved how he was tucking into the food, and his standing next to the DJ enjoying the music). Remi gets a moment with Eden reflecting on how his opposition has changed. What could have been our last sight of the newlyweds for the year was a sweet moment.

Meanwhile, over in Plot B, Lacey and Jo are having their secret hypnotherapy session. Lacey really hasn't kept her side of the bargain, leaving David out of both this and her later attempt to put pressure on Wendell. I was impressed though at how supportive she was of Jo: I was fully expecting her to jump down her throat for not remembering more. With all the references to Theo and Lacey getting married recently, the "impending disaster" klaxon was ringing. The argument between Leah and Theo worked a bit better in context than in edited sound bites but still felt contrived. Leah's "You can't go running every time that girl clicks her fingers!" really did feel like a line someone wrote to put in promos, not fitting either the scene or the episode or the last several months. A few scenes earlier, Leah seemed delighted at the prospect of Lacey as her niece-in-law, but for one line she suddenly hates her again. (The comparison to the River Boys is strained too: That didn't happen because of Theo following Lacey into danger, at least not literally.) And why was Theo, who didn't really want Lacey to go anyway, so against Leah trying to talk her out of it? It felt like a horribly manufactured argument with both of them acting out of character.

I get that Lacey's rationale that David isn't doing anything so she has to would make sense to her, if not anyone else. but she badly misjudged this. Even her threats weren't very impressive and she's lucky (or not) that Wendell didn't query details like why she's suddenly doing this now. I guess the idea was to have him as a surprise, but keeping Theo out of sight was the wrong way to play it: Wendell might not have tried anything if he knew there was a witness. That was one of the better staged "Character A pushes Character B out of the way of a car and gets hit themselves" moments I've seen: One of my biggest bug bears is when it looks as though they could have avoided getting hit and didn't bother, but it really did look like Theo couldn't do anything else here.

[James Martin]

Well, that would have been an epic place to stop the show for Christmas, but like RR said, some of the scripting felt forced and Leah's line had "famous last words" writ large all over it.  I think the talent did the best with what was on the page.

As a UK cliffhanger it was simple but effective and can stand in line with some past Australian season finales.  It proves you don't always need a big-budget visual stunt go come off-air with.  Along with manslaughter, Wendell is now - at best - facing attempted murder and GBH.  David's going to throw the book at him when he catches up with the guy.

[CaptainHulk]

13 hours ago, James Martin said:

Well, that would have been an epic place to stop the show for Christmas, but like RR said, some of the scripting felt forced and Leah's line had "famous last words" writ large all over it.  I think the talent did the best with what was on the page.

As a UK cliffhanger it was simple but effective and can stand in line with some past Australian season finales.  It proves you don't always need a big-budget visual stunt go come off-air with.  Along with manslaughter, Wendell is now - at best - facing attempted murder and GBH.  David's going to throw the book at him when he catches up with the guy.

The Aussies picked holes in the finale immediately after airing.

I've been out of the mix for a few weeks, Friend/Colleague died and I'd been a bit of a mess (finding less enjoyment in things, HATING work) but managed to get it together.

I agree this should have been the UK wrap.

I hope David pulls out his inner Dylan Carter but stops short, telling Wendell he isn't worth it and he'll "get his inside".

One could argue murder even if the intended target didn't get hit.

14 hours ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

With all the references to Theo and Lacey getting married recently, the "impending disaster" klaxon was ringing. 

Casey/Denny/The Ring all over again!

[Red Ranger 1]

15 hours ago, James Martin said:

Along with manslaughter, Wendell is now - at best - facing attempted murder and GBH.

I did wonder about the logic of this but the way it played out, it seemed plausible. Wendell didn't know Theo was there, so from his perspective, he gets rid of what he believes is the only witness to both crimes and he's in the clear.

1 hour ago, CaptainHulk said:

One could argue murder even if the intended target didn't get hit.

It's only murder if someone dies, which hasn't happened yet!

[James Martin]

3 hours ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

It's only murder if someone dies, which hasn't happened yet!

It's attempted murder.  For now.  I'd argue it's still attempted because Lacey was the original target.

4 hours ago, CaptainHulk said:

The Aussies picked holes in the finale immediately after airing.

There's more than a Swiss cheese.  I don't think I'm giving away any spoilers because it was in the promo, but conflict of interest from Sarge?

[Red Ranger 1]

1 hour ago, James Martin said:

It's attempted murder.  For now.  I'd argue it's still attempted because Lacey was the original target.

Yes, I agree with you.

[pembie]

6 hours ago, CaptainHulk said:

The Aussies picked holes in the finale immediately after airing.

I've been out of the mix for a few weeks, Friend/Colleague died and I'd been a bit of a mess (finding less enjoyment in things, HATING work) but managed to get it together.

I agree this should have been the UK wrap.

I hope David pulls out his inner Dylan Carter but stops short, telling Wendell he isn't worth it and he'll "get his inside".

One could argue murder even if the intended target didn't get hit.

Casey/Denny/The Ring all over again!

The Ring Theo didn’t even get seven days to live at least he didn’t get to witness any creepy Japanese girls down any wells before dying though but you could argue if Lacey is worse 

Never announce you have a romantic holiday planned or make life changing plans like signing with a record label the Summer Bay curse is listening 

Sorry for your friend colleague distract yourself with hobbies is the best way I think 

But yeah life is very annoying 

 

 

[c120701]

On 20/11/2025 at 21:16, James Martin said:

Wedding location did look great.  Beautiful cinematography.

I thought it looked too similar to the Farmhouse, and that location having been on screen so frequently recently just made me wonder why they didn’t just get married there.

On 19/11/2025 at 19:28, Red Ranger 1 said:

Well, I enjoyed the happy scenes. Cash and Eden have had a long road here (Stephanie Panozzo noted it's been building ever since she joined the show!) but they both looked happy and I really hope it goes well for them, despite the wedding guests dropping like flies. (It sounds like Marilyn doesn't even have a reason for not going, she just isn't!)

It sounded like Marilyn wasn’t invited and she seemed a bit miffed about it. Admittedly she’s probably not that close to Cash or Eden so it makes sense, plus with Irene gone she’ll be needed at the Diner with Leah going, but there always seems to be a reason for Marilyn not to be at a wedding on location.

Were any of the wedding extras the staff from Salt or Cash’s colleagues from the Police Station?

[c120701]

On 21/11/2025 at 16:31, Medea Fleecestealer said:

I liked the way Eden's wedding ring was designed to have the engagement diamond slot into it when she's wearing both rings.

It looked quite odd because she didn’t have the engagement ring on, but yep, late on you can then get an eternity ring like the wedding ring, so they wrap around the diamond. If you don’t die or divorce before then given you’re living in Summer Bay.

Theo’s appearances leading up to the hit and run seemed few and far between, his screentime with Lacey was limited, so the whole thing just didn’t work for me.