2026 Season - UK Episode Discussion

[Medea Fleecestealer]

I wonder if Alf's current storyline is something Ray suggested given his real life age.  Expect he's had to go through the medical, etc, to keep his driving licence.  

[Red Ranger 1]

Alf seems to be finding it hard to see the end of the tunnel at the moment. His reasons for not driving and keeping to himself make a sort of sense, and I admit I still find this "honorary grandad" thing a bit contrived (especially when he's old enough to be Harper's honorary grandad!). I'm in two minds about whether Leah and co constantly getting on at him is helpful or not. They're unlikely to change his mind but leaving him to fester isn't necessarily a good thing either.

Tane's attitude towards Jo continues to strike me as a bit petty which makes it hard to care about the fact that he seems to be a bit depressed at the moment. He has at least roused himself enough to agree to the party, even though he doesn't seem to be getting much joy from it. I did have to smile at him saying he expects things to go to hell again: Maybe he's realised he's in a soap opera.

After all that hand wringing, Remi's "Let's release it...now" seemed very abrupt and underexplained. It almost looked like they were posting it on Youtube. Can you really release a single that easily?

Edited Wednesday at 20:11 by Red Ranger 1

[H&Alover]

Alf did see sense in the end due to Levi's intervention.  His friends wouldn't see him as a hit and run driver.  If Irene had been there she'd tell him not to be such a galah and get out there.  No mention of what John thinks about it.  Rewound that scene of Justin talking to Remi a couple of times and I'm sure it was Alf passing by in the background so maybe it was shown out of sync. It was his hat and the shirt he normally wears. 

I think nowadays you can just put songs/vids on Youtube, but I'm no expert in these things.  It is his and Eden's song so no copyright worries.

It has been a couple of troublesome weeks/months for Tane,  went on the run,  got banged up, then beaten up  and was in a coma so would take him time to get back to normal. Why is he sleeping on the couch at Mac and Levi's though, they have enough bedrooms don't they?   

I did notice Archie 'said' dada and mama which was sweet. I don't know whether the little actor who plays him actually said that or the sound people dropped it in. 

It did look like a good party, though much of it would go over Archie's head. 

[Red Ranger 1]

I did catch a glimpse of the Alf lookalike but I doubt it was him: I can't see them having Ray Meagher wander through the background of a scene when Alf's meant to be somewhere else!

There seems to be a theme developing here: Alf listens to younger men who talk to him straight and don't patronise him. And as Justin's used his three episodes, it's Levi who has to get the job. I'm glad Alf apologised for crossing the line with Abigail, shame she wasn't in the episode to hear the apology personally. But anyway, they got him to the party and Harper was pleased to see him, so the result.

Tane had a bit more life about him, especially once Archie showed up, even if he's still refusing to discuss his arbitrary dumping of Jo. And he turned out to be surprisingly fine about the gym being reopened, after John quickly delegated the task of telling him to Mali. He's yet to win Lacey over though. I did like that she actually answered when John called after her with the loudspeaker!

Tane isn't sleeping on the sofa, they said they'd got his old room ready. He's just resting there during the day.

After pushing himself all day, Sonny seems to have pushed himself too far. This is why Dana was uncertain about him moving back in...

Edited Thursday at 19:52 by Red Ranger 1

[H&Alover]

Talking about Alf again, how long did it take for that kettle to boil? Leah put it on, then we cut to that scene with Justin and Remi, then cut back to Alf and Leah and it still hadn't boiled!

I must have missed Mac telling Tane about his room. 

John, seemingly didn't know about Tane and Jo's break up, though why should he? I think Tane would understand about Lacey's reluctance to work in the gym.  But there was more about that in the next episode.  He did take it well that John and Marli decided to re-open it, he's going to need the money.

Alf did enjoy himself and no-one mentioned the accident.  Not the right place for Tane to talk about his break up, it was supposed to be a happy time.   Did love his and Dana's present to Archie. 

Sonny did over do it as we saw in the 'new' episode.  Roo was sooooo annoying in it. 

Going off piste I saw an old episode of Emmerdale  from 2008 yesterday and there was Maz going by the name of Louise! 

 

 

[Red Ranger 1]

6 hours ago, H&Alover said:

Going off piste I saw an old episode of Emmerdale  from 2008 yesterday and there was Maz going by the name of Louise! 

If you're watching on ITV3, you're joined a bit late: It was her last episode today! (I believe Emily suddenly had to return to Australia for family reasons, leading to an abrupt departure and her rejoining Home and Away about a year and a half later.)

Alf's episode count this week: Five! Jo didn't appear at all.

I ended up not really liking a lot of people in that episode. Leah was horribly sanctimonious throughout. Alf's been given a lot of preferential treatment by the police as it is, without saying they're not allowed to bring him in for questioning when he's a legitimate suspect. And then she emotionally manipulates Lacey, who has every right to not want to do unpaid work for a louse who's pretending Jo doesn't exist just because she wasn't completely 100% supportive all the time. If the community's as great as Leah says, why isn't anyone else volunteering to help out? Why did John and Mali just assume Lacey would help out because she happens to be the nearest person?

I understood Roo asking Alf if he could be involved at the start, but a week on, she's still asking him, as if she hasn't got the answer she wanted and is hoping he'll change it. And of course, instead of dealing with it like an adult, Alf goes to kick John a few times to make himself feel better (at least John managed to get a riposte in for once) and then goes and throws a tantrum at the police station. It'd serve him right if they do stick him in a cell to calm down.

Sonny and Dana was a bit better, I can empathise with both their points of view (her wanting to help and him frustrated that she needs to), but it continues to suggest that he came back too soon. Oh well, I guess they needed him on the show!

[Medea Fleecestealer]

Honestly, I can't decide which is worse.  Ritchie's over enthusiasm or Leah's storming around trying to defend people who don't need it.  

And the gym really needs a speaking trainer who would be the one to set Sonny straight, not John.  There must be trainers there keeping an eye on things surely, otherwise any insurance would be null and void.  Sonny - first he doesn't want to do anything to help himself, now he's gone completely the other way and overdoing everything.  

[H&Alover]

I have seen other episodes of Classic E/D with Emily Symons  in.  Chas also called her Skippy. She killed her stalker boyfriend by pushing him down the stairs.  

I'm team Leah here and she did apologise to David once Marilyn had a strong word in her ear.  At least she's defending Alf unlike Roo who still has her doubts that he might have done it.  David didn't have to show her what evidence they do have, as he said Yabbie Creek is only a small station and not a lot of man/womanpower to get fixated on just one crime.  It was a quiet country lane, no houses around so no CCTV, it was late at night/early in the morning so no-one around.   They haven't forgotten about the case, just put it on hold for now, not that helps Alf, but that is how it is in real life.  David is really finding out what is like coppering a small town even after being there a year. 

But having said that about Leah she did come down very heavy on Lacey about not wanting to work in the gym that her sister's ex runs.  But having the gym open will mean Tane gets some income coming in to pay any maintenance  for Archie, he's already  missed out on good few weeks.  Guess there is no new body to introduce so it fell to Lacey to get the short straw. John was appreciative at least. 

Btw I have read what happens next week which does  explain why the Ute was speeding.  Even me not  being a cop could join those dots. 

I can see why Alf is upset/frustrated by lack of action, as he sees it by the cops, but him taking it out on his favourite punchbag was totally uncalled for, then Mali and Lacey got it in the neck.  Have we heard John's thoughts as  to whether he thinks Alf is guilty or innocent? 

I think Sonny after him being able to walk about a bit went overboard and knackered himself but being a bloke and a  usually independent one at that didn't want to admit it. Just a day or two resting would have got him back on his feet so to speak. It's a marathon not a sprint. 

Methinks he told a porkie to John about his psyhio OK'ing what he's doing, but even then no way would they recommend him knocking himself out like that.   I had the same thought Medea about if anything happened to him any insurance the gym/Surf Club has would be hit.  Fair enoughski if someone drops a weight on their foot, it's their fault but with Sonny he should have someone who is trained to be there with him and not relying on Mali.  John did absolutely  the right thing ordering  him out. 

 

[Red Ranger 1]

It felt like everyone was being awful in that episode apart from the people I normally find awful. Honestly, no-one reports David when he actually is conducting an unprofessional slapdash investigation, but when he's doing everything he can, everyone else behaves badly. Alf's constant bullying routine shows what an unpleasant person he can be, and John's right that he wouldn't last five minutes if his behaviour was viewed objectively by anyone, rather than a town full of people indoctrinated into constantly tugging their forelocks to "Mr Stewart" and acting like his word is law. Leah was unnecessarily rude, and even when she goes to the station to "apologise", she soon reverts to telling David that he's doing it all wrong. It felt like there was an element of calling their bluff when David went round to Alf with the complaint form, as if he was saying "You don't think I'm doing my job properly? Fine, put your money where your mouth is then."

It is pretty ridiculous that the gym has been left in the sole hands of the completely unqualified Lacey, who may well be regretting listening to Leah's emotional blackmail about now. We did see an extra in a trainer's uniform, but she's not allowed to speak or do anything other than stand there looking concerned, so it's down to John, Remi and Lacey to draw the line. Sonny may have good intentions in not wanting Dana to end up his carer but he's going about it completely the wrong way.