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Post by antistatic on Apr 13, 2022 10:02:53 GMT -5
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Post by antistatic on Apr 14, 2022 4:10:27 GMT -5
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Apr 15, 2022 19:10:38 GMT -5
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carld2
Full Member
Posts: 2,137
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Post by carld2 on Apr 18, 2022 6:53:52 GMT -5
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Post by antistatic on Apr 19, 2022 6:32:47 GMT -5
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Post by justinate on Apr 19, 2022 7:33:41 GMT -5
I'm glad Anthony is back from his Easter break so we can discuss the denouement to the Hamish storyline; I was holding off until the clip was uploaded.
So that looks to be end of Hamish's story and Simon Arblaster's stint on the show (handsome devil, hope we see him on more projects, preferably with less clothes). I have to say I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't wind up dead, although the rapidity with which Esther managed to secure evidence that could arrest him was eye-roll worthy. Even for a show that seemingly prides itself on whiplash-inducing story pacing, this was an incredibly quick (and unconvincing) resolution to what was (by their standards) a long-gestating storyline. Considering this was the biggest storyline they had set up since the Retribution spin-off aired over Christmas, and they also drew in additional characters like Marty and Louis, I'm perplexed as to why they chose not to make it the big anniversary episode, with the denouement occurring at Jack and Hamish's wedding. Then again, that's what I thought last year too, when they had a long setup to the carbon monoxide leak at the hospital but resolved it early before the actual season break cliffhanger which saw Tess and her mother stabbed to death and the hostage situation with Carla/Vincent/Nicole/Maeve at the hospital.
So with that in mind, what breadcrumbs have they set up for us this time? Last time it was that Tess's abusive stepfather being unwilling to let her mother go. This time what do we have unresolved - Louis's clandestine love affair with the wealthy dude's GF? The Iron Dogs are still around, I'm sure they won't go quietly. Could Hamish escape/be freed somehow and bring danger to Jack's doorstep? Damo's ex Erin is also on the run. Are Carla and Vincent free too, or only Vincent, or neither - I can't remember now how that was wrapped up? Then of course there's the newest story which is Marty's hunt for his friend's killer. I am sure it will be the business partner, the wife is too obvious. Marty, probably the only character more unlucky in love than Jack, will likely end up falling for whoever's the real murderess and get taken for a ride. Maybe it can end with him bonding with Jack over their clueless ignorance of all the warning signs about their love interests, and we finally get Mack. (Sounds better than Jarty.)
Thanks for the interview with Reuben Milner. I definitely got the sense that he had checked out towards the end of his previous stint in the role. It may have required eating some humble pie, but he is much more tuned-in this time around. (Same thing could be seen with Chandler Massey on Days.) At least now he's back and he's present, seemingly for the long haul. It'd be nice if a gay character can anchor the younger generation, much like Chris has for the middle-aged group and Nicole/TK for the 30s/40s crowd. I just hope they will give Jack some good storylines and a more viable, long-term love interest.
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carld2
Full Member
Posts: 2,137
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Post by carld2 on Apr 19, 2022 13:52:23 GMT -5
I'm glad Anthony is back from his Easter break so we can discuss the denouement to the Hamish storyline; I was holding off until the clip was uploaded. So that looks to be end of Hamish's story and Simon Arblaster's stint on the show (handsome devil, hope we see him on more projects, preferably with less clothes). I have to say I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't wind up dead, although the rapidity with which Esther managed to secure evidence that could arrest him was eye-roll worthy. Even for a show that seemingly prides itself on whiplash-inducing story pacing, this was an incredibly quick (and unconvincing) resolution to what was (by their standards) a long-gestating storyline. Considering this was the biggest storyline they had set up since the Retribution spin-off aired over Christmas, and they also drew in additional characters like Marty and Louis, I'm perplexed as to why they chose not to make it the big anniversary episode, with the denouement occurring at Jack and Hamish's wedding. Then again, that's what I thought last year too, when they had a long setup to the carbon monoxide leak at the hospital but resolved it early before the actual season break cliffhanger which saw Tess and her mother stabbed to death and the hostage situation with Carla/Vincent/Nicole/Maeve at the hospital. So with that in mind, what breadcrumbs have they set up for us this time? Last time it was that Tess's abusive stepfather being unwilling to let her mother go. This time what do we have unresolved - Louis's clandestine love affair with the wealthy dude's GF? The Iron Dogs are still around, I'm sure they won't go quietly. Could Hamish escape/be freed somehow and bring danger to Jack's doorstep? Damo's ex Erin is also on the run. Are Carla and Vincent free too, or only Vincent, or neither - I can't remember now how that was wrapped up? Then of course there's the newest story which is Marty's hunt for his friend's killer. I am sure it will be the business partner, the wife is too obvious. Marty, probably the only character more unlucky in love than Jack, will likely end up falling for whoever's the real murderess and get taken for a ride. Maybe it can end with him bonding with Jack over their clueless ignorance of all the warning signs about their love interests, and we finally get Mack. (Sounds better than Jarty.) Thanks for the interview with Reuben Milner. I definitely got the sense that he had checked out towards the end of his previous stint in the role. It may have required eating some humble pie, but he is much more tuned-in this time around. (Same thing could be seen with Chandler Massey on Days.) At least now he's back and he's present, seemingly for the long haul. It'd be nice if a gay character can anchor the younger generation, much like Chris has for the middle-aged group and Nicole/TK for the 30s/40s crowd. I just hope they will give Jack some good storylines and a more viable, long-term love interest. I do often wonder if some of these stories are cut short early. I wouldn't want to see even more misery for Jack but I don't know if the stakes were high enough - I had expected the relationship to eventually become more controlling and abusive, and also Esther to be in more danger, maybe Marty having to help save her and the baby in a declaration of love, etc. The only story I see being set up at present is a CeCe/Drew affair and a Villiami/Vivienne affair and I'm not sure those are going to be blockbusters. I just hope Jack can find some other type of love at some point, someone who will stay around and be a good match for him. I'm not sure he has ever been given that chance. |
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Post by antistatic on Apr 28, 2022 4:03:38 GMT -5
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Post by antistatic on Apr 28, 2022 4:17:23 GMT -5
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Post by antistatic on Apr 28, 2022 5:02:25 GMT -5
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Post by antistatic on Apr 28, 2022 14:12:23 GMT -5
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Post by antistatic on Apr 28, 2022 17:40:55 GMT -5
Anthony has annotated this one as part 312 but it's actually Part 313:
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Post by kevvoi on May 3, 2022 8:45:44 GMT -5
New clip courtesy of Anthony:
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carld2
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Posts: 2,137
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Post by carld2 on May 7, 2022 17:22:10 GMT -5
The material with Jack and the older gay patient was some of the strongest Jack has had in a good long while. Very glad to see a patient story on the show that is not about romance, mystery, or a doctor/nurse breaking various laws, and instead focuses on history and generational differences between gay men. Very moving and well-acted scenes compared to most of what you get on the show.
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Post by antistatic on May 14, 2022 16:23:20 GMT -5
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Post by antistatic on May 14, 2022 19:52:39 GMT -5
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dylan
Junior Member
Posts: 288 
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Post by dylan on May 17, 2022 19:33:28 GMT -5
I love how Zoe has just suddenly decided that her relationship with Chris four years ago involved sexual harassment. I agree that it was inappropriate, but does she not remember that she was the one who pursued him and not the other way round? Everyone already can't stand her, does she want people to dislike her even more? I also find it really bizarre that Jack is supporting her so unconditionally. They barely interacted when she was on the show last time, and he didn't really seem to like her very much when they did interact.
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Post by justinate on May 17, 2022 23:28:18 GMT -5
I love how Zoe has just suddenly decided that her relationship with Chris four years ago involved sexual harassment. I agree that it was inappropriate, but does she not remember that she was the one who pursued him and not the other way round? Everyone already can't stand her, does she want people to dislike her even more? I also find it really bizarre that Jack is supporting her so unconditionally. They barely interacted when she was on the show last time, and he didn't really seem to like her very much when they did interact. Yeah I was also puzzled by her catch-up with Jack as if they are old friends - it wasn't like they bumped into each other at the hospital or bar, she actively sought him out at his home. I guess technically she is still his (step) aunt, but I don't recall them ever being close. I can understand why Jack is jaded with Chris after haka-gate (I suspect it was a conscious storytelling decision not to have Chris apologize personally to Jack when he was doing his rounds with all the other Maori regulars), and you can't deny the relationship was inappropriate, but you'd think Jack would talk to his stepmother Kate, who seems to be on Chris's side despite being Zoe's own sister? He even mentioned interacting with her and getting pics of his baby brother. I did like Kate's cameo and wish she was still part of the show. Finn, too, although his character wasn't very likable - the actor is very handsome and really rocked a pair of briefs. (I still think they missed a trick not putting him and Jack together, it might've been interesting to see how Chris and Esther reacted to that pairing.) Speaking of Esther, I'm not thrilled that she's united with Marty. Ugh. She has become insufferable. Jack, Monique - hell, even Dawn - please save Marty. I'm really disappointed with how the haka-gate storyline, which started off strong, has turned out. Now the whole thing is an orchestrated racist plot against Chris, including having a Maori woman retraumatize a rape victim and incite her to baselessly destroy both an innocent man's reputation/career and (albeit inadvertently) a suicide prevention charity. It's all the more surprising from Shorty, which I always believed to be a more progressive soap than to frame cancel culture in such nefarious terms, but this is the second time in as many months where they've made out the culprit to be a victim (they did the same with Madonna, who initially seemed to repent her homophobia but after suffering zero consequences, apparently no longer understands what she said was bigoted and wrong). |
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on May 17, 2022 23:35:55 GMT -5
I love how Zoe has just suddenly decided that her relationship with Chris four years ago involved sexual harassment. I agree that it was inappropriate, but does she not remember that she was the one who pursued him and not the other way round? Everyone already can't stand her, does she want people to dislike her even more? I also find it really bizarre that Jack is supporting her so unconditionally. They barely interacted when she was on the show last time, and he didn't really seem to like her very much when they did interact. Yeah I was also puzzled by her catch-up with Jack as if they are old friends - it wasn't like they bumped into each other at the hospital or bar, she actively sought him out at his home. I guess technically she is still his (step) aunt, but I don't recall them ever being close. I can understand why Jack is jaded with Chris after haka-gate (I suspect it was a conscious storytelling decision not to have Chris apologize personally to Jack when he was doing his rounds with all the other Maori regulars), and you can't deny the relationship was inappropriate, but you'd think Jack would talk to his stepmother Kate, who seems to be on Chris's side despite being Zoe's own sister? He even mentioned interacting with her and getting pics of his baby brother. I did like Kate's cameo and wish she was still part of the show. Finn, too, although his character wasn't very likable - the actor is very handsome and really rocked a pair of briefs. (I still think they missed a trick not putting him and Jack together, it might've been interesting to see how Chris and Esther reacted to that pairing.) I'm really disappointed with how the haka-gate storyline, which started off strong, has turned out. Now the whole thing is an orchestrated racist plot against Chris, including having a Maori woman retraumatize a rape victim and incite her to baselessly destroy both an innocent man's reputation/career and (albeit inadvertently) a suicide prevention charity. It's all the more surprising from Shorty, which I always believed to be a more progressive soap than to frame cancel culture in such nefarious terms, but this is the second time in as many months where they've made out the culprit to be a victim (they did the same with Madonna, who initially seemed to repent her homophobia but after suffering zero consequences, apparently no longer understands what she said was bigoted and wrong). I thought that Madonna and Maeve homophobia story was a huge mess and was over so quickly. The woman who plays Madonna is a very good actress, which seems to be why they have her on all the time in all these stories that have no real traction (would a new viewer know only six months ago, Villiami had faked an annulment letter to get into her pants, then impregnated another woman?). I do think the show talks a big game about sexism and racism, but sometimes I remember weird scenes like the one during the Munchausen story where the girl told Jack how much she loved Harry Potter, even though people were trying to "cancel" it. |
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dylan
Junior Member
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Post by dylan on May 18, 2022 9:12:54 GMT -5
100% agree with both of you. Admittedly I wrote that before watching yesterday's episode. I can see why people aren't rushing to defend Chris. As for why Te Rongopai wants to take down Chris so badly, I have no idea.
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Post by kevvoi on May 21, 2022 12:10:41 GMT -5
New clip courtesy of Anthony:
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Post by justinate on May 23, 2022 5:28:18 GMT -5
I knew it was coming but was still rather surprised by today's episode format. I guess it was a neat way to celebrate the 30th anniversary but I did find it unbelievable that any hospital (and patient) would allow some of those scenes to be filmed. Esther's patient was a mega idiot.
I guess it did give the opportunity for a couple of surprise cameos too - one from the '90s (the actor did briefly reprise the role for like one episode, a couple of years ago) as well as one from the last year. I wasn't expecting the latter as I didn't think the character had made such an impression that they would bring him back for the anniversary. I would've really liked to see Rachel, Stuart, Grace Kwan, Chris's brother or one of his kids.
Is it an in-joke that Jack's scene this episode amounted to him getting vomited on? Because the show keeps crapping on him?
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Post by justinate on May 25, 2022 6:57:54 GMT -5
Show really got my hopes up today that Viliami would be the male stripper, only to bring them crashing back down. But we did get a couple more cameos and a couple of possible exits, too.
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carld2
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Posts: 2,137
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Post by carld2 on May 27, 2022 19:47:29 GMT -5
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Post by justinate on May 29, 2022 9:30:20 GMT -5
I fear newbie Logan is going to be the male Dawn.
Now admittedly I haven't watched every year of the show - far from it - but I call foul on that ranking article for several reasons. Esther and Kawe were never married, Chris became a grandpa for the first time when Harry became a teen dad, not Phoenix having Amelie. Since when did Nicole became a half-sister to Kate and Zoe? And most egregious of all - liquefaction. Oy vey.
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