carld2
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Post by carld2 on May 13, 2023 0:25:20 GMT -5
Leanne left the show today to go on an open-ended round-the-world cruise with Roz after winning the lottery for a second time. She got a proper send-off that makes me think she won't return. I was surprised because it was only last year that the actress said during an interview that she wasn't planning to retire. The key takeaway is whether this means Jack, whose departure was offscreen, will be back sooner rather than later? If he does return, it doesn't seem like there are any gay men waiting for him - all the male registrars seem to be heterosexual. At least Stanley is still part of the show, despite Jack and Dawn's departures. She will be turning up very soon I suspect - just in time to catch Logan with one of the female registrars, probably. I always figure Leanne will be back at some point but I do wonder just how extended the break will be. (it also makes me wonder what the point of the deafness story was) Jack's exit definitely seemed too rushed to be permanent, to me, but I shouldn't assume. If he does return he will probably still be in the corner anyway. |
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Post by justinate on May 14, 2023 10:37:51 GMT -5
I always figure Leanne will be back at some point but I do wonder just how extended the break will be. (it also makes me wonder what the point of the deafness story was) She isn't dead, so I guess a return is plausible, but I've never seen anyone gifted with a memorial plaque if they plan to return. Frankly that gesture felt more like the character was dead! |
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cupid
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Post by cupid on May 14, 2023 18:55:17 GMT -5
Jennifer Ludlam is doing a play in Wellington later this year. Leanne has travelled before when she has done theatre. Seems likely she'll be back, even if only for high days and holidays.
Dawn is back this week.
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Post by justinate on May 19, 2023 8:36:46 GMT -5
Yes Dawn is back, Jack is not.
Is it time to move this board to Gone But Not Forgotten or Lesbians of Daytime?
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dylan
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Post by dylan on May 19, 2023 23:39:22 GMT -5
Yes, I think it is done. Good riddance. The bits and pieces that I see on instagram are awful. Perhaps they've found a new audience that enjoys this new style?
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on May 20, 2023 7:20:49 GMT -5
Yes, I think it is done. Good riddance. The bits and pieces that I see on instagram are awful. Perhaps they've found a new audience that enjoys this new style? I sure hope so. It's been borderline unwatchable to me for most of the year, with plots that make no damn sense, and just bizarre fan fiction ideas (like Monique running the hospital). I watched a scene with the new intern throwing herself at Nicole and her acting was atrocious. |
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Post by justinate on May 20, 2023 10:54:49 GMT -5
We hear you. Gone but not forgotten it is ...
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Post by Jack on May 23, 2023 6:21:09 GMT -5
Oh great, another storyline involving a straight person getting the wrong idea and accusing a gay person of sexual harrassment. Just what we need! Typical Madonna too. I'm actually so sick of her.
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cupid
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Post by cupid on May 23, 2023 19:41:37 GMT -5
If Jack is gone I'm certain they'll be introducing new gay male characters soon. And since most of the registrars are short term characters they will have room for some new blood.
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dylan
Junior Member
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Post by dylan on Jun 7, 2023 15:39:07 GMT -5
I wouldn't hold my breath. Do you remember 2004-2014? There was effectively no gay male representation during that period. I wasn't watching before that but I believe there were essentially no gay male characters on the show for several years before that as well. Shortland Street simply doesn't prioritise gay male representation. And as you can see, they have no idea how to write for gay characters when they are present.
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Post by justinate on Jun 20, 2023 10:28:13 GMT -5
So I allowed myself to get sucked in by the whole "never done before" shtick and tuned in for the past week's episodes. They celebrated Pride by killing off the (admittedly annoying) lesbian registrar. On the plus side, Stanley wasn't anywhere around while the shooter was gunning people down.
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Jun 23, 2023 15:23:03 GMT -5
TK had his latest death throes in the last few episodes and there was no sign of Jack returning. I guess he is probably gone for a good while. Considering what a poor state the show is in, probably for the best.
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dylan
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Post by dylan on Jun 25, 2023 12:41:12 GMT -5
I tuned in briefly for these scenes as well. Not a fan at all. The stuff with TK felt like it was out of a US soap - what are these writers thinking?! I agree, it's better to not have Jack on the show right now at all. And there is still so much focus on Dawn and Esther. It's a disaster.
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Post by Ryan on Aug 17, 2023 7:11:08 GMT -5
Jack's back! Wonder what will happen with him.
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Post by Jack on Aug 18, 2023 6:06:51 GMT -5
I'm so mad that they had Jack come back just to START A FAMILY WITH DAWN..this show. Lmaoooo I actually can't
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Post by justinate on Aug 18, 2023 9:40:53 GMT -5
I didn't think it was possible to make Jack more pathetic but they managed it. So he's settled in Sydney, still no boyfriend, and now he's having his dream - of platonic families with his female best friend. Glad it was a short visit because who knows how much more they could degrade the character if he stayed longer.
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Aug 18, 2023 13:33:20 GMT -5
I didn't think it was possible to make Jack more pathetic but they managed it. So he's settled in Sydney, still no boyfriend, and now he's having his dream - of platonic families with his female best friend. Glad it was a short visit because who knows how much more they could degrade the character if he stayed longer. I guess they at least did not have them get involved romantically, as they hinted at a few times last year. Is this a real exit for Dawn (please) or just maternity leave? |
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dylan
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Post by dylan on Aug 18, 2023 18:16:56 GMT -5
How incredibly bizarre. I haven't watched the show in months now, and it looks like I made the right decision. Did you guys only tune in for his return? I wasn't even aware that he was coming back.
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Post by justinate on Aug 19, 2023 12:08:01 GMT -5
Is this a real exit for Dawn (please) or just maternity leave? From what the actress posted, it sounds like a permanent exit and she's going to focus on being a mother for the near future. She did say she might return to TV screens in the future in a "different role", so it sounds like she is done playing Dawn. But you never know, Dawn has made these permanent-seeming exits before and still returned. I am surprised that they wrote her off this quickly if it truly is permanent. She didn't even get a proper farewell party. How incredibly bizarre. I haven't watched the show in months now, and it looks like I made the right decision. Did you guys only tune in for his return? I wasn't even aware that he was coming back. Whoever runs the show's official Instagram has been promoting Jack's return since he made a video-call appearance a week ago. Unlike the writing regime, the marketing team seems to know Jack is popular. I didn't expect him back in Ferndale proper so it was a surprise - just wish it had been a pleasant one! I did watch the last couple of episodes and I'm sorry to report there is zero reason for the gays to tune back in again. I really hope the Neighbours revival surprises us with a return of the gays, and/or introduction of new ones. H&A is never going to go there (not in any meaningful way) and The Heights is dead, so with Shorty devoid of gays, Neighbours looks to be the lone hope for queer male representation among the Antipodean soaps. |
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Post by TeReoMaoriNZ on Sept 7, 2023 5:18:13 GMT -5
Dawn's (temporary) exit last year was hastily written after the actor who plays Dawn (Rebekah Randell) suffered a miscarriage during the filming of the 30th anniversary episodes.
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Sept 8, 2023 13:03:02 GMT -5
Dawn's (temporary) exit last year was hastily written after the actor who plays Dawn (Rebekah Randell) suffered a miscarriage during the filming of the 30th anniversary episodes.
Thank you for sharing. This helps explain just how confusing and abrupt Dawn's exit was at that time last year. Feels like the end for being able to really talk about the show, if there's anything worth talking about - there are still episodes going around, but the easy to access clips for Jack, or the bi/lesbian characters like Nicole, were all wiped from Youtube. |
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Post by TeReoMaoriNZ on Sept 8, 2023 20:30:04 GMT -5
Dawn's (temporary) exit last year was hastily written after the actor who plays Dawn (Rebekah Randell) suffered a miscarriage during the filming of the 30th anniversary episodes.
Thank you for sharing. This helps explain just how confusing and abrupt Dawn's exit was at that time last year. Feels like the end for being able to really talk about the show, if there's anything worth talking about - there are still episodes going around, but the easy to access clips for Jack, or the bi/lesbian characters like Nicole, were all wiped from Youtube.
I agree. They started 2023 with a big bang but have since gone downhill after the Brightshine storyline ended. The Milo track was just an excuse to write out TK & Cece. Esther remains the reigning queen & writer's favourite. Who the hell becomes Hospital CEO in early 30s? Ridiculous. They should have kept TK and kicked out Esther.
The six surgical interns track was an excuse to reintroduce Harry & Stella. Mumbling Noah should have stayed instead of Stella.
I got some odd gay vibes from Thaddeus-Marty & Logan-Harry interactions. But the writers will never turn straight characters gay/bi.
Jack's brief return to "reunite" with Dawn and play happy families was the last straw.
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Post by justinate on Sept 15, 2023 7:43:44 GMT -5
Esther remains the reigning queen & writer's favourite. Who the hell becomes Hospital CEO in early 30s? Ridiculous. They should have kept TK and kicked out Esther. The six surgical interns track was an excuse to reintroduce Harry & Stella. Mumbling Noah should have stayed instead of Stella. I got some odd gay vibes from Thaddeus-Marty & Logan-Harry interactions. But the writers will never turn straight characters gay/bi. Jack's brief return to "reunite" with Dawn and play happy families was the last straw. I read some speculation that the show had to axe its trans and gay male characters as a precondition to finding a new broadcaster in Australia. I don't know if someone has pulled that out of thin air but then again I do know how lousy Aussie broadcasters can be around queer content which is why they even censor lesbian kisses on H&A. At least Shorty got to keep its (presumably less-threatening?) lesbians. I read that there was a celibacy storyline for Logan and Harry recently. Was that the gay vibes you were getting? It would be something if they went there, but we all know they never will with established straight male characters. (Women are a different matter - even Leanne could turn lesbian.) Mind you, it certainly wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility - the actor playing Logan just turned 21, which really took me by surprise. |
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Sept 17, 2023 15:38:18 GMT -5
I read some speculation that the show had to axe its trans and gay male characters as a precondition to finding a new broadcaster in Australia. I don't know if someone has pulled that out of thin air but then again I do know how lousy Aussie broadcasters can be around queer content which is why they even censor lesbian kisses on H&A. At least Shorty got to keep its (presumably less-threatening?) lesbians.. That would be horrible. I wouldn't even be surprised but I hope it isn't the case. Stanley is still there, but barely used. I do think the show has improved over the year, after hitting some real lows in the spring, but it's still not what it could be, and feels increasingly hollow in terms of rep. |
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Post by TeReoMaoriNZ1 on Sept 20, 2023 3:36:02 GMT -5
Esther remains the reigning queen & writer's favourite. Who the hell becomes Hospital CEO in early 30s? Ridiculous. They should have kept TK and kicked out Esther. The six surgical interns track was an excuse to reintroduce Harry & Stella. Mumbling Noah should have stayed instead of Stella. I got some odd gay vibes from Thaddeus-Marty & Logan-Harry interactions. But the writers will never turn straight characters gay/bi. Jack's brief return to "reunite" with Dawn and play happy families was the last straw. I read some speculation that the show had to axe its trans and gay male characters as a precondition to finding a new broadcaster in Australia. I don't know if someone has pulled that out of thin air but then again I do know how lousy Aussie broadcasters can be around queer content which is why they even censor lesbian kisses on H&A. At least Shorty got to keep its (presumably less-threatening?) lesbians. I read that there was a celibacy storyline for Logan and Harry recently. Was that the gay vibes you were getting? It would be something if they went there, but we all know they never will with established straight male characters. (Women are a different matter - even Leanne could turn lesbian.) Mind you, it certainly wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility - the actor playing Logan just turned 21, which really took me by surprise. Shorty screens on 7plus in Australia which is a part of the 7Network [same as Home & Away]. 7plus is an online (catch-up) streaming service. Shorty on 7plus is still many months behind. I am quite sure 7Network has been granted no right to exercise creative vetoes over Shorty scripts as they don't actually broadcast it on Channel 7.
Interestingly, Shorty is produced by South Pacific Pictures NZ in collaboration with Fremantle Australia & NZ. Fremantle is also the parent company that produces Neighbours in AU for Network 10 & now Amazon [worldwide]. We can only hope that Amazon picks up Shorty for worldwide distribution outside of NZ.
I just loved Harry & Logan's interactions. The celibacy storyline was just a bet. In fact, Harry was encouraging Logan to go on one-night stands.
I was more perplexed when suddenly Harry started caring so much about Logan after Dawn left. Were Harry/Logan even friends earlier? Heck, Harry even moved into that run-down decrepit Dawn's house leaving his posh shared apartment with Thaddeus behind.
I love Logan! Hope they give a bogan guy like him a bi storyline.
Another cute actor is the new HCA Boogie Jones. But they are hinting at a Boogie/Stella storyline.
Stanley is just a Leanne replacement.
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