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Post by justinate on Dec 10, 2023 10:09:50 GMT -5
I actually thought they were going to have his housemate, the one who got Marty hooked on pills, as gay, but he is seemingly gone for good (wasn't he meant to return?). I'm glad the show got an award (I wonder what the script was) and I do think the show has improved on just how shocking it was for parts of last year and early this year, but with so many high-profile departures and just a sense of everything feeling smaller (and getting rid of a number of longtime sets), I do wonder if we'll be hearing about the show's end within the next year or so. Was it the pharmacist named Thad? I did get a gay vibe off him but I couldn't tell if the actor was just playing it that way or not, regardless of what the show intended for him. As one of the presumably dropped characters (hi Rico!), we may never know. Then again, I see Jack's stepmum Kate Hannah in the previews for next week so who knows - maybe he'll pop back up again? I googled the episode numbers for which Shorty was awarded Best Drama Script, and it seems like it was three episodes based around the hospital shooting rampage when Milo did a piss-poor job of taking out any regular characters. Do you genuinely feel the show is headed for cancellation? I know they got rid of the IV bar set but besides that, what else has gone away? Chris moved out of his townhouse but (as is typical on this show) Drew and Harper immediately snapped it up, while Monique, Rahu and Stella moved into their old place. And Chris got a new penthouse while the IV was replaced with a new restaurant/bar set. For me, it's the failure to even give the hospital set a new lick of paint after supposedly being gutted by a fireball explosion is what really galls me. I mean, they could've at least repainted the CEO's office and put in a new, distinctive nurses' counter? |
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Dec 10, 2023 17:18:48 GMT -5
Do you genuinely feel the show is headed for cancellation? I know they got rid of the IV bar set but besides that, what else has gone away? Chris moved out of his townhouse but (as is typical on this show) Drew and Harper immediately snapped it up, while Monique, Rahu and Stella moved into their old place. And Chris got a new penthouse while the IV was replaced with a new restaurant/bar set. For me, it's the failure to even give the hospital set a new lick of paint after supposedly being gutted by a fireball explosion is what really galls me. I mean, they could've at least repainted the CEO's office and put in a new, distinctive nurses' counter? I hope not - it was just the departures, the reports of struggling to find a new broadcaster in Australia, the talk I sometimes see of the show being viewed as a part of NZ's past, etc. Or it may just be my pessimism on the future of the genre. I had forgotten Drew and Harper are using the same set. I guess because it seems like we don't see it as much now. |
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Post by Jack on Dec 11, 2023 1:37:59 GMT -5
I think from this recent episode, Sage seems to have a crush on Marty??? They hinted at it twice. There's always the possibility that Marty's bisexual and I definitely wouldn't complain haha, but knowing the writers and the show's track record, I personally can't really see them doing that. So I'm just kind of like why hint at a crush that most likely will lead to nothing at all?
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Post by justinate on Dec 11, 2023 5:35:42 GMT -5
I've been rooting for bi!Marty for years now but the writers moved on to Logan as the focus of homoeroticism. I've come to the conclusion that the writers just get their kicks from toying with us gay fans. There hasn't been a gay couple where both guys were regulars since Jack was with Lincoln.
Sage sure went at breakneck pace from thinking Marty was cruel to considering him God's gift to mankind.
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Post by Jack on Dec 11, 2023 20:00:21 GMT -5
I've been rooting for bi!Marty for years now but the writers moved on to Logan as the focus of homoeroticism. I've come to the conclusion that the writers just get their kicks from toying with us gay fans. There hasn't been a gay couple where both guys were regulars since Jack was with Lincoln. Sage sure went at breakneck pace from thinking Marty was cruel to considering him God's gift to mankind. They really do seem to enjoy toying with us! Sometimes it appears as though they're crafting some of the stories on the fly, lacking a clear, long-term vision for some of the relationships and characters in the show. I think this might be the reason there's been so many dropped storylines and relationships. It feels like they occasionally hint at storylines and relationships without really being sure if they will be fully developed or explored in the future. Like I could totally see the writers hinting at Sage having crushes on multiple regulars, only to ultimately pair him with a series of random guest characters hahaha. |
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Post by Reece on Dec 11, 2023 21:59:35 GMT -5
I'm probably being overly optimistic but what the heck - I'm moving this out of Gone but Not Forgotten since they introduced Sage and gave him a love interest in his first episode - I mean it's way more than Stanley ever got and he was on for a couple of years. The show actually won Best Drama Script at the NZ TV Awards this year so I think our grouses here aren't going to sway them from their new direction. (Michael Galvin - a.k.a. Chris Warner - lost out on his award but another Shorty star from this past year, Antonia Prebble - who played the evil Brightshine leader Rebekah - won Best Actress... for another role.) IMO they've missed the boat on bringing on a gay/bi male regular - more so than Logan, I would've plumped for Harry, as a legacy character, but they've left it too long and at this stage, I don't need another queer killer on the show; we've had two in the last two years (Rebekah and Hamish). A third would be overkill, literally. I fear Sage is condemned to having guest star love interests, nothing more. I actually thought they were going to have his housemate, the one who got Marty hooked on pills, as gay, but he is seemingly gone for good (wasn't he meant to return?). I'm glad the show got an award (I wonder what the script was) and I do think the show has improved on just how shocking it was for parts of last year and early this year, but with so many high-profile departures and just a sense of everything feeling smaller (and getting rid of a number of longtime sets), I do wonder if we'll be hearing about the show's end within the next year or so. The show is seeing a slow decrease in ratings, mainly because younger audiences aren't watching the show as much, and because other shows (like Love Island and Masterchef) are now more popular on TVNZ+. For years, SS was the most streamed show on that platform. But it's still the highest rated NZ shows on the TV2 network, and in New Zealand in general, so I don't see it being cancelled anytime soon, unless it's for another reason, such as issues around cost. I could see cost issues being likely because it's probably one of the most expensive New Zealand TV shows to produce. I only watch the show occasionally, but is the flat (that Dawn and everyone used to live in) still around? It's just dawned on me that I haven't seen it in a while. |
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Post by justinate on Dec 12, 2023 10:58:29 GMT -5
The show is seeing a slow decrease in ratings, mainly because younger audiences aren't watching the show as much, and because other shows (like Love Island and Masterchef) are now more popular on TVNZ+. For years, SS was the most streamed show on that platform. But it's still the highest rated NZ shows on the TV2 network, and in New Zealand in general, so I don't see it being cancelled anytime soon, unless it's for another reason, such as issues around cost. I could see cost issues being likely because it's probably one of the most expensive New Zealand TV shows to produce. I only watch the show occasionally, but is the flat (that Dawn and everyone used to live in) still around? It's just dawned on me that I haven't seen it in a while. Yeah, the flat is still around, Logan is living there and we saw it during his romance with Monique and bromance with Harry not that long ago. Harry moved in to keep him company but I'm unsure if he is still around - I feel like I subsequently saw Harry and Stella in the staff housing unit that he tenanted with Thad the pharmacist. Or was that before? Anyway, I think the breakdown now is: Chris's penthouse - Chris and Amelie. Chris's townhouse - Drew, Harper and their kids. The share house - Monique, Stella and Rahu. The King house - Vili, Madonna, Selina, and Junior. Staff Housing 1 - Nicole, Maeve, Pele, Cassie and Knox. Staff Housing 2 - Marty, Esther and her kids. (Didn't Marty's dad have a house? What happened to that? Did Leanne inherit it?) Staff Housing 3 - Harry (if not at the flat) Flat - Logan, maybe Harry. (It strains credulity that he can afford it alone on a junior paramedic's salary, so I'm going to say Harry is now paying towards rent.) Other sets: Hospital - CEO's office and anteroom, ED/Resus/Medicine Store, Nurses Counter, Staff Room and Lockers, OT with observation room, the PSC (which has morphed into more of General Surgery), cafeteria, and the one consulting suite that every doctor seems to use. (I don't include the entrance, ambulance bay, or carpark because those aren't "sets" as such.) The new restaurant/bar - its name escapes me. I always thought the IV was clever. |
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Dec 12, 2023 21:52:46 GMT -5
I think from this recent episode, Sage seems to have a crush on Marty??? They hinted at it twice. There's always the possibility that Marty's bisexual and I definitely wouldn't complain haha, but knowing the writers and the show's track record, I personally can't really see them doing that. So I'm just kind of like why hint at a crush that most likely will lead to nothing at all? Given the nature of some past stories I could see them having Marty sleep with Sage for drugs. I definitely thought there was a window to make Marty bi before he got back with Esther. Not that they'd ever do that with a main male character. They had a huge opportunity with Louis and avoided it even when he had a threesome with another man. |
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Post by justinate on Dec 13, 2023 3:07:00 GMT -5
I don't know if this should be considered a spoiler, but they posted the 2023 cast photo - you can spot some interesting faces in the first pic but to really see them up close, scroll to the last slide. Sage is there with Thad (is he back?) and also a few new characters who've not been introduced yet - two of them male. I'm thinking it likely one of the other three guys on that page will be Sage's love interest. Knowing our luck it will be Thad - another guy connected to drugs. https://www.instagram.com/p/C0xlKQryU_l ETA: Just seen the ad for tomorrow's ep and Cece is back for the wedding (yay!) and so is Desdemona (boo!). But they couldn't spring for Madonna's daughter? And Desi mistakes Father Gabriel for a stripper. Man I wish the show hadn't axed all the eye candy we used to get back in the day, LOL. |
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Post by Jack on Dec 13, 2023 16:56:03 GMT -5
I don't know if this should be considered a spoiler, but they posted the 2023 cast photo - you can spot some interesting faces in the first pic but to really see them up close, scroll to the last slide. Sage is there with Thad (is he back?) and also a few new characters who've not been introduced yet - two of them male. I'm thinking it likely one of the other three guys on that page will be Sage's love interest. Knowing our luck it will be Thad - another guy connected to drugs. https://www.instagram.com/p/C0xlKQryU_l ETA: Just seen the ad for tomorrow's ep and Cece is back for the wedding (yay!) and so is Desdemona (boo!). But they couldn't spring for Madonna's daughter? And Desi mistakes Father Gabriel for a stripper. Man I wish the show hadn't axed all the eye candy we used to get back in the day, LOL. I was hoping Boogie would be in the cast photo! I thought he was a sweet character, and it'd be nice to have him as a regular, even though he most likely is straight. I agree, I think his love interest could be Thad, or maybe one of the new male characters (but my mind jumped instantly to Thad lol). Though someone theorized that the couples who may stay together or get together (Logan and Monique, Drew and Harper, Rahu and Stella, Nicole and Maeve) are touching each other, while couples like Vili and Madonna aren't touching, indicating a break up. If this theory is true, I've noticed that Sage isn't touching any character in the photos, and neither is Thad. Also, one of the new male characters is touching the new female character, and my gut is leaning towards them getting together. So idk, I think there's a chance Sage doesn't even get with a regular lol. That wouldn't be shocking, but I SO hope I'm wrong. |
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Dec 13, 2023 16:59:27 GMT -5
Thanks justinate. I would not have seen this if not for your post. @jack I was also hoping to see Boogie. Good actor and likeable character so of course he isn't there. Until Sage said he wasn't into women, I thought they might make him bi, as the interview with the actor said "queer," which can be all-encompassing. I guess bi guys on Shorty are only nefarious, promiscuous drug users like Lincoln. I notice Cassie isn't there either, unless she is not classed as a regular. I know that Thad will probably end up like Damo (at best), awkward comic relief, or at worst, a disaster, but I'm glad he's back. I have to confess that I am kind of attracted to him. That isn't the case for a lot of guys on the show, especially now that lovely Louis is gone. Sadly it doesn't seem to be available in the US, but this is still good news for the show, and for any UK fans - Shorty is screening on Amazon Freevee. metro.co.uk/2023/12/12/amazon-freevee-picks-another-major-axed-soap-saving-neighbours-19937397/ |
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Post by justinate on Dec 14, 2023 7:46:33 GMT -5
I would've liked a permanent return for Boogie too but mainly because he is cute - not because I believe for one second they would've made him bi.
The reason Cassie isn't in the cast photo is explained in today's episode. I did suspect it was coming down the pike, in part because of that cast photo, but it doesn't make her stupidity any less mind-boggling.
Sadly you are right about the poor representation of bi men, in general but on this show in particular. They really played into the "greedy" stereotype with Lincoln, didn't they? The drugs thing though - they don't limit that to bi characters given Jack's and now Sage's love interests over the years.
Speaking of - assuming Sage's love interest is indeed in the pic with him, I'm confident it won't be the hot guy in the middle (the hunks never play for our team: see also Louis, Rahu, Marty, Tom, etc.). So it's either dorky Thad (who I agree looks set to go down the path of Damo 2.0) or the guy next to him who is played by Mo Nasir (in my mind's eye, I can already see the Muslim self-loathing coming-out storyline they probably have planned for him).
I've also given up on eye candy from this show. Nobody so much as takes a shirt off unless they need to be resuscitated, which instantly kills the sexy. For a show that even threw in the occasional nudity, it's a drastic change. I mean, even Rahu stayed buttoned up when he was banging anything (female) that moved, and the actor used to be professionally shirtless as a boxer!
ETA: According to the credits, neither Harry nor Sage are regulars. They are listed separately with the guest stars.
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Post by justinate on Dec 21, 2023 11:31:51 GMT -5
Shortland St aired its summer (southern hemisphere) cliffhanger today. In case people haven't watched it yet I'll put it behind spoiler tags: So Harry is onto murder victim #2. After Rahu discovered from Harry's wife back in China that Harry never actually graduated from med school, he confronts him, during which a Z-addict conveniently beats and stabs Rahu while Harry stands by. Then of course Harry is called upon to perform the surgery during which Rahu dies, with an assist from Harry of course. I still cannot believe they turned him into a killer. Damn.
In other news, Sage is the latest in a long line of gay men who need to be rescued (from said Z-addicts). Hot new guy is introduced for Monique. Child abusing coach Owen escapes and confronts Drew, Harper and Vili, while Vili's wife Madonna cheats on him with hot priest. And lastly Marty collapses at Chris's party after shooting up on Z - the trailer below implies he is dead. The show will return on 5 February. https://www.instagram.com/p/C1GzE8zoKVx |
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Dec 21, 2023 13:18:13 GMT -5
Shortland St aired its summer (southern hemisphere) cliffhanger today. In case people haven't watched it yet I'll put it behind spoiler tags: So Harry is onto murder victim #2. After Rahu discovered from Harry's wife back in China that Harry never actually graduated from med school, he confronts him, during which a Z-addict conveniently beats and stabs Rahu while Harry stands by. Then of course Harry is called upon to perform the surgery during which Rahu dies, with an assist from Harry of course. I still cannot believe they turned him into a killer. Damn. Such a huge waste of potential, as you've mentioned, to make Harry into a serial killer. They wasted all of the registrars - only Stella, one of the least interesting of the group, is going to be unscathed, and I can't see her lasting. After reading an interview recently with the actor who plays Rahu that he was mostly doing Shortland Street while his boxing injuries were healing, I didn't think he'd be around long-term, but I wasn't thinking he'd go this soon.
The Maeve quote makes me think Marty won't die, but then considering everything he's been through and the likelihood that we need to cycle to another "love of my life" for Esther, I can't count it out.
How would you compare this to other Shorty finales? |
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Post by justinate on Dec 21, 2023 14:04:02 GMT -5
How would you compare this to other Shorty finales? One of the most lacklustre in recent years. It feels like the others have had big events and high stakes but here it was a two-second hostage situation, a drug addict overdosing, a secondary character dying on the operating table, and an elderly, minor villain threatening three characters, two of them fit adult men. I guess they are banking on the shock factor being their turning a legacy character, the only child who was born and grew up on the show, into a serial killer. That is cheap. There was no reason Harry would commit two murders to hide the fact that he hadn't graduated from med school. Heck, I don't even believe teen Harry would have GONE to med school or be afraid of disappointing his dad. The whole thing is for shock value and nothing more. I was really holding out hope that there was a twist coming, that Stella was the one who'd killed Max Lynch and Harry was covering for her. Evidently not. |
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Dec 21, 2023 14:36:11 GMT -5
How would you compare this to other Shorty finales? One of the most lacklustre in recent years. It feels like the others have had big events and high stakes but here it was a two-second hostage situation, a drug addict overdosing, a secondary character dying on the operating table, and an elderly, minor villain threatening three characters, two of them fit adult men. I guess they are banking on the shock factor being their turning a legacy character, the only child who was born and grew up on the show, into a serial killer. That is cheap. There was no reason Harry would commit two murders to hide the fact that he hadn't graduated from med school. Heck, I don't even believe teen Harry would have GONE to med school or be afraid of disappointing his dad. The whole thing is for shock value and nothing more. I was really holding out hope that there was a twist coming, that Stella was the one who'd killed Max Lynch and Harry was covering for her. Evidently not. When they spent months teasing just why Harry was estranged from his wife and child, I never thought it would be the med school lie. I wonder if the actor decided he wanted to leave early and they scrambled. It makes no sense to me. In more positive news, the first 150+ episodes of the show have been uploaded onto their Youtube channel. Merry Christmas! |
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Post by justinate on Dec 21, 2023 22:25:18 GMT -5
When they spent months teasing just why Harry was estranged from his wife and child, I never thought it would be the med school lie. I wonder if the actor decided he wanted to leave early and they scrambled. It makes no sense to me. In more positive news, the first 150+ episodes of the show have been uploaded onto their Youtube channel. Merry Christmas! Actually, they've been hinting at it for a while. When Monique wanted to post his profile for the surgical marathon he panicked and it struck me then that he might not have qualified. They also had moments like when he was treating a little half-Chinese boy and spoke Mandarin to the boy's Chinese mother, she asked him which med school he went to and his awkwardness was palpable. To give the show credit, I think this story was plotted from the beginning. I suspect it may even have influenced the recasting decision. |
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Dec 22, 2023 10:31:45 GMT -5
When they spent months teasing just why Harry was estranged from his wife and child, I never thought it would be the med school lie. I wonder if the actor decided he wanted to leave early and they scrambled. It makes no sense to me. In more positive news, the first 150+ episodes of the show have been uploaded onto their Youtube channel. Merry Christmas! Actually, they've been hinting at it for a while. When Monique wanted to post his profile for the surgical marathon he panicked and it struck me then that he might not have qualified. They also had moments like when he was treating a little half-Chinese boy and spoke Mandarin to the boy's Chinese mother, she asked him which med school he went to and his awkwardness was palpable. To give the show credit, I think this story was plotted from the beginning. I suspect it may even have influenced the recasting decision. Ah. I never noticed. Knowing they were bringing him back just for this almost kind of makes it worse for me. |
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Dec 24, 2023 14:00:43 GMT -5
Merry Christmas, everyone, or whatever day you do or don't celebrate.
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Post by TeReoMaoriNZ1 on Dec 24, 2023 14:49:21 GMT -5
Shortland Street writers and their weird obsession with drugs is maddening. Jack, Charlie, Lincoln, Curtis, Frank, Finn, Marty, Louis, Villiami, Logan - literally every good looking hunk was into drugs at some point.
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Post by justinate on Feb 16, 2024 10:57:55 GMT -5
Sage has a crush on the new ace surgeon Nazar. At this stage it's unclear if he's barking up the wrong tree. Knowing our luck he probably is.
Thad the druggie pharmacist is back. And so's Boyd (and his twin sons), mysteriously sans Zara and their daughter.
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Feb 16, 2024 23:25:17 GMT -5
Sage has a crush on the new ace surgeon Nazar. At this stage it's unclear if he's barking up the wrong tree. Knowing our luck he probably is. Thad the druggie pharmacist is back. And so's Boyd (and his twin sons), mysteriously sans Zara and their daughter. I remember last fall when Boyd visited for a day or two, they hinted at troubles (he didn't seem to want to leave and was on the verge of tears). Seems like he only returns for short stints so I assume this will be the same, but I do like seeing him back. That Nazar guy is handsome, and it would also be nice to see different body types on the show. |
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Post by justinate on Mar 12, 2024 9:21:50 GMT -5
Sage has been so aggravating these past few weeks, I'm almost rooting for Harry to make him the third kill he needs to gain official serial killer status. I guess it's just as well Jack is gone or he'd have inevitably been paired with him.
I do wonder if they plan to go the soap opera route of giving Harry an out in the form of some brain injury that triggered these homicidal impulses - it seems significant that his first notable episode we've been told about was a car accident where his son was nearly injured. Maybe they plan to argue that Harry himself suffered a TBI that's gone untreated during that same accident. Or maybe he has a tumour. His family does have a history of cancer. But really, jeez. Whatever happened to Harry "please tell me that's not your penis" Warner?
Nazar has turned into a real stick in the mud but I can't fault him where Marty is concerned - I thought it was bad enough when they made him a drug addict but now he's degenerated into a total moron.
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Post by Jack on Mar 13, 2024 7:56:25 GMT -5
Sage has been so aggravating these past few weeks, I'm almost rooting for Harry to make him the third kill he needs to gain official serial killer status. I guess it's just as well Jack is gone or he'd have inevitably been paired with him. I do wonder if they plan to go the soap opera route of giving Harry an out in the form of some brain injury that triggered these homicidal impulses - it seems significant that his first notable episode we've been told about was a car accident where his son was nearly injured. Maybe they plan to argue that Harry himself suffered a TBI that's gone untreated during that same accident. Or maybe he has a tumour. His family does have a history of cancer. But really, jeez. Whatever happened to Harry "please tell me that's not your penis" Warner? Nazar has turned into a real stick in the mud but I can't fault him where Marty is concerned - I thought it was bad enough when they made him a drug addict but now he's degenerated into a total moron. i was wondering that too about harry because he doesn't feel like the harry that grew up on the show. it could explain why he hasn't been acting like himself. |
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Post by SSfannnn on Mar 15, 2024 2:46:24 GMT -5
I don't like Emmett and don't like the idea of this pairing, but I keep having this feeling that something could happen between Emmett and Sage?  I don't know why really but imo there's something. But then again I also won't be surprised if Sage and Nazir get together eventually. |
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I don't know why really but imo there's something. But then again I also won't be surprised if Sage and Nazir get together eventually.