Well, that was quite a week. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again – I thought Neighbours got off to a slightly subdued start after the break, but it is well and truly back up to the standard it was at before it ‘ended’. So much happened this week, and there’s clearly so much to come next week too, so let’s get to it.
Party On
I love a comedy Neighbours storyline, and Felix’s welcome party is an absolutely lovely bit of business. The writers have always loved a bit of innuendo, and they really run with the one about “Wendy’s balls” at the party. She makes some sort of spherical food (was it melon balls? I can’t remember) and we’re treated to Wendy moaning that her “beautiful balls” are getting no love and also Sadie admonishing Byron for having her mum’s “ball juice” all down his front.
Nicolette and Byron bickering like me and my brother do is also a highlight. It took me a while to warm to this Nicolette, but she has great chemistry with Byron, I can totally believe that they’re siblings.
The highlight of the party is Felix’s bogan girlfriend turning up in the exact same, absolutely hideous, dress that Holly is wearing, and deciding they can be best friends. That only lasts until she sees Holly hitting on Felix, at which point she grabs the welcome cake Wendy’s made and smashes it into Holly’s hair. Perfect, no notes.
Byron is Put on The Spot
Meanwhile, in the kitchen at the party, everyone is quizzing Byron about his past life as a sex worker. While it’s lovely that they don’t seem to be judging him, it’s not really very lovely that they’re all clearly crossing quite an obvious boundary. Byron is visibly uncomfortable talking about it, and feeling very awkward about giving Andrew sex tips, considering he’s just started secretly dating his daughter. But he’s too nice to say anything, so he just goes along with it. Poor, sweet Byron. I don’t know why, but he has the vibe of Funshine Bear from the Care Bears.
As if that wasn’t awkward enough, Byron arranges a very elaborate date with Sadie, complete with period costumes and decor that looks like it’s come straight from Elton John’s house. It does the trick, and they’re soon getting down to business on the settee when Andrew walks straight in and sees his daughter in a whole new light. This is why we lock doors and this is why we don’t just walk into people’s houses without knocking. When will the people on Ramsay Street ever learn proper door protocol?
The Haz/Baz Drama Continues
What on earth is going on with Haz? Last week I had come to the conclusion that he has an evil twin, but now I’m thinking that he’s suffering from some sort of mental illness. A split personality maybe?
Byron and Mackenzie both misplace their phones and after they turn up again, we see Haz listening in to their conversations through some sort of software he must have installed. Haz also loses the plot when Mackenzie books someone in to put security cameras in the cafe, which suggests that he’s either hiding something or that he’s suffering from some sort of paranoia. If you remember, there was more than a little bit of paranoia when Trevor’s previous owner surfaced, so he does have a bit of form for it. It’s all very mysterious.
Chelsea de Vil
I already hated Chelsea, but this past week has taken it to a whole new level. She is EVIL. First, she tries to sabotage Krista’s presentation by deleting the file, but Haz manages to retrieve it for her. Then Chelsea’s only option is to prevent Krista from giving it, and she makes the most of a technical glitch with the hotel door system to lock Krista in the sauna.
Chelsea is a mother, right? So she’s been pregnant herself? She should therefore surely know that getting too hot can be very harmful to pregnant women, but even if nobody ever told her that specifically, what did she think was going to happen to her after being locked into a boiling hot room for a long time? Is she thick or just absolutely and utterly evil?
I think she’s both, to be honest, because it takes someone truly awful to mess with a pregnant woman in any way, but it also takes a total thicko to start pointing fingers and making accusations afterward. She suggests to Paul that someone might have locked Krista in on purpose, and suggests it might be the delightfully charming Penny. But here’s the thing, if someone’s trying to find evidence of Penny doing this, then they’re probably going to uncover evidence that it was actually Chelsea. I know she’s stalled for extra time before Paul calls the police, but she must know that she’s going to get found out.
And for god’s sake, will someone just look at the sodding CCTV for once?
Krista Breaks My Heart
**Trigger warning: child loss**
As a result of being at such a high temperature for such a long time, when Krista goes to the hospital she is told that her baby has died and that she has to deliver her. Paul can’t get hold of Leo, so Krista goes through it without him, but Paul stays to support her through it.
I think it’s really important that the trauma of losing a child is portrayed a bit more realistically on TV than it generally has been because it perhaps helps people to understand it a little bit more and breaks down some of the stigma around talking about it. Having said that, this episode would have been a tough watch for anyone who’s experienced baby loss, and my heart goes out to anyone who’s had to go through it.
This whole scene was incredibly done, my only criticism is that I doubt any doctor would have started the process until Krista had the people there that she wanted, but I understand that this was necessary for the story arc. I liked how the writers showed that Remi found the situation tough as a doctor, and I thought all three actors handled it beautifully. It was devastating.
Stop Trying To Make Me Like Paul
I knew it would take something big to redeem Paul after what he’s been up to, and I think this might be it. Leo certainly seems to be starting to forgive Paul because of him being such a phenomenal support to Krista through her delivery, and I have to say that I was very touched by it too. I feel conflicted about that.
Is That You, Boo?
We end the week on a very mysterious note.
Krista’s situation has brought things back for Aaron, and so he goes and stands in the street to talk to the dodgy painting of David on the side of the drinks van. I’m not sure why he couldn’t have just spoken to a photograph or something, but there we are.
Shortly after, he receives a phone call that seems to be from David. It obviously can’t be, so I’m thinking it must be some sort of “prank” using AI (I’m using quotation marks there because if it is a prank it isn’t remotely funny). Who could it be? Someone who’s got enough technical knowledge to retrieve seemingly deleted files from a computer, or install bugging software maybe? Someone who appears to be having a bit of a mental break? I can think of no other real candidates. Out of our current crop of villains, I don’t think Felix has the brains, Slade is too busy trying not to get arrested, and even Chelsea probably wouldn’t stoop this low right after murdering an unborn child. It has to be Haz, right? Doesn’t it? I’m desperate to know the answer!
