We’re gearing up for a special week of Neighbours, with some pretty big storylines being teased. So let’s make sure we’re all up to date with what’s happening ahead of what looks set to be yet another disastrous Erinsborough wedding.
The Kennedys are Back
Karl and Susan are back from Italy, and all is not well. Susan is frustrated by how grumpy and needy Karl has been, and is absolutely desperate to have some time away from him. Quite honestly, she looks about ready to throttle him with his travel pillow by the time they get home.
Karl appears to have developed a painkiller addiction, and will probably also welcome some alone time so that he can take his pills without risk of being discovered. He goes to Remi and asks her to write him a prescription for the opiate he’s been taking. She’s a little taken aback that he’s still on such a strong dose, and immediately starts asking awkward questions, so I don’t think Karl is going to be able to rely on her for too many future prescriptions. How long will it be before he’s writing prescriptions for himself?
Roxy Comes Clean
Roxy is still going hard with her plot to boot Susan out of her job at Eirini Rising. Susan comes back and learns of all the cock-ups that have happened while she’s been away, and she’s positive that she didn’t make the mistakes that Terese and Roxy are telling her about. Susan goes to speak to Terese about whether Terese is starting to have doubts about Susan’s ability to do the job. It’s a big blow to her, as she’s come home raring to get back into work after being away with a grumpy and sick Karl for so long.
Eventually, Roxy is guilted into coming clean and admitting that she was plotting to try to usurp Susan because she wants a solid reason to pitch a return to Erinsborough to Kyle. I never really understood this storyline – I don’t know why she didn’t just look for a job elsewhere in Erinsborough while she was there. Also, everyone’s reaction to what she was trying to do is way more low-key than mine would be. They’re all weirdly chill about it.
She also admits that she came close to cheating on Kyle with some random that she met in Queensland, and it’s the same guy who’s unexpectedly rocked up looking for her. It turns out that Roxy isn’t as put together as she wanted everyone to think.
Max Turns Up
Max decides that the best way to reveal to his traumatised friend, who was stalked in her own home, that he’s not a missing person is to sneak in and jump out at her. Nice one, Max.
He’s come to Holly because he needs his passport. I’ll admit I’m not really 100% across all the facts of what the scheme is with Max and this gang. I think they’re blackmailing him to be part of the gang now? I’m not actually sure, but he needs his passport anyway, which is in Paul’s penthouse.
Due to the absolutely abysmal security in Erinsborough, Holly is able to ride the lift up into Paul’s penthouse and creep around until she finds Max’s passport. She manages to grab it and get back into the lift, despite the fact that Paul is in the same room at the time, and would surely be able to hear the doors opening and closing. All he would need to do would be to turn around and see Holly standing in the lift waiting for the doors to close. Nobody should be able to just hop into a lift that comes out straight into your living room – it’s mind boggling. How does he have any valuables left in his flat?
Meanwhile, Shane is now aware that Max is missing, and is in town so he can tell Andrew how useless he is at solving crimes. It’s something we’ve all known for ages – Andrew is quite nice to look at, so his role as a police officer appears to be mostly decorative. Everyone else seems to be doing more investigating than Andrew is, because apparently someone disappearing into thin air isn’t enough evidence that they’re missing.
Holly is on her way back to give the passport to Max when she hears Shane talking to Andrew about how worried he is about his son. Despite promising Max not to tell anyone, she immediately goes and tells Shane and Andrew where Max is, and takes an entire entourage of people over to the hotel room where they decide to try to keep Max hidden. Maybe if you want him to stay hidden you should stop going to see him in groups the size of a coach trip. Just an idea.
Roxy’s mystery man, Lachie, appears to be in with the criminals and is trying to get Roxy to inadvertently lead them to Max’s location, and I’m sure it won’t be long before they find him with this lot of absolute muppets on the job.
Nell, Paul and Toadie Call a Truce
Paul sees Nell’s Erinsborough art project on Jane’s computer and decides to organise for her to have an exhibition. Nell is excited at first but then thinks it’s a cynical move to try to win favour with her, and she throws a big tantrum. Jane explains to her that Paul was genuinely excited by the artwork before he even knew it was hers, and so she goes to apologise to him. They decide they’ve got off on the wrong foot and they’re going to make an effort to get to know each other. Nell is even open to the idea of Paul moving in with her and Terese.
Toadie chooses this exact moment to arrive to break the news that Big Kev has died, and when he gets wind of the plan for Paul to move in, he refuses point blank to allow it to happen. But then later, because he sees that Paul has remembered how many ice cubes Nell has in her orange juice, Toadie has a complete change of heart and gives his blessing.
Terese, however, thinks there might be too much of her past entwined in the house, so the new plan is for her and Nell to move into the penthouse instead, leaving the house on Ramsay Street empty and ready to be rented out to a new neighbour. I know who it is and I think things are about to get a bit spicy.
Fallon and Seb Are Garbage People
Fallon puts her plan to split up Krista and Leo into top gear and summons Seb back to Erinsborough. He shows up in his most boring knitwear in order to prove that he’s sober, and Krista is pleased to see that he seems to be getting his life back on track. When Leo sees him he goes full caveman, and has to be physically restrained from slapping Seb’s face clean off his skull. I know Seb made moves on Krista, but Leo’s reaction is massively over the top and I’m not surprised Krista is so furious with him.
Fallon and Seb take it in turns to manipulate Krista – Fallon lies and tells Krista that her and Leo have slept together. Seb tells Krista that Leo is so concerned about Seb because he reminds Leo of all the things he doesn’t like about Krista, and that he likes Fallon because she’s Krista but without the baggage – and he makes sure he’s got no top on while he delivers this hot take. Krista is absolutely crushed and, just as Seb and Fallon are hoping, she turns to Seb as she thinks he’s the only person who still cares about her.
Taye has realised what Fallon’s doing, and goes to confront her and urge her to stop trying to steal Leo from her sister. Fallon seems unmoved, and it’s too late anyway, because upstairs Krista and Seb are getting it on, and all this is happening the night before Leo and Krista are supposed to be getting married. Awkward.
I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next!
A Few Random Notes
As usual, here are a few random notes I took while watching Neighbours this week:
- No Andrew, you’re right. There’s no evidence that Max is missing except that HE IS NOT THERE.
- Fallon openly sitting there with a face like a wet week while Leo and Krista are planning the wedding. She doesn’t know the meaning of the word subtle.
- Is it part of Seb’s sober costume to dress as though he’s in school uniform?
- So because Paul knows Nell has two ice cubes in her juice, Toadie’s whole opinion has changed? They’ve been getting on with each other for about 24 hours.
