Friday 8 May 2009

A Desperate Return

The major problem with Edie dying, was not that she was a man eating whore, or that our wish that she might finally kill Susan was crushed, it was that suddenly Desperate Housewives just became desperate. She may have been an under utilised character but her brief appearances filled the Wisteria Lane drudgery with some much needed humour. A underhand comment here, a bitchy quip there, she never failed to bring a smile. It was only when we she disappeared from our screens for good that I realised the void that had replaced her. Whilst writer Marc Cherry marched on with thrilling plots and dramatic twists, it always came down to Edie to provide a brief chuckle, to lift the mood and to remind us that this was indeed a comedy.

The episode post her death - aka "Rose's Turn" was truly dreadful. Edie's last words - "I let go of picket fences, of cars and driveways" made me wish that I too had not bothered to tune back in. However, in a return to what is, at its roots, a family driven drama with some murder mystery thrown in, "Bargaining" was truly back on form.

Edie's dead, so to it seems is the series

Whilst Gaby tackled her daughters insecurities over her looks, Lynette strived to keep her marriage strong as Tom started to slide down a slope to depression. Katherine's worries were realised when she discovered Mike didn't want to re-marry whilst the return of Jackson caused a lonely Susan to let her feelings gush out in a torrential out pouring. Unluckily for her - as is to be expected - though Jackson's marriage proposal was real, its intent was not for the romance and love that she craved. Across town Brie's efforts to tackle Orson's comical kleptomania failed miserably and upon discovering he was entitled to recieve half her assets, solicited help from Susan's ex and divorce vulture, Karl.

It was a welcome return to family issues, to the everyday problems that people across the world face. Even more welcome was the return of the comedy, Lynette and Tom in action whilst on a conference call, MJ's one liner about macaroons. Carry on like this and perhaps this black comedy will finally be comedic again.

Friday 1 May 2009

Summer Bay's Triumph

As Home and Away causes controversy in conservative Australia, in England I am finally impressed that an Australian soap has plucked up the courage to run with a gay relationship storyline. Not that it hasn't been done before. Back in the 90's Shannon (Isla Fisher) had an affair with a female writer staying in the caravan park. In 2004 Neighbours caused a stir when the popular Sky Mangle (Stephanie McIntosh) shared a kiss with a fello student. And of course, only this past year, Xavier's wacky and wayward ex grabbed a quick kiss with Nicole.

 Charlie and Joey come to terms with their relationship

But one glaringly obvious point with these past episodes is their lack of run time. These gay moments have simply been used to spice up a story, to develop one's character, but never has either of the Australian soaps decided to create a gay couple as an ongoing and stable part of the soap. But it finally seems that execs at Home and Away have decided to dramatise modern times, changes, stereotypes, and homophobia. Whether Joey and Charlie's love will continue remains to be seen, but the scripting has been undertaken excellently, creating excitement whilst keeping realism. However, with Charlie's & Hugo's indiscretion on the beach in tonight's episode, I hope that isn't all just another case of soap's once again buckling against conservative and bigotistic views.

Goodbye Jelly Belly

As Neighbours sinks deeper and deeper into an abyss of poor acting, bad scripting, and poorly executed storylines it isnot suprising to see one of its legends take his final bow. Harold Bishop left tonight, happily driving off into the distance in his camper van, and ended his 20year run on the show. From a floundering and flustered accountant he has become one with the Austrailian soap and will be sadly missed. Who will now fill the void of his legendary duo's, first with Madge and later with Lou? Perhaps Toadie who was passed a photo album in Harolds last episode, allowing us viewers to recollect his history.

With the news that Tom Oliver (Lou Carpenter) is to reduce his hours in much the same way that Ian Smith did, it is feared that the remaining part of the double act may soon be about to desert the sinking ship to. With firm favourites, the Kennedy's, remaining let us hope that Neighbours can rekindle some of its lost vigour and not allow Harold's departure to be its final bow before it disappears below the waters.