Episode #5140: The Scarlet Pimpernel

We are really hitting the Days Of Our Lives zone with these Camenitti girls. I could not keep track of it all and really, does it matter?

Rosie and Carmella are sisters, Rosie is seeing Frazier whose brother she used to be engaged to but she doesn't know that he is Frazier's brother. Carmella was seeing Will who told her he had a lot of money and then disappeared. Will's brother Oliver, whom Carmella did not think existed tells her Will is a liar. Carmella, because she has no character traits other than attracting and being attracted to men now fancies Oliver. Two sisters, two boyfriends with secret brothers. There must be a coma in this somewhere.

Carmella to Max: "Are you my brother's lover's ex-fiance and not telling me?"

Episode #5139: Sky Larking

This Episode Only! Ned Gets a Personality!

Yes, Ned stole money from the Scarlet Bar. Previously his personality consisted of "too dumb to know he's a spunk" but it seems a new and glorious personality awaits him as a gambling addict. Perhaps he can trot off to the community hall with Stingray for some 12 Steps.. yeah he's already great at looking confused and humble.

Harold's pontificating on What Kerry Needs continues to be tedious but poor Sky is sufficiently unsure of her new role as Mum that she lets him plant those seeds of doubt. Lots of jowl flapping over Sky's little hijinks. Stingray and Sky had some good chem going on in this ep, very amusing to watch.

The Return of Lolly

Louise Carpenter returns to Ramsay, all grown up with a few extra years!

I was just astounded watching New Lolly. She speaks with the same slow, spacey, where-is-the-special-ed teacher inflections as Old Lolly, last seen as a six year old (?) I believe. I mean she sounds exactly the same which is kind of spooky as I put Old Lolly's vagueness down to bad acting. I figure this is a result of one of three things:

1. The directors have instructed the actor playing New Lolly to take a few valium before executing her lines in order to preserve the character over this span of absence. If so, kudos to them! It's a nice touch.

2. The actor has watched everything she can of Old Lolly to prepare for her role and has taken on Old Lolly's speech patterns much the same as Ewan McGregor did in his reprisal of Alec Guinness's epic portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Of course this is extremely unlikely.

3. The actor sucks in exactly the same way the original actor sucked. Still, the continuity is a lovely touch.

I am all in favour of New Lolly being evil. Hopefully she doesn't dissolve in tears and talk about her terrible homelife before turning over new leaves too soon.

Sitars?

The first two episodes of the new year had some new music. Definitely Indian or middle eastern in style, I thought I could hear a sitar in there. The mood is quirky with a dark edge, much better than the Rocco Italian embarrassments.

So far we have yet to hear the hopefully retired "I've never been to Cuba".

Picture is Sitar Man--South Bombay by Fred Herbert.

Episode #5122: Spinal Tap

Toadie is shot and possibly paralyzed. He has been in unconscious since Christmas. He has a breathing mask and lots and lots of tubes.. tonight his eyes flicker and he awakes! Stephanie declares her love for him and he declares back.

Then he asks, "So you don't think we should take this a bit slower?"

I have news for you Toadie, you were just in a coma. You will soon be having the classic "I may be paralyzed" storyline. You cannot take it much slower than that. You will not be consummating this infatuation for quite a while.

Geez.

Ryan Moloney getting paid to lie down:

New Year's Questions and Lynn Scully Robinson

Now that Lynn has flown the almost-marital coop how long will the glorious photo of Valda continue to hang in the entrance hall? Where will it go?

Lynn is now homeless. She has gone from being married with kids in No. 26 which she owned to no husband, a toddler her only child still living in the same country and no home that is in any way hers. What a depressing turn of events, though having actually married Paul she may still get something out of him.

I'm also waiting to see what happens to No. 26 now that Janelle actually owns it. Surely it's time for the Freedom Furniture look to get well and truly trashed by the author(s) of The Bogan's Tipped Hair. Let's see some real character with this house, it looks untouched by any Timmins personality.

Episode #5121: Unsconscious

Toadie: DEAD

At least, during the commercials. He was dead last week in the ads promoting Neighbours debut 2007 episode. He was dead tonight with the same footage several hours after that episode aired in the ad for the rest of the week. In between this he was very much alive, surviving his "time of death" call. It did sound good though, "time of death, 10:26.." and will no doubt make a smashing soundbite for at least the length of time he is in the hospital.