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“Welcome to Summer Bay”: Rewatching the early years.
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<blockquote data-quote="Spells &amp; Karma" data-source="post: 200748" data-attributes="member: 23"><p><u><span style="font-size: 22px">Episodes 233-240</span></u> <em> (...continued)</em></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><img src="https://i.vgy.me/AznaXC.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p><img src="https://i.vgy.me/TmeL8u.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><img src="https://i.vgy.me/C7OvTd.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p><img src="https://i.vgy.me/4pylFl.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>With their rocky patch over and new Roo’s wholehearted acceptance of Ailsa, the Stewarts need a little sturm und drang in their lives. And the writers are happy to service them (and us) with a few little curves.</p><p></p><p>Leading up to the news we get a few little titbits that, when reviewed, may - or may not - suggest some of the changes in her body leading her to go to the doctor (with women’s trouble, she says, which is both a red flag to the viewer and a neat explanation for why Alf would ask no more questions in response). She tells Roo she’s dieting after their holiday, and we see her channelling Fiona Thompson by exercising on the living room floor with the aid of a tape on a boom box.</p><p></p><p>Being five months along is explained away - and fairly convincingly - by Ailsa saying she’d experienced similar changes in her body through overwork and she thought it was that. She’d considered it could be early menopause, but not pregnancy. It’s also a nice way of taking away any control Ailsa may have over the situation. Whether or not she would have considered a termination we don’t know. But that option is possibly not one that would be considered this far down the line. Even with health concerns.</p><p></p><p>And there are health concerns, mostly down to Ailsa's age. This arguably shows how things have changed in such a short time. Judy Nunn was only forty three when these scenes were shot, so I assume Ailsa is around the same age. She comments to Pippa that she's "got a few years" on her, and that pregnancy didn't get easier as one got older. Which is true. But I'd say there are probably a lot more women of Ailsa's age having their first child with less risk nowadays. Not that I'm an expert. We'd have to consult Pregnancy Expert Dr Phil.</p><p></p><p>Alf’s reaction to the pregnancy is one of delight and he sees only the good. And so Ailsa - echoing Pippa last season - finds herself keeping the potential problems from those closest to her. The only person who knows the full story is Philip, whose counsel prompts Ailsa to comment that he should take up psychiatry (as if he needs any encouragement):</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><img src="https://i.vgy.me/rGTEOz.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p>Good soap is frequently about lack of communication. <em>Great</em> soap convincingly presents lack of communication as something profoundly noble. And so Ailsa’s decision shows great promise.</p><p></p><p></p><p>In a nice twist, Celia is the person who is most switched on to Ailsa’s potential predicament. And she raises the subject with a sensitivity that shows us a very welcome depth to the character:</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><img src="https://i.vgy.me/MMUJJ6.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><img src="https://i.vgy.me/SGNksO.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p>It’s a sweet and intimate scene between these two great actresses. I love the direction - the way the camera moves round and gets closer before going into the traditional soap close ups. Grounding it further, the scene began with Alf and Roo also present, but they’d gone into the kitchen. It’s a very relatable kind of situation, and it also creates the suggestion that perhaps Alf and Roo are having their own heart to heart about the pregnancy in the kitchen.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Roo’s past has been used to good effect here. Ailsa was initially concerned that the pregnancy would upset her delicate relationship with Roo:</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Roo’s reaction is far more accepting:</p><p><img src="https://i.vgy.me/60z5Ub.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><em>^Well, I suppose pregnant Ailsa’s been consuming alcohol for the last five months. What’s a few more, eh?</em></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Ironically, it’s Alf who almost smashes the fragile trust within the new family unit when he receives a poison pen letter and responds instinctively:</p><p></p><p><img src="https://i.vgy.me/YyP0wa.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><img src="https://i.vgy.me/wlEi7i.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Roo’s initial response is almost funny, considering her actions over the series’ first season:</p><p></p><p>But she’s quick to point out that she recognises why Alf would jump to such a conclusion. And she goes a step towards earning the trust back by confronting Alison who she suspects penned the letter. Alf isn’t the only person who appreciates the new Roo:</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><img src="https://i.vgy.me/iqJmcX.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p>Roo’s humility and contrition and the way it affects this previously fiery relationship brings much warmth to these scenes. It’s a little saccharine at times, in an “everyone has learned a valuable lesson” kind of way. But it’s entirely forgivable because it’s been a journey for the viewer as much as the characters and we feel they’ve earned this. For me as a viewer their past still colours today’s interactions. Making nice with Ailsa while stirring out of sight would have been right in character for old, bitchy Roo. And while Ailsa didn’t for a minute seem to think Roo had sent the letter, if she did have any suspicions, what she said would still be the perfect way to handle it. After all, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Roo’s new Little Miss Sunshine persona adds even more of a contrast to the general stirring of Alison, who at one point tried to recruit Roo to get revenge against a former mutual enemy, once again giving Roo the chance to prove how much she’s grown, not just to the townspeople and to us, but also to herself. As she reflects to old flame and new colleague Frank on her first day at The Macklin Group:</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: right"><em>continued...</em></p> <p style="text-align: right"></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Spells & Karma, post: 200748, member: 23"] [U][SIZE=6]Episodes 233-240[/SIZE][/U] [I] (...continued)[/I] [IMG]https://i.vgy.me/AznaXC.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]https://i.vgy.me/TmeL8u.jpg[/IMG][IMG]https://i.vgy.me/C7OvTd.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]https://i.vgy.me/4pylFl.jpg[/IMG] With their rocky patch over and new Roo’s wholehearted acceptance of Ailsa, the Stewarts need a little sturm und drang in their lives. And the writers are happy to service them (and us) with a few little curves. Leading up to the news we get a few little titbits that, when reviewed, may - or may not - suggest some of the changes in her body leading her to go to the doctor (with women’s trouble, she says, which is both a red flag to the viewer and a neat explanation for why Alf would ask no more questions in response). She tells Roo she’s dieting after their holiday, and we see her channelling Fiona Thompson by exercising on the living room floor with the aid of a tape on a boom box. Being five months along is explained away - and fairly convincingly - by Ailsa saying she’d experienced similar changes in her body through overwork and she thought it was that. She’d considered it could be early menopause, but not pregnancy. It’s also a nice way of taking away any control Ailsa may have over the situation. Whether or not she would have considered a termination we don’t know. But that option is possibly not one that would be considered this far down the line. Even with health concerns. And there are health concerns, mostly down to Ailsa's age. This arguably shows how things have changed in such a short time. Judy Nunn was only forty three when these scenes were shot, so I assume Ailsa is around the same age. She comments to Pippa that she's "got a few years" on her, and that pregnancy didn't get easier as one got older. Which is true. But I'd say there are probably a lot more women of Ailsa's age having their first child with less risk nowadays. Not that I'm an expert. We'd have to consult Pregnancy Expert Dr Phil. Alf’s reaction to the pregnancy is one of delight and he sees only the good. And so Ailsa - echoing Pippa last season - finds herself keeping the potential problems from those closest to her. The only person who knows the full story is Philip, whose counsel prompts Ailsa to comment that he should take up psychiatry (as if he needs any encouragement): [IMG]https://i.vgy.me/rGTEOz.jpg[/IMG] Good soap is frequently about lack of communication. [I]Great[/I] soap convincingly presents lack of communication as something profoundly noble. And so Ailsa’s decision shows great promise. In a nice twist, Celia is the person who is most switched on to Ailsa’s potential predicament. And she raises the subject with a sensitivity that shows us a very welcome depth to the character: [IMG]https://i.vgy.me/MMUJJ6.jpg[/IMG][IMG]https://i.vgy.me/SGNksO.jpg[/IMG] It’s a sweet and intimate scene between these two great actresses. I love the direction - the way the camera moves round and gets closer before going into the traditional soap close ups. Grounding it further, the scene began with Alf and Roo also present, but they’d gone into the kitchen. It’s a very relatable kind of situation, and it also creates the suggestion that perhaps Alf and Roo are having their own heart to heart about the pregnancy in the kitchen. Roo’s past has been used to good effect here. Ailsa was initially concerned that the pregnancy would upset her delicate relationship with Roo: Roo’s reaction is far more accepting: [IMG]https://i.vgy.me/60z5Ub.jpg[/IMG] [I]^Well, I suppose pregnant Ailsa’s been consuming alcohol for the last five months. What’s a few more, eh?[/I] Ironically, it’s Alf who almost smashes the fragile trust within the new family unit when he receives a poison pen letter and responds instinctively: [IMG]https://i.vgy.me/YyP0wa.jpg[/IMG][IMG]https://i.vgy.me/wlEi7i.jpg[/IMG] Roo’s initial response is almost funny, considering her actions over the series’ first season: But she’s quick to point out that she recognises why Alf would jump to such a conclusion. And she goes a step towards earning the trust back by confronting Alison who she suspects penned the letter. Alf isn’t the only person who appreciates the new Roo: [IMG]https://i.vgy.me/iqJmcX.jpg[/IMG] Roo’s humility and contrition and the way it affects this previously fiery relationship brings much warmth to these scenes. It’s a little saccharine at times, in an “everyone has learned a valuable lesson” kind of way. But it’s entirely forgivable because it’s been a journey for the viewer as much as the characters and we feel they’ve earned this. For me as a viewer their past still colours today’s interactions. Making nice with Ailsa while stirring out of sight would have been right in character for old, bitchy Roo. And while Ailsa didn’t for a minute seem to think Roo had sent the letter, if she did have any suspicions, what she said would still be the perfect way to handle it. After all, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Roo’s new Little Miss Sunshine persona adds even more of a contrast to the general stirring of Alison, who at one point tried to recruit Roo to get revenge against a former mutual enemy, once again giving Roo the chance to prove how much she’s grown, not just to the townspeople and to us, but also to herself. As she reflects to old flame and new colleague Frank on her first day at The Macklin Group: [RIGHT][I]continued...[/I] [/RIGHT] [/QUOTE]
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“Welcome to Summer Bay”: Rewatching the early years.
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