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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Spells &amp; Karma" data-source="post: 203140" data-attributes="member: 23">Episodes 262-266  (...continued)As befits her new series regular status (complete with one of my favourite title sequences, a short-lived shot outside Blaxland where Cornelia Frances glances directly at the camera briefly before scowling haughtily over Summer Bay), Morag is all over the show at the moment. She is on the rise and she’s willing to go to brutal lengths to achieve the status she desires. Or so it would seem.Recently, Morag has become a reluctant confidante for Donald. They share a secret that has cost Morag everything, while Donald is choosing to keep a lid on things. At the back of the mind of every viewer must be the question of how long Morag is prepared to tolerate the situation before using it for her own gain. This series of episodes appears to answer this. Looking certain to cement her status as the series’ resident bitch, Morag finally plays her hand after Donald refuses Nick Walsh’s offer to buy his property:<img src="https://i.vgy.me/Lh0Fs6.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><img src="https://i.vgy.me/p5EKgk.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />It’s all very middle years Sons and Daughters. Donald walks away, defeated, but bursts into Celia’s the next morning with his furious response:<img src="https://i.vgy.me/LWBFyE.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />A significant look crosses Morag’s face, but its meaning isn’t fully clear. Yet.Donald then goes as far as to type his letter of resignation (a slightly nostalgic moment for viewers with longer memories).<img src="https://i.vgy.me/PfCD0U.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />But elsewhere, we see that Donald’s words have not only hit a nerve, they’ve pricked her conscience and dispersed her bloodlust. Even while Donald is preparing to resign, she tells Nicholas they won’t be taking action against Donald:Pleasingly, Morag’s line about not being cut out for scheming got a wry laugh from Nick. It worked to pre-empt the viewer’s own cynicism towards it. Cornelia played the line for truth, and I bought that Morag - despite her track record - believed it. She then goes to Donald with a newfound humility:It’s a warm scene, and I appreciated that the relationship kept its awkward edge, particularly when Donald went on to sing Bobby’s praises and Morag bit his head off.Donald’s earlier resolve not to give in to Morag’s blackmail was directly influenced by two factors: his relationships with Bobby and Alan. He was seen to reflect after (even during) interactions with Bobby. And we also saw him looking thoughtfully at Alan’s picture on the back cover of the book.I like that the ghost of Alan Fisher looms over Donald, gently influencing him to take the next right decision like Jiminy Cricket on a surfboard. And On The Crest Of A Wave has become Donald’s Good Book, the tome into which he dips when he needs answers or inspiration.<img src="https://i.vgy.me/aUaroG.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />A result of this is that, as often happens when someone dies, Donald’s earthly relationship with Alan has become retroactively imbued with a reverence and importance that gives it great meaning. And so it makes sense that when Donald is offered the chance to speak about the book on television, he accepts the offer and asks Bobby to accompany him. She questions his motive for doing so, wondering if he plans to run Alan down, and Donald gives her an assuring answer:<img src="https://i.vgy.me/odM2m3.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />It’s another example of Bobby and Alan both being examples of Donald’s failure, and relationships in which he is finding hope. I can’t help but think back to something Ailsa said to Bobby when Alan first came into the series, and how much more significant that line is in light of recent revelations:...continued</blockquote>

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