March 24, 2020 – The Soap Dish

(Monday 23^rd – Tuesday 24^th March 2020)

Monday and Tuesday’s episodes were kind of like a coda to last week’s #endgame so I thought I’d review them separately to the rest of this week. The first episode doesn’t have the usual Neighbours credits. It’s more like a film as JACKIE WOODBURNE, ROB MILLS and NEIGHBOURS appear on the screen for what is an absolutely fantastic two-hander episode. The second episode has the usual credits, having ruthlessly removed Gary Canning (RIP).

So, Susan is surprised when Finn arrives home alone. He tells her that Bea has gone to the Snowy Mountains and he needs her to go with him to see her as she is very upset. Always one to drop everything to help, Susan gets in the car with him, letting Karl know what she’s doing, not that Karl proves to be useful at all.

Travelling in Elly’s car, they head towards the Snowy Mountains where she updates him on the Wedding Expo. He wonders who ended up with the Rome Honeymoon Box. Clearly nobody has discovered Prue yet…

Finn admits that he had been hoping to make a future with Elly but he now knows it was a mistake. He then grills Susan on how she coped with Karl cheating on her and whether she has completely forgiven him. She says she has but the experience changed her; a part of her heart has turned to granite. Finn is full of compliments over the way she loves and cares for people. Then Susan realises that Aster is hidden in the back of the car. Finally, she realises that something is wrong.

Finn insists that Elly can’t look after Aster at the moment. He has clearly transferred his affection from Elly to Susan. Essentially, this is what it has been about all along. His mother never loved him. He wants Susan to be the mother he never had. He has now decided that Karl isn’t good enough for Susan and Elly isn’t good enough for him. He wants him and Susan and Aster to run away and be a family together.

Admitting that his memory has been back for a few weeks, Finn takes Susan to the cabin in the Snowy Mountains, ready for a new life with his new family. He shares some upsetting childhood memories with her and is clearly angry with Elly for giving him hope and then letting him down, even after he went to the trouble of removing all the ‘obstacles’. Susan is gentle with him and holds him while he falls asleep, just as his mother never did. He wants to know how much she hated Karl when he cheated on her. He wants to find some common ground. He wants Susan to empathise with his own heart having turned to granite as he admits that the only thing that makes him feel better about people hurting him is when he hurts them back.

When he is asleep, Susan seeks her escape but she is caught. She makes an excuse and soon has the opportunity to knock him out but she can’t do it. She persuades him that they need to go and buy milk for Aster. When he is getting ready, she spots his phone but he catches her with it and all hell breaks loose as he realises she was about to call the police for help. He is enraged, announcing she will never be a mother to him as he ties her to a chair. He informs her that Elly and Bea will be dead by now and that he killed Gary. He is upset that he won’t get to see Xanthe’s face when she finds out.

While Finn goes outside to dig Susan’s grave, soaking the earth with water to soften it, Susan cries out for help. Aster cries with nobody to soothe her. Susan tearfully apologises to the poor little baby who has been through so much.

In the next episode, water pours into the grave. Finn is clearly getting carried away! Meanwhile, in the cabin, Susan has fallen backwards in her chair and Aster is still crying. Suddenly, Elly bursts in and saves the day. Hooray!

At the hospital, the Island gang are being rushed in. Harlow is critical and Bea is in a bad way. Paul hurries into the hospital with Toadie. Bea tells Karl about Finn. Karl can’t get through to Susan on the phone. Well, she is a little bit busy.

Finn finishes digging what has become a rather watery grave. As he climbs out of it, he slips and falls and the water and the mud suck him into it so he can’t get out. He calls Susan for help. Faced with a moral dilemma, Susan decides to take Elly and the baby and run, leaving Finn behind to die. However, at the last minute, Elly turns back for him. She turns the water off and finds him dead in the grave he dug for Susan. Standing over him, she tells him how much she hates him and that she hopes his last moments were awful. The police arrive, just as she begins to bury him. I mean… she must have known the police were coming. And even if she didn’t, there was no need to touch the scene. Why on earth try and bury him? What the hell is wrong with her? Well, if she hadn’t been messing around with him behind Bea’s back in the first place… Perhaps to answer my question, we should start there!

But anyway, I can’t even tell you how disappointed I am with Finn’s death. Firstly, Neighbours said the third death would be someone unexpected. Finn was the first person on my list. Of course, Finn was going to die. This was his ultimate storyline. It would have been a shock if he hadn’t died. Secondly, what a weak, weird death. It was just… odd. He slipped and fell and drowned in a grave he dug for Susan? I mean, I get it was supposed to be creepy and symbolic. But it was just weird. It didn’t… fit. And it’s such a shame because this whole story, from his previous reign of terror, to being pushed off a cliff, to his redemption, to this whole #endgame story has been incredible. It’s been one of the best Neighbours storylines ever. I’ve loved every single second of it. But I wasn’t impressed with the death of Finn. He has been one of the best characters the soap has ever produced. He deserved better.

Moving on… Chloe and Pierce give their statements to Mark at the police station. (I am very excited to hear a rumour that Sky Mangel is sticking around to take charge of the case, by the way!!!) They explain about Finn, Harlow and the fire.

As for Paul… he found Toadie and flagged Harry down for help, only to end up being taken hostage by him, using a gun from Finn’s storage locker. Harry had been on his way to collect Finn to take him to the cabin in the Snow Mountains. Toadie and Paul managed to explain the truth about Finn (and Elly) to him and he let them go, informing them of Finn’s attack on Bea. Paul explains everything to David while Harry gives his statement to Mark.

When Paul arrived on The Island, he sent Chloe and Hendrix off with Toadie to get help while he, Pierce, Kyle and Roxy went to find Harlow and Bea. By that time, Elly had also been thrown in the mine. Elly had to break the news to Kyle about Gary. There’s a particularly moving scene where Paul comforts him as he breaks down over the loss of his Dad. Everyone ended up having to hide in the mine to protect themselves from the flames, waiting for rescue. Elly drove off as soon as she got to the mainland.

Kyle arrives home and breaks the news to Sheila that Gary is dead. They are both are utterly broken hearted. Kyle must then break the news to Xanthe that Finn murdered her father.

Paul hasn’t been able to contact Prue (may she rest in peace) since it all happened. He lays into Hendrix and kicks him out of Harlow’s hospital room. Roxy promises to keep him updated.

Elly, Susan and Aster arrive at the hospital, reassuring Bea that they are safe and well, although Susan is suffering exhaustion from her encounter with Finn. Elly breaks the news to her sister that Finn is dead. Mark arrives and calls Elly in for questioning over Finn’s death.

Due to the Coronavirus, Neighbours did temporarily suspend filming but currently, they do seem to have resumed so no changes to schedule so far

Neighbours airs on Channel 5, weekdays 1:45pm and 5:30pm

(Monday 16^th – Monday 23^rd March 2020)

Geoff persuades Yasmeen to sell up and move to Cyprus with him. There’s an interesting moment when he educates her on washing her hands while singing ‘happy birthday’ in her head, which apparently was coincidental but is now very apt!

Alya continues to be very worried about her grandmother. She accuses Geoff of theft, which he denies and she is later shocked when someone comes to value the business. Alya charges round to see Yasmeen who has no choice but to let her in. Convinced that Yasmeen is being abused, she furious packs some clothes for her, only for Geoff to interrupt them. Geoff and Alya fight over Yasmeen who ultimately chooses her husband. He throws Alya out. It’s just so sad, especially as of course, Geoff then takes everything out on Yasmeen, accusing her of accusing him of being an abuser. He leaves her stewing for hours before she agrees to abandon her granddaughter, something that rational Yasmeen would never, ever have done before. She absolutely lived for her family.

Toyah takes Alya to the police for help for Yasmeen…

Desperately worried, Alya goes to the police to invoke Clare’s Law and asks them to search Geoff’s background and find out if there is anything in Geoff’s past that Yasmeen ought to know. Separately, Alya discovers that Geoff and an ex-girlfriend were both once charged with a public affray after a fight in a pub. She takes the information to Yasmeen who is resistant to the news. Alya begs her to hang fire on the move to Cyprus. Yasmeen rushes her out the back door when Geoff arrives home. Alya expresses her concerns to Eileen.

Geoff is immediately annoyed when the neighbours make fun of him with ‘jiggle it Geoff’ as the chain is on the door. But mostly, he is excited over their plans to move away. It all goes wrong when Yasmeen reluctantly asks him about Jocelyn, the woman he fought with. He denies any blame and challenges Yasmeen to go with him to the police station to ask them herself. He is furious that Alya was back at the house and slams his fist on the table, frightening his wife before throwing her dinner on the floor. She is so scared of the mess and wasting the money that he spent on the takeaway that she picks it up and begins to eat off the floor. He is disgusted with her. It’s one of the most horrific scenes yet. This incredible woman has been utterly degraded by this vile man.

Geoff cancels Cyprus and then walks out on her for the night. While Yasmeen scrubs the carpet, he books an escort called Rachel! The next morning, Yasmeen desperately searches for Geoff and finds Alya in the restaurant contacting the police about their background search on him. She says some very unkind things to her granddaughter and makes it clear that she chooses Geoff over her. It really is the most awful situation.

When he finally does come home, Yasmeen finds the strength to say she wants to hang fire on moving to Cyprus. At work, Alya is frustrated with Geoff for not doing any work. He is too busy booking his next ‘date’ with ‘Rachel’.

Yasmeen is unable to work due to a bad stomach. Geoff rearranges the work rota so that he and Alya don’t have to work together. Alya is about to give up on Yasmeen, feeling that all her attempts to help have only succeeded in Yasmeen pushing her away. Ryan visits Yasmeen and begs her to come and see Alya, who is upset over a phone call. Yasmeen rushes out in her dressing gown, desperately worried about her granddaughter. She finds Alya in her flat with two police officers. They have information about Geoff. Yasmeen is worried about Geoff having seen her and she doesn’t want to hear anything they have to say. She storms out. The police are unable to tell anyone but Yasmeen about Geoff.

Alya visits Yasmeen and begs her to at least consider hearing what the police have to say. She persuades her to let her put the officer’s number in her phone under ‘Clare’, expressing how worried she is. It’s an emotional moment as Alya tells her she knows she is scared and confused. You can see Yasmeen’s conflict as she wants to reach out to Alya for help but she is trapped in this awful cycle of abuse with Geoff.

Alya attempts to bring Zeedan home to help with Yasmeen but he doesn’t believe that she is being abused and refuses to abandon his holiday with his girlfriend.

Gemma is struggling with parenthood and is reluctant to return to the Mother and Baby Group. The group are not impressed with Bernie, who has arrived back on the Street. Gemma is further upset to realise that she has been left out of a get together and embarrassed when Bernie bursts in and gives them what for. The girls appear to make a gesture by inviting Gemma and the quads out. There seems to be one girl, Imogen who isn’t very nice and deliberately keeps topping up Gemma’s Prosecco to get her tipsy and chatty and there’s another girl, Vanessa who does seem to be quite nice.

Things take a turn when Gemma overhears Imogen remarking that the kids will end up in care. She storms out and nearly ends up under a car – with the kids. She is spotted by Craig and one of his colleagues who are concerned that she has been drinking, although Craig lets it go this time. Gemma breaks down and admits to Bernie that she isn’t coping but she cannot be honest with Chesney who is working so hard for the family. By the end of the episode, the quads are crying, Joseph needs help with his homework, she has spilt a cup of tea and she is sobbing in the garden. That night, she has a nightmare that she puts Aled in the washing machine. She still can’t tell Chesney what she is going through.

Gemma is surprised by a visit from the Health Visitor, who is mildly concerned about her mental health but Gemma doesn’t want to talk about it. Taking her advice, when she gets stressed, she goes outside for a moment, only to get locked out of the house. Bernie arrives and they manage to break in through the window and settle the babies down. Gemma breaks down on her mother. Bernie decides to move in and help with the babies. She wants Gemma to book a Doctor’s appointment. Chesney is not happy about Bernie moving in, especially after she takes responsibility for the broken window.

Ken and Claudia hit the ground running at the Retirement Village with Claudia volunteering Ken to run the book club, as their regular leader is unavailable. He ends up having to read an excerpt from his own book but there is a troublemaker in the form of Norris Cole, who attempts to discredit him. He is soon shut down by the other residents who don’t care if Ken has only had one book published: it’s one more book than Norris. It turns out that Norris and Freda have been living at the Retirement Village and Norris hates it. He feels like Freda has turned into a different person and he is desperate to leave. He is disruptive in an art class. You know, this Retirement Village seems rather a lot of fun! A book club, art club, cinema club, salsa class, a bar… Ken brings Norris to The Rovers to see his friends. Ken isn’t happy over the way Tracy is (not) looking after Eccles so he sneaks her into the Retirement Village.

Fiz and Tyrone have a rather unpleasant discussion in front of the kids about cremated dogs being scattered in the Red Rec! It’s not that random – Tyrone and Evelyn have to take the dog to the vet but thankfully he will be just fine. However, his treatment is very expensive (no insurance). At the vets, Evelyn reconnects with an old flame, Arthur. They arrange a date (Evelyn even gets a makeover from Claudia and reserves a booth at The Rovers), only for him not to show up, which is a genuine shame. It would be nice for her to have a romance. Tyrone intercepts Arthur going to explain himself to Evelyn and warns him to stay away. He speaks to her anyway and explains that nerves got in the way of the date, asking for another chance. Evelyn tells Tyrone off for interfering, although she is touched that he cares.

Seb is reluctant when Emma tells him that her mother wants to pay for them both to come to Australia so she can meet him, although he does eventually agree. He also doesn’t seem to want to spend much time with her but later has a moment with Alina. Oh dear. Emma speaks to Alina directly when she gets wind of a possible attraction between her and Seb but Alina makes it clear that she would never come between them and that she values her friendship with Emma. Well, I hope that’s true.

Is there still an attraction between Seb and Alina…?

Alina tells David off for being rude to her at the pub so he buys her a drink to apologise. A possible new romance? For now, David has his own problems, as Shona refuses to see David but he reconnected with Clayton. She decides to go and visit Clayton himself and warn him not to take advantage of his vulnerable mother. He fails. Nick offers to try and see Shona and try to correct the situation. She refuses to see him. She passes on a message to David that she will not be returning to Wetherfield and she wants a divorce.