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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 199978" data-attributes="member: 23">Episode 228 (...continued)Making up for any shortfall is the next scene in which two of the series’ finest actors take the episode somewhere special. I like that Ailsa and Donald’s friendship seems to have been given a little nudge in the last few episodes. Donald recently came by to help Ailsa renovate the series’ newest set: The Bayside Diner, and she got a few chortles out of his statement that he was good with his hands, before commenting that his shelves looked wonky.In this episode’s heart to heart, Ailsa drops by his house at Celia’s behest, to try to get him in the Christmas spirit. She finds him reading a manuscript. He shows her his present from Barbara: the manuscript for On The Crest Of A Wave:<img src="https://i.vgy.me/tHZTbC.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />It’s bleak enough to soak up any saccharine that may be lingering from other scenes. And Norman Coburn once again gives a commanding performance. He’s become a firm favourite series actor of mine this time round. He’s just wonderful. And I’ve got a lot of love for Judy Nunn, so that didn’t hurt things.Lunch is served at the Fletchers. Miss Molloy rounds off her visit to them and heads onto the next. She’s certainly dedicated. Lance drops by to say he’s invited to his Mum’s, so Celia’s interference has paid off. Then Tom says a few words to the gathered family (“now I know what they mean by cold turkey”, Bobby quips):<img src="https://i.vgy.me/Txm2fd.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />So they haven’t let the grass grow after the conversations of the last couple of episodes. The mention of Lynn in particular was a nice touch. This will be their first Christmas without her and I’m glad she hasn’t been completely forgotten. Yet.The final act is where the goodwill really wallops you round the head. A plinky plonky instrumental of Deck The Halls provides the soundtrack as virtually everyone in the main cast snakes into Summer Bay House, bearing presents, bottles of bubbly or plates of mince pies to add to the already considerable feast on the Fletchers’ dining table. Tom ladles out the eggnog and the atmosphere is one of happy chaos, with numerous conversations going on at the same time (none of which are really distinguishable, but we get the idea).There are three exceptions to the regulars in attendance, though all are addressed or rectified.Roo is off-screen, presumably feeling down having said a polite goodbye to David as he left the show.Donald is at home alone and we see Ailsa slip away and appear in his living room. As when she arrived earlier, he is sitting reading the manuscript.<img src="https://i.vgy.me/Hfw64Q.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />This time the story is different and he comes to the Fletchers where he smiles politely through the salutations and sing-song. There’s a great moment during the cast’s rendition of We Wish You A Merry Christmas where he stands next to Tom who is really going for it and looks extremely self conscious.<img src="https://i.vgy.me/Gg2ZEO.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Meanwhile, Carly sits in her darkened shared home, before decisively standing up and leaving, then taking a taxi as the montage continues. When she arrives at Summer Bay House, she stands at the door and looks in at the happy singing. After some moments, she turns and walks away. It’s very similar indeed to the scene in the Pilot where Bobby looks longingly at the Fletchers from the same vantage point. And the feeling it evokes is the same. One can almost feel Carly’s desire to belong versus the feeling that she doesn’t quite know how to connect with these people who look so much happier than she feels. It also has echoes of the Season One finale to Sons and Daughters, where Patricia was similarly excluded from a celebration.<img src="https://i.vgy.me/T0pqZ0.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><img src="https://i.vgy.me/VfXrCE.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />The end titles, with the merriment at the Fletchers being shown in the cutouts instead of the usual surfy scenes are a nice touch. There are even flashes of Carly and Roo, though these could have been outtakes from other scenes (Carly wears two different outfits, so one is almost definitely from another time).<img src="https://i.vgy.me/1U2jfd.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><img src="https://i.vgy.me/YXbNxn.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><img src="https://i.vgy.me/1fX3eB.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Season One has been so enjoyable to revisit. It holds up well, and the first half of the season especially had a welcome rawness and honesty to it. I’d forgotten more than expected, which has added the element of surprise. The many things I remember clearly haven’t been spoilt from seeing them come to life again. Quite the opposite.I’m looking forward to cracking on with Season Two on Prime in the coming days. Here’s hoping the rest of Season Two is available very soon. And perhaps the few that follow it.</blockquote>

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