A PLACE TO CALL HOME (Australian Soap)

[JamesF]

I am chuffed you've started watching and even more so that you're enjoying it. When I finished watching I felt frustrated that nobody was discussing it anywhere because I just thought it was so good and I wanted to know how other people reacted to it.

Urrrgghhh. There is one character in this that I just cant believe is still alive and not in prison. He just needs beaten to death already.

Hmm I don't remember the specifics of season 1 now but I definitely loathed one character... (and not in the love to hate, intensely watchable Regina sense)

 

[Alexis]

When I finished watching I felt frustrated that nobody was discussing it anywhere because I just thought it was so good and I wanted to know how other people reacted to it.

That's how I feel about it. It's a wonderful show but I don't really want to spoil if for people who are likely going to watch it. It just needs to be seen.

Hmm I don't remember the specifics of season 1 now but I definitely loathed one character... (and not in the love to hate, intensely watchable Regina sense)

It's very likely the same character we are thinking of.

 

[JamesF]

For those (in the UK at least) that haven't hunted this out yet, the whole series has now been added to Amazon Prime. A rewatch is on my to do list once I've also done classic H&A at some point in the New Year. So much to watch, not enough time!

 

[Alexis]

I really need to get back to watching this. I took a break to go on holiday and never got around to going back to it. I think I need to just start season two all over again as I only got a few episodes in as I recall. I think I will start tonight or tomorrow night.

 

[Alexis]

Well I watched and finished the second season over the last two nights. I have to say I was very taken aback by a very different approach that is taken in the very beginning of season 2. At first I found it unnerving, kind of like it was taking me out of the story too much. However that soon subsided and I was very much back I that world again. Still I found the second season somewhat sleepier, or at least not quite as addicting as season 1. That's not to say it is bad by any means.

Season two still had plenty of twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat and the story often branched off in unexpected ways. There was a good pay off from the end of last season and new intrigues all set up. The end of the second season isn't what I would have imagined. Just as I wouldn't have imagined it to start the way it did.

I will move on to season 3 tonight.

 

[JamesF]

Well I watched and finished the second season over the last two nights. I have to say I was very taken aback by very different approach that is taken in the very beginning of season 2. At first I found it unnerving, kind of like it was taking me out of the story too much. However that soon subsided and I was very much back I that world again.

Yeah I know what you're referring to and I honestly have no idea what that was about - I think Bevan Lee referred to it in his podcast interview a few months ago and that there was a backlash against it but it was a case of trying something different. It didn't do it for me.

Thankfully the rest of the reason did work for me - I don't recall everything as I blitzed through the whole series quickly but I know this was the last season on Channel 7 when it was axed. It was then saved by a cable channel and returned 15 months later. It'll be interesting to see if you pick up on any changes; I think the show was able to show less restraint with the adult themes but remained fundamentally a melodrama. With a character like Regina in the mix, it would be hard not to be

 

[Alexis]

Yeah I know what you're referring to and I honestly have no idea what that was about - I think Bevan Lee referred to it in his podcast interview a few months ago and that there was a backlash against it but it was a case of trying something different. It didn't do it for me.

Thankfully the rest of the reason did work for me - I don't recall everything as I blitzed through the whole series quickly but I know this was the last season on Channel 7 when it was axed. It was then saved by a cable channel and returned 15 months later. It'll be interesting to see if you pick up on any changes; I think the show was able to show less restraint with the adult themes but remained fundamentally a melodrama. With a character like Regina in the mix, it would be hard not to be

Oh, so then it just carries on as normal then from season 3 on? I maybe shouldn't even be asking this and just go and watch it.
Also Regina seems to be shaping up to be such a malicious "love to hate you" bitch! I was kind of shocked at what she did towards the end of season two. That scene at the cottage with her new man and what she has him do! I want Sarah and George to be together obviously but I feel like they are going to make them Gary and Val Ewing somehow and drag this out.

 

[Alexis]

@Ome for Christmas can this thread be moved to the Aussie Soaps forum. I didn't realise at the time I posted even thought that's part of the title.

 

[JamesF]

Oh, so then it just carries on as normal then from season 3 on? I maybe shouldn't even be asking this and just go and watch it.
Also Regina seems to be shaping up to be such a malicious "love to hate you" bitch! I was kind of shocked at what she did towards the end of season two. That scene at the cottage with her new man and what she has him do! I want Sarah and George to be together obviously but I feel like they are going to make them Gary and Val Ewing somehow and drag this out.

I won't spoil but no, I don't remember that narrative "device" featuring again. Which makes it all the more strange.

As for Regina, there is so much more to come.

 

[Alexis]

I won't spoil but no, I don't remember that narrative "device" featuring again. Which makes it all the more strange.

As for Regina, there is so much more to come.

As season 3 begins it is not how season two ended. I had to go look it up as it wasn't making sense to me. What happened in the opening wasn't a continuation of the ending of season 2. Then I read that they altered the original season finale of season 2 so that it could be a finale for the series. So the cliff hanger was cut and it was given a more standard ending. Then in the season 3 opener there is this dramatic first scene I had no idea about. From what I read when the show got picked up again with a different network. The first episode they aired was the original season 2 finale with the cliff hanger in place. Then the new network picked up the story from there so it was continuing on.

 

[Willie Oleson]

The first episode they aired was the original season 2 finale with the cliff hanger in place

Is that episode on the DVD?

 

[JamesF]

This is where it had a quick wrap up ending tacked on for Channel 7 (a la Return to Eden, Models, Inc) but moved to cable and they showed the original episode which is the point the series continued from.

I'd hope it's on the DVD as the ending is very, very different!

 

[Alexis]

Is that episode on the DVD?

Yes. I think it's listed as bonus episode but I had no idea what that meant. I thought it was just like a bonus feature thing. I know the show changed network. I didn't know it was on three networks!

 

[Alexis]

This is where it had a quick wrap up ending tacked on for Channel 7 (a la Return to Eden, Models, Inc) but moved to cable and they showed the original episode which is the point the series continued from.

I'd hope it's on the DVD as the ending is very, very different!

It is. And I didn't realise it at the time. I just thought it was a strange time jump where things would later be revealed in flashback. About 20 mins into the episode I was all caught up though as I did just finish season 2. So the set ups where fresh in my mind, even if that fake last episode didn't push them further. I remembered about the letter etc. It was just I couldn't work out how it happened between George and Rene and Regina. I'm all caught up now though.

 

[Alexis]

Also just think I should throw it out there again just how in love I am with James. This video shows clips from season 2 of James and Harry. So spoilerishy.

 

[JamesF]

Well he is quite beautiful so granted - I’d happily take either so one each it is, seems fair!