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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 416607" data-attributes="member: 23">Episodes 523 - 530 Damon & Debbie Episodes 1 - 3 2 - 24 November 1987 continued With the bubble being different in tone to the series, it felt quite strange returning to Brookside, knowing that Damon was dead but with everyone on the parent series in blissful ignorance. It would be quite easy to believe that D&D was non-canon and Damon was going to walk back through the door at any moment, which really helps get on board with the disbelief of the situation.I liked the way Damon’s presence was felt throughout the episode ahead of the news, from Sheila smiling at Damon’s name typed on an envelope that arrived, to her retrieving Damon’s Liverpool scarf from his room to wash. And there’s a wealth of “through the soapy window” moments because the episode is bookended by imagery of Sheila looking out onto the Close. At the beginning she’s taking down the net curtains.At the end, she’s cleaning the same windows, when the arrival of the police car (yet another Escort) is revealed through a blur of Windowlene. It’s a really nice little piece of direction, with harsh reality coming into focus from obliqueness with each movement of Sheila’s cloth.It’s a lovely touch that Sheila perceives something is going on. Even before Tommo breaks the news to Rod as she watches from behind the glass, she tells Bobby this is “different” from a casual visit, and the fact that she refuses Bobby’s suggestion to move away from the window with a firm “No” suggests she realises something is amiss with someone from her own household. Whether it’s something as elusive as parental instinct or as practical as reading body language (or even lips) isn’t confirmed. She knows, even if neither she nor we fully understand why. <img src="https://i.vgy.me/kYbTsf.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 529px" /> <img src="https://i.vgy.me/2N3Glm.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 528px" /> <img src="https://i.vgy.me/rQI49g.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 498px" />   <img src="https://i.vgy.me/mTU6yx.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 523px" /> <img src="https://i.vgy.me/5ynIPz.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 527px" />   <img src="https://i.vgy.me/ds2OVt.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 521px" /> <img src="https://i.vgy.me/T9LNJx.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 527px" />    <img src="https://i.vgy.me/FOp6XC.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 591px" /> It goes without saying that Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson have both done wonderful work in the aftermath of the news. The sense of intimacy in the Grant house has made watching quite an uncomfortable experience. Like Sheila, we hear Bobby’s howls of grief and are powerless. The scene in which they identified Damon’s body and Sheila walked in to give him a kiss on the forehead was so powerful because everything was told to us through their expressions (and it’s even more impressive considering Sue was presumably looking at a body double rather than Simon O’Brien). And this time it’s Bobby who is witness, and all he can do is wait to put a consoling arm around her. It’s another uncomfortable one because it again feels so intimate that to watch feels quite intrusive.It’s for this reason I’m glad we didn’t see Tommo actually break the news to them. The scene of his arrival, and the scene after he’s left with the Grants packing for York both tell us all we need to know.In these last two episodes it’s been interesting to see the Grants and Corkhills - and specifically Sheila and Billy - come into one another’s orbits. First was Sheila finding Billy sitting in his car in a daze. There was a nice moment where she started to walk away, before checking herself and reluctantly approaching him and eventually inviting him for a cuppa. It’s clear he’s relieved to finally have someone relatively objective to talk to about Doreen leaving. Even as I watched, it crossed my mind that this was the most meaningful exchange I could recall between them. Then comes the news, and because Tommo has told Rod, and Rod’s told Billy (I’m sure there must be a massive breach of police confidentiality somewhere along the way) Billy feels the need to reciprocate the kindness and visits Number Five to offer condolences and support. And the funny thing is, a few weeks earlier it’s probably exactly what Doreen would have done, against Billy’s wishes. Things have changed a lot. Knowing how things will pan out between these two households in the months and years to come, it’s interesting to see this shift which - intentionally or otherwise - more than paves the way for what’s ahead.Sue and Ricky are truly the gift that keeps on giving to Brookside viewers. Each time it seems they can't get any better... they do.</blockquote>

Verification: Who played Sue Ellen in Dallas?