Shortland Street

[Dion]

Jennifer Ludlam did an interview with the NZ TV Guide.

 

Major spoilers - even the link is a spoiler so have put behind tags

 

Please register in order to view this content

 

[AMCOLTLLover]

I finished some episodes and made it through May 10th. I’m 4 weeks behind now. 

Madonna/Thaddeus are hilarious but mostly because of Thad. Madonna is so annoying. He Lis letting her stay and HE has to change his ways IN HIS home? Talk about ungrateful lol But I do enjoy them here and there and hope they get together.

Phil and Ihaia.. I’ll side with Phil. Everytime she try’s to open up he shuts her down. I mean she taken hostage and all he cared about was that Kane dude who hold her hostage lol he’s like all over Esther and so flirting with every female there is but when Phil is doing the same he gives her so much hell. I’m not at that part where they have the fallout and she’s losing the baby but damn. I think he was the issues in this relationship all along.

But I do have to say that I enjoy them both separately when they interact with others but themselves.

Boyd… OMG… He lost his son

Please register in order to view this content

  They brought him back to kill his marriage and his son? WTH? But I loved that it gave Drew a bit to do again. Drew became so annoying and unlikeable but with this storyline I came around again. He got a point with the HOD position. He is the best candidate yet everyone else gets picked over him every damn time. Even Jenkins who had a stroke over a patient. Like wth lol

I lOVE the depressed Chris! That he even asked that Kane guy if he regrets killing the people etc. It breaks my heart to see what Harry‘s actions did to him as a father. He’s struggling coz he loves Harry but can’t get his head around what Harry did.  

Is Emmett gone for good ? I really enjoyed his story progression. His meltdown was top notch. But was I supposed to expect anything else from someone that has been on Neighbours and was great there too? Maeve/Emmett‘s last conversation broke my heart coz she did got through to him.

What I want to mention and what I highly appericiate is the stability of the longtime couples like Nicole/Maeve + Marty/Esther.. they are written so real. I would’ve said Drew and Harper too but I saw that clip of her and Phil.. ugh

Esther fighting for Shortland Hospital is great and Marty/Naz bonding 

I‘m wondering what the plans are for the 8000th episode? I wonder if it will have to do with a turnaround for Chris and if Harry will be brought back?

And about Leanne. I suspected it the minute I saw the Facebook clips of her and that little girl. What a shame though.

 

 

 

Edited June 10, 2024 by AMCOLTLLover

[AMCOLTLLover]

I want Harry back. I wish there was a twist for the 8000th episode that kinda redeems him and reveals that he didn’t kill them.. He should get punishment for not having a doctors license. But I can’t believe that would just leave that story that untold of Harry being on the run.

Please register in order to view this content

  
But I do love seeing Chris‘s character but I want Harry back

[AMCOLTLLover]

Shortland street gets support from media and communication Minister and so on and shorty will continue in 2025!

only downside: only three episodes per week (just like Hollyoaks in the Uk).. They want fewer, higher impactful episodes!

at least shorty is safe! Thank god 

[DRW50]

I'm relieved to hear the news as I know there was a ton of speculation that the show was ending. 

I think the show has improved over the last year or so (I still think the Harry killer story was a mistake but at least the fallout with Chris has been powerful) but moving to three episodes isn't necessarily a bad thing if they make the right decisions. 

If they need any cast cuts I can think of a few very quickly.

[AMCOLTLLover]

Phil and Harper’s affair is the longest dragged out affair on shorty that no one actually cares for from the audience. Such a flop!

and that weird and dumb Drew/Nicole thing thrown in didn’t helped either. Ugh 

[DRW50]

They do have some fans, as most same-sex pairings do, but the story has been so overlong, and Phil is just a plot device. Harper is played by one of the best actors on the show, but her relationship with Drew feels spent. Everything with Nicole also feels spent, and incredibly draining.  I think she has reached an end as a character.

Monique also seems to have reached an end - I don't see how they can come back from her supporting racism and segregation because she isn't being treated well enough at work. I don't say that lightly as she was one of my favorite characters but that's hard to get past. 

I would also get rid of Sage with no real regret. 

You can tell they will end up reuniting Madonna/Viliami again at some point. I am fine with her pairing with Thaddeus but they scream placeholder. If so I would just have her go back to Viliami and write them out. 

Feels like just a matter of time before Esther/Marty split up too. You can always tell she doesn't think he's worthy of her.

This has been a very uneven year for the show, as per usual, with Chris' breakdown and slow recovery being the highlight. 

[AMCOLTLLover]

Yeah it was way too uneven this year and way too many storylines at once.

But the end of Harry was exciting and Chris depression!

That kid Richie who liked to see what happens when he hurts people and animals gave Nazar great material to work with.

Marty had such a great arc this year and I love him with Esther but Esther herself became way too snobby. 

That story of Nicole with Louise was such a banger storyline and kept me excited!

Ihaia has been annoying but when his bipolar got revealed it all made sense and he actually played that well. 

Boyds return and misery he had to go through was such a slap in the face. They brought him back to kill his marriage and his son? Bruh. That’s not it 

Neighbours star Stephen Lovatt is such a great addition and I’m glad he came back as Emmett 

I wish Harry would return with a recast or the old actor and act like: what happened here? I’m not a murderer lol let’s just pretend the other one was an imposter lol 

[DRW50]

Boyd returning only for short stints with such life-changing events was a bad idea. Very disappointing. If they couldn't afford to have him back more often they shouldn't have given him such dark material. They didn't even show the conversation where Drew confronted him over knowing about the affair.

Meanwhile we got the same miserable and depressing scenes with Nicole, Harper, Drew, etc. all year. 

Nicole's story has been hard for me to get through, but the twist of Louisa being the one who came up with the group chat was brilliant...unfortunately, they kind of ruined it by having her return before the reveal. As soon as she was back I knew it was her. 

Good idea about Harry.

Monique/Nazar are such a good couple, in spite of some writing issues. Nazar is one of the best new characters in years.

[Dion]

I'm probably currently on the longest streak of not watching a single episode of the show in it's entire 32 year history (I think I haven't watched since about July) whereas with Neighbours I've watched every single episode since the revival

Edited November 14, 2024 by Dion

[AMCOLTLLover]

Nazar is such a fresh breath of air

Please register in order to view this content

Drew tried to off himself  he will survive of course this attempt but the rumors that the actor is leaving seem to get more and more real. I don’t want to lose Drew  

[Dion]

Interesting:

Please register in order to view this content

 

[Dion]

Please register in order to view this content

 

[DRW50]

Thanks @Dion . Not as fun as his Ros na run cameo but still enjoyable. I like the way Michael Galvin plays learning the doctor's nickname, like his, is Dr. Love. 

I'm a bit behind on watching but anything with Nicole, Harper/Drew, or a Madonna/Viliami reunion annoys and exhausts me. I am not sure why a show with so much cast turnover feels so stagnant.

[AMCOLTLLover]

I’m confused. Nicole gets cleared and her verdict is “NOT Guilty”.. Gets a flashback of actually killing her and then turning herself in AND that’s it for Nicole after 15 years on shortland street ? Wow. I mean she ain’t as fun as back in the day and became too snooby and annoying BUT WTH? And what about Maeve now? This is weird. Not an ending I wanted for Nicole.

and let me guess the reunion of Harper and Drew leads to either one of them dying or both of them? Ugh

BUT I called it: Harry Warner is back! And he’s not alone! Finn and Frank are back AND Chris brother Guy Warner! What a twist. Can’t wait for the season finale Monday night!

rumors has it that Chris will be out too and I don’t think I can tolerate shortland street anymore if Chris would be gone! He’s the damn heart of this show! Like wtf. When that boss appeared to check on SS and talked to the cast etc before deciding to keep it on for 2025 but reducing it to 3 episodes I really hope that Michael Gavin didn’t offered to leave to free some budget. He’s such a great actor and I could actually see him sacrificing his job and career on the show to help that show survive. But I hope i‘M wrong

Please register in order to view this content