The old thread is locked, and full of dead links/articles.

 

I created a new one because an episode has, out of the blue, shown up on Youtube. Enjoy it while you can. 

@dc11786 @Vee @Ben @Bright Eyes

 

16 hours ago, dc11786 said:

Drama about the Rattigan family. Lenny prepares for Ben's first birthday party. Instead of going to the party, Jessica visits Edward at his retreat to ask him about his future plans. Charlie provides a sympathetic ear for Daniel, and ends up telling him about her decent into drink, drugs and prostitution. She leaves, regretting having revealed so much. Jessica returns and is getting ready for the party when Steve enters her room. 

By the way, Daniel is Mark Tyler's younger brother. I think you are thinking of Jimmy, Mark's best pal and the groundskeeper for the Rattigans, who carries on the affair with Lenni. 

Ah, that makes more sense! I'm really intrigued by the Charlie stuff now too given I just don't remember it. It does fit the character.

16 hours ago, dc11786 said:

This didn't surprise me as I knew about Joan Travis, the lesbian vicar who replaces Edward, but what I didn't know was that there seems to be a suggestion that Mary's feelings are actually for Jessica, while Joan is definitely attracted to Mary. Do you recall picking up on this, or am I just reading too much into the summaries?

I don't recall the Mary/Jessica thing but perhaps I was just young and naive! My hazy memory is that Joan and Mary were attracted to each other... 

 

16 hours ago, dc11786 said:

I wish Network would consider a release of the remaining "Revelations" episodes and possibly "Families." The trajectory of "Families" would be worth seeing.

I saw sad news that Network had wrapped up operations this past week quite suddenly. It really was the only source for some of these obscure older shows so it's such a shame. Given Families was only rerun in the late 90s, I'm surprised so little exists of it online too.

A couple more episodes have popped up... 

The premier is back

https://lolaclips.com/footage-archive/itv_archive/ITV-01-1376/families_uk_soap_opera_with_jude_law_full_episode

Additionally, there are two new episodes (October, 1990) featuring the fall out of George Davidson's stroke back in England, while Corrine Todd and Justine Stevens have a flat warming celebration in Australia. 

https://lolaclips.com/footage-archive/itv_archive/ITV-01-1377/families_uk_soap_opera_with_jude_law_full_episode_part_2

One thing that stands out consistently is how engaging I find Morag Hood as a performer. In the premier, her Sue is a necessary cog for Mike to leave in order to pursue his relationship with Diane Stevens after many years. In the October sequence, Sue Thompson has moved on with John Thompson, her husband's scheming brother, while Mike has stayed in Australia and set up house with Diane. 

I was happy to see it was these October episodes because of the older set triangle (George and Ruby are divorced and on different continents while George has made house with Dot). I think the levels of triangles at every level of the family intrigues me especially as the central hero Andrew Stevens seems to be at the center of two with each of his half-brothers (Mark and Lisa in England and Corinne and Christian in Australia). 

The Christian-Corinne thread was probably provided the most interesting drama in the Australia set sequences between Corinne flirting with everyone at the party, Geoff Todd (Corinne's father) ending up staying in Christian's bed because of his overnight, and the separation between Corinne's parents, Geoff and Barbara Todd. I thought Barbara's rationale for her breakup was wildly realistic and low key, while also highlighting the insanity of whatever it is Diane and Mike think they are going to be able to accomplish. 

I found Laura Girdling (Amanda) impressive in her scenes, which means more than passable. She doesn't do well in the high drama (the Greek tragedy bit on the cliffs online from later in the run) or the posh high drama (my credit cards were declined in episode 3). At the car garage, I found her charming after building her life up after her failed nuptials the prior month to Neil Brooks. 

I can also see why some characters are cut fairly early into year two. Justine isn't generating story. The Lisa-Mark strand at the garage also isn't really lighting things on fire (bad metaphor given John ends up dying in a blaze of glory). I will say, I cannot understand dumping Sue unless Morag Hood didn't want to continue. 

Thanks so much @dc11786

I'm still in awe that Jude Law was In This! And Morag Hood, A Alexei Karenin and A Natasha Rostova on the same show 

Thanks for sharing @dc11786

On 7/8/2024 at 11:10 PM, dc11786 said:

A couple more episodes have popped up... 

The premier is back

https://lolaclips.com/footage-archive/itv_archive/ITV-01-1376/families_uk_soap_opera_with_jude_law_full_episode

Additionally, there are two new episodes (October, 1990) featuring the fall out of George Davidson's stroke back in England, while Corrine Todd and Justine Stevens have a flat warming celebration in Australia. 

https://lolaclips.com/footage-archive/itv_archive/ITV-01-1377/families_uk_soap_opera_with_jude_law_full_episode_part_2

One thing that stands out consistently is how engaging I find Morag Hood as a performer. In the premier, her Sue is a necessary cog for Mike to leave in order to pursue his relationship with Diane Stevens after many years. In the October sequence, Sue Thompson has moved on with John Thompson, her husband's scheming brother, while Mike has stayed in Australia and set up house with Diane. 

This Also Shines through on War And Peace, Even though she was terribly miscast on the second half of the show, I personally began liking her on Episode 6 but the transition goes till Episode 9, When Natasha Grows Up she is mesmerizing in her performance, that's why I was absolutely stunned I never realized she did a Soap! Would also love to find "The Camerons" from 1979 it's a tv miniseries that sounds quite soapy she starred in 1979!

3 Episodes showed up on YouTube!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I finally got around to watching these three episodes. 

The meat of the material in episodes 58-59 is Diane and Sue's 2 part confrontation in episode 58. Due to the stroke of Diane Stevens' father, which I think was featured in some of the episodes we have available, Diane has arrived in Westbury to see her long absent father, which Sue Thompson sees as an opportunity to confront her rival. I don't think the showdown is as juicy as the July, 1992, episode where Jane Richards explains to 'daughter' Louise that Jane's sister, Jackie, is her true mother, but there is something well played. It is very clear that Mike Thompson has been giving each woman a different story and it doesn't seem to be clear to me who he actually wants to be with, which is such a great shift from what I am use to. No one in this situation seems to be any good. I don't know if the audience knows by this point that Diane is keeping the secret that Andrew is Mike's son, I suspect they do, but this is definitely hinted at with Sue trying to deduce when Diane and Mike were a couple.

There were a couple quieter beats to the story that I really enjoyed. Dot Downing, George Davidson's girlfriend, admitting to Diane that she has always feared having to meet Ruby, DIane's mother and George's ex-wife. The Thompson family fawning over Sue in the family living room (which is such an interesting constrast compared to the Stevens' set) while Sue recounts the encounter with Diane was nice. 

One of my favorite little threads is Mark Thompson, Sue's eldest son, becoming more and more unsettled by the obvious liasion going on between his mother and his uncle. When he questioned why Uncle John has to come over every night, I got a good chuckle. Then, at the garage, Mark rejecting John was a nice continuation of that with Mark acting as a stand in for Mike in a way. Martin Glyn Murray isn't given much to do, but he is doing a nice job with some of the minor work. Moreso than a lot of his counterparts. 

Diane discovering Sue's secret (the affair with John Thompson) was delightful, but moreso was John attempting to play hero by popping around Dot's cottage to speak with Diane only for Diane to confront him with the affair. It's all quite fun. Especially Diane going off about "English hypocrisy" to Andrew, the son who she has passed off as her late husband's. 

Maybe because the English stuff is so tight, the Austrailian sequences just seems to be left in the dust. Imogen Annesley is very bland as Justine, but she is expectedly to be frienemies with Tessa Humphries' Corrine. Humphries is hard to watch. I can't tell if she's trying to embody a certain attitude that was prevalent in the late 1980s/early 1990s, but Corrine is very off-putting. Ruby Davidson popping up to chatisize Justine for her housekeeping was one of the few bright spots, along with some of Anton's one-liners. The younger set overall just is very tough. 

I still enjoy the dissolution of the Todd marriage with Barbara meeting Geoff at the Cafe bringing him his clothes. Geoff wondering what Barbara is really expecting out of this separation, which I was also curious. Geoff and Barbara seem to have reconciled a bit by 61, but Geoff dies by the end of November, 1990, so he's only around for a handful of episodes after this period. I have to wonder if the plan was for Barbara - Don McLeod, the sleazy businessman. 

As we get a glimpse more of the first year, I can see why the show eventually shifted away from the Aussie storyline. Not only was it a logistical hurdle at times, it just wasn't very compelling overall. I'll be curious if things improved at all when they introduced the Williams family into that story set. 

Here is the next set of episode summaries covering June - September, 1990. I chose to end with September, for now, because we have several episodes from October / November as well as I have a possible missing episode in October I need to see if it exists or not. In addition, my information for October is very sparse. 

Episode 012 [Monday, June 4, 1990]

Sue Thompson decides to go to Australia. Anton Vaughan is anxious about Vaughn’s, his new cafe, will not be ready for the big opening night.

Episode 013 [Tuesday, June 5, 1990]

Sue Thompson is the recipient of even more crushing news. Nathan Thompson struggles with adjusting to attending a state school after years in private school. Christian faces a disappointment.

Episode 014 [Monday, June 11, 1990]

Mark Thompson made plans to locate his wayward father, Mike Thompson. Andrew Stevens shocked his mother, Diana Stevens, when he phoned her to wish mother a happy birthday as well as to share news from England. While his mother celebrates her birthday, Christian Stevens remained irked by the presence of Mike Thompson in the family home and sought comfort at his father’s grave.

Episode 015 [Tuesday, June 12, 1990]

Amanda Thompson suspects her fiancée Neil Brooks’ motives when he persuades her to postpone their wedding. Corrine Todd contemplates the prospect of getting a job. Diana Stevens has a business dinner with Anton Vaughan. Upon returning home, Diana discovers that her houseguest, her first love Mike Thompson, has disappeared.

Episode 016 [Monday, June 18, 1990]

Sue Thompson struggled to handle her daughter, Amanda Thompson. Corrine Todd finally agrees to a date with Christian. Diana Stevens confronts Mike Thompson.

Episode 017 [Tuesday, June 19, 1990]

While taking a midnight walk, Mike Thompson made a proposal to Diana Stevens. Sue Thompson had to decide whether or not to sell the family home to pay off the family’s growing debts.  

Episode 018 [Monday, June 25, 1990]

While Amanda Thompson goes job hunting, she discovered that there was more to working than she had expected. Two big surprises turn up on the doorsteps of each family’s home that threaten to turn everything upside down. Mike Thompson tried to smooth things over with Justine and Christian Stevens.  

Episode 019 [Tuesday, June 26, 1990]

Mike Thompson was shocked when his son, Mark Thompson, turned up at Diana’s home in Sydney. Mark is equally surprised to discover his father. Amanda begins working at the Thompson garage.

Episode 020 [Monday, July 2, 1990]

With the help of Diana Stevens, Mark Thompson tried to convince his father Mike Thompson to go back to England to be with his wife and family. During the discussion, Mark sought information from Mike about the history of Mike’s relationship with Diana. Diana doesn’t want to be involved in the conflict between father and son. In order to solve some of the family’s financial issues, Rachel Grandby suggests to her daughter, Sue Thompson, that Sue sell the horse paddock. Sue sought the approval of John Thompson, her brother-in-law, but received one dissenting voice, Amanda.

Episode 021 [Tuesday, July 3, 1990]

Mike Thompson played a game as attempts were made to get him to return back to England.

Episode 022 [Monday, July 9, 1990]

Mike Thompson felt hassled when Diana Stevens wanted Mike to make his position clear and forces him to phone his family in England. Friends continues to oppose Sue’s schemes, such as selling the paddock to pay off the family’s debt. Neil Brooks proposed to his fiancée Amanda Thompson a weekend away, but Amanda comes up with an alternative with the help of her brother, Nathan Thompson.

Episode 023 [Tuesday, July 10, 1990]

On his last day in Australia, Mark Thompson had unpleasant news for Diana Stevens; his father, Mike Thompson, planned on returning to England. In contrast, Mark shared the news of Mike’s return to Sue Thompson, Mike’s abandoned wife. Mike was adamant that Mark not share with Diana the real reason he was returning. Diana worried that her preoccupation with her own personal problems has meant neglecting her children.

Episode 024 [Monday, July 16, 1990]

Mark Thompson prepared to return to England. When Mike Thompson, Mark’s father, takes him to the airport, Diana Stevens, Mike’s first love, discovered that Mike’s passport was missing. Sue Thompson told her excited family that Mike was returning home.

Episode 025 [Tuesday, July 17, 1990]

The partnership agreement between Diana Stevens and Anton Vaughn was finalized.

Episode 026 [Monday, July 23, 1990]

The Thompson clan are in for yet another shock when Mark Thompson returned home from Australia alone, without his father, Mike. The family had to come to terms with Mike’s continued absence. Sue was philosophical about Mike’s absence: “All I can do is get on with my life.”

Episode 027 [Tuesday, July 24, 1990]

At the garage, Andrew Stevens and Lisa Shepherd learn to deal with John Thompson’s despotic rule of the garage. Upon Mark Thompson’s return, Mark, Lisa, and Andrew toasted the future success of the Thompson garage.

Episode 028 [Monday, July 30, 1990]

Diana Stevens sent her son, Andrew Stevens, a latter which angered him. When Nathan Thompson announced he was leaving school to take a job, Nathan and his mother, Sue Thompson, clashed. After speaking with Sue, Mike Thompson came to an inaccurate conclusion.

Episode 029 [Tuesday, July 31, 1990]

A rare sighting in a Sydney car park stated a hunt. Mike Thompson pursued a business deal at the expense of his relationship with Diana Stevens. Amanda Thompson was let in on Andrew Stevens and Mark Thompson’s secret.

Episode 030 [Monday, August 6, 1990]

John Thompson tricked his nephew, Mark Thompson, into telling him the truth surprising the Thompson family in the process. There is some rivalry between Andrew Stevens and Mark over Lisa Shepherd, the secretary at the Thompson garage. Amanda Thompson suspected her fiancée Neil Brooks was having an affair when he again postponed the wedding.

Episode 031 [Tuesday, August 7, 1990]

Corrine Todd prepared for an all-night party. Diana Stevens discovered some new information about Mike Thompson. Lisa Shepherd predicted that an early wedding for Amanda Thompson and Neil Brooks would bring an end to Amanda’s desire for Andrew Stevens. On a country outing, Lisa informed Andrew that Amanda is crazy about him.

Episode 032 [Monday, August 13, 1990]

Mike Thompson was unwilling to listen his brother John Thompson’s reprimands or to John’s self-centered plans for the garage. Amanda Thompson discovered that Neil Brooks volunteered for his post in Hong Kong, information that Neil had kept from her.

Episode 033 [Tuesday, August 14, 1990]

In Sydney, Mike Thompson’s prospective partner Don McLeod informed Mike that he had to check on his business reliability by phoning England. Don informs Mike his background checked out. When flowers arrive at the garage for Amanda Thompson, Andrew Stevens deduced that they were an apology gift from Neil Brooks for lying about his post in Hong Kong. Corrine Todd arranged a night out with Anton Vaughn. John Thompson persuaded Mike to agree to most of his proposals.  

Episode 034 [Monday, August 20, 1990]

Sue Thompson was frustrated to learn that her daughter Amanda Thompson was giving out wedding invitations with Sue’s knowledge. In Sydney, Corinne Todd paid another visit to Anton Vaughn’s flat which ended in tears leading to disastrous consequences.

Episode 035 [Tuesday, August 21, 1990]

Suspicions arose as Corrine Todd kept quiet about the exact events tat unfolded in Anton Vaughn’s flat. When Sue Thompson discovered the truth about her absent husband Mike Thompson’s life in Australia, she feels deceived by her family.

Episode 036 [Monday, August 27, 1990]

Corrine Todd kept secret what happened that night in Anton Vaughn’s flat. After Barbara Todd makes serious allegations against him, Anton confronts her, Barbara’s daughter Corrine, and the Stevens with the truth about what happened that night at his flat. In Westbury, Sue Thompson informed her children, Mark and Amanda Thompson, how she felt about their behavior.  

  

Episode 037 [Tuesday, August 28, 1990]

At the prompting of Andrew Stevens, Amanda Thompson phoned Mike Thompson, her father, to inform him of her upcoming wedding to Neil Brooks. Corrine Todd continued to cause havoc. When new of John Thompson’s directorship of the garage is announced, the Thomson clan reacts with various degrees of credulity, and Sue Thompson spoke her mind.  

Episode 038 [Monday, September 3, 1990]

In England and Australia, apologies are made all around. Ruby and George Davidson, Diana’s divorced parents, speak over the phone for the first time in years. Ruby informed Diana of bad news shared with her by George. Rachel Grandby has her own fit for Neil Brooks, her granddaughter Amanda’s husband to be.

Episode 039 [Tuesday, September 4, 1990]

As Amanda Thompson and Neil Brooks’ wedding day approached, Andrew Stevens had to accept it was time to move on.

Episode 040 [Monday, September 10, 1990]

In anticipation of future business deals with Don McLeod, Mike Thompson set up a makeshift office. Nathan Thompson and his friend miss out on the rowdy stag night.

Episode 041 [Tuesday, September 11, 1990]

In England, the Thompson and Brooks families and their friends gathered at the church for Amanda Thompson and Neil Brooks’ wedding. Amanda was nervous as she left for the church on the arm of John Thompson, her uncle. Neil stated he had never felt so alive in his life. Outside the church, misgiving arose. In Australia, Mike Thompson’s thoughts are also on the wedding. He and Anton Vaughn share a toast to Amanda’s happiness.

Episode 042 [Monday, September 17, 1990]

After the wedding is called off, the Thompson family gathered at home with mixed feelings. Unaware of what has happened in England, Diana Stevens encouraged Mike Thompson to phone his daughter, Amanda Thompson, to wish her well. Mina Sandoval, Amanda’s pal, had a plan.

Episode 043 [Tuesday, September 18, 1990]

There were declarations of love from Mike Thompson towards Diana Stevens in Sydney and John Thompson towards Sue Thompson in Westbury.

Episode 044 [Monday, September 24, 1990]

Sue Thompson was riddled with guilt and shared her feelings with her brother-in-law, John Thompson. Diana Stevens informed her friend Barbara Todd about Mike Thompson’s proposal./

Episode 045 [Tuesday, September 25, 1990]

Corrine Todd tries to convince her pal Justine Stevens to share a flat. Mark Thompson confronted his uncle John Thompson over the classic car deal and is shocked by his response.

A belated thank you to @Joseph for finding those and thanks to @dc11786 for bumping this and your wonderful analyses. Once I watch the episodes I'm going to have to read your thoughts.