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Weekly Reviews > Episodes 2723-2727 by Billy

Originally broadcast in 1996. UK Gold: Monday 14th April - Friday 18th April 2003
Writers: Ray Kolle, Christopher Gist, Rick Held, Lyn Ogilvy, Jenny Lewis. Directors: T. Grant Fenn, Robert Meillon

An interesting batch of episodes for this week. Darren found a new way of coping with his mother's death - at Mal's expense, Hannah resorted to bribing her sister only to have it backfire on her, Ruth and Phil finally made amends and it looks as though Billy and Melissa's relationship has run its course...

I found the best part of the week the continuation of the Darren/Kennedy feud. Darren still blames Karl for his mother's death, and is now seeking revenge on the Kennedy family through Karl's son, Mal. Darren left Handy Sam's and gave Mal the short end of the stick in the settlement. I think this is classic Darren, as Todd MacDonald is great at playing the "bad boy" side of Darren. I am also appreciative of the fact that Cheryl's death still lingers in Ramsay Street, especially as Marlene and Lou barely featured at all, and that Danni is also now completely over it. Another treat is that Brett is still around, having not simply stayed for just the funeral episodes. Having Brett torn between supporting his brother or the hard-done-by Mal was also good viewing. This storyline also brought together some nice scenes between Mal and Karl. At last the pair seemed to bond, with Karl working with Mal on some jobs now that he has stopped practicing medicine. Karl giving Mal advice over the Darren situation was also quite touching, especially as he didn't over-react or act in a condescending manner like he normally does.

Over at the Robinson house things are also not running quite so smoothly. Having overheard a conversation between Danni and Debbie about the sabotaging of Danni's stock, Hannah has now decided it is her right to blackmail Debbie for what she has done, in order to pay her back. Toadie's latest scheme this week was a pet minding business, and Hannah forced Debbie to drive them around the neighbourhood whilst they deliver leaflets. I think this is the side of Hannah we both love and hate. Hannah in brat mode is a typical trait of her, and one which has been absent for some time. It was nice to see it still being addressed. Ruth and Phil, meanwhile, decided to put their differences aside and made up, and Phil consequently re-employed Ruth to help Helen recover. It was nice seeing both Phil and Ruth being friendly, and the first signs of a romantic advancement in their relationship was revealed when Phil stuck up for Ruth and acted very protectively around her when she had a close encounter with her ex-husband. A nice advancement on the relationship, helped along by the introduction of Ruth's son, Lance. Lance and Hannah parted as enemies last time we saw them together, but they soon made up. Whilst out skateboarding, the pair got lost and Hannah phoned Debbie for help - Debbie assumed it was another attempt at blackmailing her to get picked up and hung up the phone, leaving Hannah and Lance stranded. Neighbours always manages to be so predictable in these situations, but it really is what makes it stand out from other soap operas. The simplicity of things is its strength.

A few episodes ago Mal saw Melissa kissing an older boy in a car - this week Toadie witnessed the same thing and told Billy. Billy shrugged it off at first and Melissa, who is living with the Kennedys this week, continued to make up excuses. This seems like a rather hastily conceived storyline, contrived soley to get rid of Melissa in preparation for the arrival of Anne. Just two weeks ago Billy and Melissa got back together after going through a rough patch, and already she is cheating on him. I find it quite unconvincing myself, but having said that, I am looking forward to Anne's arrival and watching her and Billy's relationship develop, and if that means losing Melissa in the process, then so be it.

Elsewhere the usual relationship troubles were happening around the street. Jo revealed to Marlene that she had split with Rob, and consequently moved into Number 30 with Luke, Catherine and Sarah, causing Danni to be jealous. Danni then booked a meal with Luke, but he accidentally invited Jo along without realising how special it was. Nothing new in these parts, but all the same, helped the week to tick over.

Notes: Lance Hails was originally scripted as Jon Wilkinson, but Andrew Bibby was worried people would remember him as Lance from his brief stint on the show six months earlier. The writers solved this up by saying that Lance and Anne took their mother's name (Wilkinson) after their parents divorced. However, Ruth's husband was credited as Bill Wilkinson and not Bill Hails in the episode he appeared in.