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Weekly Reviews > Episodes 4288-4292 by Rhys

UK Broadcast: Monday 15th September - Friday 19th September 2003
Written by: Katrina Foster, Judith Colquhoun, Jonathan Williams, Ben Marshall, Martin McKenna
Directed by: Jovita O¹Shaughessy, Jeffrey Walker, Tony Osicka

A climax to a long-running story, and the marriage of one of the street¹s most loved couples equated to one of the most dramatic weeks ever seen with the Neighbours.

Lyn made her way to Shelly Bay by herself, Joe having injured his back, leaving him helpless. However, Lyn broke down on the freeway, leaving her stranded. Valda, though, had decided that Lyn shouldn¹t meet Charlie Cassidy on her own, and followed on in Lou¹s car. It was fortunate for Lyn, then, that Valda happened to drive past when she needed her, and together they made their way to the Bay. Lyn entered Charlie¹s hospital room by herself ­ firmly telling Valda she had to do it alone. Her father, however, snapped at her, believing her to be a social worker. Lyn was upset by his outburst, and it took Valda¹s interference to make Charlie realize who it was he¹s actually snapped at! After much talking, Lyn¹s attitude towards her birth father began to soften, but nothing could prepare her for the shock of being told that Henry had in fact been instrumental behind Lyn being given up by Valda and Charlie, and that neither were given a choice in the matter. Furthermore, Charlie admitted he was dying, and had an uncertain amount of time left to live.

This revelation, another twist in the saga of Lyn¹s parentage, created genuine shock for many viewers. Charlie had been portrayed through the mouths of others as the bad penny in the whole fiasco, but his revelation that it was in fact Lyn¹s adoptive father who was to blame for her being taken away from her natural parents shed new light on it all. Lyn now had to work out how to face up to Henry. In possibly one of the most moving scenes seen in recent years, Valda broke down on the beach, realizing for the first time that Charlie hadn¹t felt the same way about her as she had about him, following him admitting that he had cheated on her with a girl called Catherine, whom he later married. Lyn managed to forgive Valda for her years of secrecy, and in a touching scene, the two of them went paddling in the sea, as a mother and daughter for the first time.

Back in Erinsborough, Lyn felt it even harder to talk to Henry, the man who only weeks before had been her doting Œfather¹. Especially after having learnt the truth about her being taken away as a baby, Lyn snapped at the elderly gentleman, saying that she didn¹t want him to have any involvement with her soon-to-be-born child. Despite Valda¹s encouragement that Henry should try and make peace with his Œdaughter¹ before leaving town, Lyn was cold and defiant in her attitude. Henry tols Lyn it would be nice for her to come and wave him off on the morning bus, but, alas, he left Erinsborough with no one to wave him off. Ironically, Toadie was chained next to the bus stop on his stag night, and had to loan a pair of trousers from Henry to cover his modesty. The banter between the two of them gave Henry more joy than his own family before leaving town. It remains to be seen whether the relationship between Lyn and Henry will be resolved or not. Certainly, Henry is an old man, and more than likely does not have much longer to live ­ especially without the family ties he so obviously relished.

Jack and Nina continue to go from strength to strength, despite the former¹s reservations about his girlfriend¹s singing career. Nina forged her parents¹ signatures in order to seal a contract organized by Melody Jones. Later that day, Jack took the opportunity of having his father home alone to reveal that all the time he was in the UK playing football, he¹d felt miserable and homesick. Joe was shocked by this admission.

Jack¹s sister, Steph, also featured prominently this week, when she was nearly killed in a motorbike accident outside Grease Monkeys. In an applaudable bid, no doubt, to raise awareness of the dangers of using mobile phones whilst driving, Steph was knocked off her bike by a driver on his cell-phone. Although she escaped with bruising, Max made her promise to give up the bike for good. Although she did agree to after a few hours¹ consideration, it seems out of character that Stephanie would so readily give up what has always been her first love, even for Max. It remains to be seen if she¹ll take to the wheels again!

Elsewhere, Karl decided he and Susan had to tighten their belts, with regards to spending money, because of the outcome of his industrial tribunal with Cameron Hodder. In a bizarre twist to the proceedings, whereby it was revealed that Cameron had been dismissed from a medical mission once before, and that he made a personal jibe at Dr Kennedy during the hearing, Karl managed to Œget away¹ with merely having to pay the remainder of Cameron¹s contracted pay, as opposed to damages and loss of earnings. This, however, was enough of a pay out for ŒScrooge¹ Kennedy, and some enjoyable banter ensued between Karl and Susan, using Jackie Woodburne and Alan Fletcher¹s famous technique, nick-named "add-libbing-over-lapping", throughout several episodes!

And possibly the most anticipated event of the year, so far, occurred on Friday. Yes, the wedding of Dione and Toadfish. Things got in motion on Wednesday, when Dee, totally engulfed by wedding fever and paranoia began snapping at everyone under the sun. Even when Toadie and Angie stepped in to collect the cake so she could get her shoes didn¹t sweeten her up. In the end, it was an unfortunate, and hilarious accident, where Dee tripped up on the path of No.30 and went flying into the air with her precious cake, that caused her husband-to-be to have a stern talk with her. She admitted she had been "the bride from hell" and later joked that ³evil Dee has gone². A major nostalgia boost for fans came in the form of the return of Stonefish and Big Kev Rebecchi to the family fold by the end of the week. Stonie, in particular, hadn¹t been in Erinsborough for more than six years, so it was a most definite welcome back! It¹s a shame, that although the return was undoubtedly welcome, that more couldn¹t have been made of Stonie¹s links with past Ramsay Street residents ­ e.g. Malcolm, Libby, Debbie etc.