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Weekly Reviews > Episodes 4353-4357 by Steve

UK Broadcast: Monday, December 15th - Friday, December 19th, 2003
Written by: Megan Herbert, Judith Colquhoun, Drew Tingwell, Sarah Mayberry, Ray Kolle
Directed by: Gary Conway, Tony Osicka

The ongoing issues between Karl and Susan dominated the stories this week, with most families in the street affected in one way or another...

Karl’s sudden disappearance from the party at number 24 “to do paperwork” aroused his wife’s suspicions. She later confided in Lyn that the old feelings about Sarah were resurfacing and that she wouldn’t be able to cope if Karl were to cheat again. Only moments later, a letter appeared on the doorstep which read ‘Do You Know What Your Husband’s Up To?’ Susan quickly suspected Izzy and confronted her, but, with Ms. Hoyland’s denial, Susan decided to confront her husband instead. Still guilty over his secret drinking, Karl managed to convince Susan he wasn’t having an affair and they confronted Izzy together. Izzy was fully aware of someone else with suspicions, however, and when Sky arrived moments later to see Boyd, the three of them asked her if she’d sent the note. It seemed that earlier in the week, Sky had seen Karl get home in a taxi and spray breath freshener. Harold was horrified that his granddaughter would do such a thing, but it seemed that Susan had finally found someone who shared her distrust for Isabelle Hoyland...

This is certainly one of the best storylines Neighbours has seen in a long time. With most of the characters involved, it seems that the feuds that are building will last for some time. With Sky and Susan now united in their hatred for Izzy, it can’t be long before Madame Hoyland slips up and everyone sees her true colours.

The Bishops really began to make their mark on Ramsay Street this week after moving back to Harold’s place. Liljana’s determination to celebrate Saint’s Day led to much confusion as the neighbours spotted a priest in the garden of number 24. Harold ended up inviting half the street over for the celebrations and everyone had a wonderful time dancing and having their coffee grounds read. Meanwhile, David found that his offices were locked up and eventually learnt that he’d lost all the savings that he’d invested in the business. He kept this news from his wife and daughter, but by the end of the week, he was seeking the legal advice of Tim Collins. The Bishops’ problems only increased when Liljana and David found out that Serena had been wagging school to watch Taj run at the school sports’ day. David found the perfect excuse to pull Serena out of Eden Hills’ Girls’ Grammar and save on the schooling fees, but it seemed he couldn’t even go through with that and Serena quickly convinced him to give her another chance.

Although an obvious plot twist to make sure the Bishops remain living with Harold, this storyline has also proved great for integrating the family into the street. Having them live with Harold provided an excuse for everyone to come over on Saint’s Day and for lots of new relationships to form. Liljana’s icy reaction to Susan will be one that I look forward to seeing develop.

Steph and Max made attempts to get their romance back on track, despite Steph’s illness being at the forefront of both their minds. Max revealed to Steph that he used to ride a motorbike but had gotten rid of it after an accident and, to help get closer to Steph, he’d had his licence renewed. The couple spent the day together out on their bikes, though Max’s new bike raised more than a few laughs from passing children and other bikers. Nonetheless, Steph was very impressed with the efforts of her daggy boyfriend. She was also impressed with the efforts of Summer and Boyd, who were coping extremely well with the cancer. Steph did her best to keep her sickness from the kids, but they assured her that they’d been around ill people before and were fine with it. Unfortunately, it seemed Izzy was less comfortable with all the attention that Steph was receiving. In an attempt to make an effort, she offered to give Steph a makeover, but she really put her foot in it by mentioning covering up Steph’s bald spots and there was a very awkward silence in the Hoyland house. Though Izzy assured everyone that she was fine with Steph’s illness, it was becoming extremely obvious to everyone that she wasn’t…

Despite the return to happy families here, it seems that Izzy is once again the fly in the ointment with her discomfort. The cancer storyline is being handled with a great deal of sensitivity and the reactions of Max, Boyd and Summer are showing how these characters have grown since their arrivals, particularly Boyd, whose relationship with Sky seems to have done him a world of good.

Stuart and Taj continued their quest for enlightenment with Life Mechanics and Jonathan Verne, but it seemed that Taj, at least, was beginning to have second thoughts. After Jonathan confronted him in front of everyone at one of the meetings, Taj asked him whether he was just hiding behind his strange language, comparing everything to cars, and eventually stormed out. He asked Stuart to go with him, but it seemed that the mechanic was well and truly under Jonathan’s spell. This led to a rift in the friendship between Taj and Stuart, and Stuart going back on an earlier offer of a room at number 30 for Taj, whose parents are moving interstate. Naturally, when Susan heard that Taj was homeless for his final VCE exams, she offered him a room at number 28, deciding to put his past with Libby behind them. However, when Karl found out, he was less keen and took a great deal of persuading from his wife.

This storyline is being handled very well and is cleverly not simply being contained to the character of Stuart, as he drags Taj in and tries to get other characters, such as Susan and Harold involved in Life Mechanics. Meanwhile, although Taj moving in with the Kennedys is stretching credibility a little, at least the apprehensions of Karl and Susan are being explored, while it’s good that Taj has finally become a Ramsay Street resident after nearly a year in the show.

Elsewhere, Libby rang with the news that Audrey had gone missing from her new home in Adelaide. While Susan and Karl worried about the little dog, it seemed she’d already started making her way home and was halfway back to Melbourne. At the pub, Joe overheard Lou on the phone asking for the Columbian stuff that would give Trixie a real kick before she went on stage and he jumped to all sorts of conclusions. He was later relieved, and embarrassed, to realise that the publican had been dealing in coffee rather than drugs. Meanwhile, Toadie met up with a face from his past when Sindi Watts unexpectedly turned up to interview for the job of receptionist at the law firm. She quickly impressed Tim with her legal knowledge and flattery and scored the job, but it might take a little more to win over Toadie…

Notes: The set of number 22 got a rare airing this week, and it seems that the colour of the walls has suddenly changed from green to blue.