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Weekly Reviews > Episodes 4163-4167 by Rhys

UK Broadcast: Monday 3rd March - Friday 7th March 2003
Writers: Marieke Josephine Hardy, Louise Le Nay, Martin McKenna, Noel Maloney, John Upton. Directors: Ali Ali, Chris Adshead

Things continue to hot up between Dione and Darcy while Toadfish is away, Boyd has a moment of inspiration and Lou gets a new lease of life...

Dione wakes up on Darcy's sofa, slightly embarrassed at having fallen asleep. She wanders through to the bathroom to be confronted by a naked Darcy - which embarrasses her even more, though Darcy is not in the least bit bothered. Toadie telephones Dee's mobile phone while she's at Darcy's, and despite telling him she stayed the night with an old friend, she refrains from revealing who. Dee later asks Darcy not to let Toadie know she spent the night at his house. Comically, Darcy offers to cut down a tree in the front grounds of No. 30, which, despite some aphrehensions, is okayed by Dee. However, Darcy decides to hire a tree surgeon to complete the job, and later passes it off as his own work to impress he. What he hasn't realized is that he's ordered the wrong tree to be cut down - and Dee is left far from happy with his handiwork! Later in the week, Darcy and Dione begin their journey to Colac, however, Darcy fakes a breakdown of his Land Rover, and after some scheming he manages to wangle a night in a double room with Dee, at a budget motel. This saga is once again providing actor, Mark Raffety, the opportunity to play Darcy at his evil best - plotting to split up Dee and Toadie. It will be interesting to see how far he succeeds, and how the story will bring about the departures of both Dione and Darcy from the series later in the year.

Libby and Stuart continue to bond ever closer, to the extent that Karl and Susan become concerned that Libby is relying on Stu too much to get over the grief of Drew, and vice versa with Stu and Flick. Stuart comes across an advertisement for a local charity fundraiser involving a horse trek. He is keen for he and Libby to take part, until she appears fearful of having to be near a horse again so soon after Drew's accident. But, she builds up the courage to go along, and eventually manages to get back into the saddle. After an enjoyable day riding, Libby declares she wants Ben to learn how to ride as soon as possible. When Stuart, later, explains that he senses Karl and Susan are wary of their closeness, Libby decides to wind them up by mentioning Stu, and arranging to meet him as much as possible! The relationship between the two of them looks a promising match. It's long been accepted, by many fans, that Drew never provided much enthusiasm for the character of Libby, but that seems to be different now with Stuart, and it gives actors Blair McDonough and Kym Valentine some exciting and enjoyable material to work with.

Karl is too late to stop the "doctored" reference being mailed to London, and Sarah receives it, and is naturally unhappy about it. As revenge, she arranges for a large quantity of bagged manure to be deposited outside the Kennedys' front door! Karl and Susan manage to laugh it off, but are left with a large quantity of garden manure, which they manage to offload onto the other neighbours. Boyd and his friend, Daniel, see this as a golden opportunity to take part in their latest pastime of spying on the Scully women bathing through the bathroom window of No. 26. Thus, they offer their services to Joe in helping to spread the manure on the shrub beds. Joe, of course, not realizing they have an ulterior motive. Boyd and Daniel's mission is fruitless, however, as they always manage to miss the Scullys' shower times!

Summer's crush on Daniel becomes evident this week, especially when Max tells her the real reason behind his staying at the Hoylands'. Summer takes pity on him and soon starts showering him with gifts and compliments. Daniel is a little embarrassed, and Boyd keeps up the typical big brother routine by making fun of her at every opportunity - especially, when, trying to make herself appear older, she douses herself in stale perfume belonging to her late mother. Max seeks Stephanie's advice, which is forthcoming, and the two get on well. While at the Coffee Shop, Steph introduces Max to a friend of hers, Joanne, from Moco. Joanne, also a single mother, takes pity on Max and flirts with him at the pub. At the end of week, she arrives at Lou's Place to discover Max having a meal by himself. She joins him and the two share experiences and have a good time. However, earlier, Steph had confessed to Libby how much she fancied Max, and is all set to tell him so, until she witnesses him and Joanne having lunch together. Steph is crushed.

Harold has the medical tests and Karl gives him the positive news that his kidney tissues match Lou's closely enough to enable transplant. Harold is determined to undergo the procedure, and despite the animosity between he and Lou, the café owner visits the hospital to tell Lou the good news. Lou, however, is far from gracious, and point blank refuses the offer. But, a visit by Karl and baby Ben soon changes Lou's stubborn mind when Karl reminds him that to find someone who's willing to donate a kidney, let alone to have one so compatible is as close to a Godsend as is possible. Lou understands this, and the following day both he and Harold undergo surgery, with Lou admitting that he doesn't deserve as good a friend as Harold. Wednesday's episode ends with Lou and Harold being housed in the same private ward, and both rousing from their anesthetics to give each other a friendly wave across the room - a symbol that the feud is over. What Harold does not realize, however, is that while he recuperates at Erinsborough General, his house is gradually being emptied by Ruby who takes possession of his electrical equipment. Despite a moment of conscience, when she discovers a thank you card from Harold, she continues to loot. Harold believes that Ruby is taking care of the house for him, and he also entrusts the keys of the Coffee Shop to her - so trusting he is. It would appear that Rosie's suspicions are correct.

And this week proves a trying time for the Scullys, with Joe continuing to be adamant that he will be house-husband, despite protestations from Lyn. It transpires that both parents would like to stay at home with the baby when it's born. Susan's rehabilitation continues apace, with her decision to return to work at Erinsborough High as a VCE co-ordinator. While still enjoying newfound wedded bliss, Susan becomes worried about Karl when he drinks over a bottle of wine during dinner, and wakes up the following morning with a sore head. However, the couple look forward to a visit to the cinema, only for them to leave early thanks to rowdy children who target Karl's head with popcorn! The cinema scenes proved surprisingly enjoyable, with full use of the location being made - hence Boyd, Daniel, Summer, Heather, Karl and Susan seeing the same showing.A nice touch was the very deliberate advertising of fictional locations in the pre-film trailers - promotions featuring Lassiter's Hotels (with a nice reference made to their locations in London, New York and Australia); A Good Hair Day Salon, Lou's Place and the classified section of the Erinsborough News. Little, authentic, touches like that can make a world of difference to a scene.