Lori was forced to make more than one big decision this week. When Jack asked her to make a new life with him, she agreed, believing that this was what they both truly wanted. The couple began to make plans to be a real family with Maddy, and even started to think about getting a house together. However, Lyn wasn’t convinced that they were doing the right thing, and wondered if perhaps Lori was simply looking for another emotional crutch. She was also concerned that Jack would move on to something more exciting after a few months of family life. Lyn voiced these concerns to Lori, making sure that the girl knew that she was capable of bringing up her daughter on her own. When Gino then came along looking for a receptionist for his new salon in Lorne, Lyn suggested that Lori would be perfect for the job. They put the idea to Lori, who jumped at the chance for a fresh start and some independence, but she wasn’t so sure that Jack would feel the same way. When she told him about moving away, Jack said he wouldn’t be able to go. However, when Lori then made up a story about Gino wanting some male models to go to Europe, Jack was more enthusiastic, and Lori realised that Lyn had been right all along. After explaining everything to Connor, and giving him some time alone with Maddy, Lori set off to make a go of a new job and her new role as a single mother. It’s been fantastic having Michelle Ang back on the show, as her character still has so much purpose with the existing characters, and really brings a new angle to Jack and Connor’s rocky friendship. With Lori now a lot closer by, hopefully we’ll see her and Maddy back from time to time.

With the problems with Gus still at the forefronts of their minds, the Hoyland family were struggling to move on this week. With Gus actually hiding in the roof, none of them realised how close he actually was. When all the family were out for the day, Gus took the opportunity to play his role as man of the house by using Max’s credit card to order cable tv. When the salesman returned the following day and explained that he’d spoken to a Max Hoyland, the real Max became worried and showed him a photo of Gus. When Max realised what had been going on, he immediately had all the locks changed, explained the situation to Boyd and Izzy and sent Summer off to stay with Rosie in Papua New Guinea. However, Gus managed to get his hands on Steph’s spare key and got himself one cut. Max made sure that nobody went out alone, or stayed at home alone, but a distracted Izzy told Max that she’d be fine and sent him off. She then took a positive pregnancy test from her pocket and broke down in tears. Realising that the body was actually Gus’, she knew that she’d have no chance of raising it on her own. After visiting a doctor, she realised that with her medical history, this baby may be her only chance to become a mother. She then found herself wandering into a church, trying to find some answers to her predicament, and found herself chatting to a friendly priest – little realising that it was infact Lyn’s brother-in-law, Tom. From there, she made her mind up and realised that there was still one person willing to give her a chance, and possibly be a father to her unborn child – Karl. Arriving at his apartment, she told him that she’d decided to give their relationship a try… The storyline of Susan and Karl’s separation has really brought about so many new situations for both characters involved, and now the show has taken things in an entirely new direction. With Izzy’s discovery, the story has certainly shifted up a gear, and involving Susan’s new potential love interest, Tom, is another stroke of genius.

With all the problems in the Kennedy family, it was only natural that Libby would return from Adelaide sooner or later. However, before she even made it back to Erinsborough, she was embroiled in another Ramsay Street scandal. When Ben became sick, Libby stopped off at a small country hospital to get him checked over. Whilst there, she bumped into a man in the waiting room who seemed quite distressed and she chatted to him for a while, little realising that it was Rocco Cammeniti and she had quite possibly stumbled upon Toadie’s real whereabouts. Back in Erinsborough, Libby caught up with her mum and found out all about her new housemates, as well as Susan’s latest attempts at dating. However, Libby wasn’t so ready to see her father, as she had walked in on him and Izzy chatting intimately in the Coffee Shop kitchen. But when she finally went to see Karl at his new flat, he assured her that there was nothing going on between him and Izzy, nor was there likely to be in the near future. After several fleeting appearances in recent weeks, it’s great to have Kym Valentine back on the show full-time. As with both Tom and Izzy, Libby’s presence brings yet another new side to the Kennedy storyline.

The Bishop family also found themselves in various romantic entanglements this week. As Liljana continued to flirt with her self-defence instructor, Allan Steiger, she managed to really get herself noticed. When Lil and Allan then bumped into each other in the pub and agreed to have a drink together, he took the opportunity to proposition her. Taking her by the hand, Allan told Lil about a little hotel up the coast where they could meet up, and the whole exchange was witnessed by a shocked Serena. Lil quickly told Allan that she was a married woman, and left, but the damage had already been done. Meanwhile, Serena’s relationship with Scott took a new turn as they went out on their first official date together. With help from Gino and Aaron, Scott managed to make himself presentable for the date, but after eating too much, it ended predictably badly when Scott threw up all over his date. Scott and Serena are proving to be a typically mismatched Neighbours couple, sharing many similarities with Lance and Amy. It’s good that, despite their becoming a couple, they’re still retaining their separate, defined personalities.

Stewart Adam, who recently died, made his final appearance on the show this week in the recurring role of mechanic Aaron Barkley.