The year kicked off with the continuation of the cliffhanger story that ended 2004 on the BBC with Lana coming out at a house party. This week saw the story progress to a new level as Boyd and Sky offered her their support, though Sky later suspected Boyd was homophobic as he suggested it wasn’t good for Sky’s “straight image” to be seen so much with Lana. Later in the episode, however, the calm had well and truly been before a storm, as Lana was nearly attacked by fellow school girls in the changing rooms before a sports lesson. Fortunately, Susan and Sky came to her rescue before any harm was done, but it shook Lana. Later in the week, however, Lana and Sky had cause to celebrate as their corny fictional cartoon strip was commissioned by a gay magazine to be published. A rep from the magazine, Buffy, assumed Sky and Lana were a couple, which embarrassed them slightly, but neither seemed to mind. Thank goodness Neighbours have taken a mature and contemporary approach to Lana’s plight. Unlike other serials, it has resisted the urge to have hoards of characters as homophobes, and those few characters who have been discriminatory have been portrayed as the enemies in the piece, and subject of correction and disgust by the majority of characters.

Lyn and Joe’s marriage was back on the rocks this week, as Lyn admitted to a subdued Stephanie that she wasn’t sure whether she loved Joe or not, however, Steph still had faith in her parents’ relationship. Daughter, meanwhile, was busy coping with the mood swings and emotionally draining effects of the IVF treatment. Summer noticed the change in Steph’s behaviour, but her step-mum assured her it was just the treatment’s effects, and not to worry Max about it for fear of them bringing the IVF to an end. Max, however, had more than enough on his mind as he worried about Boyd’s involvement in the childish poster-wars with Travis Dean. Following a confrontation with Travis, Summer was also scared and Max was upset that Boyd would put the whole family at risk as he had.

The most dramatic story of the week was the continuation of Liljana’s liver-transplant quest. The tragic mother was only hours away from death when the news came through that her father’s blood type was not compatible either. In a last fit of conscience and desperation, Svetlanka admitted to Karl that there was one other person they could try – Luka. It was revealed that he did in fact have the same rare blood-type as Liljana, and Karl was informed of their true relationship as mother and son. He was furious with Svetlanka for having risked her daughter’s life to save her own life of lies. However, it transpired Luka had left Melbourne and wasn’t contactable. Lil’s last rites were given and the family prepared to mourn her, but Sky was defiant in her quest to track down the missing son. Assuming he would be making his way north by hitching lifts, she put out requests on HGV radios and by amazing luck managed to get in touch with him. He returned to Erinsborough and prepared to save Lil’s life, with only moments to spare. Although this story has been pretty obvious in its conclusion for weeks, it has still been interesting to watch it unfold day by day, and the fantastic performance by Deirdre Rubenstein as Svetlanka have made it all the more gripping as she plays the evil witch to perfection. It remains to be seen whether the truth will out about her lies and how it will affect the Bishops.

Elsewhere on Ramsay Street, Karl and Izzy were on different wavelengths this week as Karl got increasingly worried by Izzy’s unending admiration for her psychiatrist, coupled with him seeing the wrong doctor, an attractive, tall and dark 20-something emerging from the real, balding, bearded 60-something Dr Levi’s office! This insecurity led Karl to have a chat with Susan who suggested he was worrying too much. How considerate of Karl to discuss his new relationship with his ex-wife… Lou’s love life also seemed to be on the up when a lady named Carol arrived at the pub and was acting flirtatiously with the publican. Lou, assuming it was his once-internet date thought he’d managed to persuade her to get to know each other better, despite her violent husband’s presence. However, it all seems to be pointing towards an embarrassing case of mistaken identity…