Wayne is no saint and OF was not a series for saints. Think about it for a second. He's a rescuer – he falls for the Princess in the tower. (Remember the story of the gang girl from way back? Cheryl herself, trying…

Cheers.

@Jackie: You might have even heard the PSHH. I'm also in Avondale.

@Richard: Thank you.

Nice post. :)

Thoughts turned away from ebbing life to new life, to the children, to next week's intense round of reunions in the West Island.

Aw, sweet. Have a good time over there.

It needs saying that the show's use of New Zealand music has been one of its triumphs.

Hear hear. I jumped up and down a couple of seasons ago when Reb Fountain (an adopted NZer) came on. Sometimes I've had cause to go find what music was being played and…

It was always going to be a bit of a sad day, to finally sell off the last vestige of my early thirties boganhood, a vehicle full…

Mind, given her reputation, she only could've been a disappointment.

I thought it would have been nice if Mrs Falani had turned out to be a soft-spoken, long-suffering angel with a supernatural bullshit tolerance rather than the Samoan attitude adjuster wielding termagant we'd been lead to expect. :)

Or Rumpole's…

Mrs Falani is Arthur Daley's 'Er Indoors.

Or Rumpole's She Who Must Be Obeyed

Fane's performance throughout the show was great, the guy has timing to spare.

Yes, to the extent that it's hard to imagine anyone else playing the character.

Ah, but that gag only works when we don't meet the wife. Mrs Falani is Arthur Daley's 'Er Indoors.

Oh yes, I suppose you're right, and that sort of gag is something of a comedic staple, but it was done very well, and would've been a pretty shocking reveal for…

However. Jethro really needed some comeuppance. Or just something. What happened to the plan that was going to make them all rich, just two or three episodes…

As an aside, did anyone else expect we would finally get to meet Mrs Falani in this episode? I have to say, Falani's constant fear that his wife would find out what he gets up to was one of the funniest running gags in the show.

Ah, but that gag…

Really? I must've missed that- what did he say? It's a shame, because he was arguably the most charismatic presence of the show, and I've liked him in everything else I've seen him in.

Yeah, and the Twibe certainly weren't happy that Wolf didn't show up and launch OF's answer…

It needs saying that the show's use of New Zealand music has been one of its triumphs.

Absolutely, and at no time did it feel self-conscious or forced. Even the songs or bands I don't particularly like (e.g. OpShop) worked well in context. I was always impressed with how electic…

nobler in the mind

It's soaring and uplifting and seems to belong firmly to the world of the Wests.

It needs saying that the show's use of New Zealand music has been one of its triumphs.

It's soaring and uplifting and seems to belong firmly to the world of the Wests.

And it's been a while since I've actually listened to that song properly, as opposed to hearing it somewhere and not paying attention to it. That bridge is pretty special (or "choice", as Van would say)

You're right. That song did come alive for me in that context.

2 for 2!

This did actually occur to me while I was watching.

Felt very much like a wrap up show – characters getting tidied up between the ad breaks. Would have liked a two hour special.

Yeah — surprised the network didn't demand it — but I'm okay with…

I'm picking Pascalle and Wayne to run off together tonight, though I'm not sure I'm happy.

1...

I think Van and his girl will get married tonight.

2 for 2!

Felt very much like a wrap up show – characters getting tidied up between the ad breaks. Would have liked…

And Grant Bowler himself has been a notorious public twatcock about OF after working on it, so he wasn't likely to be welcomed back.

Really? I must've missed that- what did he say? It's a shame, because he was arguably the most charismatic presence of the show, and I've liked…

Grant Bowler himself has been a notorious public twatcock about OF

But then, he is an Australian, so he would, wouldn't he?

(Ducks for cover from "Australian" brother, and looks for coat.)

And where was Wolf?

Being a twatcock, with a name to match, in Bon Temps.

And Grant Bowler himself has been a notorious public twatcock about OF after working on it, so he wasn't likely to be welcomed back.

And where was Wolf?

Being a twatcock, with a name to match, in Bon Temps.

1. Munter and Van steal the community constable vehicle and torch it. Classic.
2. Gerrad explains to Van how…

I too was waiting for things to go down in a proper shitstorm. Grandpa and his partner (whose name escapes me) became utterly unbearable this season and needed a…

Well that was quite sweet. I'm actually glad nothing overtly dramatic/tragic happened, and it just ... ended. And with a concluded feel, but not too tidy.

That's pretty much how I feel.

My favourite line: "We are Tool Guys and we are choice".

Great scene when Pascalle told Loretta that…

No comeuppances, though?

I was hoping someone would bottle Jethro, but Evil Lawyer Bitch (whose name I can't remember right now) for whom "let's fix your mother fixation" constitutes foreplay is an acceptable substitute. More or less.

I cannot understand how anyone can consider Ianto's death to be homophobia without the balance of their mind being seriously disturbed.

Also disturbing how often "OMFG RTD is homophobic" bleats were followed by astoundingly offensive (if not downright misogynistic) smack about Eve Myles. FFS, it's hard enough getting around the…

I found the debate over the death of Ianto quite interesting.

I cannot understand how anyone can consider Ianto's death to be homophobia without the balance of their mind being seriously disturbed.

I digress, but

...as with Ianto in Torchwood.

I read this comment and decided to look up the character being referred to, because I've only just started watching Torchwood and I'm not used to the character/actor names (except Jack Harkness). Obviously, to regular viewers of the show,…

I do still value smart/cunning/bastardly over nice.

Did you prefer Wolf to Judd?

I'm on the other side of both those debates with Emma and Megan.

I am aware that part of my problem with Pascalle is that she reminds me of an ex-girlfriend.

That aside, I do still value smart/cunning/bastardly over nice. In general. My partner and close friends manage to be…

Amongst other things.

Even though we have never been there together, I know exactly the spot you mean.

I'm finding it curious that the males are much more sympathetic to Pascalle than the females here. But I have also found interesting comments in the past which hinted that Jethro was more attractive than Van. Same deal?

I suspect so. I'm on the other side of both those debates…

The network, quite rightly pointed out that such a device might become a bit tiresome after a while and it was dropped.

That kind of thing happens more often than you might think — the pilot of Six Feet Under had these rather clunky interstitial ads for undertaking products, and…

Interesting fact: in Outrageous Fortune scripts, right up to quite close to the show going into production, Loretta was the narrator of OF.

O to tha M to tha G.

I love Aaron. I especially loved the episode a couple of series back when he built Pascalle a special fitting in her bedroom, high as a kite on the drug the others were trialling. A masterpiece of writing and scene-setti

Also drugs, as I recall. The Excellence storyline fizzled out…

Can I put in a good word for Pascalle, you miserable bastards?

She played the first three or four seasons as a pretty but empty head who was pretty much immune to hurt.

And someone who didn't have a malicious bone or a grain of guile about her. If there…

We cringed though, when Pascalle and Judd got together. No!No!No! we all cried, with not a tear in sight. You can't do that! What are you thinking?

I love Aaron. I…

I don't buy that if you had loved Cheryl, in all her staunch messed-upedness (it is TOO a word), you could fall for Pascalle.

The two kinds of love could be completely different. Pascalle's was simpler. It was also available. The child's death would weigh a lot harder than they…

The network, quite rightly pointed out that such a device might become a bit…

Watching her face break as she realised Pascalle was actually in love with Judd, and had...gone there....was my favourite moment of this season

Yep.

C'mon Geoff: there wasn't room for that and empathy. Something had to go.

Watching her face break as she realised Pascalle was actually in love with Judd, and had...gone there....was my favourite moment of this season.

You can, but I won't hear it. and I don't buy that if you had loved Cheryl, in all her staunch messed-upedness (it is TOO a word), you could fall for Pascalle.

But the writers told me to ...

The only thing which has been missing from OF is animals. There should have been at least one mongrel (unregistered, of course, and probably a rotweiler cross) and a three-legged cat.

Awesome point. The local animal wranglers' union must also have been livid.

Loretta seemed to lose her love of…

Loretta seemed to lose her love of movies…

Can I put in a good word for Pascalle, you miserable bastards?

You can, but I won't hear it. and I don't buy that if you had loved Cheryl, in all her staunch messed-upedness (it is TOO a word), you could fall for Pascalle.

I think Siobhan Marshall is fantastic,…

Has everyone forgotten that Judd's marriage to Monica ended after he had an affair with the wife of a criminal? This was pre-Cheryl.

He's no saint!

Monica was horrible. Cheryl is great. Cheryl is nicer, overall, than Pascalle. Ergo, I think, audience sympathy was with him before and against him…

He's no saint!

She played the first three or four seasons as a pretty but empty head who was pretty much immune to hurt. Since then, we've seen at various times that she can be smart, tough, decisive — and vulnerable.…

I thought the Bailey/Jethro/Van threesome thing was double ewww and double ick.

That was clearly the intent of the scene though – to show the difference between Van and Jethro.

I think Van and his girl will get married tonight.

The first episode was a cracker but overall this series has been a bit lame plotwise. I agree with Megan about the Pascalle/Judd thing being ewww and icky, but I thought the Bailey/Jethro/Van threesome thing was double ewww and double ick.

Aaron Spiller has become the most interesting character--a drongo with real heart.

Possibly the most likeable, too – when everyone else is acting out of pride or spite or self-interest, he always just does what he thinks is right. Of course, "what he thinks is right" is often something bloody…

The Old Man and Ngaire still deserve something particularly unpleasant.

I'd be ok with anyone else kicking the bucket, but please, not Munter.

Munter should have his own series

I would really like to see Jethro take a fall tonight.

That would cause a cheer in my household.

It's only when I see Anthony Starr elsewhere (I saw a trailer for the Waterfall movie the other day) that I'm reminded how well done the Jethro/Van thing is on OF.…

We know from the pre-season trailer that someone kicks the bucket but Judd or Cheryl are too obvious for it to be either.

As much as…

I would really like to see Jethro take a fall tonight

Me too, what a complete asshole he's become.

Now munter – he's my man ( along with Judd) his unexpected rifs off into philosophy are wonderful

it's interesting how they've managed to make Aaron Spiller seem (almost) sympathetic. He's such a dead-on archetype that I'm amazed he hasn't been written before- I mean, we all know someone similar to him, right?

I believe Emma has already covered this.

I've actually enjoyed this series more than a lot of people, it seems. Sure, it's been a slow-burner, but there's been…

Yeah, I know I'm supposed to like Pascalle more than I do. I don't. I can't fucking stand her, which has made her storyline this series difficult for me.

It's not so much that I can't stand her. I just don't care about her. I don't find her particularly interesting.…

as with Ianto in Torchwood.

Well, at least Cheryl's more appealing than Gwen.

Pascalle is always going to be dumb as a stump, but she's got an emotional intelligence that's easy to miss.

Yeah, I know I'm supposed to like Pascalle more than I do. I don't. I can't fucking stand her, which has made her storyline this series difficult for me.

I…

I agree Loretta has developed some interesting complexities…

I had a serious discussion (yes, in a pub) about whether the real protagonist of OF is not Cheryl, but Loretta. It's my theory and I'm not entirely convinced by it, but Loretta is the character who changes over the six series.

I don't think anyone really "changes" in OF,…

Meanwhile, here's the trailer for what comes next from Griffin and Lang — the superhero-themed (but apparently still well Westie) The Almighty Johnsons.

It can't suck any harder than No Ordinary Family without turning into a black hole that swallows the galaxy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbBplfoXBbY

It's my theory and I'm not entirely convinced by it, but Loretta is the character who changes over the six series.

I get the impression that Cheryl only changed in season 1, and not really since.

I keep expecting Van to be the one that changes, but it never quite…

How's your trip been?

They killed Aurora. I stopped watching and never saw another episode.