That’s right, Tori drops the AVO but it wasn’t as momentous as I thought, plus there’s a lot of characters to get through, so I’m starting at the beginning for the good of my own sanity.

Marilyn opens the 1.5 hour marathon Thursday by declaring “love is everywhere at the moment”.

She’s referring to Roo and new Daddo Owen who continue to tour the various bedrooms on the property, this time its the van!

Roo is ready to take their relationship to the next level and ingratiates Owen into the family with a family dinner, plus Marilyn.

In terms of meeting-the-boyfriend dinners, it’s nothing special, however the producers use this as an opportunity to give Owen a bit of a personality — other than dead Daddo Evan’s twin.

But it seems the producers have it in for Owen because he doesn’t like fishing – at which point Maz pipes up and says she doesn’t “eat anything with a face”, which made my ears prick up because I too used to say that until too many smart arses make jokes about being on a mollusc-only diet.


Owen Daddo also isn’t one for crosswords or scrabble and he’s a lemon who gets seasick, so no boating.

However, there is a skerrick of hope in Owen’s relationship with his grown up daughters.

Roo — clearly blinded by love — says Owen passed with flying colours and fate has brought them together. A big move at the early stages of their relationship but it only seems to strengthen their bond.

The following morning Roo knocks on Owen’s van door and he shuts her down even though she has a picnic basket filled with pastries.

He looks ill — like his late twin brother who was riddled with cancer.

His savage ways are a big blow in their just days-old relationship and Ryder takes one for the team and lets himself into the van to suss it out.

Daddo doesn’t let up, so Ryder — who is 19 — gives him another man to man talk about honesty, which you could say is the theme of the entire episode.

We don’t have to wait long because Owen receives a well-timed text from an Emma, his daughter, who wishes him a happy birthday and it becomes apparent that his mood is due to mourning the loss of the brother he never met.

They toast to Evan and then a bit later Ryder has a quarter life crisis about the meaning of life.

Now onto Bella who goes head to head with her brother Colby…and fails.

Bella starts strong with a few lines that cut to the heart of Taylor’s insecurities about being found out.

“You know what I hate more than flakes? Liars,” Bella says to Taylor.

It’s all very dramatic and Taylor runs away to tell Colby that “she’s seen us together”.

Colby reassures Taylor with the usual line and has everything “under control” but at this stage I’m not convinced in the slightest that his affair with Taylor is in the best interests of the case.


Colby asserts his superiority over Bella by threatening her and says if she shows the photos to anyone she’s going to “break their family up”.

He sure knows how to play to her emotions and is a master at manipulation.

Colby really raises his voice, deletes the evidence from her camera and yells at her to stay out of his business which is the exact opposite of what he said a moment ago about being a family and not lying to each other.

Colby winds down with Taylor and reiterates that he’s taken control of it.

“I’m never going to let you down,” Colby says to Taylor.

All I have to say is that Taylor’s marriage must be truly bleak because what does she possibly see in Colby other than a bit of attention.

Then the Paratas who are all moping around.

The producers are trying to string out this non-issue between Mac and Ari and continue to go on about how Mac can’t be upfront with her boyfriend about moving out when all the gal wanted was a bit a peace a quiet away from three boys that she was only living with out of generosity because of a mix-up with her rental property.

Ari is going to take a job in “the city” to give Mac some time to “figure out what you want”.

Mac sits alone and drinks her wine and Tane – who does get hints - brings her a sandwich which is exactly what she wants even though she didn’t know it.

Spirits are high in Justin’s corner but keep in mind that Tori hasn’t told him or Leah that the entire tumour couldn’t be removed so there’s a hint on impending doom in the air.

Jas wants to do something to help – she drops lunch off at the hospital for Justin and he invites her to stay and apologises which means they’re friends again.

 

The closure is very satisfying but the nurse is about to derail this new-found trust.

The scans have been moved forward. But Justin is babysitting Grace.

The nurse doesn’t have time for this so Jasmine — the person who staged an elaborate plot to take precious Grace for herself and has an AVO against her — is left alone in the hospital room with the living memory of dead Robbo.

Things aren’t off to a good start.

The baby starts crying so she picks her up and at that moment Leah storms in, takes the baby way and gives her stern talking to.

Then some of the worst acting I’ve even seen takes place. Without any dramatic pause and or inflection of his voice, Justin rattles off a few lines about forgetting about the AVO due to his dazed state.

Next is Tori and budget McDreamy who makes an ill-receives joke about deja vu.

Leah and Justin tell Tori about the Grace situation and they erupt in a yelling match.

But good news! Justin gets the “all clear”.

Jas is walking on eggshells as she awaits Tori’s wrath but out of nowhere she drops the AVO.

“ I trust you and I think it’s time you look after grace on your own,” Tori says to Jas.

Not only is this everything Jas has hoped and dreamed of, it’s conveniently timed and saves her from a meeting about the minutes with John.

Then Tori bumps into budget McDreamy who she’s back to hating and he orders two “very dry” white wines for them.

Fianlly Ziggy is bearing the wrath of Dean’s sudden departure from town and unlikely besties John and Amber go on about how Dean has let them both down.

But he’s back with one of those kewel t-shirt with the holes in them and lovingly gazes at a photo of his son just in case we’ve forgotten he’s a family man now who could lose it all if he gets locked up.

 Surprisingly, Amber isn’t as cranky as I expected and even lets Jai has a sleepover at Dean’s house which is massive considering just a few weeks ago he wasn’t even allowed to see Jai.

Jai isn’t in a good mood though. And it dawns on Dean just how hard being a parent is.

Little Jai misses his mum and he has a temperature and Dean stares blankly into the distance and the show ends.