There are worrying signs of the show thinking it can emotionally manipulate the audience here:The start of 2011 hasn't been that great so far and while there's some nice characterisation and plot lines brewing here, we're being asked to accept a few too many things without question.One plus is the apparent renaissance of Colleen, who is suddenly being turned into a likable old woman for the first time in years:Her advice to Alf is spot on and, despite being typically Colleenesque, her make up with Marilyn isn't actually that bad.
Morag continues to teeter on the brink of likability:She's well-intentioned but goes about it the wrong way.Her idea to get Alf off by suggesting other people might have a motive is sound but the fact that she tries to prove her point by bullying Nicole, instead of asking for her help, guarantees she turns the rest of the household against the idea.John, astonishingly, seems to be stepping into Alf's shoes as the pillar of the community and it's nice that their spat is soon forgotten about and they're soon working out what's best.
But there's two big stumbling blocks here:Firstly, we're apparently meant to like Robertson now, because he's nice to Leah and because VJ spouts a few platitudes.Which is apparently meant to mean he's wise or possibly that he's found God and that's what Christians do.But the ongoing plot line of him trying to put an innocent man in jail because it's easier than doing a thorough investigation means it's hard to stomach and there needs to be an awful lot of back tracking before the audience can be on his side.
Secondly, Marilyn.Of all the character traits to resurrect, they have to choose her obsession with having a baby and her tendency to take advantage of vulnerable young women.Hopefully the writers realise that's what's happening and don't expect us to think Marilyn and Nicole have made the right choice.But it's hard to be sure.
Morag continues to teeter on the brink of likability:She's well-intentioned but goes about it the wrong way.Her idea to get Alf off by suggesting other people might have a motive is sound but the fact that she tries to prove her point by bullying Nicole, instead of asking for her help, guarantees she turns the rest of the household against the idea.John, astonishingly, seems to be stepping into Alf's shoes as the pillar of the community and it's nice that their spat is soon forgotten about and they're soon working out what's best.
But there's two big stumbling blocks here:Firstly, we're apparently meant to like Robertson now, because he's nice to Leah and because VJ spouts a few platitudes.Which is apparently meant to mean he's wise or possibly that he's found God and that's what Christians do.But the ongoing plot line of him trying to put an innocent man in jail because it's easier than doing a thorough investigation means it's hard to stomach and there needs to be an awful lot of back tracking before the audience can be on his side.
Secondly, Marilyn.Of all the character traits to resurrect, they have to choose her obsession with having a baby and her tendency to take advantage of vulnerable young women.Hopefully the writers realise that's what's happening and don't expect us to think Marilyn and Nicole have made the right choice.But it's hard to be sure.