I feel quite sorry for Xanthe. Behind the front, she is clearly a very insecure girl who just wants to be wanted, liked, loved.

We might see it as just a silly little party and a stupid reason to make as big a decision as losing her virginity to somebody she barely knows and has admitted she isn't that in to. But, that party and turning 16 means a lot to her, even her best friend didn't turn (understandably as Terese does need to take precedence at the moment but it probably still hurt Xanthe) and she is convinced the boy she really does like isn't interested. She probably feels that she isn't 'good enough' to ever have a boy thta she really likes to like her back so she is settling for what she canget and that could become a pattern which repeats her whole life. It does for some girls who turn to sex quite young as they believe it is the only way anybody will ever pay them any attention.

If she had more confidence, she wouldn't be doing it.

Yes, the explosion investigation and John Doe is really dragging. Why can't Paige just accept that he doesn't feel able/safe to start a relationship when he doesn't know who he is. That is perfectly reasonable.

But so was Tom Quill and you liked him.

I totally get the whole Xanthe story. I do wish they'd cast a girl who was actually a bit plain though, I mean, Xanthe getting bullied for her looks is a little unrealistic - in any school she'd be the most popular girl around. But then, when do Aussie soaps cast anyone under 50 who isn't gorgeous?

I don't think Ben's turn around is that unrealistic tbh, as people seem to keep saying. If you watched the instagram episodes of Ben and Xanthe they definitely had a "moment" as they say in soap-land.

I have zero idea how they are going to keep this John Doe thing going till the end of the year though.

One word.

Didge.

Yes, they have a new producer, Natalie Lynch. I don't remember the guy she replaced, but she doesn't seem as good a fit with Jason Herbison.

I thought the other girls at her school were probably jealous and felt threatened by her. That can be another reason for bullying.

Oh and just wanted to say, despite all the hating on Angus I actually think Ben is a bigger tool than he is personally.

But perhaps that adds to it? Perhaps the fact that Xanthe is pretty but feels insecure demonstrates even better that you are only as beautiful as you feel. Also (and this is slightly dicey territory!), Nate, Sonia and Toadie are not people under 50 I would describe as 'gorgeous'...

People have said the teen stories have been childish (I'm sure that was the word used on the last page), but I actually think the safe sex talk has been the most mature they've ever handled it. They actually showed a condom box, something they never would have done a couple of years ago. I really liked how they've developed Amy's relationship to Xanthe and Sheila, making her apart of their family. I like Amy, and I hope she stays around for a long time.

I really feel sorry for Paul. Getting hit by Nate's car seems to have pushed him further into a depressive spell. Karl really should have remembered Paul's past depression when questioning his mental health. It was good to see Terese acknowledge that Paul is suffering, too.

So, is Uncle Walter really Sonya's father? Or was he just looking wishfully at Sonya b/c he can't tell her he's her uncle?

I think Karl randomly became a hypnotherapist under Susan Bower. It's actually a good use of (unrealistic) history. But, no way should John have had 2 hypnotherapy sessions in the same day! That's unethical, as it would cause more harm than good for John.

I echo the people who said Sarah should have had a longer stint. I'd happily sacrifice Drab's paycheque for 6 months to pay for Sarah to have a decent stint. So much potential wasted, again. Much like not making Ned a regular, who unlike SS believes, is not mentally unstable. He's just angry and carrying a lot of abandonment issues. I actually like Ned/Lauren; Lauren has much better chemistry with him than Drab. Shame Ned is mis-reading her motherly nurturing for romantic feelings.

Yeah, that's how I saw it. I don't agree with you that Ben is a bigger tool than Angus. I've not disliked a character as much as Angus, in a long time.

Angus comes across as a really creepy kid, I can see his character taking a dark turn, could end up being a sex pest or something. I don't think for a second he cares about Xanthe, he's just trying to get one over on Ben.

Top notch first aid from Nate today. Asks a man with a fractured clavicle where he's hurting, Paul tells him he's hurt his shoulder, so Nate lifts his shoulder up off the floor ! Not very gently either. What happened to not moving someone who's been injured?!

And Ringworm. And Stingray. And that irritating Irish bloke who was supposed to be a big mate of Toadie. And Toadie in his youth, come to that! (That mullet!)

That long? And John Doe isn't going to be revealed until end of season!

Anyone want to join me watching some paint dry?

Totally agree. Where did the mentally unstable bit come from? Answer - from the person who describes Angus as a 'thieving git' but Ben as 'noble'!

Not sure Ned is actually feeling romantically for Lauren but he has certainly responded to the only person who has treated him with sensitivity and I think at the moment he is feeling protective towards her - he knows Drab's track record!

Ned is an interesting character, and he'd make a good mate for Tyler who needs somebody his own age to play with. As I've said before, he and Tyler should go out on the pull and find some age-appropriate totty! A mistake not making him a regular character.

Does anyone think it's possible that John Doe is related to Paige somehow which is why he's subconsciously reluctant to be physical with her. A bit like how kitkat thought initially that this could happen between Ned and Paige. Of course my theory will probably be blown out of the water in a week or so if they end up in bed together!

Agree with much of what has been said in the last few posts so won't quote them all.

Of course the fact that they rarely cast ugly teens does have some part in this (anybody remember the joke of Plain Jane the Superbrain who it was obvious was stunning from the start, despite glasses and bad hairstyle) but I think it is deliberate with Xanthe that she is pretty but just has low self esteem so believes what the girls who are jealous of her being pretty say. It is saying "just because other people say you're ugly, it doesn't mean you are and to find a way to love and value yourself". And that the prettiest people can have body issues and won't listen to the majority of people that say they are pretty, they'll listen to the few that say they aren't and start hating themselves.

In my experience, people (especially kids) will find any weakness to bully and often, a talent can become the focus because of jealousy and the person starts to sabotage that to become less of a target. The clever kid that comes first in exams (whether they're a swot or not), the very musical kid, the pretty kid - all targets or bullying at my school. Perhaps very sporty kids escape it but as I never really had much to do with them, I wouldn't know!?!

I liked the safe sex stuff as well and that they weren't doing the moral thing of saying a 16 year old shouldn't have sex, just that they should do it for the right reasons and be safe.

I also don't think Ben's feelings have come from nowhere. He didn't think much of Xanthe at first because she was pretending to be something she isn't (to impress him which shows how insecure she is - she must mould herself to suit other people to be liked) so came across as stupid and shallow. But now he's spent a few weeks seeing 'her' and realised she is a nice, attractive girl.

There is nothing mentally unhinged or unstable about Ned. Yes he possibly has anger issues but we understand the root of them (a very rational and understandable resentment and mistrust of his father) and so far he has not allowed them to hurt people, only things and himself.

I think he probably has recognised that Lauren is attractive but I do think he is drawn to her more simply because she has been the only person to really try with him, talk and listen to him, see his side, show some sensitivity. Most normal people will respond to that and care back and in this case, he suspects that Brad is cheating on her and given Brad's track record, and the embraces he's seen between Brad and Terese, that is not an unreasonable suspicion.

Unlike the blessed Paige last year, he is not actively trying to cause trouble between Brad and his current partner for his own ends.

Well said, Kitkat!

I don't care for Angus much but Ben seems to be Neighbours resident brooding moody teenager these days. I thought his whinging to Karl and Susan about how they supposedly liked Angus better than him was pretty lame. Karl and Suze are just trying to help a boy with a troubled home life and Ben's old enough to understand that.

I'm very happy that Xante has Sheila and Amy in her corner to give her support. And I like how Sheila wants Amy to consider herself a part of the family. I really like Amy and I hope she sticks around for a long time.

Really quite fed up of both John and Ned at the minute.

I know Ned has a lot of justified anger at the entire Brad/Beth/Lauren/Terese stuff, however he seems to notice little things and then blow them up a thousand times worse or make something out of nothing and spread rubbish.

The most obvious being implying Brad is having an affair. It's bad enough to do it in the first place without confronting him from the off as they're all in the middle of such a sensitive situation. The family are grieving, their father [in law]/grandad/son/brother etc have just died and their daughter/sister has left for another country. A little hug between a mother and father who had lost their son in full public view is unlikely to be an affair! Brad has everyone for support family wise. Poor old Terese has the bottle and her youngest daughter who she can't really spill her heart out to!

It makes it worse that it's likely because of feelings that he's habouring for her (feelings that aren't subtle given even Lauren has picked up on them!) even if he doesn't 100% realise yet. It's not from an innocent place - makes it all a bit seedy.


The John stuff just... eugh. Having Paige in it makes it worse I think. It's all about her and her attraction to him and not understanding why a man who has no idea who he is/if he's with someone else etc wouldn't immediately leap into bed with her!

They appear to have toned Piper back somewhat and allowed her to be the kid she is now Brody has gone. This one isn't quite bad.

Ben appears to have done a bloody quick u-turn on his feelings for Xanthe though! Now Xanthe has lost her slightly spiteful edge she also seems to be really quite adorable and sweet. A proper ditsy madam! I like her and Piper's friendship.

Angus... eugh. He does appear to be slightly less annoying than he was when he first arrived though. Glad that he openly told Xanthe that he was just looking for fun and didn't ruin her first time - and also didn't make fun of her like those catty girls likely would have if they'd heard/he'd told them.

Can someone explain to me how managing a teenage girls facebook account is a business, what someone could possibly hope to get from the experience?

Had to laugh at this because it is so true.

But, on thinking about it - Xanthe's profile was really bad and teenage trolls are probably the most vicious around so i guess if he can prove that he has managed that and turned it around, online PR might be willing to give him work on difficult clients.

Or he could get the Kardashians to hire hiim for their next generation? There'd be money there surely?

I dont know how the Kardashians work, but I assume they already have some form of management, and when the kids come of age, they will do that as well.

Other than stopping Xanthe doing stuff herself, and removing the worse comments from her profile, what has he actually done for her? Piper entred the show with an online following, I suspect its too late for that now (given he used her to help Paul) but she is someone would could benefit from an social media guru to help grow her platform.

The idea that a firm needs someone to manage their social media is not a new one, but Xanthe is not a firm, and shows no signs of even being the social media star she wants to be.

I have been thinking the same thing

This John Doe stuff (I love how everyone just glibly calls him 'John') is really hard work.

What makes it worse is that given what has been written here and in the last thread, it goes on for around another 6 months!

Hopefully it'll start to fade into the background soon (or hopefully be shortened if it's as unpopular everywhere else as it is here!)

Just make him his Home and Away character (as I previously suggested) and that'll connect the two universes and it would be a genuine game-changing twist.

Then maybe Rebekah Elmaloglou can act double and play Sophie Simpson, Terese's long-lost twin sister.