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| My GhostDaddy is hotter than your real Daddy |
The show has gone to great lengths in an attempt to redeem themselves by giving us vintage Patrick in his Top Most Requested Patrick-esque forms. We've had sexy snarky jealous Ghost Patrick, who made me smile with his third wheel date behaviour when Nina sat down with Laurence for a coffee. We've had Broody Ghost Patrick, who walked away from being in a weird paranormal threesome with Nina and Mina (Male Nina - so clearly a cipher for her). We've had Sex It Up Ghost Patrick, who transported himself through actual heaven to help Nina have an orgasm. We've had OMG Parent Patrick, who held Zoe whilst walking in a dappling Melbourne sun filled park and caused the viewers ovaries to explode. Basically, with all this Ghost Patrick someone needs to call Jennifer Love Hewitt pronto and get Patrick passed over!
The problem for the show, is they're still giving us Patrick. If you going to be brave and bold and take the leap to kill him, then follow through. Because right now, his absence is louder than Nina's presence and it's really hurting her as a character. What's left of the Nina behind is still a relatively okay character but with Ghost Patrick in all sexy forms still lingering, she is defined by him. And when he's not spooking in and out, Nina slips into Season 1 great annoyance Nina, she of the babbling, professionally questionable and all around stuttering mess.
I will however give great applause, to potentially one of my favourite scenes the show has ever done. Nina's discussion with her ex-husband (remember him?!) when she actually confessed to Patrick's passing was so well done. From script, to shots, to the acting itself - it was glorious. It was funny and heartbreaking and the reason I still check into Offspring - for those moments of grounded reality, touched by pathos.
The sideline stuff is the usual array of sublime to stupid insanity. Thankfully we've dialed right back on Geraldine and all her nonsense and focused of the Proudman siblings. Jimmy, continues to earn his name back, with his childlike wonder mixed with his ability to break Zara and being positive and hopeful while those around him crumble.
After the horrific cheating, life downward spiral plot that gave Kat Stewart a great show reel - Billie seems back on track as a character. Her awkward Laurence non-dating, mixed with that truly sad break up Skype call with Mick (Eddie Perfect, you're a monster! A talented, puppy dog eyes of sadness monster!) was sublime and I will be interested to see how the show plays Billie moving forward.
But really, the show, much like Kate Middleton was when she had a break from Prince Will for a while, was always asked about that person - can't escape Patrick. In making him the headline banner act, they've committed themselves to him be woven into the DNA. The problem for me is that instead of slowly loosening the threads of Patrick's presence, they're tightening them and cementing Nina's one true pairing (OTP - for the kids!) status to Patrick. Sure, in real life, death sadly happens and people can, do and should move on but in a serialised rom-com drama - where time jumps don't time jump an audiences memories further back - the ability to create the distance starts with actual distance. For Nina, for the show - it needs it. For my slight (who am I kidding, massive!) Matt Le Nevez crush and enjoyment factor of seeing him on this TV show, it's horrible.
But enough from me? What are your thoughts on Season 5 and how would you solve (or not) the Patrick Problem?
