Offspring have been dying (pun sort of, and then upon reflection, very much so, intended) for a watercooler moment. You know, that moment that gets Twitter trends, Facebook post headlines and the following morning commercial radio buzzing. Of course to get the headline, you gotta make some big moves - and really the only way possible is either births, death or marriage.
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| Hey it's me, calling from heaven, do you know they have a Volvo dealership? |
Sadly many fans had the birth of Broody Bub (which now really will have something to be broody about) as that possible moment this season. The came Network Ten with their almost gleeful promos of death. 'SOMEONE NINA LOVES WILL DIE!' From the interview the producers/writers have done over the past few days, they haven't been shy about their feelings on these promos. They HATED them, thought they gave away the shock of the whole thing and ruined what was supposed to be a surprise. Not to be rude, but Offspring, while your demo numbers in the ratings are okay, your overall numbers are setting the world on fire, so of course the promo department wanted people to watch this episode instead of hearing about it second hand from the super keen fans and dismissing it, because awwh well, they've heard the plot now. I have no sympathy for the Producers on that note.
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| Good luck finding a Broody Abs replacement for me |
Onto the big questions though: why? And no, not the mortality of life question, but actually, my immediate thought when watching the episode why? Because as many people have commented in the reaction post why was this plot device necessary? Why did the writers feel they'd boxed Patrick into a happy, non-broody dead end corner? Why did Matt Le Nevez (or his US agent) want so badly out of the role that made him an Australian household name? Why couldn't they come up with a more flexible story line - hell Billie was stuck in New Zealand for HALF A DAMN SEASON?
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| I was building things, with my bare hands - yeah, top that! |
In discussing this with other people, off the top of my head, we had two or three plots that could have meant diminished screen time yet NO DEATH. 1) When structuring this season, why not have sister Kate fall back in a negative behavior pattern with her ex-abusive partner and Patrick has take Kate back to Perth to testify at some sort of legal case thing against him 2) With the return of Little Intern could Patrick have maybe relapsed in and ended up in rehab - and don't use the excuse of happy people don't relapse, Keith Urban was fresh off his honeymoon when he checked into Betty Ford 3) Because of Nina's health scare, Patrick fears the worst so starts pulling away and attending all sorts of overseas medical conferences and 4) THEY DIDN'T KILL GEORGE CLOONEY ON ER! Carol Hathaway was allowed to work her shit out and then, when realised life was more important, raced to (surprise return cameo) George's side with her twin girls.
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| Sunshine through the clouds - my smile, gone to big Broody Hospital in the Sky with me! |
I think the rage most regular fans felt is completely justified. Patrick as a character was firmly established as man who had lost so much and this new life, his life with Nina, was almost a redemption story. Well, what a shitty crap redemption because the moment he glimpses contentment, yank! No sir. Seriously, if I was Patrick arriving at the pearly gates (hopefully with my full head of broody hair restored and not sporting a brain surgery hair cut), I'd be all up God's business about how ripped off I'd been - not even getting to glimpse my own kid.
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| Sexy broody phone calls, this look is an artform people |
Seriously though, how do we go forward from here? Obviously next week's episode will be a tear fest doozy. But even if we time jump into Season Five, will viewers accept a new love interest for Nina? And sure, it shouldn't only be about Nina's love life, she could go all Carrie Bradshaw and have the most important relationship with herself but the problem with both those scenarios - Carrie Bradshaw said this, then immediately received a call from her man and the entire series was geared around Nina's love life. The producers/writers themselves call it a romantic comedy. Could any really step into those shoes and win over not only Nina's heart, but also the audience who were told, directed and instructed to invest in Nina and Patrick. Interestingly the writers were asked if Chris Havel might re-appear (sadly no-one asked if this reappearance would happen on a balcony) and they ummed about it but in the end pretty much said no, this wasn't a great idea.
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| Hallway hanky panky - my man hands are hard to replace |
Whatever happens post Season 4's finale, I wish them luck but like many, this Patrick stunt, and let's be honest, part of it was that - a stunt pure and simple - has turned me off. I was already regressing to Season 1 style watching patterns with vague interest at best but now, I might check in, I might watch the promos, but recapping, in-depth analysis - I'm going to hand in my resignation on that one (Don't worry though, I'll still give you all a place to chat should you need to cover episodes in a non-Facebook/Tumblr fan-girl way).
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| My season two, sexy pick me, not Havel, face. Gone forever! |
