So, no last minute dream sequences and not the biggest fake out on Australian TV could save the dear Broody Doc. The week long who wanted to leave, and what was best for the story PR run further complicated the matter of why Patrick Reid had to die and for me what was a very tonally abrupt season finale left me with no better answers.
In fact, the finale was basically in a nutshell, all the problems of Season Four. Moments of sheer amazing character moments and questions of adulthood and sibling rivalry and complex families with consequences. However, these were matched with oddly placed physical comedy, over the top Asher Keddie Nina-isms. Character abuse of Clegg and thereby Lachy Hulme. And sheer un-ability to grasp Patrick as anything beyond his romantic lead status, either broody removed non-partner, or swoony, sister rescuing hero.
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| Let's resurrect swoon time! |
BUT enough talk, as I've seen in the comments section, everyone wants to rewrite the last two episodes - offering some very good ideas. I've stayed quiet on this because, I have actually started something on this very subject. I wasn't going to post it and actually deleted the first draft but hey, it's probably good for my writing brain to keep moving, so I'm going to take a shot at a Patrick and Nina story. I may take great liberties at re-writing the characters the way I want to but hey, that's my choice. Hopefully, I'll have something to post at 8.30 on Wednesday night - Offspring time! And we'll see how it goes from there.
Fan-fiction for the win!
I know you will do Patrick's character justice and let him meet his little girl (or boy, you choose!) :)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to old school Offspring on Wednesday night. God knows I won't be tuning in for Melrose Place 2.0
Me either Evie. I'm waiting for 'Puberty Blues'. And I'm looking forward to your version Felicity.
ReplyDeletePS. I feel a little sad for Mick. He's heartbroken too and in a way his situation is worse. Patrick didn't choose to die. Billie chose to cheat.
PPS. My resolve to move on is not going well. I keep saying to myself 'Enough' (Andrew Lincoln's great line from 'Love Actually').
Great news! Look forward to it as I am also shunning Melrose Place 2.0
ReplyDeleteYay, glad I popped back in! Can't wait to read your fan-fiction, Felicity.
ReplyDeleteYes please Felicity! Please give me an alternative happy ending to the one I posted last week, anything to cancel out the grim reality of what they gave us!
ReplyDeleteWhile we wait for Felicity's version of the last two episodes of Season 4, I thought it would be nice to keep the conversation going.
ReplyDeleteI read an interview where Debra Oswald said they are already writing S5 ep7, so it is obviously still plausible that Patrick is resurrected.
S5 will likely be Offspring's last. So, considering that, how would you feel if we came to know that Nina has been dreaming all along since the night where she fall asleep, and Patrick was up all night listening to her family?
Would you feel cheated, in some way? Would you feel relieved that Patrick is alive? Will you be happy for Billie and Mick (as she would have not cheated)?
The possibilities are endless! :)
Having now come to terms with Patrick as dead, I would be really upset if it was all just a dream. like a massive trick played on us the audience it wouldn't sit well with me after all the tears and angst.
DeleteHowever I don't think this is the plan - there was just too many scenes for it to be a dream. I know most of you won't agree with this, but I can now see how I think it could play out in a way that is interesting - not sure about funny yet I think that will depend on the time frame, but interesting definitely.
No that would be wrong. Ghost Patrick is better if they have to have him on.
DeleteI don't think I am bothered with Patrick's death per se (though I like MLN as Patrick a lot!). Felicity's post is in a nutshell what I feel. I think the mix is far too uneven in S4 (and on that, please bring back old Clegg!). It could be so many times better if they cut out the cringey bits. And if they thought a bit more about how to make good drama without deaths. The real problem is not Patrick dying but that after creating a complex character, they haven't done full justice to it and then chose a usual banal TV event to write out the character.
I am travelling so I will try and drop by but looks like I might be in a few Internet free places:) Milly
I want it all to be a dream- will never come to terms with Patrick's death and will never watch Offspring again if he is indeed dead
ReplyDeleteLadies, I too am finding it hard to 'move forward!
ReplyDeleteI think the other issue has been the snippets of MLN that we have seen during the last week will perhaps make us miss him (and Patrick) even more. As so many wise contributors have mentioned, there was so much more to explore with Patrick (and let's face it, the writers had to led us to a place where we wanted to know more). It is interesting that this is really the first press he has done all season (apart from TV Week grabs). Almost as if they were afraid to let him loose in case he let the cat out of the bag.
Look forward to reading your idea of how Season 4 should have ended Felicity.
Thank you, ladies, for all your opinions. I am too finding it hard to come to terms with Patrick's sudden death and move on.
ReplyDeleteI guess my view actually has more to do with the TIMING rather than the death itself.
I disagree with Martin Clegg. Patrick's life WAS a tragedy.
He should, at least, have been allowed to enjoy this child of his before he was permanently dismissed!
As a result, I'm torn between what I want to happen and what I think will happen next.
While the sensitive in me would feel very relieved if the death was all a dream, my more sensible half thinks that Patrick is indeed dead.
I am though quite sure that ghost Patrick will not appeal to me. I've never fully enjoyed that whole idea of fiction within fiction that the writers seem to have in mind for the character.
It such a cliche!
Not sure if anyone is still checking Felicity's previous post, but I left a comment that Matt Le Nevez introduced Australian Story last night. Just thought I'd mention in case anyone was interested in watching it (or him, perhaps?).
ReplyDeleteI would be thrilled if they decided to make a Nina nightmare out of everything from and including the scene in episode 12 where Nina and Kate are told Patrick hasn't survived the surgery. It clearly wasn't filmed that way, too many non-Nina scenes, and she sure isn't going to dream about Patrick making furniture. Unless they decided to give Nina some psychic abilities in season 5. Hee hee. Still, I wouldn't mind! I think my grief is finally at the stage of acceptance. I even wonder what might happen next season. But I think it would be too painful and nauseating to watch ghost scenes of Patrick. As much as I loved his character and wish he was still around, I hate Nina's imagination version of him! So as sad as it is to stop watching a show I thought would be providing at least one more season of enjoyment (still feeling incredibly ripped off by the creators), I think I'll read Felicity's ending and leave it at that. Thanks Felicity!
Thanks for the tip about MLN. I checked out the synopsis and... wow! I can't help thinking he wasn't randomly chosen to introduce this particular story.
DeleteOn another note, we posted at the same time, so just wanted to say that I wholeheartedly agree with your thoughts about Patrick appearing as a fragment of Nina's imagination in S5.
I'm not interested in that either.
I meant to watch and was too late so missed his intro Emmerr - too bad for me :(. I think he was chosen because he did Kokoda this year so had the connection with the story.
Delete'Actor Matt Le Nevez, who presents the story tonight, encountered Chloe on the Kokoda track and was duly impressed.
Delete"The track tested me mentally and physically every day. I went the opposite way to Chloe, so we crossed paths. The way she went is meant to be tougher," he said.'
http://www.southernhighlandnews.com.au/story/1712871/chloe-is-back-on-track/?cs=262
Nadene, think it's repeated tomorrow nite.
ReplyDeletePatrick is definitely dead. Even if every single viewer begged the writers to make it all a dream, the writers can't go back on the plotline they've mapped out for numerous reasons, including their creative integrity. Even if we feel like the death idea was ill-conceived, I do believe they have integrity and respect for their audience. They're not going to toy with the audience and make them believe Patrick is dead, only for it all to be a dream.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comments made here that the writers seemed to be at their wit's end. That said, I am interested in seeing what will happen in season 5. Michael Lucas said, 'it's a privilege to write such an extraordinary journey for Nina.' Maybe we will see enormous growth for her character? I want to see how she is as a mother, and I want to see Billie's level of involvement in raising the baby. So I'm not going to write-off the show, despite this season being disappointing.
Also, I don't mind Nina's fantasised version of Patrick. I liked when she imagined Patrick on the end of her bed after they broke up last season. Obviously not as good as the real deal, but fantasy-Patrick is better than no-Patrick.
Gracie, I thought the swimming pool scene with the vision of Patrick was particularly beautiful. Especially as prior to this she had seen an image of him but couldn't join with him in a peaceful way. when people close to you die, you are often filled with thoughts of them and a desperate desire to see them again, you may even think you see them. so I think that's what they were trying to achieve. I saw a few comments from people who had lost partners who thought the scene was a perfect portrayal of grief.
DeleteI'm sure you're right about Patrick being dead and the writers not going back, Gracie, but I did think to myself this morning, "What if it was actually Patrick's dream?" I'd have to watch the episodes again to see if it made sense, which I don't plan to do, but at least the rocking horse thing would make sense that way. Can't help trying to find ways for the writers to get around it!
DeleteEmmerrr, I think your idea is fantastic!
DeleteEven though Nina is the main character, it would be a nice turn to the story if all this was a result of Patrick's dream.
Now I only wish the writers have thought about this alternative too!
Nadene, I thought the pool scene was beautiful too (and the final scene). I haven't experienced profound loss/grief in my life thus far, so I can only imagine the sense of longing and desperation one would feel. It was lovely and comforting to see them come together in her fantasies, especially after the initial fleeting and unsettling glimpses she was having of him (with his back turned to her/footsteps all out of sync).
ReplyDeleteI wonder how the Patrick fantasy device will be utilised in season 5. I am curious to see if it will only be used for dramatic purposes, or whether there is room for comedy. I would love to see supportive fantasy-Patrick, but I would actually be keen on seeing snarky, sarcastic fantasy-Patrick too (maybe criticising some of the choices Nina makes ... à la season 2?). I'm not sure if that idea would work in practice, but it works in my head. And of course, while part of me wants to see heaps of Patrick fantasies, the device shouldn't be overused because it would lose its surprising and dynamic quality.
Yes I am all for sarky Patrick.
DeleteAfter Rachel dies in Cold Feet, Adam still sees her and interacts with her. I think Offspring will utilise the same resource; even bring unseen flashbacks of Patrick and Nina's interactions, to try to lighten the mood of his passing and engage a very battered audience.
ReplyDeleteI definitely do not want to see Patrick giving Nina any dating advice and tell her how she should move forward because 'life goes on for her'.
Here's a link of Cold Feet's Adam talking to Rachel after her death, for anyone interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap-jyZreFt0
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ReplyDelete