Offspring Season 5: How Do You Solve the Patrick Problem?

First admission, I haven't watched a single episode live - my Wednesday nights are officially shocking for any live watching. But I have watched all three episode on catch up, and really, oh what a tangled web we weave!

My GhostDaddy is hotter than your real Daddy

The shadow of Patrick is long and mighty that's for sure. After the reaction heard around Australia last year, I wonder, truly, did the writers ever regret their decision? I can't wait for this to be answered in 5 years time with hindsight and honesty. And really, for a few days the departure of Matt Le Nevez was over analysed to death (boom tish!). Still, after months of no Nina, Patrick, Proudman activity, the sting still lingered. And after these three episode, that sting still remains and maybe even tingles more.

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?

Yep, Patrick is Still Dead but The Baby is Cute

Time has not changed the past and Patrick Reid remains dead by tiny Corolla bump. During Puberty Blues they sneak peeked at the first scene of Season 5.


And while I'm still on the fence about if and when I'll recap this last season, I gotta admit I enjoyed this teaser. Tonally it felt more reverentially to Patrick's character than anything else before it. It played well the Proudman family connection that they all have and it was moving. And DAMN that baby is CUTE! Patrick's offspring (so intended) certainly is a good one.

I still am concerned that a show that had it's viewers invest so much in Nina's love story, is going to give us a rushed happily ever after with a new dude. Nina as a character was never better than when Patrick was there to balance her out and I'm still concerned that she'll return to zany, Proudman hijinks without the grounding that a tragic event such as this would give the character. Time will tell and with the months of interesting interviews and producers calls for calm, you have to wonder, if the show can't recover - will Matt Le Nevez be smirking somewhat proudly to himself?