Holby City: He hasn’t changed a bit

(Series 21, ep. 24 ‘Over My Dead Body’ by Joe Ainsworth 11.6.19) For my rather long review of this episode pop yourself over to Metro (best make a cup of tea – and read this bit – first).

– ‘I was desperate for you to see how much I’d changed,’ said the man who hasn’t changed at all. Including that when he resorts to violence, as he did here, it’s still as shocking as when we first saw him hit Dominic all that time ago. I think it’s because Marc Elliott’s portrayal of Isaac is of a monster who works primarily on the psychological and emotional level, always with a veneer of charm and reasonableness. His violent outbursts come apparently out of nowhere and are more disturbing for being unexpected.

– His callous attitude to his father was stomach-turning too.

– Talking of stomach turning, that remark by Chloe to Dom about his ‘receptionist mother’ was really nasty, particularly because we all love Carole so much. So does Dominic, as you could see on his face. He was wounded on her behalf, and also perhaps a part of him felt the truth of what Chloe was saying – that he’d been as willing to drop his receptionist mother as he’d been to change his name from Darren to Dominic.

– Hanssen and Oskar – adorable. Holby are so good at casting child actors, and it was a brilliant idea to bring Hanssen and his grandson together like this.

– I guessed straight away that Oskar’s problem was that Hanssen was wearing scrubs. I find Hanssen in anything other than a suit quite odd, too.

– They really do need a neurosurgeon at Holby, don’t they? The number of times no neuro person has been available, because they’re all either dead or at home watching Blue Planet with Oliver Valentine.

– Quote of the week – Essie: ‘Has [Oskar] moved into the office?’ Hanssen: ‘He has made a little land-grab there.’

Holby City: Which one of us made the monster?

(Series 21, ep. 23 ‘In the Right Place’ by Ed Sellek 4.6.19) For this week’s proper review, please pop along to Metro, the Home of the Best Soaps Coverage (I’m not contractually obliged to say that, it just definitely is). But first…

– Ed Sellek, the man who brought us Hanssen Playing The Theremin (but you already knew that) today brought us Hanssen’s Precious Anatomical Model. Hanssen’s poor face as clumsy Sacha dropped all the internal organs on the floor was quite delightful. And it produced a lovely metaphor when Oskar found a piece on the floor. ‘Ah. You’ve found my heart. Well done,’ said Hanssen. I’m looking forward to seeing Oskar finding Hanssen’s considerable but sometimes hidden heart in the coming weeks.

– I thought this was going to be the last we’d see of Isaac after Dom told him to jog on, but apparently not (see summer trailer, below). 

– I actually winced when Dominic dropped that saxophone on the ground. That is not the way to treat a musical instrument.

– Some of the scenes between Dominic and Jon reminded me of that very tense episode where Sacha had to look after Essie’s dying Nazi grandfather, in the conflict between his instincts as a doctor and his instincts as a person.

– One day in the future Ange might ponder why both her children are susceptible to controlling, manipulative men – because Evan is shaping up to be almost as nasty as Isaac Mayfield. Currently he’s at the fairly early stages of ‘I-know-best-what-you-need-don’t-I-babe.’ As viewers we can see exactly what’s happening, but I think the only characters who can see it are Cameron and possibly Nicky. I wonder what role Dominic will be able to play in the story as someone who’s survived that kind of relationship?

– And finally… the summer trailer. My heart skipped a beat at Jac’s glimpse of Joseph in the rain (it had to be Joseph) and I might have made an eeking sound when he actually appeared. Of course that wasn’t the only excitement and intrigue to be had from that trailer, and I’ve detailed all the other fun in yet another article for Metro here.

Watch the trailer on the BBC Holby website or on YouTube

Holby City: He used to be a happy boy

(Series 21, ep. 21 ‘Unredeemed’ by Andy Bayliss 21.5.19) Pop over to Metro for the full review of this episode. But first…

– It was one of those episodes which shows what a real community Holby is, as everyone jumped to defend Dominic from the nasty Isaac.

– Isaac hasn’t changed at all, has he? Still as manipulative and nasty as ever. Marc Elliott plays him so well that the scenes between Isaac and Dom were quite distressing to watch.

– Lofty leaving Dominic sandwiches for breakfast was like Charlie bringing Duffy the last muffin on Casualty. Adorable. I still don’t think for a minute that Lofty would have cheated on Dominic on what was supposed to be their honeymoon, but sometimes plot reasons come first I suppose.

– Carole’s love of Dominic hasn’t been affected one bit by his recent rejecting behaviour of her, has it? I loved her confrontation with Jon: ’My son was a happy boy and Isaac has taken that away.’

Holby City: ‘It felt like I’d fallen off the face of your earth’

(Series 21, ep. 20 ‘The Wrong Horse’ by Nick Fisher 14.5.19) There’s a full review of this episode at Metro.

I’m currently trying to get the next few weeks’ reviews etc ready for Metro as I’m going away on holiday soon, so apologies that there are no random thoughts this week. I’m already several episodes ahead and very nervous that I might give spoilers away by having a random thought about something you haven’t seen yet!

 

Holby City: No flies on Darwin

(Series 21, ep. 18 ‘Vinegar and Honey’ by Ed Sellek 30.4.19) For a full review of this week’s episode please bob over to Metro (the home of top quality soaps coverage). But first…

– The episode was called ‘Vinegar and Honey’ because Fletch told Jac ‘You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.’ I loved Jac’s reply: ‘Why would I want flies?’

– So Kian is the cousin of Marty in the ED. I wonder whether we’ll see Kian summoned to a Casualty crossover one day? It would be even nicer if Marty was there – he hasn’t been seen in a while.

– I understood Ange’s explanation of why Chloe would be devastated to find out Dominic is her brother while she was saying it, but looking back I’m not sure I agree with her now. What do you think?

– Dominic is getting quite obsessive though. When he told Ange ‘You don’t get to abandon me again,’ it sounded borderline threatening – not in a scary way, but in a very needy way. He isn’t a character whose emotions you can just dabble with, as Ange is finding out.

– I knew all wasn’t well in Scary Sue’s romantic life. Bless her.

Holby City: Behind the eyes

(Series 21, ep. 17 ‘Pleased to Meet You’ by Ed Sellek 23.4.19) For my full (and rather long) review of this brilliant episode, head over to Metro. But first…

– I’ve not always been the greatest fan of Nicky as a character, but she absolutely stole the episode for me with her breathless fan-girly appreciation of Kian. Even when she was in the background she was giving him admiring little glances. It was really funny and well done.

– Talking of funny, I love Ed Sellek’s episodes. He’s the man who gave us Hanssen with a theremin, as I’ll never cease to keep reminding you because it was genius.

– And Scary Sue! She’s absolutely brilliant. I loved her comment about London making her bogies black. It’s such a northern thing to say (I speak as a northerner who lives in London). The genius of Sue’s character is that she has this ‘scary’ reputation but she’s ever so vulnerable and sad really, and I like that Donna recognised that about her.

– It was a good debut for Kian. He’s like a Mills and Boon fantasy doctor come to life with his tattooed hunkiness, but he’s got an air of danger and secrets around him that makes him quite interesting.

– Dominic was being really horrible to Carole and I could have slapped him at various points, but David Ames lets you see everything play out in Dominic’s eyes – the emotions of the moment are on his face, but his eyes tell you how he really feels inside and he is hurting.

– Julia Deakin and Dawn Steele are also being brilliant in this storyline and even though I still wish it hadn’t happened, it’s bringing some ninja level drama out, which I suppose is the entire point.

– Though when is Chloe going to get her chance to start emoting like everybody else? It must come soon.

– I’m glad Dom’s father was just a nice boy who liked Wham! and had a look of John Taylor from Duran Duran, rather than something sinister or icky. Such as looking like Simon Le Bon from Duran Duran.

Holby City: Baby Zollie!

(Series 21, ep. 16 ‘North and South’ by Joe Ainsworth 16.4.19) To read my full review of this episode, bob over to Metro. But first…

– I knew the baby was Ollie’s! I suppose it was fairly obvious, really, once Arlo had been ruled out. But how lovely that she’s going to keep the baby and she’s letting him be involved too. Bless. Though I wonder what they’ll give it as a surname. Self-Valentine? Valentine-Self? It sounds like a recipe for bullying, either way.

– Which reminds me of one of my favourite Ollie lines, when Faye Byrne gave birth to her and Joseph’s son Harry: ‘Has anyone signed a card for Byrne Baby Byrne?’

– Sad that Camilla Arfwedson has gone again. Zosia is a brilliant character, I feel there’s still a lot to explore with her. With luck she’ll be back at some point (and bring Ollie with her – please?).

– It’s also sad for Dominic that she’s gone. He was just about to confide in her and he badly needs friends at the moment, especially as you-know-who is returning soon.

– I hate seeing Carole sad. I felt her pain when Dominic called her ‘Carole’ instead of ‘Mum.’ It’s not even funny like when David Platt calls his mother ‘Gail’ on Coronation Street. It’s just sad.

– Ange and Fletch: please, no. Unless it provokes a jealous response in Jac and she takes Ange out to the Linden Cullen Memorial Shrubbery for a good battering. Not that I condone violence at all.

– Can we have Fleur Fanshawe every week, please? She is magnificent.

– Nanette Duval is also magnificent, in her own way. Suzette Llewellyn plays the part really well. Nanette is nasty, spiteful, funny, outrageous and manipulative, but also clearly in a lot of pain. It’s a clever portrayal to make her sympathetic while she’s being horrible to the lovely Zav and Donna.