Holby City: Private healthcare made sexy. Or not

(Series 22, ep. 2 by Katie Douglas 15.1.20) For my grown-up review of this episode pop over to Metro. But first…

– I was reading some old PLA reviews from 2011, and lo and behold they were trying to close Darwin down then as well. It was Henrik Hanssen who was in charge that time. I like to think he’s learned his lesson and he’ll come back and rescue everything and get the porters back in their maroon polo shirts again.

– Line of the week: Nicky asks Jac how she’s been. Jac – ‘I’ve been fine, McKendrick. If we take “fine” to mean medicated and at my lowest ebb.’

– But she apologised for her behaviour in theatre when she was last there. This is a new, more self-aware Jac that we’re seeing, but she is still 100% Jac. I love how the writers and Rosie can continue to evolve this character even after so many years.

– It was nice to see Casualty Marty in the upstairs wards. I like his character and I love a bit of a Casualty/Holby crossover.

– Sacha and Essie! Someone tell them, please.

– Why isn’t Max keen on Serena? And does she really think Ange will be any more compliant than Serena is? I don’t quite get it. But I like that Ange said she won’t be a stick to beat Serena with.

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.