|
Post by adamski on Jan 25, 2012 8:48:49 GMT -1
Am currently watching the Dee Morrell storyline for the first time, and am really loving both her and Amanda.
It has made me think though - what exactly was the point of Martin Healy and his offspring? Apart from the juicy stuff involving Patricia's hatred of him and Margaret, I feel that the family were a flop. Jen and Peter were very one-dimensional (Jen more so).
And having Martin as John & Angela's biological father upset the whole original premise of the show, yet later on when he's dead and his kids are gone it's as though a re-set button has been pressed and then everything is back to 'normal.'
Do other viewers feel the same?
|
|
|
Post by lillyivimia on Jan 26, 2012 17:34:02 GMT -1
I thought that Martin was a deliciously cold, calculating character. Splendidly hypocritical, yet so marvellously judgmental. I loved Martin and Patricia together and loved the way he had the capacity to rein her in in a way that no man before or since ever really managed to do.
I wasn't a keen fan of Jen, though, but had no major problems with Peter. He was OTT when it came to enthusiasm and sometimes came across as a bit unnatural (the acting wasn't always the best), but overall he was a good addition to the cast, I felt.
|
|
|
Post by casperfan on Jan 28, 2012 0:11:19 GMT -1
I didn't mind the Healys-loved Peter especially but i agree with the OP-Martin should not have been the twins biological father!~
|
|
|
Post by lillyivimia on Jan 28, 2012 14:18:47 GMT -1
I wasn't all that keen on the denouement that Martin was John and Angela's biological father ... at least not on the first few viewings. On my current re-watch, though, I'm not realy all that bothered by the revalation. Thinking about it, it was so typical of Patricia to lie to David about his being the father just to save her own skin. It also makes it easier to understand why Patricia was so willing to leave the infant John with David and Fiona ... the boy was a reminder of Martin and the despicable way she felt that he had treated her.
|
|
|
Post by col on Feb 3, 2012 13:16:45 GMT -1
I have to be honest and say I didnt like the way David was suddenly not the father of the twins and it was infact Martin but as Lilly says it is actually plausible that Patricia would lie about it for years and even more so it makes sense the main reason she left John behind at Fionas was because she couldnt stand Martin. One thing I did find amazing was Angela wouldnt give Martin a chance or even speak to him when she found out he was her natural Father, yet when she was told David was her natural Father after all those years she was all over him and Beryl like a rash!
As for the Healeys in general, I couldnt stand Martin. He is one of only two characters in the entire series I hated. I was glad when he was killed off. I didnt mind Peter.He was a bit full of himself at the start but he grew on me and I actually liked Jennifer. The main reason for that was I had seen Jodie Yemm in both Prisoner and Neighbours before S&D and I thought she was a poor actress in those shows to say the least yet she really impressed me in her role S&D. I did like the friction and scheming the Healeys caused between Patricia and Margaret etc but I wasnt too upset when they left the show as there were far more better characters already in the show and to come in my eyes.
|
|
|
Post by lillyivimia on Feb 6, 2012 17:21:50 GMT -1
As for the Healeys in general, I couldnt stand Martin. He is one of only two characters in the entire series I hated. Who was the other character you hated, Col?
|
|
|
Post by Si-Co on Feb 7, 2012 3:14:25 GMT -1
I think at the time the Healys came along they did fit into the storyline quite well. As others have said, the friction between Patricia and Margaret stemming from her past affair with Martin, and Patricia's scheming against Martin culminating in his suicide were some of the best plots of that era. Jen served her purpose, as Patricia used her pregnancy to further manipulate Martin, and interestingly, Jen is one of the few characters on Australian TV show to have an abortion, which seemed to be something of a taboo topic - in almost all other cases on Aussie soaps, the characters have decided against the abortion or went on to lose their baby through a natural miscarriage.
Peter - well, again the problems between him and his father, although not directly caused by Patricia, were instrumental in Martin's suicide. I never rated Brett Climo as a good actor back then - in fact this stood out even when I was watching first time round, and at 12 years old I didn't normally notice such things. I wonder if the actor had something of a stammer at the time, which gave the impression of him lacking confidence or not remembering lines very well - which may well not have been the case. I've seen him in other programmes since and his acting has appeared much more natural.
The way the characters were introduced, after the revelation of Martin being the twins' father, worked well in my opinion. However, it seemed that once this storyline had run its course, Martin and the Healys were rarely mentioned again and David 'became' the twins' father again in everyone's eyes - even Patricia's.
Peter was a character I thought they may have kept in the show longer, due to his friendship with the Palmer's - they could have given him some romantic storylines - but I doubt the character had much scope really. Mind you, I've never understood why Andy was retained until the end of the show. His initial storylines, introuduced as Stephen's illegitimate son, and then revealed to be Roland's son - his fling with Lynn and involvement with the cult - were all excellent well thought-out plots, but after Lynn left the show the second time, Andy floated around as an extra not doing very much at all for the most part. The only storylines that stick out after that were Andy meeting Roland again, and - to a point - his involvement with trying to help Barbara during her fling with Ross Newman and clashing with Ross. I never bought his 'evil sidekick to Wayne' act - someone else would have made a much better accomplice.
|
|
|
Post by col on Feb 15, 2012 18:28:38 GMT -1
Who was the other character you hated, Col? Andy Green and funnily enough its for the reasons Si-Co has mentioned.He was in the show FAR too long. Fair enough he had a few storylines when he first appeared but then nothing major after that,yet for some bizare reason he was kept in the show until the very end.It was even more annoying that he stayed when far more interesting characters like Barbara were axed! I found him a total bore and really irritating to be honest plus I didnt think he was a great actor either especially when he was Waynes nasty sidekick!
|
|
|
Post by lillyivimia on Feb 21, 2012 0:53:59 GMT -1
God, yes ... Danny Green wasn't the greatest actor by any stretch of the imagination. It was mostly vocal, I think, as his physical acting (facial expressions, etc) weren't altogether bad, I didn't think. But the way he spoke lines at times was pretty awful.
Sod stupid that they axed Barbara and Irene. Sheer madness!
|
|
carr74
Junior Member
Posts: 19
|
Post by carr74 on Jul 4, 2013 17:25:41 GMT -1
I liked Peter. Even Kevin seemed likable when he was paired with him. I can't think of any better compliment.
|
|
iank
Junior Member
Posts: 19
|
Post by iank on Nov 1, 2015 21:48:03 GMT -1
Andy... utterly pointless character! Didn't mind the Healy's. Jen was forgettable but Peter was likeable and Martin was an excellent b*****d! I think the scene where he goes nuts and tries to drown Peter in the swimming pool is one of the most shocking scenes in the whole series!
|
|
carr74
Junior Member
Posts: 19
|
Post by carr74 on Dec 13, 2015 21:50:30 GMT -1
I'm currently rewatching this era of the show. Long shot but does anyone have any nice screencaps of Brett Climo as Peter. I always liked the character but had forgotten just how cute he was!!
|
|