Aussie Soap Round-Up (w/e 20th March 2008)

I could blame the Easter weekend for the delay of this week's ASRU, but if I did I'd be lying. I admit it. The real reason I held off is because I wanted to write yesterday's piece about Matilda Hunter first. It's something I've been meaning to do for a while and this week I've rushed it out because, in a shortened soap week, I really want to use it as a reference point to explain exactly why I'm starting to like Annie Campbell so much...

When she first arrived in Summer Bay, Annie represented one of my favourite fictional archetypes. Like Tasha Andrews in Home and Away before her, or Rachel and Zeke Kinski in Neighbours - or Anya in Buffy and Spock in Star Trek if you want to cast the net a bit wider - she was a character to whom the workings of modern society seemed completely alien. She blundered around town naive to all the realities she had been sheltered from for so long under the strictly religious guidance of her grandfather. When she found out Lucas had slept with Belle her head nearly exploded. When she started her period she truly believed she was dying. She was totally hilarious.

But then recently things have gotten harder for her, and she has started to develop another character trait I adore. After Reverend Hall's surgery left him brain dead this week despite all her prayers, Annie decided enough was enough. She has watched both of her parents die, her grandfather die, her farm lost, her brother persistently bullied and her family minister suffering a brain tumour that first turned him into a woman-hating psycho and then left him lying brain dead in a hospital bed. On the back of all this, Annie has decided that God must not exist.

I'll admit, the spiritual crisis isn't usually my favourite story line in soap, but this time - and as with most of Matilda Hunter's problems - you can't help but feel that Annie's crisis is different. A devout Christian her whole life, Annie has lasted only a matter of months in the crazy world that is Summer Bay before losing faith in God completely. As with Matilda before her, the unrelenting tragedy and drama that comes with living in a soap have become too much for her to accept, completely dismantling the belief system she had held for her entire life prior to the day Sally Fletcher drew her out of her isolated little existence on the Campbell Farm.

Now, I find it hard to believe this storyline will go too much further - I can't believe Home and Away is going to have a main character happily denounce God - but I'm enjoying it while it lasts. The combination of the blank slate innocent and unconsciously self-reflexive soap character make for a very interesting character.

Elsewhere in Summer Bay: Ric took Cassie to a special HIV Clinic. Geoff knocked Aiden out before Sally seemed to knock some sense into him. Is a face turn for Aiden on the cards? Lucas Holden left Summer Bay to go to university. Sally got stabbed by a Cooper brother again (it was Miles' fault).

Elsewhere in Erinsborough: Darren won some sympathy from Toadie and Steph by revealing that the shadow of Drew is a hard place to live in. Susan regained her sight and climbed a mountain. Karl tried to become a doctor again. And at the Oakey reunion, Miranda rode a mechanical bull, Kirsten kissed Ned and Janae flipped out.