Loveday Writing

Harry and Ainsley take Heather’s phone and (unknowingly) set her up and start a conversation with her lecturer, Ed. While Heather is resistant to meeting up with him, they ask her if she would have found him attractive if he hasn’t her lecturer. She admits she would and goes to a bar to meet up with him. When she gets there, she tells him the truth and plans on ending the date, but they end up having a good time. When Ed sees her looking down at her phone, she admits to tracking Ben, but only because all of the housemates are on the same tracking app. They end up tracking Ben down at another bar, where they find him on a date with Madison.

They later walk back to the house and Heather invites him in for a drink, but has to sneak him in as Heather wants to avoid being dragged into Ainsley and Simmo’s wedding planning. They end up having wine in Heather’s bedroom and hooking up.

Meanwhile Ben’s date with his online match, Madison, doesn’t go as smoothly due to his lack of dating experience, and, as he later admits, he’s still in love with Heather. His date mostly consists of him asking Madison for dating advice. Madison however is a good sport, helps him and tells him that he shouldn’t be on the dating scene if he isn’t ready to move on.

The episode ends with Ben and Heather awkwardly and briefly discussing how their dates went.

Harry and Liz – Harry and Liz are still dealing with the fallout of Sam and Geri’s breakup. While Liz is FaceTiming with Stuart, he offers to contact Geri and help, as he feels he’d provide a more objective perspective to the breakup, but Liz asks him not to. Later, Harry and Liz meet up in the park, Liz asks Harry whether she should tell Stuart about her kiss with Geri. Harry returns serve by asking Liz whether she felt anything when she kissed Geri, she says that she thinks she did.

Later, when Liz is out running, Geri calls her. Geri tells her that she got a text from Stuart offering to help, and asks her if she told Stuart what happened. Liz says no, but she did admit that she felt something after the kiss. Geri asks her if she wants to meet up somewhere and Liz agrees.

Liz essentially goes out on a date with Geri but doesn’t tell Harry, instead saying that she is meeting up with another law firm who is wooing her. When Liz meets with Geri, Geri tells her that she doesn’t want be a phase in her life. Geri asks Liz what she wants to happen, and her and Liz go back to Geri’s place and hook up.

Liz returns home later that evening and Harry asks her how her dinner went, she says it went well, and goes upstairs without going into further details.

Ainsley and Simmo – Ainsley and Simmo are dealing with Simmo’s overly enthusiastic but welcoming mother, Pam, arriving at the house to help with the wedding planning. Naturally Pam takes over the planning, much to Ainsley’s chagrin. At the end of the episode, Ainsley finally stands up for herself and tells Pam that she doesn’t want to do what she wants, she wants her own wedding. What’s interesting about this subplot is that Pam is overly enthusiastic and pushy, but she’s not nasty, mean or malicious, I believe she loves Ainsley and does mean well, which I think is shown in her reaction at the end of the episode – she is hurt and upset, but she does respect Ainsley’s decision.

Overall I felt that this was a strong comedic episode, probably the most comedic of the series. The Ben-Heather online dating subplot was hilarious and true to their characters, I’m looking forward to seeing how Ed complicates the dynamic between Ben and Heather. I also enjoyed meeting Pam, however I felt that the “mother-in-law taking over the wedding planning” subplot was cliché. I’m also interested to see where we go from here now that Geri and Liz have hooked up.

Stray Observations:

-Harry has to blow and wipe the dust off Heather’s make-up case.

-Simmo uses work lights to provide lighting for Ben’s profile pictures.

-Simmo is thinking of doing an online master class in photography.

-Ben’s favourite movies are Space Odyssey, Monsters Inc., Kramer vs Kramer, and Elf.

Best one liners and interactions:

• “Apparently, I’d reached a stage in my life where basic human functioning earned me congratulations.” (Heather narrating)
• “Every time I say the word ‘potential’ you flinch, is that involuntary?” “Yes it is.” “What is that, some sort of allergy to praise?” “I’m just more comfortable with insults.” (Ed-Heather going back-and-forth about her grades)
• “Look, bottom line, it’s unethical.” “You hijacked my phone for a good six months.” “It was four months, tops.” “You terrorised me! I couldn’t even log in on my own phone.” “What are you complaining about? I got you Xavier.” “No, actually, that was mum.” (Heather-Harry going back-and-forth about online dating)
• “I’ll curate your entire experience, this is what I do, professionally.” “Are you comparing me to real estate?” “The marketing principles are surprisingly similar.” (Ainsley-Heather-Ainsley on setting up Heather’s online dating profile)
• “All we need you to do is have a cheeky wine and pose for some photos.” (Ainsley to Heather on setting up her online dating profile)
• “Oh it’s pretty dark, it’s got a bit of a witness protection vibe, but mate, the bits I CAN see, you look great!” (Simmo to Ben on his online dating profile pictures)
• “Alright, let’s see what Dr. Google’s got for Elf.” (Simmo on getting a quote from one of Ben’s favourite movies to put on his online dating profile)
• “OK, A – he’s clearly a wanker, and B – you flirted with him and it was shit! It was shit flirting in my name, with my lecturer!” (Heather to Ainsley on Ainsley setting up a date with Ed, her lecturer, on her behalf)
• “You’re doing an excellent job at feigning enjoyment.” (Harry to Ainsley on Pam’s enthusiastic wedding planning)
• “Well thanks for a fun night.” “What was your favourite bit?” “Oh, either finding out that your housemates were driving our conversation, or stalking your ex.” “I think the stalking was better.” “I do too.” “You want to look at that (the tracking app) right now, don’t you?” “I think YOU want to look at it.” “Maybe I do.” (Ed-Heather going back-and-forth)
• “I haven’t hidden from another human since I was 13.” (Ed to Heather about sneaking into the house)