Loveday Writing

Charlie ends up calling her cousin, Finlay, demanding that she come to visit and go out with her, as she has packed a special blue sequin dress and is using a dating app. Charlie ends up setting ground rules, with her and Zeke agreeing that he gets the lounge area for the weekend if she gets to keep the house’s big bedroom for herself. When she leaves the room, Zeke tells Ben that they should buy cannabis from an online farmer’s group that apparently use vegetable names as code words for different drugs.

Later, a farmer named Roger arrives with a box of eggplants, much to Zeke’s and Ben’s chagrin, however he ends up teaching them how to cook many meals with it and a special bottle of whiskey Ben gave Zeke on his wedding day, and quickly befriending them. Charlie’s online date, Jason, arrives, with Zeke trying to scare him off by telling him he’s Charlie’s husband and they rent the house every year. When Jason tries to get out of the date by saying he left something in the taxi, Charlie goes outside to join him only for him to tell her that he made it up and actually walked to the house.

While Charlie is on hold with the local taxi company, Jason is being questioned by Finlay, Ben, Zeke and even Roger on whether he is Indigenous. When Charlie finds out that all the taxis are booked out due to a concert and the storm has intensified, Finlay suggests that they play Catan, a board game that she brought with her.

As the six of them play Catan, the fighting between Charlie and Zeke progresses as Jason reveals that he and his ex-wife divorced as they were better friends than a couple. Their fighting eventually comes to a head when Charlie tells Zeke that she broke up with him over a pie he bought, as he bought one for himself and not her, and that he only thinks of himself and not her. Jason ends up winning the game, but when he makes an insensitive comment on taking all their land (in reference to the game), he leaves.

The next day, Charlie and Zeke run into each other as they are walking in opposite directions on the beach, while Ben and Roger are swimming in the ocean together. Charlie admits to him that she expected him to change without saying anything, and he didn’t change because he didn’t see the problem until it was too late, and they’ve been like this since the beginning of their relationship. Zeke asks her if there’s a chance for reconciliation but she sadly tells him there isn’t, however when he asks if they can stay friendly, she agrees. The episode ends with them walking away from each other, continuing in their opposite directions, signalling the end of their marriage.

Overall, I felt that this was a solid episode for many reasons. I appreciated the many pie hints that caused Charlie and Zeke’s separation and the tension build-up that ultimately had an interesting and realistic pay off. I honestly appreciated that Charlie and Zeke ultimately didn’t get back together, as I felt that a reconciliation would be cliché. I also found Doctor Doctor alumni, Charlie Wu’s, performance as Roger hilarious. Wu stole every scene he was in and he was great comic relief throughout the episode.

Stray Observations:

-This episode was written by Kodie Bedford and Bjorn Stewart. Bjorn Stewart played Zeke and Kodie Bedford also directed the episode.

-Charlie and Zeke have been married for four years.

Best one liners and interactions:

• “Have you been sleeping on Ben’s shitty couch for three weeks? Thank you by the way.” “Yeah, no worries.” (Zeke to Charlie and then Ben, then Ben to Zeke)
• “I’ve been living in Ben’s shitty shoebox studio while you have the house.” “You don’t even pay rent.” “And I appreciate your hospitality.” (Zeke to Charlie, then Ben to Zeke, then Zeke to Ben on why he should have the holiday house’s big bedroom)
• “I was here first.” “Every blackfella uses that line.” (Charlie-Zeke)
• “Trial separation means trial separation, this ain’t black Ross and Rachel.” (Charlie to Zeke)
• “Jessica Mauboy didn’t hit on you, she was looking in your general direction when she was singing.” “We had a connection!” (Charlie-Zeke)
• “Zeke’s trying real hard to flex his so-called muscles on Jason.” (Finlay to Charlie on why Jason has Zeke in a headlock)
• “I get the bread maker.” “You’re on keto!” (Charlie-Zeke)
• “I have to side with Zeke here, mugaccinos are for basic bitches.” (Roger to the group on coffee)