Loveday Writing

This episode sees Lauren, Ned and Taya eventually getting into a rhythm as a family.

The episode kicks off with Lauren and Ned trying to have sex in the campervan, only to be interrupted by Taya coming in and throwing a frog at them thinking it’s the devil.

The episode then cuts to Lauren getting a call from Taya’s school as she’s in the principal’s office for punching a boy, James, out of his chair after he called her an orphan. Lauren tells Taya that she’s not allowed to have screens or treats for the rest of the week, whilst Ned tries to take a more empathetic approach, believing that the punch was justified.

Afterwards, whilst they are at the beach, Lauren catches Ned buying Taya an ice-cream and stops her from having it, only for Daffy to give her one. Lauren also gets a call from Thandiwe, telling her that ex-premier, Gail Swan, is interested in her services, however they want to meet with her in-person in Adelaide. Meanwhile, Ned takes a look at the campervan and appears inspired by it.

Back at home, Lauren catches Taya asking for Ned’s permission to pay for a movie online. Lauren tells her again that she is not allowed to use screens for the rest of the week, this leads to them having a huge fight, with Taya telling Lauren that she isn’t her mother, and Lauren leaving. Daffy discovers that the movie Taya was trying to watch was Annie. Ned cooks her breakfast, and asks her and Trevor to be free for lunch, and that he will take Taya out for the day. He leaves a voicemail for Lauren telling her that he’s taking Taya out for the day to give her the space she needs.

Meanwhile, Lauren meets with Cowboy at the Humpty Doo Hotel. She tells him about her situation and wanting to find Taya’s father, he tells her that if he finds him she owes him a favour, and that if he doesn’t, she doesn’t owe him anything, and leaves.

Later at lunch time, Ned makes lunch for Daffy and Trevor (with Taya’s help), and proposes to Trevor that he let him lease out the campervan to turn it into a food truck. Daffy points out that Ned would be making money off their truck and wants a cut. They negotiate, and agree that her and Trevor will get a 10 percent cut of the profits.

Later, Lauren tries to have sex with Ned in the campervan, but he falls on the mattress-less bed frame and cuts his bottom. As she’s treating the cuts, he tells her to go for the opportunity to represent Gail Swan in her divorce. Meanwhile, Trevor and Daffy go out for a date night to watch Dana sing. Trevor tells Daffy she should be on stage and wants her to be happy. She tells him she is happy.

After Lauren, Ned and Taya watch Annie (after Taya writes an apology letter to James), Taya tells them that she liked the movie and now doesn’t mind that James called her an orphan. Taya apologises to Lauren for what she said to her during their fight, and Lauren apologises as well. The next day, Lauren and Ned send her off to school, fully organised, and watch her make amends with James.

Later that day, Lauren takes a call from Thandiwe and tells her that she will be declining the opportunity to work with Gail Swan. Thandiwe tells her that a rival firm offered her a junior associate position and quits.

The episode ends with Lauren and Ned going for a swim in Litchfield National Park, with Lauren telling Ned that whilst she misses their old life, she doesn’t want to miss the life they have now.

When they get out of the water, Lauren finds a Humpty Doo Hotel coaster left by Cowboy, which says that he has found Taya’s father.

Overall, I felt that this was another solid episode, showing Lauren and Ned’s struggles but ultimate growth as adoptive parents and with their new lives. One small criticism I have is with the Trevor and Daffy subplot, I’d like to know why Trevor believes Daffy is unhappy and get a hint as to where the writers are going with this.

I also appreciated another appearance from Dana, both as principal and pub singer, she is definitely a woman of many talents.

Stray Observations:

Episode title origin – The disagreement between Lauren and Ned, after Lauren catches Ned buying Taya ice-cream, after Lauren told Taya she wasn’t allowed ice-cream, as punishment for punching James.

Best one liners and interactions:

• “I think I’m in the doghouse.” “I’m no stranger to the kennel myself, Ned’O.” (Ned-Trevor)
• “Say yes to 10 and you can have dessert.” (Taya to Daffy on Daffy’s negotiations for a cut of the profits from Ned’s soon-to-be food truck business)
• “We can’t give up on our dreams, just adapt them.” (Ned to Lauren)
• “Is there anywhere we can go in the Territory, without bumping into your family?” “No.” (Ned-Lauren whilst swimming at Litchfield National Park and Sharni sees them there)