Loveday Writing

This episode is all about ‘faking it until you make it’ in a variety of ways.

The episode kicks off with Lauren pretending to be sick on the day of a local fundraiser, so she has the time to sneak off to the Tiwi Islands to see Jarad Kirilima. However, Daffy immediately knows she’s faking it, and makes up her own excuse to go back and look after her, only to catch her in the act.

Daffy follows Lauren to the ferry that takes them to the Tiwi Islands and calls her out. Lauren then tells her about Jarad. When they arrive at the Tiwi Islands, Daffy tells her to go and see her grandfather to find Jarad, as he knows where everyone lives. Lauren eventually tracks him down at his home, where it’s revealed he is married with kids. He tells her to meet him at the beach after dinner, so they can speak privately about Ronelle.

When they meet at the beach, Lauren tells Jarad about Taya. Jarad asks her why Ronelle didn’t tell him, she tells him that Ronelle didn’t tell anyone, not even her. When Jarad tells her that he can’t take on the responsibility of Taya, Lauren tells him that she doesn’t have any expectations of or want anything from him. Jarad then asks Lauren if Taya knows about him, she tells him no, and he tells her to keep it that way. He leaves her alone on the beach, where she cries.

Back in Darwin, Trevor, Ned and Taya help Leroy set up and run the local fundraiser, that was previously run by Ronelle. Ned and Taya struggle to keep up with orders at the food truck, and Ned ends up getting an overly rude and aggressive customer to re-take everyone’s orders so he can hand deliver them to everyone at their tables. Ned then consoles an upset Taya, after she has a go at herself for making mistakes, and reveals to him that every jaffle they make reminds her of her mother and she doesn’t want to think about her all the time, which then leads to her feeling guilty. Ned tells her about how he remembers and honours his own father by wearing odd socks every day, and that her grief and feelings are valid. Meanwhile, Trevor plays the role of emcee at the fundraiser and helps drag queen, Liza, apply her false eyelashes, as Ronelle used to do it for her. Liza then asks Ned to come back stage.

Back at the Tiwi Islands, Daffy and Lauren have dinner together. Lauren tells Daffy that she and Ronelle should have sorted things out with Jarad, whilst Ronelle was still alive, this leads to them having an argument, which ends with Daffy asking Lauren if she moved so far away from home to get away from her. Lauren tells her that’s not the reason, but she doesn’t want Taya to feel cut off from her Tiwi Island connections, like she did. When Daffy asks her more about Jarad and his reaction, Lauren tells her that he doesn’t want to be involved. Daffy then tells her that the truth catches up with people in small areas like the Tiwi Islands, and it may not be the last she sees of Jarad.

Towards the end of the episode, Liza puts on her main act, which everyone loves, especially with Ned assisting her in a tight sailor costume.

The episode ends with everyone back at home, and Ned surprising Lauren with his sailor costume. Trevor, still in his own emcee costume, tells Daffy about the fun he had, and they talk about Lauren and Jarad. Daffy tells him that Lauren is sitting on a time bomb and she doesn’t even know it.

Overall, I felt that this was a good but not great episode. I appreciated the progression of the Taya story arc with Lauren finding Jarad and telling him the truth, as well as Ned and Taya bonding, and the fundraiser subplot providing both comic relief and touching moments. However, I felt that this was more of a transition or springboard episode for the remainder of the season and therefore a bit slower paced than it should have been.

Stray Observations:

Episode title origin – Daffy to the commuters waiting in line to board the ferry to the Tiwi Islands, as she pushes in front of them to board.

-Rob Collins played the role of Father Isaac in Top End Wedding.

-At the beginning of the episode, Ned and Taya are wearing matching shirts.

-The camper van’s appearance has improved with Ned’s renovations.

Best one liners and interactions:

• “Spill the tea, before it gets cold.” (Daffy to Lauren)