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Myra's punishment for her "attack" on Officer Terri (Suddenly-appearing-in-every-scene) Malone, was "no visitors and no phonecalls for a month." My first reaction was surprise at the limpness of the punishment, because I didn't think she ever got any visitors or made any phonecalls. But then we learned she was expecting visits from both Judy and Geoff - both ex-inmates. Meanwhile Ettie was still desperately trying to get back into Wentworth because of the "silly rule" that forbids ex-inmates to visit their former prison. Er.. perhaps that rule only applies on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays..?
Anyway, despite the uncomfortably forced humour of Ettie repeating the failing-to-get-arrested gags (yawn), it was still amusing to see the programme makers get away with an old biddy in a summer frock and white shoes with a cowboy scarf round her face, a Wild West hat and a Lone Ranger mask, talking to a priest about confession. I wondered why she was so determined to get back inside, when a humble old age pension or savings is sufficient to pay for a vast palatial residence, like the interior of Sadie's bungalow appeared to be. Obviously the Aussies know a thing or two about residential care that we don't.
Two favourite lines this episode. First one was when the detective/policeman picked up Ann's phone and asked "Mind if I make a call?", to which she replied, "Why not? Everyone else is." Other favourite line was from May to Myra; "Mind if I run this up yer arm?" - but that might be because I misheard it the first time..
We had big celebrations in Wentworth too - with Dennis pulling out all the stops and celebrating his divorce coming through by offering Meg a fairy cake. Wow, just think how flash her next birthday gift will be.
"The only way to deal with dope is to ban it altogether," said Myra, echoing the main Top Dog healthy-living philosophy of Prisoner. And I still find it odd when "even a little grass" is considered still no-go, yet prisoners have actually been encouraged by the top dog to produce their own drug (alcohol).
It really does seem that the new characters are hogging all the good scenes and storylines now (Daphne, Julie, May, Willie, Nora, Ruth Ballinger, Terri Malone, Pippa Reynolds, the resurrected Ettie, and dare I say it - Jenny Hartley). This is all very well - except the already-established characters have been made almost redundant (I think Lorna had as much to do as Lexie this last episode), or made completely dull and uninteresting (Myra seems to be going through a particularly moody and whingey period, huffing a lot and slamming the press down, but doing little else of interest). When Jenny Hartley gets more interesting storylines than Myra, it all seems a bit depressing.
Oh well, all's not too bad with the terminally wet and irritating Ms Hartley - at least I got a snigger at her playing the piano which kind of screamed out "not really playing it" at me.
The best character at the moment seems to be Ruth Ballinger. Interesting and mysterious, clearly manipulative and very intelligent. I loved her request for a list of women soon to be released, "but only the young and pretty ones". Very sinister! Can't remember how long she's in the series for, but going by past "interesting" characters, it might not be worth her unpacking her Rembrandts just yet.
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