Sons and Daughters

It seems like every Australian actor or actress has been in this series, passing through on their way from The Young Doctors (Another long running Aussie soap). Although decidedly camp in places, it was highly watchable when shown in England during the mid '80s, and I couldn't believe that actors could portray such ceaselessly vindictive characters like Patricia Morrell. Her married truck driving 'lover' David Palmer, would always say something stereotypically Australian like 'Cobber', or 'Grab us a couple o' tinnies.' while holding his stomach inside a pair of tight jeans. And Patricia's son Wayne, played with an over the top performance by Ian Rawlings, kept up the pace nicely

Hilarious!!!

This show was 'semi believable' at the start. But the story lines became so outrageous that it was an insult to even the chronic soapie viewer! At least some actors used their money wisely from this series - good on you Judy Nunn!

Bryan Wiseman - the Actor

Oh it's those memories, we cherish in our pubelescent years. Such is the case of another addictive Aussie soap, we love so much and eat up. Like Prisoner, eventually the stories here, lost much potence and importance. Happening to watch this the other morning, Sunday Morning, 4 a.m - 5 a.m, back to back, I am up near the show's last year (remember the names Craig and Debbie, young star crossed lovers) , well that's where I am. I do like the later blood of actors in this show, where I do miss the splendid performance of Ms Wallace (Pat the Wallace) where you couldn't believe this great actress was homeless once. And the other, well not much a standout, but one of the better players, is of course, Rawlings as the scheming Wayne, plus the delectable Kemp, as the lovable Charlie, who really won't come down to planet earth. Yes addictive and bad, if you watch now, corny, yeah, but addictive viewing of a bad show or movie is a good combination, and one I like, but I really gotta be honest, and lay my cards on the table. With the title now, as referred to this much later part of series, how much reference does the title have tothe characters? Ask yourself that.

In our house we nicknamed this "the trash" because it was such a transparently unrealistic soap, but we still videoed it every night. A lot of the characters appear in more recent stuff, especially Peter Phelps aka John who as in Stingers Undercover, Water Rats and Ned Kelly. Frankly the idea of John and Angela being twins was implausible to begin with - they didn't look the slightest bit alike. The show had some all time classic villains though - obviously Pat the rat but also Wayne. One thing that also sticks in my mind is that everyone in the Hamilton house appears to be raving alcoholics - there was hardly a scene where they weren't drinking whiskey. Wouldlike to see a rerun one day just for old times sake, but they don't seem to show it anymore.

The other day I was considering the question "What was the best "soap" ever?" This relatively little-known Aussie series must rank highly on my personal list of favourites and probably (just) comes out top. The reason lies mainly with the ability of the series to come up with one cliff-hanging episode after another, and for such a long period. (Dallas, at it's best, also had this quality). The effect of this in my case was to cause me to think about the programme between episodes and to look forward with eager anticipation to the next. The plots and twists have sometimes been described as "unbelievable", but then, why should entertainment be believable? Charles Dickens, for example, had deliciously unbelievable coincidences in his novels to entertain and thrill his readers. "Sons and Daughters" was full of these moments and one moment in particular - a scene in a prison cell - included THE most shocking, unexpected and thrilling twist I've ever seen in any film or TV programme ever. Fantastic!!!

bob