Echo Point

This was just another Aussie soapy, although was way supreme to some of the trash that has survived. The acting was pretty ordinary, although there was something about "Echo Point" that set it apart. The mysterious story left viewers on the edge of their seats, and it was a tragedy when it finally received the axe.

Although it seemed to have been nigh-on universally reviled when it came out, I have to admit that I quite liked "Echo Point", mainly for the character of Edwina. Played by the rather sexy Jessica Napier, she was a most delectable little sugarbunny, I thought. Given how few other people seemed to share my love of the show, however, it was sadly axed after only one season, and I remember being quite devastated when I first learnt of its impending demise. Thankfully, most of the individual stories on the show were neatly wrapped up by the final episode although there were a few things that were left hanging in the air. What became of the historic tree that was going to be cut down (and which Frannie chained herself to in an effort to save it if I remember correctly), and did that little girl (whose name I can't remember) ever get lucky with that boy who she had the hots for? We will never know. Oh well.

Well well well .... I was sitting back at work tonight reminiscing about shows of days gone by and what popped into my head but old "Echo Point". I am slightly embarassed to admit but i really enjoyed this show. It was, as has been stated, another soapy but it definitely had some air of mystery to it. Or something. Either that or just making excuses for watching another lame soapy.

Of course the highlight of the show, or the reason i watched it was Rose Byrne .... i thought she was the hottest thing at the time. I had such a crush on that girl (sigh). Memories.

Yes, I was a big fan of the show at the time and thought a lot of the girls were cute at the time, including Jessica Napier who is the same age as me. There have never been reruns shown of Echo Point to my knowledge so I don't know if I would still like it today, but it was similar in ways to Home And Away and Neighbours without being ridiculously melodramatic like those two shows can be. Maybe the lack of big shocks and surprises led to its downfall. It was just too pleasant and too close to normal life, and people tend to watch dramas to escape their boring normal lives or watch something they wouldn't normally see, which this show didn't really have. Not even the introduction of former big soap stars like Melissa Tkautz (E Street), Victoria Nicholls (Prisoner, The Restless Years, Sale of the Century) and Rowena Wallace (Number 96, Sons and Daughters, Prisoner) could save this show.

Still, there must've been some talent there when you look at where the stars of this show are today. Jessica Napier has gone on to be in popular Aussie TV shows such as McLeod's Daughters and Wildside. Martin Henderson went on to be in US movies Torque and The Ring, and got seduced by Britney Spears in her Toxic video. Rose Byrne has been in several successful movies such as Two Hands with Heath Ledger and Bryan Brown, Star Wars Episode II as Natalie Portman's double, and Troy with Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom and Eric Bana (and she's also one of the cutest female actors going around today who I still have a crush on). Tom Long went on to be in successful Aussie TV show Seachange and starred in popular movie The Dish with Sam Neill.

I guess Echo Point was a platform for several actors' careers and was mainly just a way to get some exposure before becoming successful. I still loved it though, but it just didn't get the ratings Channel 10 wanted.