I’ve had a weird day, you guys. It started with me landing on ‘She’s No You’ in my Spotify 00s playlist and remembering Jesse McCartney existed & was once the love of my life. Then, I was reminded of his show, Summerland. That led to a YouTube hole which led, weirdly, to… Home & Away couple tribute videos.
[jwplayer z0khvLrA]
I’ve watched Home & Away for most of my life, which is deeply concerning. Will I still be watching it at 65, like my mum? Look, probably – the show is full of bizarre plots and constant change, it’s easy to fade in and out of over the years.
Every year or so, there’s a couple that capture the nation. Sally & Miles. Leah & Vinny. Ric & Matilda. Brax & Ricky. The list goes on. Some fans just invest in the show and watch religiously, waiting for the marriage/babies/inevitable tragic death of one half of the relationship. Others make tribute videos. These people are my people.
I’ve never made my own tribute video but I sure as shit can admire the craft. It’s a beautiful thing – hours of content whittled down to a 2:59 minute long YouTube video, set to a romantic tune. It’s also INSANE. Completely alarming stuff.
Since I’ve fallen into this hole today, I’m forcing it upon you. Enjoy doing nothing for four hours.
BRAX & RICKY
I didn’t even give a shit about these two until these videos. So much going on! A baby, a lot of kissing, some sort of cop situation…
This one’s pretty good too – Ed Sheeran and more angst.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO4as2QzXnY
I did a quick Google and Christ, these guys had a weird end to their relationship – Brax gets sent to jail (again, may I add) but the car careens off and everyone thinks he’s dead so he just… plays dead? But goes back to see his kid and Ricky one more time, but then is gone for good. Maybe.
RIC & MATILDA
Fuck, this is my bullshit guys. I loved these two. This first video is pretty shit but look, I’m not holding back the shit stuff from you. Like I said – I had to watch it so YOU DO TOO.
Now this is the shit. A kiss montage? Cuts set to the beats of the music? BEYONCE???? Hell yeah.
And this one RULES – focusing on their epic formal fight and big breakup.
Fun fact – these guys broke up after Ric slept with Viv, then got back together, then Viv revealed she was pregnant, then all this other shit happened, then Matilda went to Uni in Perth and eventually Ric joined her. What a ride.
DEXTER & APRIL
I loved these guys too but it was more of a slow burn. They needed to break up for me to give a shit, you know?
Anyway this video is very stylish. Like you’ve played with colour grading, you are really trying.
Also is it just me or did these two seem to be in hospital a LOT? Like a lot. More than most Home and Away folks.
ROMEO & INDI
CHRIST this couple was the most tragic ever, maybe.
Basically, they fall in love, get married in Hawaii after a brief split c/o Indi going to Uni, then have a shit marriage but fix it, and THEN Romeo learns he has stage 4 melanoma and literally just runs away from The Bay, which seems like shit husband behaviour.
I’m talking signing over the gym ownership to Indi, leaving her a letter and NEVER RETURNING. She just finds out he’s dead months later. JFC.
But look, when they were good – they were great.
RAFFY & RYDER
Here’s a more recent one – now, I have to admit I’m not really watching the show right NOW, c/o a strong backlog of streaming shows that are really dominating my exciting nights at home. But Wiki-whatever (that site that tells you shit from TV shows) is saying these two are currently in splitsville?
Well, if you wanna reminisce…
This is like a cute one about the beginnings of their relationship.
JACK & MARTHA
Wow, this is a throwback. Jack was Captain Cop Coperoonie and Martha was like, Alf’s niece or grandkid or daughter. Wait, fairly sure it’s his granddaughter? Anyway, she was just like some character but then she went WILD for a bit and famously moonlit as a stripper for a while, before marrying Jack.
Then Jack died. Lots going on here. This’ll help unpack it. Set to some band that has vibes of Nickelback.
Ok this one is grainy as fuck but hello, MY HEART WILL GO ON!? Must be included.
I totally forgot how Martha also got breast cancer? She has to be the character with the bleakest storyline overall on Home & Away. Married, divorced, existential spiral, married again, breast cancer, widowed. Christ.
