"I'm your sister!"
I think the look of complete horror on Morag's face as Colleen came round from her dead faint, having read Sarah Townsend's diary was the killer for me. Okay so I read the spoilers and I had an inkling of what to come and yeah if I'm honest I had my doubts but the spot on reactions in that one scene turned my whole perception on its head and suddenly I couldn't wait for the next episode to find out how exactly how this would play out.
The episode that followed didn't disappoint. This storyline was 'a chance for a good laugh in the middle of some very dark material that there's been on the show lately'. (JamieHugh) The obvious disgust from Morag, Alf and Martha was a stark contrast to the joy of Colleen and made for really entertaining television.
The episode was a mixture of contrasts from humour: 'I was laughing for practically the whole show... I don't think an episode of Home and Away has ever made me laugh so much!' (frizbee)
It also made for heart warming television as Colleen explained to Roman, just why being a Stewart was so important to her.
And seeing a deeper side to Colleen really went down well with our members. 'Lyn was great in that scene... you really felt sorry for Colleen and got an insight into her past and childhood. It was really very emotional and also quite sad... it made you realise how special Colleen felt after such a long time.' (anaya1) 'It kind of makes you wonder whether Colleen is the gossip that she is because of everything she's been through. Maybe it was a way for her to deal with the fact that things never went right for her?' (Kirsten00) and 'What we got to see of her in Friday's episode was so much more than (a silly old woman with an undying love for gossip), it was an actual character.' (Eli)
By contrast Morag and Alf were anything but delighted with the idea and we just knew that Colleen was headed for heartbreak and that her new status wouldn't be without its difficulties.
The storyline has also been well received on our forum as being 'a good way of getting the older characters centre stage for a change... This story line will set up all sorts of things for (Colleen, Morag and Alf) in terms of their relationships with each other and with other characters in the show, and I think that will be a fascinating development.' (Chatterbox)
'I am glad the Colleen has a storyline, the last storyline I think that she has had was the Cancer storyline or her long lost daughter storyline' (Tmg)
The misunderstandings surrounding the revelation of Colleen's new status were typically of Colleen's making. 'It was some of the best written conversations at cross-purposes I've seen on TV' (Formally known as Josh)
From the minute Colleen tapped her nose and told Matilda to call her Colleen Stewart, it was clear how the storyline would unfold.
"I think your granddad proposed to Colleen."
Matilda and Ric's disbelief was obvious but the idea of Alf proposing to Colleen was much more of an obvious conclusion to come to than Colleen is Alf's sister.
Still disbelieving, Ric confronts Alf: "Mattie spoke to Colleen - Is it true?"
Alf knew that Colleen had already told Roman about them being brother and sister and so assumed that that's what Ric was talking about so confirmed that it was true.
Ric then passed word on to Irene, Leah, and Belle who again didn't believe him but this time they had confirmation from Alf that it was true.
"Granddad told me himself."
Still there was disbelief with Irene protesting that Alf was having him on. Meanwhile on the beach Colleen and Alf, never two people to be tactile to each other, are seen sharing a hug.
At this point there were just too many co-incidences that it was easy to put two and two together and reach the same conclusion Matilda had.
If they needed final confirmation Colleen then arrived asking them to organise a special lunch to celebrate the good news, and also mentioned that Alf was busy finding her a ring.
The fact that the ring was their father's was in Colleen style, omitted from the declaration and the residents of the bay jumped to an obvious conclusion.
The dramatic irony created by the audience knowing the truth was what made the episode so highly entertaining. 'It was brilliantly written - a real comedy of misunderstandings.' (emmasi)
A lot of the criticism at the time of this storyline airing was based around the worry that the storyline once out there would be abandoned. 'I think the important thing about this development is it's something that is carried on continuously and is actually see to be for greater good further along the line' (Ryan) I think though that Colleen's interference in Martha's life and in the murder trial and Morag's treatment of her has opened up a wealth of potential storylines in terms of character development and such storylines are a suggestion that this won't just be a 'two week-ratings grabber'.
For the majority of our members the storyline was a lot better than they expected. 'I know it will always be a far fetched storyline but at least they handled it really well' (Monkeyhound)
'Everyone's reactions were absolutely in character - from Ric's total bemusement, to Alf's blustering, Morag's disdain, Martha's amusement at the whole shebang, and Irene's comment about it taking more than an earthquake.' (Eduardo bearo)
For the long term viewers it was a nice bit of nostalgia. 'I actually really like the show showing the history of the bay years and years ago' ( ) 'It's nice to have a storyline that sort of illustrates what Summer Bay was like way back when and the unresolved situations they had.' ( )
There was some disappointment that the issue of Alf having dated Colleen's daughter Maureen was not explored on screen but in a scene that was cut. 'It was a shame they cut out the scene about Maureen as I am sure that would have been good too.' (Eduardo bearo)
Not everyone was convinced by the storyline though. For some members the idea of Colleen being a Stewart 'really is so unrealistic.. I mean after all this time its impossible to believe that its true...Why does everyone always have to be interrelated on H&A?' (Clarabunnie)
Other members though felt that the storyline 'was not impossible at all. It was the 1930's, men were heading off to war, and it was a small town. The Stewarts were a prominent family in the Bay even back then - there's been nothing in the past 20 years that would go against this. Given the amount of stories you read about long lost siblings growing up together (in some case marrying each other), I don't think this is too far fetched for a small town like Summer Bay.' (Dan F) and 'I think it's about as realistic as Sally and Miles, Kirsty and Laura, and Ric's pasts being revealed.' (DinerLandlord)
Despite the criticisms I think overall the storyline was a lot better than people expected. It was well thought out and acted really well. It was a light in the middle of some very dark storylines and provided just the right mix or laugh out loud comedy and emotional drama. 'I love Colleen. I loved that episode. Best laugh we have had from Home and Away in ages.' (I Love Sam).