Did Esther really think she could just walk back in and they'd give her the CEO position back just because she wanted it? Regardless of her being on bereavement leave, wouldn't she still be seen as a liability after everything that happened with her, Marty and Julian last year? It seems as though there's been at least a 6 month jump since the finale and in that time people have changed and moved on from her but it seems like she has blinders on and assumes that everyone will go back to normal around her because she wants them to.

ngl I never thought the two would cross paths and have it be both heartwarming and comedic. I also found the whole ''hugging Emmett'' part of Wednesday's episode kinda hilarious and a relief after all the drama happening.

I was just thinking about this as his chemo is becoming more relevant to the plot and everyone is rallying around him- is there a possibility that the Shortland Street writers are prepping us for a yearly finale where Emmett dies? I know it's sad and morbid after everything that's happened but it would make sense as the year round plot. beginning of the year - diagnosis, middle of the year - chemo and colleague support and then end of year - Emmett completely reconciles with his ex-wife, daughter and granddaughter leading to his death. I know it might not happen and they could go in another direction but I can see some of this happening

Esther and Monquie have more chemistry together than each with have with wet wipe Marty.

…are definitely Joe Rogan’s biggest fans.

I think it was actually a really sweet ending to tonight's episode that Maeve and Sage went and sat with Emmett while he was getting chemo. After all the chaos and insanity that's been going on lately, it was nice to have an ending to an episode that didn't feel too heavy. I especially like that his chemo was mentioned last week and made it's way into the end of tonight's episode so it nicely tied to last week

Realistically speaking, I'd be surprised if Rachel came back as a full time cast member but how do you think they'd keep her around after the whole David thing has ended if they did??? (maybe going after Addie Lynch??). Since Esther and Monique are set to return at some point during this mini series I get the feeling Rachel might leave again soon, where as I feel like Libby can be slotted in working in reception or something like that. Especially since she's slotting in with the current main cast and has storylines with them whereas Rachel really only has proper storylines with Chris/David, a bit of Marty and Libby.

Where are they really planning on going with this storyline??? Cause they really did just do a whole 180 with Vili's character since the whole Madonna exit and tbh the whole ''I'm a good brother to Selina one minute and then berating her choices the next in the name of toxic masculinity the next'' storyline is getting old really quick. Like all we've really had in terms of character reaction his behaviour (that's been perpetuated by Arlo) is by Selina and a little bit by Marty and Phil but that's it.

imo it feels like they have too many mini storylines atm that aren't really getting explored fully or dropped/wrapped up quickly with a pretty bow on top (eg. Marianne suddenly getting a job at St. Cath's after getting pushed down the stairs by Cody when it felt like they were going to go somewhere with that storyline)

Also ngl but I do love the whole Marty/Selina friendship that they have going. It's such a different dynamic.

In Ireland, we are 4 years behind, and recent few months was chris being "cancelled " over hooking up with zoe ( according to Te he took advantage of his senior position even though she lied she had cancer to trap him).

But then TE non stop predatory towards TK, inappropriate touching and dialogue and threatening him to withdraw funding to the hospital if he doesnt want to still see her.

Then u had RAJ clutching his pearls over it too but he being a senior doctor and health board boss who married hooks up with junior doctor jack.

Hypocrisy 101!

So now that we know Addie Lynch's company are the people helping out David Kearney with his money stuff, do you guys think this could lead to Addie finally getting caught out for what happened with her father? Or do you guys think that it's just another one of those dropped storylines with no conclusive ending other than she got away with murder? Cause why would they introduce Addie again if there wasn't any chance of her past catching up with her?

This time last year they were pushing advertising for the end of the first mini season and had done for atleast a week; it seems that there’s none so far.

Is SS now doing a half year mini season? ( One less one hour cliff this year if that was the case )?

I guess if they did it means Rachel would be around ( presumably ) for atleast half a year, compared to atleast a quarter if we were to do four mini seasons.

Also, anyone have any indication as to how long Rachel is back? I feel there’s no point bringing her back after so long unless it’s to get Chris off the show. Would love if she’s back as a regular for a while. It’ll retain the old fan base SS is trying to bring back.

Harry pushed someone off a balcony, Hendrix threw Cleo off the hospital, and now someone has been pushed down stairs.

Read an interview with him and he said the producers came to him and informed him drews time was up and hw agreed

I know it might be meaning to come off as more serious but it's just hilarious seeing Naz be overprotective of his bestie Marty and secretly/not so secretly rooting for Marty/Esther while openly vocalising his dislike for Marty's relationship/situationship with Libby.

I get the vibe that they're going to become the new Boyd/Drew friendship dynamic now that they've gone off into the sunset together.

To pay for Angela's Broomfield comeback?

So drew, the one who had a huge Christmas cliff centered around him not long after he joined the street and has been a core cast member for over a decade ( similar episode count to Rachel ) just leaves like that?

Not judging the storyline that led him to leave, it was perfect. But how fast it happened??

I get there’s new pacing to 3 nights a week but still, the show did NOT do him justice and pay respects to one of the longest running characters.

Even though I feel like we could've had Drew stick around for a little longer cause I really liked the character, I feel like him getting a happy ending with Boyd in Amsterdam feels right. After everything he went through after Harper died and Nicole went to prison it felt right that at least one of them got to ride of into the sunset instead of buried or in prison. Although I do wonder if that brings to an end all of Boyd's on and off-ness in the show as a recurring character as Drew was really the only reason he kept coming back after Harper died.

I do feel for Maeve though, cause Drew was her person at Shortland Street and now he's gone so outside of her whole will they/won't they with Dr Crane, she never really seemed to have as good of a friend/friends like she did with Drew

we all know Chris isn't leaving for good, right? Like now that we're getting Esther back (also kinda sucks that ppl like her and Marty didn't get proper goodbye scenes with Drew btw) there's gotta be a way for her to help or at least convince Chris to stick around. I mean, after Drew's exit I wouldn't be surprised if this is Chris's exit for good but it would be lazy writing if it was. Like unless at the end of Legacy Chris and Rachel patch it all up and the big twist is that they run off into the sunset together happily ever after for good, I just can't see the show letting Chris go so easily

Comment your favourite characters, storylines and memorable years? As someone who has watched Shorty for the last 23 years, the show has fallen WAAAYYY OFF . The families that have come and gone on our screens have been memorable. The last 6 years have been a joke.

Am I the only one who thinks Vili's behaviour is really weird and out of character this year? First he's hooking up with every girl he sees, isn't really taking anything seriously and to top it all off in tonight's episode he's blaming Poppy for what happened with Hendrix and pretty much shaming her as if he wasn't around when Hendrix and Poppy had their big blowup at the hospital last year in front of everyone. I don't know if the writers are going to do a 180 and suddenly make him realise that he was in the wrong at some point but it feels like because of the time skip we've just missed a whole chunk of what the heck happened to Vili to make him act like such a douche. I just find it annoying because after the divorce from Madonna it looked like there was hope for his character with the mention of moving to Samoa but then all of sudden the progress is scrapped for whatever this is.

Some of the only people that are still main or recurring characters in the show now are Boyd and Drew, both worked close with Rachel and knew her (well?).

Shorty seemed to skip the reunion between those two men and Rachel altogether. Maybe nothing as important as a few dedicated scenes like Chris and Rachel had, but even an initial reaction after not seeing each other for 10 years. I think it would even add to the gravity of her being back. I feel like we missed an opportunity here.

I know they said that he was on bereavement leave (finally might I add) but then on the Shortland Street instagram awhile ago they made a post that seemed like he was coming back but we haven't heard a peep about him on the show since. I hope he comes back soon but it's a little weird that they made a single comment about him in the first episode and haven't mentioned how him or the kids are doing since then. It's weird since he's still technically a colleague of theirs and hasn't left the show.