Everybody needs disabled Neighbours: part 2
- 13 Apr 05, 12:00 AM
About three weeks back, I ventured into the world of daytime soaps with news that Australian soap Neighbours had only gone and got itself a disabled character, as Stuart struggled with sight loss. But there have been exciting developments in the storyline (well, they're exciting if you're a Neighbours viewer, anyway), which haven't yet reached British TV.
But first, here's an important warning: possible spoilers ahead! Please don't read any further if you're a dedicated Neighbours fan.
Right, now that they're all gone, we can get on with the rest of the entry. Stella Young, an Australian Ouch reader from South Melbourne, Victoria, sent us the following email:
"You obviously already know that Stuart has gone blind in the act of rescuing Sindi from the burning pub. Determined to overcome the odds and remain a productive member of society, his duties in the police force become entirely administrative and his fellow cops are inspired by his courage. Blah, blah, blah. After much scrimping and saving by Sindi, who has to secretly return to her career as an exotic dancer, the pair are finally able to afford an operation to 'cure' poor Stuart. Actually, I think the fundraising may have been a community effort, but I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. Occasionally I get a life and don't have time to watch telly.
"However, I did catch last night's episode, in which Stuart had his bandages removed after the surgery, looked at Sindi and said "Have I ever told you that you look great in red?" Yeah, I know, double yawn! (Not just double yawn. I'm in danger of throwing up - Monkey)
"But just when you thought they were all a happy little able-bod street once more, tragedy strikes again! Throwing himself into his new job at the gym, little Boyd Hoyland goes a bit hard-core with some HGH and is diagnosed with adolescent schizophrenia. It's suddenly made him a very violent and scary person (imagine that!) and he's dragged Summer off into the bush to meet their dead mother.
"I'm sure there's no need to fear, as in Soap Land they either get cured or they leave the show. God forbid we should have to see that sort of stuff on telly on an ongoing basis."
Thanks, Stella, and apologies if we've spoiled it for any Neighbours addicts. Crippled Monkey is rather torn between thinking this all sounds absolutely horrendous, whilst also being impressed that they're at least featuring disability much more than any British soap at the moment.
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