Home and Away review: Angelo and Taylor drive off into the sunset and Martha’s son Kieran arrives unannounced

The end is nigh as the producers tie up some loose ends, introduce new characters and promise a plethora of new drama.

Things pick back up at the prison with Colby and Taylor.

Colby’s lip is a bit busted up.

Taylor has no idea what’s she doing with her life and was hoping that seeing Colby would help her figure that out.

But it’s too much for Colby to handle and he excuses himself… to the vending machine. He comes back with two Fiji water bottles – only one of the most expensive water brands. He should be saving his pennies for better things.

“I’m stuck in here for the next 25 years. If you have any feelings for Angelo you should consider it,” he says to Taylor.

So he does the right thing and sets her free.

Bella arrives to visit her brother at exactly the same time as Taylor leaves. They barely exchange glances.

Colby learns that Dean has bailed and Nikau is away and goes into full motivational mode to protect Bella repeatedly by telling her how amazing she is.

Colby also makes it very clear that he doesn’t want to appeal.

“What’s done is done,” Colby says.

Visiting hours are over and his final words to Bella are to “be good”? It’s an odd choice.

Colby gets on the phone to Dean.

“I didn’t pick you for a coward,” Colby says to his voicemail.

“Don’t let her down.”

In the brief moment that it took Taylor to get from the prison and back to town, she has latched back onto Angelo.

“I had a chance to say a proper goodbye,” Taylor says to Angelo.

“So it’s done?” Angelo says. He looks genuinely shocked that Taylor might go back to him.

They meet up a little later at Salt but Taylor declines a drink so something must be very wrong and I’m feeling pretty sceptical.

But then some time later again Taylor comes to her decision.

“I’m willing to try and make this marriage work,” Taylor says to Angelo.

He orders her favourite wine and they reminisce about the good ol’ times.

It seems quite pleasant, too good to be true even.

Angelo is even taking time off to work on their marriage.

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” he says.

Taylor catches up with her new bestie Jasmine.

She’s leaving the bay, today, to works things out with Angelo and thanks Jas for everything.

Angelo farewells Alf and Roo. I feel ripped off because no old dirt from Angelo’s last time on the show 10 years ago was dredged up.

And with that Angelo and Taylor’s time on the show has come to an end and they drive away to start fresh.

Onto Dean who is nowhere to be seen and it’s all anyone can talk about.

But he surfaces eventually.

He is busy getting into pub brawls in Mangrove River and going home with women during the day!

Who on earth is drunk enough to go home with Dean Thompson during the day? He must have been particularly charming at the time because this girl is actually quite nice.

He too has a bust up lip.

He listens to his many voicemails while sipping on a beer.

Back in Summer Bay Mac confides in Ari.

“Letting Bella down like this, it’s next level,” Mac says.

So Ari being the considerate man he is offers to find Dean.

“I know I’m not family but there’s a lot of people that care about you and I’m one of them,” Ari says to Bella.

Ari finds Dean passed out in his car.

He tries to help, but Dean is well beyond wanting a hand and as their conversation gets a bit heated, a pack of dudes with matching blood and sand tattoos who must be part of Dean’s old crew turn up. It’s the small details like this that make this such a quality show.

Ari tells Dean to step up.

But Dean can’t because he’s a “screw up too” and refuses to come home.

And then he appears at home and puts on a happy face.

What’s the issue Dean? Just go to your job that your ex’s dad gifted you and make sure Bella is fed.

But it seems it’s not so simple because he in two minds about visiting Colby.

“When I left I swore to myself I would never walk though those gates again,” Dean says to Ari.

The boys briefly bond over their time behind bars and he gives Ari sound advice and says he’s got too much to lose to end up in jail again.

Ari gets a message from Paul and his gang saying the job is set up for next week which I think he’s going to take despite the insane risk.

Martha is also back in town and rather stressed.

“Why don’t you tell me what’s going on with you aye,” Alf says.

“I have a son, Kieran,” Martha blurts out.

She hasn’t seen him in years and we’re told he has “serious issues”.

Alf stands there like a stunned mullet says something really cutting which I immediately forgot.

“Why didn’t you tell me you had a son when we first got back together,” Alf asks. It’s a great question.

Martha doesn’t answer and hurries off to find Roo.

We are told Roo was at the gym with Leah. But Leah is in heels and Roo is in her normal bohemian wears, so I’m not convinced.

But that’s not the point because Martha declares she’s “ruined everything”.

Martha says her relationship with this Kieran, her son, like all Home and Away relationships is “complicated”.

“I never thought I’d ever see him again,” Martha says.

They sit down as a family (without Kieran) to decide if they want to meet him.

But Kieran has already turned up.

He is a very intense character who presses Marilyn to help him find Martha.

Back at the Stewart house Martha says he was a “handful” and became reliant on alcohol while alluding to domestic violence. It got so bad she shut him out of her life until he recently reached out.

Maz comes home with the news that Kieran is looking for her and Alf is going to “take care of this”.

“Before I let you anywhere near her you and I are going to have a little chat,” Alf says to Kieran.

Kieran moves his head around a lot while he talks. He’s making me feel quite uncomfortable.

Alf declares that Kieran is allowed to stay but there’s rules. He’s not allowed to visit the house unless Alf is present to chaperone but as if that will stick.

Finally Jasmine is “bothered”. She’s thinking of visiting Colby, but on the other hand she’s reconsidering him as donor father material.

“I don’t know who Colby is anymore,” Jasmine says to Irene.

“I can’t believe he could murder someone.”

I still feel like I’m missing all the backstory to Jasmine and Colby’s relationship because I never see them together — so I have no reason why Jas would visit other than her baby-related quest which is based on nothing more than my hunch.