With less than three months left for Neighbours, you might think that the iconic Aussie soap would be rushing to the finish with plot now taking priority over characterisation.
The long-running show was axed by Channel 5 at the start of the year, leaving producers with the tough task of creating satisfactory conclusions to several ongoing storylines.
In the coming weeks, we're sure to see the early signs of plots being hastily wrapped up to make way for the nostalgia-filled final weeks, which will feature more than 20 returning faces.
In the meantime, though, it's reassuring to see that the current regulars are still getting their rightful time to shine – and none more so than Hendrix Greyson and Mackenzie Hargreaves.
Earlier this month, Hendrix was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and was told that he'd die without a lung transplant in the next three years.
Hendrix has spent the past couple of weeks coming to terms with the shocking news, as well as the role that his new neighbour Sadie Rodwell played in triggering his condition.
Struggling under the pressure and feeling smothered by everyone's concern, Hendrix needed a break and went off to Sydney with his girlfriend Mackenzie.
A lazier soap would have used this as a handy excuse to take Hendrix off screen and conveniently ignore the plot for a few weeks, but not Neighbours.
Friday's special episode – wholly filmed on-location away from the Neighbours set – followed Hendrix and Mackenzie's trip to Sydney and focused entirely on their story.
Fans discovered new details of Hendrix's backstory as he took Mackenzie to various locations that were important to him in his childhood.
Hendrix also spent some much-needed quality time with his dad Pierce (now regenerated back into Tim Robards), sister Alana and mum Lisa, who were all unaware of his health problems.
While the trip started off well, the atmosphere turned awkward as Hendrix visibly struggled with any conversations that mentioned his long-term future – something that's far from guaranteed for him.
Devastated by thoughts of everything he could miss out on, Hendrix broke down and later told his family the truth in emotional scenes.
Realising what he wanted out of life, regardless of what the future held, Hendrix then spontaneously popped the question to Mackenzie.
As soaps usually have a rigid formula, single-storyline episodes like this can be a risk. If the bosses choose the wrong plot or character for a special, the unusual format can seem self-indulgent and an audience's attention can wander.
Fortunately, there was no real danger of that on this occasion, with the dream team of Ben Turland (Hendrix), Georgie Stone (Mackenzie) and Neighbours boss Jason Herbison creating an incredible episode that earned a place in the show's history books.
Ben's performances have been praised by fans ever since he joined the show in 2019, but he'd been underused in recent months. It's pleasing to now see him take centre stage in his biggest storyline yet, as we head towards the end of Neighbours itself.
Georgie – who's already taking steps towards a bright future beyond Neighbours – has also delivered some exceptional performances recently as Mackenzie's world has been shattered by the sad news about Hendrix.
While his main job is Neighbours showrunner, Jason Herbison occasionally writes scripts for the soap too and he penned this episode.
We're always in for a treat when he's on writing duties, with past successes including the drama's first ever three-hander episode in 2015 and Sonya Rebecchi's tear-jerking exit in 2019.
A major storyline like this deserved the extra effort, with the absence of other plots creating room for interesting character-based scenes, exploration of backstory and a slower pace – all aspects that fans often complain are missing from modern-day soaps.
We're also still reaping the rewards of Neighbours' increase in off-site filming this year, with strong location choices and high production values topping off a triumph of an episode.
Few dramas reach their 37th year, let alone do so in top form. While it may still seem unfair to lose Neighbours when it's delivering such strong material, it seems that the team are determined to send it out on a high.
Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 6pm on Channel 5 and streams on My5. In Australia, the show airs Mondays to Thursdays at 6.30pm on 10 Peach and streams on 10 Play.
Read more Neighbours spoilers on our dedicated homepage
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Daniel has been writing about soaps on Digital Spy since 2004 and took over as Soaps Editor in 2010.
He has interviewed hundreds of soap stars over the years, from Bill Roache to Lacey Turner, and regularly visits the sets of Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks for behind-the-scenes trips and press events.
He has served as an awards judge on numerous occasions for the likes of the BAFTA TV Awards, RTS Programme Awards and British Soap Awards. In 2020, he was Highly Commended for Best Section Editor at the BSME Awards.
