Okay, let's talk Home and Away. You know, that Aussie soap that's basically been on since the dinosaurs roamed the earth? It feels that way, right?
The question that's been plaguing humanity (well, maybe just me after a particularly dull Tuesday evening): when did this iconic show actually begin?
The "Official" Answer (and My Skepticism)
Google tells me 1988. The history books (aka Wikipedia) agree. But here's my unpopular opinion: I think Home and Away has secretly been around a LOT longer.
Think about it. Do you really remember a time before Summer Bay existed? It feels woven into the very fabric of reality, doesn't it?
It's like that old shirt you've had since forever. You can't pinpoint the exact moment it materialized, it just… always was.
The Case for a Pre-1988 Debut
I have a theory. What if 1988 was just when they started filming? What if the storylines, the drama, the endless teen angst, were already bubbling away in some mystical writers' room for years prior?
Maybe Alf Stewart was secretly dispensing wisdom and yelling "Stone the flamin' crows!" long before the cameras started rolling.
Perhaps Sally Fletcher was already a precocious child genius, solving mysteries and dispensing life lessons in a hidden pilot episode from 1977.
And let's not forget the hairstyles. Some of those '80s looks suggest a decades-long planning process. A meticulous evolution from "questionable" to "utterly iconic."
Evidence That Can't Be Ignored (Okay, Maybe It Can)
My nan swears she remembers a character named "Barry" who ran a surf shop in Summer Bay in 1962. Google says no. But who are you going to believe: the internet or my nan?
I rest my case.
"She's got the memory of an elephant!" - My Nan's Doctor (Probably).
Plus, hasn't time in Summer Bay always felt a little… wonky? They seem to cram about five years' worth of weddings, kidnappings, and natural disasters into a single calendar year.
This could easily explain why Home and Away could have been broadcast in another dimension, maybe one where the 1960's never ended.
The Truth Is Out There (Probably In A Deleted Scene)
Ultimately, the official start date may be 1988. But deep down, I think Summer Bay has always been with us.
It's a comforting constant in a chaotic world. A place where the sun always shines, the waves always crash, and the drama is always turned up to eleven.
So, while you're pondering the mysteries of the universe, remember this: Home and Away might just be older than you think.
And if anyone from the show's production team is reading this, please, PLEASE, release the lost 1970s episodes featuring young Alf Stewart rocking a truly magnificent mullet. The world demands it!
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk. Now, I'm off to binge-watch classic episodes and continue my research.
