Favourite Karl/Kusan/Neighbours Episode

[katie with a drink]

Whats everyones favourite karl/kusan/neighbours episode of all time???

There are so many great kusan eps - i cant decide.

heart attack
divorce
renewal of wedding vows

banana episode with karl in a vest!!!!!!!!!

[maria]

what a question! Fletch and Jackie are such good actors,
its too difficult to choose! but i was watching a video someone had made called Guitars and Cadillacs - the early Kennedy's and that brought back a lot great memories. But hopefully 2006 will be the year - and we'll have lots of Kusan scenes. Here's hoping!

[kazzamazza]

Oh Katie, what a fab topic. ;D
I will say all the ones you mentioned.
Plus.....here I go!!!
When Karl and the kids, kidnap Susan on her birthday, and take her out for the day...blindfolding her. I laughed when they lift her up while she is walking in the other direction and her legs are still moving as they are carrying her.
That was a sweet one that.
The garden gnomes, that lasted for a while, and every minute of that was sooo funny, but the bit where Karl is blaming the gnome stealing on everyone but himself, after Susan has written a note on one of the gnomes saying,"Go see the doctor" or words to those effect was class.
I remember Susan trying to tell, and Karl just shoves her out of the way, like nothing, it was sooo funny. (I shall find that bit after gigs and clip it...it makes me laugh) ;D
Susan and Karl's lovely hug to music playing when he comes back after being lost, in the police car, and that lovely music (that they play like at all the dances and stuff at that time of Neighbours)was on...OMG...how soppy and cute.
20th Anniversary Bench Scene...OMG...fantastic!!! That's all I will say about that.
Karl after Izzy lost the baby and the episodes that followed, the bit where he is crying away(OMG..brought a tear or two to my eye). Brilliant.
Karl snogging Susan at the door after the date they had (amnesia time).....OMG..when Karl pulls away and Susan wants more..oh you can tell...Saucy Susan!
Then the look on Karl's face as he walks away...like.."She loves me yeah, yeah, yeah" ;D
OMG...the Cornflakes over the table...Woooooooo!! Fabby!!
Both of them sucking on the pasta.hotness and sweetness!

All the episodes that followed that with Susan ringing Karl at work making out she was ill, just to get Karl home for some hot lovin!
Then when Karl comes home one day, gets Susan up against the door for some of previously mentioned hot lovin...not realising Lyn is stood there.
Susan and Doctor Do- Little in Cheryl's spa...class stuff!
Both of them taking kinky pics of themselves on the camera, only for Brett Stark to develop them.
When they cross their hearts and hope to die behind the counter!!
OMG.................Full Monty!!!
OMG...shall I go on!
I will come back to this one.
Let me think!

[kazzamazza]

How could I forget...when Alex dies.
Karl comforting Susan on the street.
Susan doing that chest patting, and Karl stroking Susie's hair, ooh and hair kissage. That was sooo sweet and well sooo Kusan.
Oh and, the look on Karl's face when he is taking pic of Alex and Susan and kidlets when they have just been married...oh Karl come here I will give you a hug and make it all better..oh yeah!
Then when Karl is signing the witness papers, and he looks at Susan with an "OMG, I am signing the love of my life away"..but we know he is only doing it cos he has realised how much he really loves her, thus meaning he will do anything to make her happy.
Then Susan's return look from that, where she has the realisation that Karl still loves her and wants to keep the Kusan flame - a - burning!..I was like Oh my Gosh!!!!!
All the plane crash bits of Karl where Susie is missing, the scene in TSB where Lyn and Karl are talking about Susan
Then when he tells Max he wasn't thinking of Susan as his ex-wife, he was thinking of her as his wife!!
When he pulls the curtain back to see it is Susan in the hospital, and that.....well that look he does. (He has done that before..I remember it).
Then when he is in the hospital with Alex and Susan , and Susan holds out her hand, and does that little whimper (and we all know she just wants it to be her and Karl)...and his and her little faces.
Then when he is stood outside the door just looking in on what he has lost. Awww Karl you silly silly man!!
I will be back - and no, I am not the Terminator. ;D
Too much to think of ...Fletch and Jackie are too ruddy fabuloso!!! ;D

[Liz]

Great posts there Kaz, couldn't agree more.

For me, my favourite episodes are:
The Heart Attack
Amnesia Storyline....Cornflakes and all!
20th Anniversary episodes "Babygate"
The Full Monty episode
The Divorce
The Plane Crash
Alex's Death

Heart Attack I think this would have to be my favourite Karl storyline. The portrayal of Karl getting more and more stressed leading up to the Heart attack was incredibly well done by Alan. Again it shows how much range Fletcher has. The writing was well done too, it all tied in nicely. When Karl removes the tire from the car, you know something's going to happen and you just want to scream at the TV 'Don't get out!'. The following scenes when Karl suffers is heartbreaking and scary at the same time. And this is all down to the wonder that is Fletch. But what choked me up the most was the hospital scene at the end with Karl & Susan. Susan's worry clearly coming across in the scene and Karl just in agony, barely able to talk. Jackie & Alan have a wonderful chemistry. Breathtaking.

Amnesia Storyline At first I was unsure of this storyline as I wasn't sure what TPTB were planning to do with Susan. And another Kusan split was just too much for me. I also felt the way Susan caught amnesia was stupid, hello slipping on split milk?? But it was the aftermath that really caught my attention. This would rankly highly as one of the best Kusan storylines ever. Susan's confusion at how she could not remember Karl or Libby was heartbreaking. But equally so for Karl and for Libby and again outstanding acting from Fletch, Jackie and Kym. The outstanding acting combined with the writing showed me that Neighbours could really go beyond the bondaries if they wanted to. And it was wonderful seeing Karl and Susan falling in love all over again. Plus Cornflakes....Oh hell yeah, that scene is an absolute classic, never again have I looked at cornflakes in the same way. Hehe Fletch and Jackie blatantly enjoyed that scene.
Amnesia was rounded off well with the renewel of Karl and Susan's vows. Beautifully done and moving.

"Babygate" For almost a year, we had been watching the build up to this, Izzy believing she could hide the truth from Karl. And what a schemer she was. The tricks and stunts that she pulled to hide her dirty little secret was nothing short of low. Framing Darcy for the robbery and the guilt she suffered afterwards was great to watch. I dislike Izzy intensely but I cannot deny that her character has been good for the show. Natalie Bass was amazing in these scenes. But after all the tricks and after lie after lie, the truth was finally revealed, firstly to Susan by a letter that Darcy wrote. Jackie shone here as her character tried to tell Karl. The scene in the SB between Izzy and Susan was classic as so many of their catfights are. And so when Karl finally found out, it was by Izzy. However she lied at first to cover her own back, making Karl believe some sickly 'rape' story. This horrified me and my hatred for Izzy only intensified further, proving that Nat is a good actress.
It was not long before Karl found out the whole truth and his anger and hurt was explosive! In the confrontation outside SB, you could really feel Karl's rage at this betrayal. One, if not the best scenes, from Alan Fletcher. What a incredible actor he is. He pulls off dramatic scenes in such a wonderful fashion, he steals the show at times. But the best was yet to come in the form of the Bench scene between Karl and Susan. No words were spoken, only soft music played in the background and looks passed between them, showing the audience that once again Jackie and Alan have something so magical on screen, it would be wrong not to reunite them. And we are waiting patiently...

The Full Monty Episode Not much to say on this except ;D at Karl's nudity. What a great episode for girls everywhere, watching five gorgeous men strut on the stage and strip off. Come to Mama!! Shame we didn't see Fletch closer up but we got Vestage in later years

The Divorce
One of Neighbours' saddest storylines imo, the demise of Karl and Susan's marriage. It was heartbreaking to watch as Karl slowly began to abuse alcohol and convince himself that he was no longer in love with Susan. The famous 'I don't love you anymore' scene was nothing short of spectacular, the sense of heartbreak and confusion on both their parts was awesome and you could really feel for both. Well I could anyway . So it seemed that this time Karl and Susan were really over for good, there were many scenes in which you felt they may reunite but it was the actual divorce room episode that showed that their marriage was over. It was a shock for me and I know many others that they had come to this. No one had ever thought they would, they had come close so many times but never gone through with it. Sadly they did this time and it was beautifully done, showing both sides saddness at the end of their marriage and the pressure building up. It was only when Libby expressed her hurt that the two realised they had been playing games for long enough and so it was in a bittersweet scene they signed the divorce and shared a 'goodbye kiss'. Who expected them to kiss? I know I didn't and it was amazing. Jackie and Alan stealing the show once more, Jackie in particular in this episode.

[Liz]

The Plane Crash

Another spectacular storyline from the Neighbours crew and although I did not agree with how certain characters went out, I have to admit it was an incredibly well thought out storyline and the cast and crew put 110% effort into it. Watching the fears on the characters faces as the plane crashed was shocking, scary and it made you feel like you never wanted to get on a plane either. And even more heart rending was the after effects when they were all in the water, struggling to survive. Titanic like music played in the background which was poignant. This was contrasted with the family and friends back in RS waiting for news. The scene where they all enter Harold's house choked me up but what got to me was the incredible scene where Karl angrily says 'Susan is worth a thousand Izzy's.' While this may be true , Harold was completely right in saying no life is better then another. Stunning acting from Fletch, Ian Smith and Steven Lovatt, each expressing their characters hurt and worry for their beloved. Fletch really shone here.
However it was a scene with Alex a day or so later that proved to be one of Karl's defining moments. Alex told Karl that Susan still thought of him as a top bloke and a heartbroken Karl starts to cry. Just a beautiful scene, two men mourning for the loss of a very special woman. Top notch acting again, no surprise from Fletcher who is a gem when it comes to scenes like these.

Alex's Death Beautifully done, contrasted with the wedding and then Alex dies a few hours later. Jackie was absolutely wonderful in this episode, you could feel the adoration and then the overwhelming grief. Incredible to go from one extreme to the other in one episode. Beautiful. But it was not just Jackie that shone here, Alan did too. Karl's heartbreak as he watched Susan and Alex marry was sad. The expression he wore showed all and again shows that Fletcher doesn't even need to speak to show just how amazing he is.
The scene where Alex is taken away is nothing short of devastating. The kids and Susan are grieving and Karl is there to try to help. A moment between Karl and Susan made me weep, she pats his chest trying to say thank you and he kisses her hair. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. You could not have asked for two better actors then those two.

Rant over

[kazzamazza]

Liz...brilliant run thorugh there (you should be a newspaper reporter!)

When Karl removes the tire from the car, you know something's going to happen and you just want to scream at the TV 'Don't get out!'

OMG..I was ready to give mouth to mouth here!

But what choked me up the most was the hospital scene at the end with Karl & Susan. Susan's worry clearly coming across in the scene and Karl just in agony, barely able to talk. Jackie & Alan have a wonderful chemistry. Breathtaking.

That was absolutely awesome those performances. Outstanding stuff from the Flackie!!
The way Susan touches Karls face, and he know's its Susan even beofre he turns round. Awww.

I also felt the way Susan caught amnesia was stupid, hello slipping on split milk??

Yeah, but it could have happened, and did you hear the thud when Susie hit the floor...ouch!

Susan's confusion at how she could not remember Karl or Libby was heartbreaking. But equally so for Karl and for Libby and again outstanding acting from Fletch, Jackie and Kym. The outstanding acting combined with the writing showed me that Neighbours could really go beyond the bondaries if they wanted to.

Agreed, those scenes with Susan telling Karl she doesn't remember him, and to stop calling her his wife, were heartbreaking.
Neighbours can go beyond the boundaries, and they have proved this so many times....we need them to do this, if their is going to be a Kusan reunion. We need nothing short of pure magic Fletch and Jackie awesome scenes.

However she lied at first to cover her own back, making Karl believe some sickly 'rape' story. This horrified me and my hatred for Izzy only intensified further, proving that Nat is a good actress.

I thought that tale she told was disgusting, but all worked to make Izzy the character that TPTB wanted her to be.
The scheming little, husband stealing, lying , manipulating trollop she was!! LMAO!
Nat Bass certainly pulled that off big style...well done to her!

the confrontation outside SB, you could really feel Karl's rage at this betrayal. One, if not the best scenes, from Alan Fletcher. What a incredible actor he is. He pulls off dramatic scenes in such a wonderful fashion, he steals the show at times

He does indeed, I loved the scene outside SB it was brilliant.
I was sat there with an OMG...he has just found out, he's angry, she's running after him, still talking bull..what's he going to do?..face.
I loved that scene, she got her just desserts, and it was brilliant.
The fact that Susan was watching, made it all the more heartbreaking for me. Karl giving up on his life with Susan, only to have it thrown back in his face by Izzy, and for Susan to see the outcome..woah!

But the best was yet to come in the form of the Bench scene between Karl and Susan. No words were spoken, only soft music played in the background and looks passed between them, showing the audience that once again Jackie and Alan have something so magical on screen, it would be wrong not to reunite them. And we are waiting patiently...

I cannot say more than you have just put on that..apart from chemistry and electricity. They are ruddy fab!

The Full Monty..am sure we got buttage..we did didn't we..or is that a dream of mine.

It was only when Libby expressed her hurt that the two realised they had been playing games for long enough and so it was in a bittersweet scene they signed the divorce and shared a 'goodbye kiss'. Who expected them to kiss? I know I didn't and it was amazing. Jackie and Alan stealing the show once more, Jackie in particular in this episode.

I didn't expect them to kiss, but as soon as the did, I was thinking, they aren't going to get divorced now..are they?
They did too you know!!
So from then on it was like, right roll on Kusan Reunion, we know it's coming, it's just a matter of time!
We know it will be done well, as our favourite characters are two best actors, so how can it go wrong?
I will not say that again, I might jinx it!

[kazzamazza]

Titanic like music played in the background which was poignant.

Yeah, as soon as I watched this episode I mentioned about the music being well thought out.
It dragged everyone into the whole feeling of this episode.

The scene where they all enter Harold's house choked me up but what got to me was the incredible scene where Karl angrily says 'Susan is worth a thousand Izzy's.' While this may be true , Harold was completely right in saying no life is better then another. Stunning acting from Fletch, Ian Smith and Steven Lovatt, each expressing their characters hurt and worry for their beloved. Fletch really shone here.

Indeed so true, about what Karl said.
To Karl (I digress I did agree) it was true. Susan is worth a thousand Izzy's (no more than that)..but it wasn't a nice thing to say at all.
The bit of a scrap that Karl and Max got into, I felt for them both at this point, they were both angry and worried, and were taking it out on each other, when they should have been sticking together. I loved Steven (sp) in these episodes too.


We both agree on the Alex's death story, it was soo beautifully played out by Fletch and Jackie.
That's why it sticks out like so many of the other episodes, it shows their great performances stand out, over and over again!!!

[Liz]

Indeed Kaz, Kusan will be coming again and this time it shall be stronger then ever. I'm too tired to make a big response like I just did but all I can say is ITA.

I just didn't like the way Susan caught Amnesia, as realistic as they tried to make it, it was so stupid in my opinion. But that doesn't really matter any more when you look at the aftermath of it it all. And it was then when Neighbours didn't feel so rushed. Nowadays the show feels very rushed imo, take Steph's cancer for example. I think that is too quick, they are breezing through it. If you're going to take serious storylines at least have the decency to see them through.

[kazzamazza]

I agree about the cancer storyline,also the part after the plane crash, where Susan didn't even mention much about the fact Lil her best friend had died (what happend there?), but on the other hand, they have let the Karl/Susan love story drag on.
So really we can't win either way.

[Liz]

I know, that was shocking.

I hated the way Susan was so focused on her wedding and not grieving for Lil and David. It sucked big time and I think Ben (One of the scriptwriters) even admitted that they got the balance wrong here. It's good when TPTB can admit to things like this because it makes the viewer feel more at ease if you know what I mean. On other times, TPTB can completely disagree with us ie. Izzy. They don't feel she is used enough whereas many of us think she is.

[katie with a drink]

Yes Susan really would have been devestated.

But I think with what was happening at the time - they needed a storyline to run alongside the deaths of lil and serena - so i prefer to think susan was grieving, but it wasnt shown.

[Liz]

Good point Katie but at least one acknowledgement that she was would have been good

[kazzamazza]

Yeah, not sure whether it was Luke or Ben that said that, probably Ben, but whoever admitted they got it wrong like you said.
I think Izzy has been used enough, she is everywhere that girl.
How can they not have used her enough?

Think they must have got their schedule mixed up somewhere along the way, and thought..ooh, we have to get this done for this time...so never mind Susan's best buddy dying.

[Liz]

I really don't like how Neighbours is all about sensationalism these days. They rely on big stories like the plane crash to get ratings and although I don't dispute the plane crash was fantastic, I think that there were certain parts that were rushed.