Global InformationEpisode 8904 information
| Episode 8904 | |
|---|---|
| Neighbours episode | |
 The episode's cliffhanger reveals that Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) is marrying Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou). The storyline was constructed when executive producer Jason Herbison realised that the two had "never actually looked twice at each other" over many years on the show together, and that their unexpected relationship would intrigue viewers.[1] | |
| Directed by | Kate Kendall |
| Written by | Jason Herbison |
| Featured music | "Sunroof" by Nicky Youre and Dazy |
| Cinematography by | Henry Pierce |
| Editing by | Kylie Robertson |
| Original air date | 18 September 2023 |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
Episode 8904, also branded as the premiere episode of Neighbours: A New Chapter, is the first episode of the Australian television soap opera Neighbours to be released following its return from cancellation. It premiered on 18 September 2023 and was released through Network 10 in Australia, and Amazon Freevee in the UK and USA. The episode was written by the serial's executive producer, Jason Herbison, and directed by Kate Kendall. Although Neighbours had been off-screen for a little over a year, the production team decided to set its return two years after the events of "Neighbours: The Finale", with the events of the interim period for multiple characters positioned as mysteries to be revealed in subsequent episodes.
The plot of the episode revolves around an upcoming wedding, which is revealed in the episode's closing moments to be between the long-running characters Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou) and Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney), who had not previously shared any significant on-screen interaction. This storyline subverts the endings given to both characters in the previous episode, where Toadie married Melanie Pearson (Lucinda Cowden) and Terese reunited with her husband Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis). Meanwhile, a new family moves into the show's central setting of Ramsay Street, and Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux) pursues a sexual liaison with mysterious hotel guest Reece Sinclair (Mischa Barton).
Media coverage of the episode focused on the series' unexpected revival, the narrative challenges of its resumption after its well-received ending the previous year, and the promised "twist" to the wedding. Neither participant of the wedding was revealed prior to the episode's release. Reviews of the episode were mostly positive, with praise given to the series' consistency of tone despite its change to a multinational network, and the development of various characters' circumstances over the two year narrative gap. Some reviews were, however, more critical of the narrative developments since the finale and the episode's significant use of exposition. After the episode was shown, the show further publicised the plans for Terese and Toadie as a couple and the potential for further storylines their partnership allows.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel; Ellis, Sarah (18 September 2023). "Neighbours boss responds to shocking wedding twist in return episode". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 September 2023.