This review contains spoilers.
After a slight lull mid-season, things really picked up again in the latter stages of 'Blue Heelers' second season, and 'The Best of Rivals' is (yet) another excellent episode.
Sheridan Compagnino puts in a good performance as the young Fleur whom Nick takes a shine to. Fleur is well-meaning and innocently misguided, and has only been scrawling religious graffiti on a local wall after developing a crush on a new local vicar! Compagnino brings the role to life very well, and it is such a terrible shock when Fleur is suddenly run down by "Spider", the street racer that Wayne bailed out. It is such a shocking moment, and really hit me.
After Roz left him, Wayne has shown himself to have quite a reckless streak, and it is evident again in this episode. After spending the first half of the episode trying to chat up the visiting Kim Fisher (only to find she has a loving husband), he falls in with the very group of street racers that the Heelers are trying to nail (and whom the leader, aforementioned Spider, nearly mowed Maggie down while she was out jogging). This inevitably leads to a clash between Nick and Wayne, as Nick feels Wayne could have stopped the death of young Fleur.
It is about this point in the series that the "soapy elements" dial is being turned up quite a bit, and this episode is full of them. Tom is planning to ask Chris out for a romantic dinner, only to find that Chris is in a romantic relationship with young Adam. Although this kind of storyline would be too "soapy" for me in most shows, here in 'Blue Heelers', where we have such strong and believable characters, I could go along with it.
In all, this is a superb episode, and very hard hitting at times. Another solid 10 out of 10 from yours truly.moreless
Episode Summary
EDIT
The lives of Wayne and Nick tragically collide when Nick befriends a young graffiti artist and Wayne helps a mate. Maggie and Wayne prepare for the senior-constable exam.
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GUEST STAR
Sheridan CompagninoFleur Gordon
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GUEST STAR
Craig Adams"Spider" Webb
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GUEST STAR
Christie SistrunkKim Fisher
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Grant Bowler
Constable Wayne Patterson (1994 - 1996)
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Martin Sacks
Senior Detective Patrick Joseph "PJ" Hasham (1994 - 2005)
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John Wood
Senior Sergeant Tom Croydon
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Julie Nihill
Christine "Chris" Reilly
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Lisa McCune
Senior Constable Margaret "Maggie" Doyle (1994 - 2000)
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Damian Walshe-Howling
Constable Adam Cooper (1994 - 1998)
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Elimination Game!
06/07/10161
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Favourite character
02/26/101
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Does anyone know if they're going to (or when) release series nine plus on DVD?
09/29/093
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Favourite Episode(s) ever
03/13/0918
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season 7 dvd
07/28/085
Season 2 Episodes
See AllEp 41
Brotherly Love (2)
Ep 40
Brotherly Love (1)
Ep 39
The Discount Suit
Ep 38
Juggling With Smoke
Ep 37
Vow of Silence
Ep 36
A Question of Loyalties
Ep 35
Tough Love
Ep 34
Unnatural Death
Ep 33
Just Deserts
Ep 32
The Mongrel Factor
Ep 31
Double Jeopardy (2)
Ep 30
Double Jeopardy (1)
Ep 29
Swings and Roundabouts
Ep 28
The Best of Rivals
Ep 27
The Last Straw
Ep 26
Secrets
Ep 25
The Homecoming Queen
Ep 24
The Collector
Ep 23
Paranoia (2)
Ep 22
Paranoia (1)
Ep 21
With Prejudice
Ep 20
Gun Crazy
Ep 19
Parenting
Ep 18
Trust Me
Ep 17
Shadow Man
Ep 16
The Lolita Blues (aka Salu...
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