Episode 6 opens with Lima (Robbie Magasiva) shamelessly sneaking out of Mack/Mckenzie Leigh’s (Rachel Griffiths) after realizing that he inadvertently slept over. It is Jules Varma’s (Rima Te Wiata) untimely arrival with Mack’s birthday dish that inspires his escape. It appears that Mack has forgotten her own birthday or at least, that is the impression she wants to give. It doesn’t matter because Jules has everything covered.

Tui (Ariana Osborne) is the first to make an appearance but it isn’t before the yard is filled with guests and the situation grows more direr with each arrival. Amethyst (Moana Johnson) brings a spliff while Goldie (Carmel McGlone) shows up with an entire pig that Lima laters spit-roasts. Much to Mack’s displeasure, this turns the event into an all-day debacle.

Although Mack does a good job of keeping the guests in the yard for the most part, she relents to Tui spending most of the day inside with Noam Leigh (Angus Stevens) and Toby Leigh (Quinn Ashton). However, at one point, Deziyah (Danielle Cormack) manages to slip into Mack’s bedroom and takes a peek in her journal. Although the subject isn’t revealed, there is a very crude psycho analysis entry about one of the girls, possibly Tui or Deziyah.

Thanks to the sudden and unexpected arrival of Rob Leigh (Martin Henderson), Mack doesn’t get a chance to react. As the day progresses, Jules uncovers the truth about Mack forging Rob’s name on the loan. As co-owner, she isn’t happy but has to play along.

To speed things up, Mack has to tell Lima about her birthday. While he agrees to attempt to arrange for a quicker entree, Jules joins Amethyst in the pantry with the spliff. At the request of Mack, Tui attempts to keep Rob occupied but that doesn’t go so well, especially once Deziyah discovers and teases her over it.

While Jules’ husband, Vinit (Mel Odedra), joins her and Amethyst in the pantry, Rob meets Lima. This goes bad right from the start because Lima not only killed Rob’s rooster, but he mentions the rooster being named Rob because of the annoying sound it makes. Lima apparently didn’t know he was speaking with Rob. A later conversation reveals that Lima only returned to New Zealand serval months ago.

The tension between Rob and Lima is palpable and eventually leads to Noam confronting Mack. She assures him that everything is fine but it’s clear he doesn’t believe her. Tui also intervenes and this is when her ultimate fears are revealed. She is afraid that Rob will eventually pick up on her attraction to Lima and act out of revenge which will ultimately lead to him discovering that she forged his name on the loan.

 

Just as Lima and Rob are about to begin arguing over carving up the pig, Lolly (Florence Hartigan) averts all attention to her by introducing them to Ethan (Chris Parker). Deziyah completely ruins this by asking Lolly why her boyfriend is homosexual. Ethan (Chris Parker) responds immediately by pointing out that he and Lolly aren’t an item, which she had apparently believed they were.

When Noam comes outside looking for the party, Deziyah only makes things worse by telling him that Rob has discovered that Mack is sleeping with Lima. This leads to Noam blowing up on Lima and Mack, which obviously leads to an argument between Rob and Mack. Although they are wise enough to take their argument inside, it makes no difference because most of the Sweetheart’s staff are gathered in the pantry by now. The episode ends with Mack and Rob not only realizing that their marriage is over, but the staff overhears Mack saying some pretty harsh things about her not caring for them and only viewing them as employees.

 

Madam Review

I hate to say it, but this episode was nowhere near as good as it should/could have been. I did enjoy the whole birthday setting, the conflict with the return of Rob, and the connection between Tui and Toby. That said, I just didn’t feel that it was executed as well as it could have been. Something just felt off. I must admit that the episode does put the series in an interesting place.

To me, it seemed fairly clear that Rob and Mack’s relationship was over, but I guess it is now official and that makes for some interesting potential. I’d give the episode a 5.2 out of 10. Deziyah will no doubt get her due one day and when she does, it’ll be sweeter honey straight from the hive.

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