New Season – The episode opens with Magda Szombathelyi (Debi Mazar) informing Virginia Ambrose (Miranda Otto) that Mr. Ryder (Huw Higginson) demoted her. Ambrose tells her that she has stimulating fashion ideas before showing her Lisa Miles’ (Clare Hughes) article, “Girls Who Dress For Sexcess,” in the newspaper. Magda claims to disagree with Lisa’s theory, the short skirt is the flag of women’s freedom, but they should be bold and brave. A short time later, Ambrose sees Mr. Mackenzie (Todd McKenney) looking at the designs. Adam Conroy (Ngali Shaw) and Elias Khalil (Julian Maroun) look disappointed. Mackenzie compliments Adam and adjusts his tie. Elias later asks Mackenzie why he is at Goodes.

Nadia (Roxie Mohebbi) chastises Angela Mansour (Azizi Donnelly) for not having her wedding gown finished. Angela says the intricate design will take time to finish. Nadia claims Farouk Mansour (Ubai Dahound) said Angela doesn’t have loyalty to her family and she agrees. Dawud Mansour (Hazem Shammas) intervenes. Nadia chooses the salmon for her bridesmaid’s dresses when Rania Mansour (Sepideh Fallah) enters the shop. Angela races over to embrace her mother. Over lunch, Angela tells Rania that Nadia wants her to copy a Goodes’ gown and if she is caught, she will go to jail. Farouk demands Angela treat Nadia with respect. Rania reminds them that she runs the household and orders Angela to make Nadia’s dress.

Stefan Szombathelyi (Russell Dykstra) informs Magda that Pete Warwick is interested in buying his business. He can work for Rudi Janosi (Thom Green) or Warwick and she can open Belle Reve. When he mentions George Szombathelyi (Carlos Sason Jr.), she admits to not trusting him. At a beach, Rudi dumps the Hexham contract on the ground. Fay Janosi (Jessica De Gouw) hurries to retrieve the documents. He claims Enid Marlow (Krew Boylan) and Ken Marlow refuse to do business with him because he is a “reffo.”

Richard White (Tom Wilson) informs Lisa that The Herald has offered him a cadetship. He attributes the offer to her articles, “Bikini Wars” and “Girls Who Dress For Sexcess.” He says they want to hire her as an assistant. He suggests they rent a flat in Chippendale. A short time later, they arrive at The Beat to see George and Angela kissing. Lisa tells Angela that she misses her and questions why she is seeing George after what Fay told her. He blurts out that he and Christina Wells had sex. Angela is shocked and devastated. He claims it was mere comfort sex and it is over between them. She orders him to leave. Angela gulps down a glass of gin. Lisa comforts her.

Dorothy Miles (Sacha Horler) tells Lisa that she is proud of her for writing “Girls Who Dress For Sexcess.” Lisa informs Dorothy and Elias that The Herald wants to hire her as an assistant. Dorothy asks if she is going to throw her schooling away for an assistant role. Lisa says she and Richard may move in together. Dorothy explains her plan to sell the house to pay off her debt and get a flat in the city. Magda enters the Mansour and Son Dress Shop to see Nadia wearing a replica of Sadie Chalmer’s wedding gown. Rania scolds Magda for coming into their house after she fired Angela. Dawud confesses to creating replicas of European fashion designs. Magda proposes a deal for Mansour and Son to create original designs for her boutique. Angela accepts her offer.

Elias shows Lisa a dress that he got for Dorothy. He says Goodes needs a seamstress like Dorothy. She congratulates him for adopting her mother. He tells her to grow up and Dorothy can make her own decisions. At Goodes, Fay assists Enid in a dress. Enid recalls Ken paying for her William Street flat. Surprised she knew, Fay vows never to sleep with Ken again. Enid urges her to take advantage of the opportunity of Rudi and herself. Seeing Fay looking flustered, Ambrose enters the dressing room and suggests a dress that doesn’t demand her husband’s attention. A short time later, Enid leaves without making a purchase. Ambrose tells Fay that she is an asset to Goodes and she would be disappointed if she left. Fay says Rudi is insistent about having children. Ambrose warns her against keeping her affair from Rudi.

Intoxicated, George asks Angela to forgive him and vows not to make the same mistake again. She says it is over between them and walks away. Learning about George, Rania insists Angela move with her to Beirut. Dawud says this is Angela’s home. Rania says men still have control and women must work twice as hard to be taken seriously. At Goodes, Mr. Ryder (Huw Higginson) shows Ambrose and Magda Lisa’s article in The Herald. They suggest taking advantage of it by offering a 10%-student discount. Ambrose questions if Cheri St Clair (Kate Box) would be willing to offer a clever writer like Lisa a summer internship. Magda is surprised by Ambrose’s suggestion.

Fay tries to tell Rudi about her affair with Ken. He claims to be glad the contract fell through. She blurts out that she wants children and will return to work when they are older. Elsewhere, Dorothy is nervous about working at Goodes. She insists Lisa be given the opportunity to make her own mistakes and recover from them. Stefan tells Magda that George is in trouble for drinking in public and he may be deported. She promises not to judge him for helping George.

Lisa tells Richard that she has decided to decline The Herald’s job offer. She suggests they go to London after his cadetship is finished. He says they could stay in Sydney, and she can get a job anywhere. She recalls him saying they weren’t meant for each other, and she agrees. She kisses him before leaving. At Goodes, Ambrose is impressed with Mansour and Son’s designs.

Magda demands George and Stefan take a seat. She says they are stupid and prideful. Georges says they are screw-ups. She assures him that Stefan has made stupid decisions but all for loyalty. Stefan breaks down weeping when he thinks of losing George. Magda tells George that their home is his for as long as he wants to stay. He thanks her. A short time later, Magda arrives just in time for Goodes’ New Season Launch of 1962 to start. The first model (Jaelynn Zewde) is wearing a Galilee design. The next model (Even Hutchenson) wears a Nia Bloom design. Dorothy puts the finishing touches on a Bizenthene design before the model (Jami Williamson) walks across the catwalk. A model appears in Angela’s design. Dawud boasts of Angela being his daughter. Angela excitedly embraces him. Ambrose invites Magda to join her on the catwalk.

After the fashion show, Dawud informs Angela’s friends that they are moving to Beirut. Cheri St Claire congratulates Mr. Ryder for presenting modern designs while maintaining Goodes’ traditional style. Mr. Ryder offers Magda the Chief Buyer position permanently. Lisa and Angela toast to their future as the episode ends.

 

Ladies In Black Finale Review

An inspiring show about women’s liberation. The women at Goodes are dedicated to modernizing Sydney’s fashion. Powering together, they prevail over their biggest obstacle, men. Nothing can stop them from achieving their dreams if they set their minds to it.

The cinematography and editing are top-notch. Miranda Otto, Jessica De Gous, Clare Hughes, and Azizi Donnelly put on a stellar performance. I highly recommend it to girls of all ages. The finale deserves a 6.3 out of 10.

 

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