The episode begins with Hanna (Zoe Steiner) drawing on Ciaran’s eyelids when he doesn’t wake up.

Hanna rides her bike to the beach where she sees her mum, Sarah (Jacqueline McKenzie) swimming in the distance. She dives into the water and swims in her direction. George (Diana Popovska) approaches as she’s struggling to stay afloat. Hanna explains that her mum is out there while George encourages her to help so she can rescue her. George calls for help while Hannah finds her mum’s cellphone wrapped inside a towel.

Ciaran Houlihan (Gulliver McGrath) and Hannah are on a bus. The driver (Ben Dewstow) orders the passengers to remain seated while the bus is brought to a halt. A police officer tells Ciaran that he needs to talk to him.

Claire (Alison Bell) informs Den (Kenneth Moraleda) that she hasn’t seen someone all morning. He asks who else has been notified. She complains of not being able to contact anyone because they refuse to answer their phones. He orders her to remain calm as they’re needed. She tells him that she’ll meet him later.

Den calls Ursula Crawford (Rachael Blake) to only get her voicemail.

Police Officer Deborah Munroe (Rarriwuy Hick) informs Ciaran and Hanna that they cannot be questioned until their aunt Claire arrives. Hanna asks what will happen if she says the wrong thing because she doesn’t remember. Munroe assures her that she will recall today’s events like a film. Ciaran asks if the helicopter is searching for Sarah before heading outside for a better look.

Den tells Hanna and Ciaran that he wasn’t aware of the renovation. Ciaran admits they didn’t want their aunt Ursula to come over. Hanna adds that Sarah hated Ursula. Den informs them that he and Claire will be in charge. Munroe asks Den how he’s related to Sarah. He says they are siblings by adoption. Munroe asks if Sarah’s life had changed recently. He denies knowing because they fell out months ago over the house. He claims to be floating while having a flashback of Sarah.

Den contacts Ursula to tell her that Sarah went missing at dawn during a swim. Ursula asks if he wants her there. He claims Hanna and Ciaran don’t want her to come. She reminds him that Sarah is her sister and they are children.

Ursula suggests her clients make a confident offer on a property. They agree.

Dale (Sean Barker) asks Claire if she wants to contact her adopted brother. She tells him that she won’t go with him because they don’t have a future together. He asks if she’s being serious. She says to leave the house key after retrieving your things. He angrily speeds away.

Hanna turns Sarah’s cellphone with the password over to the police. Munroe asks where is Sarah’s laptop. Hanna informs her of Sarah’s unfriending Den on Facebook. Munroe agrees to permit her to keep the laptop overnight. Ciaran suggests he and Hanna conduct a search for Sarah. Munroe advises against it when Den offers to make them something to eat. When Hannah complains of feeling nauseated, he offers her a “sickie bucket.” She assures him that she’s not going to vomit, only feels like it.

While retrieving a scrunchie for Hannah, Den is drawn to an unmade bed. After informing him that Ursula is outside, Ciaran asks if he notified her. Den admits contacting her while walking away.

Den and Ciaran green uncle Wayne (Todd McKenney). While hugging Hannah, Ursula asks Ciaran to join them. He tells her that Sarah thought she was a “bit**.”

Ursula suggests the police speak with Sarah’s co-workers. Munroe agrees before asking about Hanna and Ciaran’s father. Ursula claims Sarah was in Denmark when she had an affair. Den reminds her that the investigation is not about Sarah’s affair. She asks if there were any witnesses that saw her enter the water. He says Hanna saw her. Munroe informs them that the search will continue until sundown. Ursula asks then what. Wayne suggests she calm down. She reminds him of her role there before asking what happens at sundown. Munroe says the investigation is paused. Den asks when should they inform Hanna and Ciaran that the investigation is over. Wayne says they might figure it out by themselves. Ursula tells him that it would be too much for them to bear.

Munroe suggests they prohibit Ciaran from joining the search party. She recommends online counseling for everyone.

George joins the search.

Ciaran’s classmate, Becky (Anastasia Bampos) admits to wanting to die because all the students are sad before asking how he will cope.

Lorrie (Natalie Tran) and another girl drops off food for the family. Ursula asks what is it. Lorrie identifies them as Sarah’s co-workers saying the food is for dinner. Ursula tells her that it’s too early for dinner before putting the food in the fridge. After suggesting she pick up Sarah’s things from her locker, Lorrie says she can help.

Lorrie comforts Becky.

Wayne warns Ciaran that Ursula won’t be happy about his smoking. Ciaran claims Sarah allows it. Wayne asks if it’s nicotine. Ciaran offers him a puff. Wayne tells him to put it out. Ciaran informs him that it’s a vaporizer. Wayne asks if he still plays basketball. Ciaran says not anymore when Wayne asks for the vaporizer. Wayne inhales deeply when Munroe approaches. She orders him to put it out while Wayne warns Ciaran that it isn’t good for him. Ciaran asks if the search has stopped. When Wayne tries to explain, Ciaran reminds them of the spotlights. Munroe reminds him of the daylong search. After suggesting the lawn should be filled with news trucks before asking if it doesn’t matter. Munroe says the decision was already made. He says Sarah’s body may have washed up on the shore. Munroe demands he not go down there tonight.

Garry (Anthony Phelan) drops off food for the family. Ciaran asks Becky to leave before reminding her that she didn’t know Sarah. Den suggests tonight is not a good time. Ciaran asks if they were aware of the search being called off. Garry says he’ll just leave the food on the table. Ciaran asks who are these people in his home. As they head for the door, he orders them to go.

George tells Den that she just wanted to stop by. Den complains about all the visitors when George asks if they want to keep a bag of trash. George agrees to take it to the trash bin where she encounters Hanna. They discuss the search being called off for the night. George comforts her when she vomits.

Everyone picks out a photo for Sarah’s missing person poster. Ciaran suggests they utilize the photo in the hallway. When Hanna goes to retrieve it, Claire unlocks the door. Ursula asks why the delay.

In a flashback, Claire and Sarah are at their mum’s bedside. Claire imagines seeing her sitting on the sofa. Upon seeing the photo Hanna and Ciaran chose for Sarah’s missing person poster, she admits to taking it. She asks if they would choose a different one. They describe it as “perfect.”

Hanna, Ursula, and Claire hang up Sarah’s posters around town. Claire suggests they return home whenever they’re ready. Hanna says the posters matter before claiming Sarah waved at her from the water. Ursula suggests Sarah may have been alerting the lifeguard. Hanna informs her that she was the only one present. Ursula says it’s been a trying day. Hanna suggests Sarah hit her head before asking if she didn’t want to go. Ursula and Claire assure her that it was an accident.

Wayne asks Ciaran if he has any classmates that he’d like to have around. He says most of them are “dicks” before telling them about the random messages he received. Den suggests he worry about himself for now. Ciaran goes down to the beach when two search helicopters approach.

Claire wakes up on the beach with a bottle of alcohol.

Ursula and Ciaran rush outside when they hear a jackhammer. They find Ali (Fayssal Bazzi) working outside. Ursula informs him that Sarah is missing. Ali says he’d like to help. Ciaran steps on a nail while asking if he will stay.

While treating Ciaran’s wound, Hanna asks if he got any sleep. He suggests getting stoned. She agrees until Sarah returns before cleaning his eyelid with spit. He asks what is it as she walks away.

Becky stops by to see Ciaran.

Claire tells Ursula that she can’t go through Sarah’s papers. Ursula shows her a letter for Hanna and Ciaran.

Becky tells Ciaran that she dreamed about Sarah last night. He asks if she’d like to play PlayStation. She dabs perfume on her neck and asks him to smell it.

Claire reminds Ursula how they missed two Christmas holidays because of their mum’s will. Ursula describes Sarah as “selfish.” Claire reminds her of how Sarah took care of her mum. Ursula claims people have always cleaned up Sarah’s mess. Claire opens the letter to find a “Rain the Rainbow Lottery” ticket. Ursula says Ciaran could use a cheering-up.

Ursula and Claire open the door to find Becky and Ciaran making out. He orders them to get out.

Hanna tells Munroe that Sarah didn’t tell Ursula, Wayne, and Claire about her plan to renovate the house. Munroe asks what did Sarah do. Hanna claims she inherited the house. Munroe assures her that they care about her and Ciaran. Hanna asks if she believes Sarah is dead. Munroe says she’s searching for answers. Hanna suggests she should’ve asked her if Sarah had someone new in her life.

Den calls the police trauma hotline.

Claire looks at a growth chart on the door frame.

Hanna tells Ciaran that they would wait until Sarah returns to scratch the lottery ticket. They receive a call from an anonymous caller. A phone dangles in an empty booth as the episode comes to an end.

 

Significant Others Review

The show was a major disappointment from start to finish. The dialogue would’ve been better written by preschoolers. The lack of character development resulted in a confusing episode. There was no explanation as to how the family made it to the point of Sarah’s disappearance.

The character interaction was nonexistent except between Hanna and Ciaran. Even that was to the point of impersonal. One thing is for sure, the animosity could be cut with a knife.

The cinematography was subpar and the lighting poor.

The acting was nothing to write home about.

Hanna nearly drowned while trying to rescue her mum. George helped her to the shore on her surfboard. A search party doesn’t turn up anything. In the meantime, Ciaran and Hanna have their lives turned upside down. They aren’t keen on the idea of sharing their home with Ursula, Wayne, and Claire. Since they are underage, their options are limited.

While trying to sort out what happened, Munroe encounters a dysfunctional family. Claire and Ursula had animosity toward Sarah because she inherited the family home. Not much else was disclosed about the family.

The episode deserves a 5. Get more Significant Others recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.