Shame – The show begins with Marion Sousa (Joao Marinho) posing a question about Bodhi Tetanui (Lilliana Bowrey) carpooling with them. Luciana Sousa (Tatiana Hotere) tells him that her goal is for him and Ari Gibson (Kai Lewins) to spend time together. He asks if she really believes Ari wants to be around him. Answering his own question, he assures her that he doesn’t. She asks if that came out of Ari’s mouth. He reminds her of Ari starting a fight with him. Luciana tells Ari that she knows he had a difficult year. She suggests he let go of the past. Marion says he has done nothing to warrant an apology.

Manu Tetanui (Chris Alosio) toots his horn as he passes Luciana. Bodhi Mercer (Savannah La Rain), Poppy Tetanui (Lilliana Bowrey), and Summer Torres (Sky Katz) happily sing a song. Marion and Ari look miserable. Poppy ensures Summer that she will do good at Jackson Bay as always. Bodhi admits she struggles with choosing the right surfboard. Summer asks if there will be an afterparty. Poppy says they can hang in their room after Luciana makes them go to bed by 7pm. Summer sarcastically asks if they will give each other pedicures while talking about boys. Listening in on their conversation, Manu informs them parties are out of the question. Poppy rolls her eyes sarcastically. Bodhi reminds them of the competition.

Summer tells them that she is competing as well. Bodhi suggests she joined the competition to entice Ari’s parents to allow him to compete. She admits that was her initial plan. Stunned, Manu asks if she seriously enrolled in the surfing competition.

Ari speaks to someone on the phone about his shoulder. Manu tells him it would’ve been nice to know Summer enrolled in the competition. He assures him that he figured she wasn’t serious about it. Marion is complaining to Luciana about Judge Roberts (Timothy Bell) when Manu interrupts. Luciana informs him that Roberts isn’t a fan of Marion’s surfing style. Marion accuses Roberts of giving him low scores. Manu suggests he focus on his surfing. Poppy hits the waves first.

Summer asks Manu if he minds explaining the rules again. After explaining some of the rules, he just tells her to have fun. Bodhi assures her that she can back out without anyone judging her. Summer is she is threatened. She warns her that other surfers may feel disrespected after investing a lot into training. Sheridan Morehouse (Charli Wookey) approaches to ask if Summer knows how to surf. Summer tells her that she will soon find out. Sheridan threatens her if she dares get in her way. Luciana hands her a surfboard.

After hitting the waves, Summer crashes multiple times. Bodhi tells her surfing isn’t that easy. Summer reminds her that she isn’t doing great either. Taking another stab at it, she cuts Bodhi off before eventually crashing. She celebrates when she emerges from the water. When she congratulates Bodhi, she doesn’t get a response. Poppy accuses her of knocking Bodhi out of an opportunity to get on the state team. Marion tells her good job. Summer boasts to Ari how well she did. He tells her that he wishes it was that easy to care so little like her. She sarcastically offers to show him how to do it.

Marion, Ari, and two other surfers prepare to hit the waves. One of the boys describes Summer as a bad chick for a Shorehaven. Turning to Ari, Marion suggests they “smoke ‘em.” Ari nods in agreement.

Manu celebrates Shorehaven having three finalists. He suggests Bodhi not be so hard on herself, luck wasn’t on her side. He toasts to Summer for competing for the first time.

Summer asks Luciana if she is ordering them to go to bed when it is still daylight. Luciana gives her a list of reasons why they must go to bed. Ari is creating a barrier of pillows on the bed to separate him and Marion. Marion sarcastically asks if they aren’t going to cuddle. He asks how long he is going to keep it up. Ari asks if he really believes that is the issue. He asks if it has anything to do with Bodhi. Ari refuses to respond to his question.

Summer asks Bodhi if she interfered with her surfing. Bodhi admits to not being good enough to advance. Summer suggests competing against Poppy must be tough. She assures her that Poppy is a talented surfer and loves to see her win. She tells her about her unique relationship with surfing. Summer questions if it is associated with the photos, she posts online for creeps to look at. She says her photos allow her to express herself.

While Ari and Marion sleep, the girls sneak into their room. After sneaking out, they set on the roof discussing the last time they did it. Ari assures them that things have changed since then. Summer suggests they discuss what is going on between them. Ari reminds her of them being in Shorehaven, not New York. They play a game called “Shame.” When their comments are not deep enough for Summer, she asks who hasn’t had a crush on someone present. Summer is the only person who could raise their hand. She suggests to Poppy that her crush was Ari. Marion describes the game as being “cool.” Ari suggests he not be a “jerk.” He accuses him of being the “tool.” Ari asks who doesn’t visit their friend for months in the hospital. Poppy claims Marion told them that he didn’t want visitors. Bodhi validates her statement. He tells them that he did want visitors.

Marion tries to stop Ari from leaving when he is knocked off the roof. The commotion wakes Luciana and Manu who demand to know what they are going.

Luciana wraps an Ace bandage around Marion’s left ankle. She questions how he is going to perform in the competition. He joins the others to listen to Manu’s pep talk. He reaches over to touch Bodhi’s hand, but she pulls it back. Manu suggests they not waste their talents.

Poppy accuses Summer of stirring up drama. Summer tells her it might not be so bad that everything they spoke about like night came out. She suggests they begin working on their problems now. Bodhi says if Ari agrees to speak to them again. Summer tells them that she spent most of her life moving from place to place. She admits to admiring their relationship, which she never had. Bodhi asks if she has “friend feelings” for them. Poppy admits Ari was her crush.

Poppy hits the waves. The commentator, Nico (Ilai Swindells) asks the crowd if the Anchor Cove girls are spooked. Summer and Bodhi rush out to greet Poppy after she wins the Jackson Bay under 16 girls’ competition. Marion approaches Ari as he celebrates Poppy’s win. When he tries to strike up a conversation, Ari doesn’t respond. Marion blames Summer for his injured ankle. Ari accuses him of refusing to accept responsibility for anything. Ari asks if he has any idea of what it felt like staying in the hospital bed for months. He asks why he lied to the others about him not wanting visitors. Marion says he isn’t for sure why he did it. Manu informs them that they are up to compete.

As Griff Temple (Mitchell Hardaker) competes, Marion has a flashback of what led up to Ari’s accident. He picks up a piece of Ari’s broken surfboard, with the surfer nowhere in sight. Back to the present, Marion admits to Ari that he didn’t jump because of being afraid. He says he blamed himself for his accident and feared their friends would do the same if they visited him in the hospital. Ari assures him that he only blamed him for his yearlong vanishing act, not his accident. Marion apologizes for being there to support him after the accident. Ari suggests he go post one when Nico alerts of there only being a few seconds left in the finals. Marion comes in second and Ari third.

As Marion emerges from the water, Luciana meets him to see what happened. He assures her that his ankle is okay. She goes on a rant about the poor judging. He tells her that he is to blame for not winning the finales.

Poppy and Griff receive their trophies. He describes her win as a “freak accident.” She tells him the freak accident is his hair. When a photographer (Ben Saunders) asks for a photo, Ari pulls Marion up beside him. They pose holding up their medals.

Ari invites Summer to ride with him and Marion, but she refuses his offer. Marion assures Ari that it is okay for him to join the girls. He tells him that he is okay riding with him.

On the ride home, the girls happily goof around while the boys sit quietly looking at the scenery as the episode comes to an end.

 

Surviving Summer Review

A heartfelt episode of two estranged boys trying to salvage their friendship. As Marion and Ari repair their friendship, Summer builds a new friendship with Bodhi and Poppy.

A wonderful coming-of-age story. It shows the ups and downs of being a teen in the fictional Victorian town of Shorehaven. The show presents selfless teens who willingly sacrifice everything for friendships. A true friend, Bodhi accepted her defeat and selflessly celebrated Poppy’s win.

The cinematography, editing, directing, and acting a spot-on.

The episode deserves a 6.5. Get more Surviving Summer recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link to learn more.