The episode opens with the narrator telling about an invincible princess who lives in an enchanted forest. An injured female can be seen floating face-down in the sea.

A pregnant Zoe (Melissa James) is looking out as Erin Holme (Celine Buckens) closes her blinds. A vlogger (Dalumuzi Moyo) claims Felix Vatubua’s (Lasarus Ratuere) dark secret was buried by powerful people. Felix was a British military vet and a Skyline Pacific 281 passenger. Felix was deployed to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force “ISAF”.  The vlogger says Felix was the only surviving member of Operation Deadstock. Erin pauses the video vlog before Pete (Sam Hoare) enters and informs her of the insurer’s new settlement offer after the wreckage was located. Erin argues that it proves nothing before explaining her theory about Felix which he refuses to believe. He suggests moving forward. Retrieving the document, she flips him the bird.

In The Past, Nadi International Airport – Lori (Sheridan Smith) calls Erin but no one answers. An announcement for Skyline Pacific flight 281 airs over the intercom. She leaves Erin a voicemail demanding to know she missed the flight. She looks across the room to see Felix toss something in the waste bin. He makes eye contact with her.

Alice Harbencor (Alice Barclay) holds a meeting about the Skyline Pacific 281 wreckage. She claims a piece of the wreckage was found on the Island of Yasawa. Opening the folder, Erin looks at a photo of the plane piece with a serial number. Camilla Eldridge (Alex Childs) describes the settlement offer as fair but Alice suggests a counteroffer. Camilla warns that a counteroffer could prolong the case for years. Alice assures her that the law firm seeks fairness for the victims’ families. After explaining the mysterious circumstances of the plane crash, Erin questions the timing of the piece of wreckage. Camilla suggests she accept reality like the rest of them. Erin asks if she would like to find Daniel Eldridge (Dominic Tighe). When Pete signs the settlement offer, Erin leaves. Mr. Gordon (James Lailey) requests five minutes to think about it.

In The Past, Nadi International Airport – Lori, Amber Gordon (Charlotte Vega), Daniel, and other passengers have their passports and boarding passes cleared. Lori calls Erin again to no avail. Pilot Mike Brass (Brendan Cowell) greets her before they board the plane.

Back to the present, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon tell Erin that they want to support her. Erin warns that accepting the settlement offer is accepting their family members are deceased. She assures them that Skyline Pacific 281 is out there somewhere. Mrs. Gordon says Amber and their grandson, Sonny, were on the plane.

In The Past – Lori takes her seat on the plane.

Back to the present, Pete scolds Erin for convincing Mr. And Mrs. Gordon to decline the settlement offer. She calls him a coward for accepting the offer. Zoe demands Erin find her own apartment and start sponging off of Pete. Erin says it is Lori’s house, not Zoe’s. Pete agrees to pay for a temporary flat. Zoe informs her of donating Lori’s things to a charity. Agreeing to purchase Lori’s things from the charity, Erin notices an international transaction for £40.00.

In The Past – Kaali Halle (Sepi Toa) urges Lori to delay her flight to Limaji until tomorrow so Erin can accompany her. Lori assures her that she will have more fun without Erin. Brass warns of bad weather. Amber places her son in his baby seat. Daniel orders a gin. Heather Bantock (Debora Weston) and Jack Bantock (Joseph Mydell) are celebrating their 40^th wedding anniversary. Lori congratulates them. The plane takes off. Frantic, Lori grips her seat until the plane is in the air.

Back to the present, Erin learns Lori’s bank card was utilized at Deki’s Expressmart at Market Street in Wailoaloa, Fiji. While on the phone with the business, the electricity goes out. She tells Pete about the transaction but he refuses to believe it was Lori. Erin suggests she travel to Fiji to find Lori. Zoe says Erin sounds like a crazy person. Pete pleads with her to let it go. Erin vows to stay out of their life if they buy her a ticket to Fiji.

In The Past – Heather and Lori discuss their sister disagreements. Heather assures her that it will be okay. Lori isn’t so sure.

In a flashback, Lori and Erin are on vacation in Fiji. A waiter (Pio Rokomaqisa) serves the drinks. He takes their picture. Back to the present, Erin is on a plane when she receives an alert about a major update in the Skyline Pacific 281 crash. The Wi-Fi signal goes out.

In The Past – Lori is in the restroom when Kaali knocks on the door and urges her to return to her seat. The plane hits turbulence.

Back to the present, Steven Wills (Dugald Bruce Lockhart) assures Erin that they are working to gather information on the plane crash. He asks if she was supposed to have been traveling with Lori. He asks if it should have been her instead of Lori when the taxi driver wakes her at Sunset View Hotel. Erin requests her usual room #118. The receptionist (Audrey Kamali) validates the room is available. Erin receives a text with an image of Brass drinking before SP281. The text claims a guy discovered the phone.

In The Past – Flight 281 travels through a thunderstorm. Brass promises to do whatever is necessary to keep them safe. Frantic, Lori takes some pills. Heather says it seems Erin was the lucky one to skip the flight. In a flashback, Erin is glued to her phone during dinner. Lori informs her of Pete having an affair. Erin curses Pete. Lori denies telling him that she knows. Erin says they can work through it. Showing her a photo of a positive pregnancy test, Lori suggests the woman left it in their car for her to find. Erin says they have been married 20 years with no children. Lori claims it was Pete’s decision.  Lori blames Erin for being a pushover. Back to the present, the turbulence grows more severe. The plane takes a nosedive before Brass gets it back upright.

Sunset View Hotel – Lori heads out to Deki’s Expressmart.

In The Past – The plane is struck by lightning. Daniel starts toward the cockpit but Felix forces him to sit back down. Jack says he can smell smoke. It appears as if the wing is on fire. Amber wraps her arms around Sonny’s basket. Lori calls Pete to warn him of the plane crash. She demands he take care of Erin. The plane begins to descend at a high rate of speed. The passengers are frantic. Lori recalls her argument with Erin.

Back to the present, Lori pulls in at Deki’s Expressmart. She asks the shop guy (Epi Vuruna) about the surveillance camera. Surveillance footage shows a Brass utilizing Lori’s bank card to buy alcohol. Erin recognizes Brass as the Skyline Pacific 281 pilot.

In the Past – The plane crashes in the forest as the episode ends.

 

The Castaways Cast

• Erin Holme (Celine Buckens)
• Lori (Sheridan Smith)
• Pete (Same Hoare)
• Zoe (Melissa James)
• Felix Vatubua (Lasarus Ratuere)
• Pilot Mike Brass (Brendan Cowell)
• Daniel Eldridge (dominic Tighe)
• Camilla Eldridge (Alex Childs)
• Amber Gordon (Charlotte Vega)
• Gordon (James Lailey)
• Gordon (Gloria Garcia)
• Jack Bantock (Joseph Mydell)
• Heather Bantock (Debora Weston)
• Alice Harbencor (Alice Barclay)

The Castaways Synopsis

Lori learns Pete is having an affair before the plane crash. Erin blames her because she is too weak to stand up to Pete about having a baby.

Erin and Lori have a falling out. Lori plans another trip to Fiji but Erin declines the invitation. She is on Flight 281 Skyline Pacific when it goes down in the forest. Erin refuses to believe Lori is dead. An international transaction on Lori’s bank card gives her new hope.

Pete and Zoe are desperate to get Erin out of their life. Erin agrees to never bother them again for a ticket to Fiji. Pete begs her to not go but she ignores him.

The insurer for the airline is desperate to settle the claim. A new settlement offer is accepted by all the victims’ families except Mr. and Mrs. Gordon. Erin convinces them to decline the offer because it would mean accepting their families’ deaths.

The Castaways Review

The pilot episode starts out strong but grows stale fairly quickly. The conspiracy theory surrounds the Skyline Pacific 281 plane crash. However, it seems a storm took down the plane with help from an incompetent pilot.

So far, there is truly nothing unique about the plot. A preview of the next episode may not be the right move. It reveals most or all of the passengers survived the plane crash.

The acting is spot-on. The cinematography is good. The episode deserves a 6. Get more The Castaways recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising can help build brand awareness, click here to reach our staff. Join our newly established forum to discuss the latest movie and TV show releases.