Home and Away Review: Ryder farewells his dad for the last time

The week starts with something most unexpected.

Ari and Mac are all loved up and frolicking around in the water. It’s kind of like the opening scenes of Grease between Sandy and Danny.

But it’s not just the blossoming romance that has her in a good mood. She’s also “debt free” and has paid her Dad back the money he lent her to buy Salt.

Colby is stoked to hear the news and Mac invites him up to Salt for a “free brekkie”. It’s kind of a wonder how she managed to pay the money back since she always gives away drinks and food on the house.

Colby gets to talking about the diner investigation since his life is complete and utterly infatuated with it, and he says something doesn’t add up when it comes to the Parata family.

It’s probably not the best move to keep a friendly mood since Mac is dating one of them, so she gets up and leaves him to his speculations and breakfast.

Meanwhile, Nikau is lurking in the background with a brooding and paranoid facial expression. Later in the episode Tane comments that it’s the “worst poker face ever” — which is bang on.

Nik fishes for information about the investigation with Bella, who is Colby’s sister. But she’s pretty smart since coming back from horse camp and knows he’s onto something with all the questions.

Their casual chat is interrupted by Colby, and Nik quickly makes an escape.

Colby lingers around and asks Bella about the Parata family.

“If you want to know about Nik’s family, ask them yourself,” Bella tells Colby.

At that exact moment Gem walks past. Colby says she hasn’t been very cooperative when his phone rings.

It’s his sergeant.

Colby says he was just on his way to the station which is definitely a fib. He’s been playing pool, but keep telling yourself that, Colby.

It appears they have a suspect.

We’re not sure of the details but in other news there’s finally some proof of how Ari got his ‘uuuge arm muscles.

The Parata boys sit around discussing their predicament when who should turn up but Colby.

He picks a black hoodie and says the perpetrator was wearing something that matches this description. Like come on Colby, who doesn’t own a black hoodie?

Apparently he’s “cited evidence” and he can enact his policing powers to investigate them.

They all freak out.

Then we come to Evan’s final days in Summer Bay, which has Ryder in a huff.

“After everything we’ve been though in the last few weeks and now he’s bailing forever,” Ryder says.

He’s sitting alone in the diner watching videos of Evan’s gigs which is a heartbreaking moment.

Alf gives him some sound advice to live in the moment and make the most of the time he has left.

It doesn’t exactly cheer him up but it makes him re-evaluate and Ryder meets up with Evan on the jetty of confrontation and reconciliation. It’s only fitting that it takes place in such a monumental location where hundreds of emotional moments have come before, and will continue.

“It’s just so sad,” Roo says as she watches on.They go fishing.

Evan mentions he was adopted and Ryder realises he doesn’t really know a lot about his Dad and wants to talk about fishing instead.

“How can you be so cool about it all?” Ryder asks.

“He’ll always have the memory of both of them together,” Evan says.

The whole family gather for their last moments together with a cheese platter by the beach.

Cue the teary goodbye.

It’s time for Evan to leave for palliative care hospital.

“I’m proud you’re my dad,” Ryder says.

“I love you, son,” Evan says.

“You too,” Ryder says.

They share one final embrace before Evan gets in the car with Roo and Martha.