Home And Away Viewers Defend 'realistic' Storyline After Backlash

Fans of Home and Away were first angry that one of their favorite characters’ lives was in jeopardy, but they later took to social media to defend a current plot point. Dr. Bree Cameron at the hospital was unable to treat Summer Bay icon Alf Stewart during a recent medical emergency; Dr. Levi Fowler had to intervene to save Stewart’s life.

Bree’s behavior has been incredibly unstable lately, especially following Felicity Newman’s unexpected aneurysm death. The physician has been gradually losing his mind, working long hours, making odd phone calls at the hospital, and getting very little sleep.

After an abusive marriage in which she witnessed her husband abduct her and attempt to kill her before she hit him with a shovel and got him first, the character also experiences post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She has experienced it.

Bree now appears to be experiencing OCD symptoms, especially at work, with her PTSD probably resurfacing after she was unable to save Felicity’s life. While some fans were initially perplexed by this development and questioned the validity of the plot, others have defended it and praised it for taking a realistic approach to mental health.

Fans were first incensed with Bree’s actions following Alf’s episode and threatened to “riot” if anything happened to Alf. Other fans have intervened to defend the plot, though, after it has concluded.

“A fantastic narrative that explains what true OCD is. What individuals experience and how anxiety creates a vicious cycle in which you freeze, become fixated and anxious, and then repeat. In a Facebook group, a fan wrote, “Well done Juliet Goodwin [and] thank you Home and Away.”

“Thank you for sharing this post it is about time that some people see how trauma and grief work, as some people think Bree is just doing this for the fun of it…” Someone else concurred.

“I think Bree is doing a great job, sadly a lot of people don’t seem to understand how bad it can get for someone who has experienced trauma, grief or even fear,” a different individual said. “It really is not a good place to be in.”

“It’s a good storyline if I remember they did an OCD one years ago involving Sally,” a another admirer commented. “Just hope Alf isn’t too hard on Bree like Marilyn was.”

“Marilyn’s behaviour and lack of understanding (even though not given an adequate explanation on Bree’s situation) is a good, good representation of the grief we feel when someone we care for goes through something life-threatening,” a different person noted.