After 40 years, it’s last drinks at Lassiters. They’re turning off the coffee machine at Harold’s. It’s the final bell at Erinsborough High. Even the homes on Ramsay Street are about to be demolished, to make way for a freeway. How will we cope?
But we’ve got time for one last cocktail — and maybe a wedding?
Here’s what you need to know about the Neighbours finale: 2025 version.
The Neighbours cast gathers for a farewell photo for definitely, probably, maybe the last time. (Supplied: Paramount)
Expectations were … different
When the show was wrapped up in 2022, we got cameos from Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Margot Robbie, and a street party with more confetti than the council should allow (although I’m sure it would have been okay with Lou Carpenter when he was the mayor).
It was perfect, and it couldn’t be repeated.
We knew this finale would be less … showy.
Kylie and Jason were unable to make it to the set for the latest farewell episode. (Supplied: Ray Messner Photography)
But the tone was well and truly set right at the start when Karl (Alan Fletcher) walked in with a cardboard box.
“It’s hard rubbish tomorrow, we should get rid of as much as we can, make it easier at the end of the day,” he said.
“You make it sound like the end of the day is upon us,” Susan (Jackie Woodburne) shot back.
I get emotional throwing things out too, Suse! I bet she keeps all her soft plastics too! This could be a teary, mundane, 60 minutes.
So where are we moving?
Never one to waste a crisis, Paul Robinson (Steffan Dennis, loving it sick) is scheming. He wants all the residents of Ramsay Street to take their payout from the freeway and invest in Robinson Towers, high-density living in what looks like a windswept corner of Docklands. Plenty of trams, but surely not enough driveways for Ramsay Street residents.
Paul’s rival from way back, Shane Ramsay (Peter O’Brien), also has a plan — a new development called Ramsay Hills, which looks like it’s on the banks of the Maribyrnong River in Melbourne’s north-west, with plenty of room for driveways, and a street named after Karl, so he’s in.
Will this be the easiest compulsory acquisition in history with the gang all set to live happily ever after in Ramsay Hills? (Supplied: Paramount)
This tension between high-rise and detached housing is Australia’s housing crisis playing out, complete with artist impressions.
Everyone seems to have picked a side, even a parade of returning characters like Mackenzie (Georgie Stone) and Melanie (Lucinda Cowden).
Karl and Paul reprised Susan’s heartfelt monologue from 2022 about what makes a street, and how it’s more than the bricks and mortar.
But Susan walks out!
And when Susan’s confused, I’m confused.
But back to the wedding
Hold the real estate deals! Paul and Terese (Rebekah Elmaloglou) are getting married! By my count, this is Paul’s eighth wedding, although it’s his second to Terese.
Do you know what, I think he’s got it right this time!
Paul and Terese showed us how to repurpose timber off-cuts for a wedding backdrop. (Supplied: Paramount)
When you’ve done it so many times, all you need is a well-manicured charcuterie board, all your neighbours and a couple of plastic rings.
As Terese said, “it’s not where you are, it’s who you’re with”.
Which I guess is what you say when you get married in your backyard.
Paul also knows a thing or two about marriage by now, telling Terese, he doesn’t want a traditional fairy tale.
“You will always be the queen of my tower, Terese,” he said, at which point I told the children they definitely needed to go to bed, right now.
Did everyone else get their happy endings?
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Plain Jane Superbrain (Annie Jones) got her happily ever after, in the form of Clint (Jason Wilder), who was happy to be her date to the wedding, although he did have plans.
“I was going to curl up with some mid-19th-century fiction.”
That was never going to happen with Nicolette (Hannah Monson in some incredibly high boots) pushing her mother into action.
To be honest, bits of the finale (Krista’s pregnancy, the Rodwells) did feel a bit rushed.
But time’s running out before the wrecking ball demolishes these homes.
Or is it?
Tell me what to think, Susan!
After the real estate tours, everyone went back to Lassiters, where Vera had been all along, sipping free cocktails.
There was a lot of hugging, and a club remix version of the famous theme song (which is not as good as the 1990s version, the one with all of the saxophone)
But where is Susan?
This is the bit that got me right in my nostalgia. She’s out on the street, hearing the voices of her past friends. Lyn Scully! Madge! Toadie! I tell you, I sobbed.
Susan pauses to consider whether she’s chosen the right footwear for this walk. (Supplied: Paramount)
She tells Karl and Paul there is a third way: resistance!
In a Home and Away reference that literally made me gasp, she tells them there’s a community about an hour out of Sydney “that has found a way to keep going”!
“I want to stay,” she said.
“I want to fight for the street. Other communities have beaten the odds! We could be one of them!”
Don’t look so worried Susan, Victoria’s major infrastructure projects never run to schedule. (Supplied: Paramount)
As the camera zooms out, leaving Susan, Karl and Paul in the middle of Melbourne’s most famous cul-de-sac, it’s hard to believe it’s the end.
I mean, it’s never really the end, and there’s definitely an opening for someone to pick up Robinson Towers as a six-part series, or a Christmas movie set on Ramsay Hills.
But I know all the props were sent to the op shop, so for now it looks like Karl got his way with the box for the hard rubbish.
