Following weeks of complaints about “pathetic” new storylines and questionable plot holes, Home and Away fans have revealed what storyline they would love to see on the popular soap opera – and no, it’s not another kidnapping or car crash. Taking to a popular Facebook group this week, one viewer wrote that it would be “deadly” if Aboriginal actor Kyle Shilling, who plays Mali Hudson, could bring his culture to Summer Bay.
“I think the show needs a new storyline and we haven’t seen any Indigenous or what our beautiful culture could bring to the show,” they wrote. “Mali could bring his didgeridoo. There is a lot who could learn from his mob.”
The fan added that they’ve enjoyed watching Ethan Browne, who plays Tane Parata, showcase his Māori heritage on the show and would love to see Mali’s culture portrayed similarly.
“We need this to get out there and hope for the best that the producers and writers take notice of this and just hope for the best they listen to the fans,” they continued.
“It will even help with the ratings as lately the storylines have been boring, besides the River Boys storyline but that is over now and they did take notice of the fans asking to bring the River Boys so let’s hope they take notice that we want Mali’s culture on the show.”
‘Great idea’
Fans took to the comments to say that they “couldn’t agree more” and it would be great to see more storylines centred around Mali’s culture on one of the biggest shows in Australia because “native representation matters”.
“I think that would be a great idea we need to learn more about our Indigenous people and their culture,” one person wrote, while another added, “100% agree so many people don’t understand about our First Nation culture”.
“We must see and learn more about Mali and his/our Aboriginal Culture. If the writers are worth their salt, they should be able to work in a storyline that could show our culture in an appropriate, natural way,” a third shared.
“Yep it would be deadly to see as a lot of people think it’s just about a smoking ceremony or a welcome to country but there is so much more to their beautiful rich culture,” someone else shared, followed by a different user who said, “It would be great for Mali to talk about Dreamtime and show their language and song”.
“This is an Aussie show and really should have more First Nations representation,” another fan declared.
Meanwhile, others predicted that the show might start featuring more of Mali’s culture in the coming weeks as they recently revealed that he is going back to the country to “find his purpose”.
Kyle Shilling makes history on the soap
Kyle Shilling made history in late 2022 when he became Home and Away’s very first Indigenous Australian main cast member. Kyle, a Widjubal man of the Bundjalung Nation, said at the time that he was excited to take on the role and represent his culture on an international stage.
“If I had seen someone like me on a popular TV show when I was a kid, I would have been more driven as a young person to want to better myself and explore acting,” he told PerthNow.
“As Indigenous people, we are always categorised as athletes; there was never any other avenue I thought I could go down. When you feel like you’re stereotyped your whole life, that has a huge effect.
“Looking back on my 10-year-old self, if I had seen someone like Mali Hudson on such a big series, I would have wanted to be him.”
According to Seven, the show’s producers worked with “an Aboriginal script consultant” who helped with the character’s conception and storyline.
