Best/Worst character exits

[cymbaline]

In the new year, Adam said that Matt had joined the surfing circuit. I must've missed him making reference to Matt moving out later on. By then, most of the viewership would've forgotten about him anyway. 

[Revealed]

On 05/06/2025 at 00:27, cymbaline said:

In the new year, Adam said that Matt had joined the surfing circuit. I must've missed him making reference to Matt moving out later on. By then, most of the viewership would've forgotten about him anyway. 

When did he say that?

I've just watched the first episode of 1992 and no mention of Matt. I think the mention a few months later was Adam saying paying the rent had become more difficult since Matt moved out or something like that.

That episode reminded me how Matt lasted longer than most of the other cast there in the beginning not to mention the characters who came and went during his stay. Yet he's best remembered for not being very memorable.

[cymbaline]

I can't remember which episode he mentioned Matt being gone, but it wasn't straight away. Matt might have been gone a week or two before he briefly mentioned it. 

[adam436]

I suspect the producers anticipated Matt to be a bigger character than what he ended up being: he had his own tie-in novel (The Matt Wilson story), and was brought back full-time in 1989 despite being a rather forgettable and two-dimensional character (which didn't improve when he returned!) the previous year. 

He even appeared in the opening titles for a few weeks in 1988. I remember watching the Early Years in the late 90s and when he made his opening credits debut alongside Roo, I had no idea who he was

[Revealed]

The way I see it is that when Martin and Lance left Adam and Matt were supposed to fill that void. Whilst Adam made a convincing Martin, Matt was nothing like Lance so they just made him the guy who works at the diner instead.

[adam436]

2 hours ago, Revealed said:

The way I see it is that when Martin and Lance left Adam and Matt were supposed to fill that void. 

I'd say they were filling that void before Lance and Martin left. Once Adam and Matt became a partnership (around episode 350ish?), Lance and Martin were reduced to silly stuff like the band, the goldfish funeral and the hotdog stand. The money making schemes and hopelessly trying to crack onto the latest newcomer was left to Matt and Adam. For example, the Summer Bay Bunyip story is something that Martin would have led in his early days, but instead it was driven by Adam despite Martin still being around at that point. 

 

2 hours ago, Revealed said:

Matt was nothing like Lance

I suspect that was the point to the extent. Lance did have a heart of gold, but his naivity and lack of intellegence was a bit farfetched at times. 

[CaptainHulk]

I think the writers experimented that Lance and Martin coul sone d function sans one another instead of as a unit.

Lance did see through Dodge, though.

[adam436]

11 hours ago, CaptainHulk said:

I think the writers experimented that Lance and Martin coul sone d function sans one another instead of as a unit.

I think they could have to be honest - if only one of them left in 1990 and the other stayed, Lance could have continued as Marilyn's husband and Martin in a similar function to Adam (had he not been around). 

I just feel the writers had made them so co-dependant on each other and written them into the corner with their ridiciulous stories it was hard to come back from that. 

[Sb boy]

 Adam was a character I really didn’t like. He felt by 1990 like a poor man’s.  Dibble   Even. Though  Marty. Was on his way out. It was a mistake to make such. A lothsome. Character. The get rich. Quick.  Role  Matt was just pointless really    Unlike lance who was.  A very Nieve and fun. Character  and the conscience  to Marty. Matt stevans was  a good actor  I just hated. His character. I would put. Adam. At  the top of my most hated character list. Along with. Jack Wilson 

[adam436]

I disagree about Jack Wilson, but I agree with your summation of Adam Cameron. I just found Martin a more likable character, and given Mariyln instantly formed a trio with him and Matt as soon as Lance and Martin left, it's obvious the producers saw them as replacements. 

I think the problem is the show wanted to be more "sexier" by early 1990 (writing out some older characters, the increased bikini and speedo scenes), and I suspect the producers thought Adam and Matt looked better without a shirt on than Lance and Martin