As Home and Away prepares for its highly anticipated return on January 2nd, Summer Bay finds itself gripped by a cycle of mourning and sudden, jarring revelations. While the community continues to grapple with the tragic loss of Theo, a new shadow looms over the Mathieson sisters, threatening to shatter their fragile reconciliation.

A Legacy of Trauma

The central drama of the upcoming week revolves around Harper and Dana Mathieson. What began as a tentative attempt by Harper to reconnect with their estranged parents has taken a devastating turn. After enlisting Cash to use police resources to track down their family history, Harper is met with a grim reality: their father passed away four years ago from a drug overdose.

The news acts as a catalyst for a deep ideological divide between the siblings. For Harper, the revelation that her mother is still alive—though still battling her own history of addiction—ignites a flicker of hope. She clings to the belief that such a tragedy could have served as a “wake-up call” for her mother to turn her life around. However, Dana remains steadfast in her resentment. Recalling a childhood defined by fear, Dana dismissively asserts that “monsters don’t change,” viewing Harper’s optimism as dangerous wishful thinking. The tension escalates into a direct confrontation with Cash, whom Dana accuses of unnecessary interference in their past.

The Weight of Grief

Meanwhile, the ripples of Theo’s death continue to destabilize the Bay’s residents. Lacy, struggling to navigate her immense sorrow, finds herself at a crossroads. Seeking solace at the police station, she turns to David, who shares his own experiences of coping with the loss of Christina. His advice—that Theo would want her to move forward—encourages Lacy to return to the surf shop.

However, the path to recovery is rarely linear. A simple tribute—a bouquet of flowers sent to the shop in Theo’s honor—proves to be a breaking point for Lacy. Overwhelmed by the visceral reminder of her loss, she flees to the beach, where she is eventually found by her boss, Mali. Mali, who has been quietly drowning under the increased workload of running the shop alone, sets aside his own stress to provide the emotional support Lacy so desperately needs.

Fractured Relationships

The week also explores the fallout of Eden’s meddling. After hijacking a phone call to McKenzie, Eden attempts to make amends with Levi over breakfast. While Levi accepts her apology, the gesture unearths a deeper, more uncomfortable truth: the hostility he received from Mac wasn’t just a reaction to Eden’s antics, but a reflection of the growing chasm in his own relationship.

As Levi overhears Mali discussing Mac’s supposedly “fine” state in Italy, he becomes increasingly convinced that she is masking her true feelings. Despite warnings from Eden and Abigail that he is in no fit state to work, Levi throws himself back into his professional duties, using the hospital as a shield against his personal turmoil.

With a scheduling shift moving linear airings exclusively to FiveStar, fans should prepare for a week where the ghosts of the past are just as present as the tragedies of the today. Summer Bay may be known for its sunshine, but the coming days promise a forecast of emotional storms.