Yahoo News Neighbours: 7 of the biggest clues in the Dee mystery
It was the comeback to end all comebacks when Neighbours announced that Madeleine West would reprise her role as ill-fated bride Dee Bliss last year. Yet we were left gobsmacked when it was revealed that 'Dee' wasn't really Dee at all – but rather, a cunning con woman named Andrea Somers.
With the story hotting up again due to Sonya's discovery that Andrea is hospitalised with a serious identity crisis, viewers can't help but wonder whether Neighbours producers are pulling another switcheroo. Could Sonya have stumbled upon the real Dee, or is it even possible that Dee and Andrea are the same person?
With so much speculation, let's look at some of the most important clues that could help us unravel one of soap's longest-running mysteries.
1. "Special Appearances" by Madeleine West
Never have the Neighbours closing credits provided such 'unmissable drama'. When Madeleine West reprised her role last month for a series of flashback scenes showing the course of Andrea's pregnancy, she was rightly credited as Andrea Somers. Pretty simple, right?
So, when 'Andrea' reappeared this month in a psychiatric hospital, eagle-eyed fans quickly spotted that Madeleine West was given a unique credit as "special appearance" without a character name. If this isn't a clue that Neighbours want us to think there's something amiss, we don't know what is.
What does it all mean? Either the Neighbours bosses are playing games with our hearts, or the real Dee is alive, but doomed to be accused of being Andrea Somers. Talk about a twist of fate.
2. Location, location, location
When Sindi and Willow returned last month, they finally gave us an update on what Andrea Somers was doing now. As well as giving birth to Toadie's baby, it seemed that Andrea was living in Perth and having a few mental-health issues of her own.
While this could line up with the mystery woman in the hospital in Hobart, Tasmania, there's just one small problem: Perth is nowhere near Hobart. It's 1,870 miles away, as a matter of fact.
Now, it wouldn't be the first time that soap ignored basic travel logistics, but if you ask us, it's highly unlikely a woman suffering severe psychosis made that trip – meaning that it must be another person.
3. Why Tasmania?
Speaking of Tassie, what would bring Andrea all the way to Tasmania? If she wanted to mess with Toadie some more, she would've stayed close. Or, if she was trying to get away from Paul's private investigator, she could do a lot better than Hobart.
Tasmania could be a vital clue in unravelling the Dee mystery. It just so happens that the real Dee was born there and it's where her entire family all passed away. Either Andrea is going method in her latest Dee impersonation, or the real Dee has been trying to piece her life together, resulting in a serious breakdown.
Die-hard viewers also know that Tasmania is where Neighbours' finest 'back from the dead' character, Harold Bishop, ended up after washing ashore with amnesia. Knowing wink to the past, or massive hint of the future?
4. The evil smile
Just when hopes were raised that 'Hospital Dee' was 'Real Dee', along came the moment that had us all second-guessing. When Sonya confronted the mystery woman and got removed from the room, Hospital Dee cracked a sly smile that had viewers fearing it's all just another long-con from scheming Andrea.
After all, this is the woman who convinced Dee's friends, neighbours and husband that she was the real Dee-al. Pretending to be mentally ill is yet another twisted act, but something Andrea is more than capable of doing. As a wanted woman, Andrea has nothing to lose and could use this opportunity to get out of a prison sentence.
5. I-Dee
When Sonya discussed the case with the doctor in Hobart, we learned that Hospital Dee was admitted with several IDs – pretty standard for a con-artist on the run from the law. Yet the doctor had no recognition of the name Andrea Somers, implying that this wasn't the name on any of the cards.
While it's completely believable that Andrea would stop using her real name for fear of being caught, this doesn't really prove anything. In fact, if 'Real Dee' really had lost her memory, it's reasonable to believe she too has lived under assumed names for over 15 years. Jane Doe must get pretty boring after a while.
6. Just who is Bench Dee?
Essays could be written about the significance of Bench Dee. Neighbours blew our minds last year with a scene showing Dee, dressed in white and reminiscing about "old times".
Viewers immediately assumed that the different clothes and hair meant that Real Dee was out there, and it was only a matter of time before she returned. So far, no luck, but recent events can shed a new light on the much-debated scene.
Whilst Andrea would've been five months' pregnant by that stage, Bench Dee certainly didn't look it. Not to mention both Bench Dee and Hospital Dee perfected that glazed-eye, staring-into-the-distance look, and it's a far cry from Andrea's usual attitude.
7. Dee's mystery man
It turned out that Dee wasn't alone on that bench, as she was soon accompanied by a mystery gentleman. True Dee-lievers thought he could potentially be Dee's new husband, while others thought it was simply Andrea's latest victim. However, when Willow returned, she made no mention of a new man in Andrea's life and he didn't appear in any of the Andrea flashbacks last month.
So, who is he? Well, his presence must be significant because his inclusion is too random otherwise. If Dee is the woman in the hospital and she has a history of mental-health issues, he could potentially be her psychiatrist and provide us with a lot of answers.
Or, perhaps he rescued Dee from the sea and brainwashed her into believing she's his deceased wife Andrea and mother of his young daughter? Stranger things have happened.
Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.
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