Throng

Hunter

Tracey starts to give Hunter a lecture then is shocked to learn he was stabbed in the arm with a used needle. She comes over after work to help, but Hunter doesn't want her pity.

Later, Hunter finds the girl who was there when he was stabbed, passed out in the toilets.

Maxwell and Sarah

Sarah and Daniel move into Maxwell's "temporarily".  She resists his attempts to get her into his bed (for now).

After talking to Lauren, Daniel decides to give Sarah and Maxwell his blessing.

Tania

Tania is back from Samoa, saying she's not going to waste more time being bitter and twisted about her mum and Ben.

Isaac

After Tracey turns him down on a date, he eyes up a new died-blonde nurse called Frankie who looks oddly like Alice at first glance.

Weekdays, 7pm on TV2

Confident Isaac Worthington (Matt Minto) works his charms on Tania Jeffries (Faye Smythe) this week on Shortland Street, when they meet and hit it off. But Tania isn't the first lady in Ferndale that Isaac has pursued, so will she wind up as just another notch on his belt?

Working with Isaac on a tricky surgery, Tania is quickly impressed by this handsome, driven man.

Smythe explains: "Tania learns how passionate Isaac is about his work, and that's a real turn on for her. He's also everything that her ex-boyfriend Ben (Shaun Edwards-Brown) isn't, so she's pretty attracted to that too."

I sure hope Shortland Street gets better soon.  It's been a dismal start to the year, with the only light so far being a bit of humor thanks to Libby and her Dr McSteamy Lust.

Here's a few on my list of gripes:

Monday 22 March

Maxwell plays a clever hand with Sarah.
The honeymoon is over for Kieran and Sophie.
Rachel wields the executioner's blade.

Tuesday 23 March

Gerald and Yvonne kill with kindness.
Loren goads Sophie into a dangerous idea.
Callum and Hunter attempt a rescue.

Wednesday 24 March

Sophie fights for recognition.
Yvonne and Ben discover the perils of amateur dramatics.
Some home truths send Chris reeling.

Thursday 25 March

Daniel and Loren's relationship stalls.
TK and Sarah have a close call.
Isaac puts Tania on the spot.

Friday 26 March

Tracey has a brush with the law.
Tania keeps her guard up.
Brooke plays her hand and comes up trumps.

Weekdays, 7pm on TV2

When drug addict Astrid (Andi Crown) comes into ED (Emergency Department), Hunter goes out of his way to help her. But it quickly becomes apparent he may have bitten off more than he can chew.

When a desperate Astrid comes into the hospital looking for clean needles, Hunter is surprised by ex-cop Tracey's (Sarah Thomson) hard line attitude with her.

Donoghue explains: "When Hunter sees the way Tracey deals with Astrid it really bugs him. She takes an incredibly unsympathetic approach with the addict, which Hunter can't relate to at all."

Challenging Tracey on the way she handles Astrid, Hunter remains perplexed by Tracey's unsympathetic outlook on drug addicts. Unable to forget about Astrid's sad case, Hunter decides to help her himself.

Monday 15 March

Hunter faces his nemesis.
Daniel creates havoc for Sarah.
Issac breaks all the rules.

Tuesday 16 March

Hunter misreads the signs.
Issac battles the establishment.
Daniel makes a play for stardom.

Wednesday 17 March

Yvonne, Ben and Gerald have a nasty brush with drama.
Scotty senses a glitch in the matrix.
Tania flirts with a lady-killer.

Thursday 18 March

Tania plays the player.
Ben gets a surprise promotion.
Scotty loses control in a moment of weakness.

Friday 19 March

Scotty dodges responsibility.
Ben gets a bigger part.
Daniel leads Maxwell into temptation.

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Weekdays, 7pm on TV2

Yvonne Jeffries (Alison Quigan) suffers a crisis in confidence on Shortland Street this week, when she is mistaken for her partner Ben's (Shaun Edwards-Brown) mother. With renewed fear of being seen in public with Ben, sensible Yvonne is mortified. Will she be able to move past her inhibitions?

With many years between them, Yvonne and Ben's relationship has been scandalous from the start. But just when things seemed to be normalising for the couple, Yvonne's self-confidence takes a major knock, explains Quigan.

"Yvonne is extremely happy with Ben, and pleased that things are going so well between the two of them. So when she's mistaken for his mum, it really takes her by surprise."