australian television information archive

Mermaid Magic

Episode 3.14 (66)
UK: Monday, February 22, 2010
Written by Anthony Morris
Directed by Colin Budds

Zane is increasingly annoyed at Will's natural connection with the girls — an issue that bugs Sophie too. When Zane learns Will has the potential to be a free-diving champion, he sees the opportunity to put Will in his place. He indicates his interest to sponsor Will and requests a demonstration of Will's abilities — setting up a challenge where he goads Will by cheating. Will responds to the challenge and undertakes an immediate dive without proper preparation. When Will doesn't resurface, Zane realises he's made a serious error. Zane urgently calls on Rikki for help and she saves Will's life — creating a special bond between them. Cleo leads the girls to investigate the Mako rock Will recovered from the Moon Pool and they discover inside it a strange and rare crystal. It matches the one Bella wears, which she found in the Irish pool that made her a mermaid!

With: Burgess Abernathy as Zane, Jamie Timony as Nate, Taryn Marler as Sophie, et al

Power Play

Episode 3.15 (67)
UK: Tuessday, February 23, 2010 (6pm)
Written by Anthony Morris
Directed by Colin Budds

Sophie steals Bella's idea for a fundraising concert at the café and presents it as her own to Rikki, gaining kudos for it as well as the responsibility to organise it. Bella feels misunderstood when nobody appears to notice Sophie's underhanded dealings — especially when Sophie purposely drops Bella's band from the event. But Rikki discovers the truth when the fundraising concert nearly collapses due to Sophie's mismanagement. Rikki realises Bella's been right all along and fires Sophie. Cleo faces a power struggle of her own as Sam moves in and introduces her unique touch to the Sertori home. A fight develops between Kim and Sam over the use of the bathroom which causes mermaid difficulties for Cleo when she gets caught in the middle — until Sam recognises what Kim's up to and finds a way to repay her.

With: Burgess Abernathy as Zane, Jamie Timony as Nate, Taryn Marler as Sophie, Matthew Okine as Laurie, Ben Timony as Jason, Jarreau La Castra as Lead Guitarist, Remy Hill as Bass Guitarist, Penni Gray as Sam, Cleo Massey as Kim, Alan David Lee as Don Sertori

The Dark Side

Episode 3.16 (68)
UK: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 (6pm)
Written by Sam Carroll
Directed by Colin Budds

It's a full moon and the girls plan to fortify themselves in the café to avoid any water attack. They turn to the boys for support, but when Bella invites Will to help, Zane reacts and continues with his own plans for a night at the café with the boys. Fed up with Zane's attitude and frustrated by their inability to stop the water attacks, Rikki goes to Mako Island to confront the strange water force alone. Cleo and Bella learn of Rikki's departure but are delayed at the café when first Kim arrives with her friends — acting on news of a wild party — and then when Don arrives to locate Kim! In the Moon Pool Rikki forms a connection with the water tentacle until Will arrives in an effort to protect her. She finds she can stop the tentacle when it goes to attack Will. The incident affects Rikki deeply and she charges Will not to let the others know about it...

With: Burgess Abernathy as Zane, Jamie Timony as Nate, Taryn Marler as Sophie, Cleo Massey as Kim, Penni Gray as Sam, Alan David Lee as Don Sertori, et al

A Magnetic Attraction

Episode 3.17 (69)
UK: Thursday, February 25, 2010 (6pm)
Written by Sam Carroll
Directed by Colin Budds

Cleo investigates the Mako rock when she's amazed to find it's become highly magnetic. Determined to unlock the mystery behind what is causing the water attacks, Cleo shares her interest in the rock with Ryan, a young geophysicist who works for Sam in the National Parks Authority. Rikki doesn't respond well to Cleo consulting a stranger about Mako's secrets and a rift begins to develop between the girls. Ryan loans Cleo some equipment and she continues her experiments defying Rikki's warning and further straining the bond between them. She's stunned when Ryan confirms the rock's unusual properties appear to indicate it is identical with the rocks found on the moon. Rikki begins to spend more time alone in the Moon Pool and finds her powers have developed a surprising new ability in the cavern. Bella and Cleo are shocked when they learn from Will the truth of what occurred with Rikki on the full moon, while Ryan is now very interested to learn more about the rock from Mako Island.

With: Andrew Lees as Ryan, Cleo Massey as Kim, Penni Gray as Sam, Alan David Lee as Don Sertori, et al

Note: the first appearance by Andrew Lees (Rescue Special Ops)

Into The Light

Episode 3.18 (70)
UK: Monday, April 12, 2010 (9.30am)
Written by Sam Carroll
Directed by Colin Budds

The fracture between the girls deepens as Rikki continues to spend more time hiding out on her own at Mako Island. When she finds Ryan conducting tests on Mako Island to try to locate the source of the unusual rock, she returns to Cleo and Bella to seek their aid to stop him. They're doubtful of her claim about Ryan and are hurt from the secret she chose to hide from them. Rikki finds herself on her own and when she discovers Sophie's having secret sponsorship meetings with Zane she's pushed to the edge. But Rikki's proven right about Ryan and Will is forced to stop her going too far using her new powers to defend the Moon Pool from him. Ryan flees, unsure of the source of the strange phenomenon he encountered in the cavern. The incident awakens Rikki to realise she's gone too far and she reconciles with Will and the girls.

With: Burgess Abernathy as Zane, Taryn Marler as Sophie, Cleo Massey as Kim, Penni Gray as Sam, Andrew Lees as Ryan, and Alan David Lee as Don Sertori

Breakaway

Episode 3.19 (71)
UK: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 (9.00am)
Written by Anthony Morris
Directed by Colin Budds

It's the day of the Gold Coast Free Diving Championship and Will's attempt at setting a new record. Sophie's excited but Will is unfazed. It's very apparent that Sophie's ambitions for Will's success are the main force driving him. Bella quietly encourages Will to find his own reason and to rediscover his attraction to free-diving for the event. But after breaking the record and winning the competition, Will chooses to shrug off his sister's influence in his life and not pursue any further competitions.
Finding being around Zane awkward, Rikki reluctantly goes to the Marine Park with Cleo for a change of air. A simple job to assist her brings Rikki to interact with Ronnie the dolphin and brightens her outlook. The girls discretely attend the championship as mermaids to cheer Will on, but when Rikki sees Sophie kissing Zane in the celebrations she breaks off her relationship with Zane permanently.

With: Burgess Abernathy as Zane, Taryn Marler as Sophie, et al

Queen For A Day

Episode 3.20 (72)
UK: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 (9.30am)
Written by Samantha Strauss
Directed by Colin Budds

With Rikki departed from the café, Zane rehires Sophie to replace her and she immediately asserts her new authority — changing staff as well as the decor of the café. Kim gets a job in the new regime which she relishes and begins to mimic her mentor Sophie at work and home, driving Cleo mad. Sophie's changes coincide with an allergic reaction in Bella that sets her mermaid powers off involuntarily and inhibits her singing in the band. Will and Rikki attempt to solve the mysterious cause of Bella's unusual ailment while Sophie threatens to replace the band in the café if Bella can't perform. Meanwhile, Cleo's encouraged to step in for Bella as lead singer under Nate's keen tutorage. Rikki finds the surprise solution to Bella's problem and confronts the uneasy situation with Zane and Sophie — reclaiming her freedom to attend the café and return for the band's big gig.

With: Burgess Abernathy as Zane, Jamie Timony as Nate, Taryn Marler as Sophie, Cleo Massey as Kim, Ben Timony as Jason, Jarreau La Castra as Lead Guitarist, Remy Hill as Bass Guitarist, Penni Gray as Sam, Cleo Massey as Kim, Alan David Lee as Don Sertori, et al

The Jewel Thief

Episode 3.21 (73)
UK: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 (9.00am)
Written by Simon Butters
Directed by Colin Budds

Will presents Rikki with her own necklace made from the crystal they discovered in the Mako rock. The entire group make a startling discovery when Cleo notices an attraction between Rikki and Bella's crystals. Experimenting further the girls find when they touch them together an immense energy is released which creates a power surge in Cleo's home and disrupts an important program for Don on the TV!
Will notes the girls' reactions to the surge and it appears they retain energy from the full moon. Inspired, Cleo successfully leads the girls to find another crystal in the wall of the Moon Pool. In an effort to regain Rikki's attention, Zane steals the new necklace. Rikki confronts Zane who's desperate to retain their relationship. When Rikki isn't interested and Zane becomes unreasonable, Cleo and Bella are forced to use the power of the crystals to recover Rikki's necklace. In the process, Sophie comes perilously close to recognising the crystals' magic.

With: Burgess Abernathy as Zane, Taryn Marler as Sophie, Cleo Massey as Kim, Penni Gray as Sam, Andrew Lees as Ryan, and Alan David Lee as Don Sertori

Mako Masters

Episode 3.22 (74)
UK: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 (9.30am)
Written by Philip Dalkin
Directed by Colin Budds

Rikki, Cleo and Bella sit their final exams, which happen to coincide with the full moon. While Cleo's aware of the full moon effect, she is intent on excelling in her subjects. She's thrown in a spin when the girls realise the moon will rise early and they're all astonished when this time water attacks them in public in the exam room! Will helps the girls conceal and escape the water attack and in the commotion the exam is suspended. Rikki convinces Cleo and Bella they should trust the water force at Mako Island and face it directly. They do — and when the moon reaches its zenith over the cupola in the Moon Pool they are presented with a message that appears to relate to them the formation of their special island from a comet. Zane and Will arrive — Zane eager to atone after the trouble he caused on the last full moon — but both are rebuked by the girls when they interrupt the precious message. The next day the girls complete their exam and excel. But Cleo is still uncertain if the message they saw was complete…

With:

Beach Party

Episode 3.23 (75)
UK: Thursday, April 15, 2010 (9.00am)
Written by Anthony Morris
Directed by Colin Budds

Bella's hoping Will will invite her to the end of year party but when he turns to Rikki for advice as to how to approach Bella, Bella comes to the conclusion he's interested in Rikki instead. Out of annoyance and desperation she asks Nate to the dance. Will feels he's missed his chance and he and Rikki decide to go as friends.
Zane too gets the wrong impression when he asks to accompany Rikki to the party — to mend their rift. He jumps to the conclusion she's got another date. Sophie does her best to inflame the situation so Zane will recognise her own interest in him. At the party, tempers flare as everyone continues to leap to the wrong assumptions about their dates. Zane arrives and is incensed to see Rikki with Will and picks a fight with him. In the confrontation, fists fly, drinks are spilled and Bella rushes out. Will finally admits his feelings for Bella and in the twilight shadows away from the main party, they finally kiss.

With: Burgess Abernathy as Zane, Taryn Marler as Sophie, et al

Too Close For Comfort

Episode 3.24 (76)
UK: Thursday, April 15, 2010 (9.30am)
Written by Max Dann
Directed by Colin Budds

Wanting to take his family on a holiday, Don begins a second job at the Marine Park where he rapidly gains a fan-following with the children as "Cap'n Don" on the Pirate Ship attraction. Cleo attempts to curb Cap'n Don's enthusiasm but gets into trouble when she's thrown overboard during his show and only narrowly escapes being seen as a mermaid. Don chooses to step back when he realises his popularity is threatening Cleo's Dolphin show and her job. Cleo's touched and he leaves her with a suggestion to vamp up her own show! Now an item, Bella and Will look to involve themselves further in each others' interests. But in their efforts, Will's musical comments get him banned from band rehearsals, while Bella accidentally breaks Will's best fossil! They have their first argument and recognise perhaps they aren't very compatible — until they realise the best connection they share is with the sea.

With: Burgess Abernathy as Zane, Jamie Timony as Nate, Matthew Okine as Laurie, Ben Timony as Jason, Jarreau La Castra as Lead Guitarist, Remy Hill as Bass Guitarist, Cleo Massey as Kim, Penni Gray as Sam, Andrew Lees as Ryan, and Alan David Lee as Don Sertori, et al

A Date With Destiny

Episode 3.25 (77)
UK: Friday, April 16, 2010 (9.00am)
Written by Chris Roache
Directed by Colin Budds

The mermaids discover fish have fled the waters around Mako Island and the water in their Moon Pool appears to be warming up. The unusual changes lead Cleo to reinvestigate the cavern and Rikki senses an unsettling energy in the cave. Meanwhile, Sophie meets Ryan whose interest in Mako Island is reawakened after he's sent there by Sam to investigate the changes in the environment and he notices the unique crystals in the necklaces the girls wear. The pair connect, Ryan feeling an important scientific discovery is near and Sophie recognising the potential to profit from the valuable crystals. Sophie uses Ryan to convince Zane to use the last of his money to help them locate the source of the crystals. At home, Cleo's stunned to learn from Sam that the absence of fish in the waters may be due to a passing comet. The girls regroup in the Moon Pool and using the power of their own crystals, restart the message they saw on the last full moon to discover its full purpose as a warning of a collision by the comet.

With: Burgess Abernathy as Zane, Jamie Timony as Nate, Ben Timony as Jason, Jarreau La Castra as Lead Guitarist, Remy Hill as Bass Guitarist, Cleo Massey as Kim, Penni Gray as Sam, Andrew Lees as Ryan, and Alan David Lee as Don Sertori, et al

Graduation

Episode 3.26 (78)
UK: Friday, April 16, 2010 (9.30am)
Written by Joss King
Directed by Colin Budds

While the world celebrates the spectacle of the rare comet, Cleo, Rikki and Bella know it's destined to strike earth and set out to stop it. Bella locates an ancient tale from when the comet last passed about how a tower of light shot from the earth, touched the comet and saved them from cataclysm. On hearing that a young girl named Eva was responsible for the light, the girls realise the tentacle's potential. Meanwhile, in an effort to recover more unique crystals, Sophie and Ryan damage the Moon Pool's ability to create the magical energy the mermaids need. The girls combine their powers to create their own tower of light and risk everything in an attempt to direct it toward the comet. They succeed and prevent a collision, saving everybody and fulfilling their destiny as mermaids. Later, Rikki, Cleo and Bella graduate from school to enter a new phase of their lives, forever bound by the sea and their shared secret.

With: Burgess Abernathy as Zane, Jamie Timony as Nate, Ben Timony as Jason, Jarreau La Castra as Lead Guitarist, Remy Hill as Bass Guitarist, Cleo Massey as Kim, Penni Gray as Sam, Andrew Lees as Ryan, and Alan David Lee as Don Sertori, et al

Notes: After the conclusion of H2O, Angus McLaren went on the star in Packed to the Rafters, Cariba Heine had a reoccuring guest role in series 1 of Dance Academy, Indiana Evans went on to a starring role in the 2011 drama Crownies, Phoebe Tonkin landed a starring role in the CW series The Secret Circle. Claire Holt also found success in the USA in 2011 appearing in Pretty Little Liars and The Vampire Diaries. Keep an eye out for the next series by Jonathan M. Shiff Productions, Lightning Point.

2011 Update: a new 26 episode series called Mako — Island of Secrets has been officially announced that will tell the story of "a 15 year old boy, Zac, who goes camping on Mako Island and is monitored by mermaids Sirena, Nixie and Lyla. After an encounter on a full moon he gains fin-like feet and the ability to control water, causing trouble to the mermaids."