Creator: Liklik Media

Duration: 7mins 3secs

Release Date: Tuesday October 20th, 2026

Cast: Hane Kokoha, Heidee Woito, Rubu Jimmy, Rima Ravusiro

Lani’s (Heidee Woito) regular day takes an unexpected turn when Miri (Hane Kokoha) arrives with a badly bruised face.

Noah should’ve been the focus of this episode but once again, he appears for less than one minute in the beginning of the episode before the focus shifts to the conflict between Miri and Ben. The title is misleading to audiences as they may expect more conflict between Lani and Noah as she gets suspicious of his financial dealings.

City Pharmacy’s obvious promotion of its rewards card undermines the seriousness of the episode. The stakes in Back from the Abyss at this point are high and emotionally heavy. Lani and Kori are trying to get medical treatment for Miri. Shifting the narrative focus away from Miri's urgent care to have a cashier explain a retail reward card loyalty program shatters the dramatic tension. Had the advertisement appeared earlier in the series, when the relationship between Lani and Miri was still free of conflict, it could have felt far more organic. A scene of the two friends shopping together and discovering discounts would have provided a believable context for the promotion without compromising the narrative’s emotional weight.

On the other hand, Noah’s negative character development is handled brilliantly through his dialogue and subtle changes in behaviour . Unlike Ben’s more blatant physical aggression, Noah’s distress manifests in less obvious but equally telling ways. As a level-headed person who appears to suppress his conflicts rather than express them openly, his growing irritability and anger reveal the emotional pressure of building beneath the surface. Because sadness or fear are often socialized out of men, internalized pain frequently leaks out as unprovoked anger, impatience, or defensiveness with loved ones. Rather than relying on explicit displays of aggression, the series effectively uses Noah’s dialogue and shifting personality to expose the cracks in his once-gentle demeanor.

Final Verdict:

Despite character development for Noah, the episode loses focus with his limited screen time, a misleading title, and an ill-timed advertisement that disrupts the emotional tension of Miri’s medical crisis.

★★★☆☆ (3/5)