Ep 2. The Welcome Mat

The Welcome Mat is the second episode of the first season of the Australian drama series A Place to Call Home. The episode revolves around the aftermath of the arrival of Sarah Adams (Marta Dusseldorp), a nurse from England, at her new home in Inverness, New South Wales, Australia. Sarah is still struggling to cope with the sudden shift in her life, having left behind her past in England to start anew in Australia. She receives a warm welcome from her new employer, George Bligh (Brett Climo), and his mother, Elizabeth (Noni Hazlehurst), who is apprehensive about Sarah's arrival.

The episode opens with Sarah struggling to adapt to her new surroundings in Inverness as she tries to settle into her new role as a nurse. Her efforts to gain the trust and respect of the people of Inverness are not helped by the fact that she is not readily accepted by society due to her past and her decision to leave England behind. Despite these challenges, Sarah refuses to be deterred and remains determined to make her mark in Inverness.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth, who is the matriarch of the Bligh family, is still coming to terms with the arrival of Sarah and her impact on the family. She is unimpressed with Sarah's background and believes that there is more to her past than she is letting on. Her suspicions are further fueled by the fact that Sarah has not been forthcoming about important details of her past and her reluctance to talk about her family.

As Sarah continues to acclimatize to her new environment, she finds herself drawn to George, who appears to be an amiable and charming man. However, her growing attraction towards George is complicated by the fact that he is already married, albeit unhappily, to a woman named Regina (Jenni Baird). George and Regina's marriage is strained, and they hope that Sarah's arrival will inject some life into their struggling relationship.

The Welcome Mat is a compelling episode that explores the complexities of starting afresh and the challenges that come with trying to gain acceptance from a new community. The episode also delves into the theme of betrayal and the repercussions of concealing one's past. The tension between the different characters is palpable, and the acting is superb, with Marta Dusseldorp turning in a particularly noteworthy performance as Sarah.

Overall, The Welcome Mat is an excellent episode that holds plenty of promise for the rest of the season. The series is off to a great start, and it will be interesting to see how the different plot lines develop in subsequent episodes.