As Home and Away returns to UK screens in 2026, Summer Bay opens a new chapter that is as quietly devastating as it is profoundly moving. Rather than explosive twists or sensational shocks, the long-running soap chooses restraint, allowing grief, memory, and music to take centre stage. At the heart of this story lies the legacy of Theo Pulos, whose absence echoes through every note played and every dream rebuilt.

A dream reborn — with one voice missing

For Remy and Sunny, the launch of Back on Track Records should mark the start of something exhilarating. The pair have poured their passion, ambition, and friendship into creating a record label that represents hope, second chances, and creative freedom. Yet the closer the dream comes to reality, the more painful it becomes.

Theo was meant to be the label’s first signing. His music, his talent, and his belief in the project were woven into its very foundation. Now, every achievement is tinged with loss. Every step forward is a reminder that the person who inspired it all should have been standing beside them.

Justin’s grief — and a step toward healing

The weight of that loss is felt most deeply by Justin Morgan, who had championed both Theo’s music and his future. Justin admits to Sunny that while he’s relieved the label is finally becoming a reality, he can’t yet fully commit. The grief is too raw. The wound too fresh.

In a quietly significant moment, Justin reveals he has decided to attend grief counselling. It’s not framed as a dramatic breakthrough, but as a necessary act of survival. He knows that if he doesn’t confront the pain, it will consume him.

Leah’s resistance — grief without words

Justin’s decision, however, creates an unexpected rift with Leah Patterson. While she accepts that everyone grieves differently, the idea of talking about Theo with a stranger is unbearable for her. Her pain manifests not in words, but in avoidance — scrubbing the fridge obsessively, keeping busy, refusing to sit with the silence.

It’s an achingly realistic portrayal of grief. Leah isn’t in denial of her loss; she simply can’t face it head-on. When she later confides in Alf Stewart, it becomes clear that therapy feels like reopening a wound she’s barely holding together.

Yet something Justin says lingers with her — the idea of focusing on what made Theo happy. And that thought leads her back to music.

The guitar — a symbol of survival

Leah’s return to the pier apartment she’s been avoiding is one of the storyline’s most emotionally charged moments. Inside, she finds Sunny quietly listening to a lyric album featuring Theo’s lead vocals. No dialogue is needed. Theo’s presence is felt in the stillness.

As Leah begins packing Theo’s belongings, she opens up about the guitar — the one object she hasn’t been able to touch. Years earlier, Theo’s abusive father had destroyed his original guitar, crushing his confidence and silencing his music. It was Justin who replaced it, telling him, “In this house, music is never a waste of time.”

That guitar didn’t just bring Theo back to music. It brought him back to himself.

Back on Track Records takes shape

By the time Sunny arrives late to meet Remy at their new studio space in Yabbie Creek, the emotional weight of the day is evident. Remy is buzzing with ideas, testing equipment, mapping out the future — but even his excitement can’t mask the ache of knowing Theo should have been part of this moment.

When Justin later visits the studio, the conversation turns to honoring Theo. No one quite knows how — words feel inadequate, and the grief is still too close to the surface. But the seed is planted.

A tribute that speaks softly — and forever

Back at home, inspiration finally strikes. Leah and Justin bring Theo’s guitar to the studio, explaining they want it displayed as a permanent tribute. Not hidden away, but integrated into the space where music will continue to be made. Leah is certain Theo would have loved that.

Sunny later completes the tribute with a simple plaque bearing the words that changed everything for Theo:

“In this house, music is never a waste of time.”

When Justin and Leah see it, they know instantly it’s perfect.

That evening, Remy and Sunny stand quietly in the studio, looking at the guitar and plaque mounted side by side. There are no speeches. No dramatic music cues. Just silence, memory, and resolve. Back on Track Records is officially open — built not in spite of loss, but because of it.

Fans and critics respond with emotion

The response from viewers has been overwhelming. Social media quickly filled with reactions praising the storyline’s restraint and authenticity. Many admitted they were brought to tears by the quiet moments — especially Leah finding Sunny listening to Theo’s vocals, a scene widely described as “heart-shattering.”

Fans connected deeply with Leah’s avoidance of therapy and Justin’s contrasting need for counselling, calling it one of the most accurate portrayals of grief the show has ever delivered. Theo’s guitar, in particular, has become a powerful symbol — of trauma, healing, and second chances.

Television critics have echoed that praise, describing the arc as one of the most emotionally sophisticated stories Home and Away has told in years. By focusing on the aftermath of loss rather than the tragedy itself, the show allows viewers to sit with the reality of grief — uneven, personal, and ongoing.

A legacy that lives on

Producers have hinted that Theo’s story is far from over. While he may be gone, his influence will continue to shape Summer Bay, particularly through Back on Track Records, which is set to become a hub for future storylines.

As one member of the creative team put it, “Theo shouldn’t be remembered only for how he died, but for how he changed the people around him.”

In 2026, Home and Away reminds audiences why it endures. Not through shock, but through sincerity. Through stories that understand that love doesn’t end when someone is gone — it simply changes form.

And in Summer Bay, as long as the music plays, Theo Pulos is never truly gone.