Mason Turner
Mason Turner is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Taylor Glockner. The actor previously auditioned for guest roles on the show, but the producers decided to develop a long-term character specifically for him instead. Glockner's character, Mason, was created and introduced along with the Turner family, as part of a major overhaul of the show's cast. Glockner was given a two-year contract with Neighbours and he began filming his first scenes as Mason in November 2012. Glockner made his first screen appearance as Mason during the episode broadcast on 22 February 2013. In December 2013, it was announced that Glockner was to leave Neighbours and Mason departed on 28 February 2014.
The character was introduced two weeks after his parents and two younger siblings. Prior to his on-screen arrival, Mason was serving a three-month sentence for robbery in juvenile detention. He had fallen in with a bad crowd and was led astray by Robbo Slade. Executive producer, Richard Jasek, said Mason has a good heart, while Glockner described him as being "smart, funny, serious, angry, caring, playful" and someone who loves his family. Shortly after his arrival, Mason developed a relationship with Kate Ramsay. He also became involved in another robbery with Robbo and briefly dated Imogen Willis.
Creation and casting
On 4 November 2012, it was announced that the five-strong Turner family would be introduced to Neighbours in February 2013. The family were created as part of a major overhaul of the show's cast. Of the Turners, Kate Kendall, who plays matriarch Lauren, explained "The producers were looking to get quite a traditional family in there and hark back to some of those old traditions and family values. They're going to be a really charismatic family, but you'll also get some really juicy storylines and that's what the audiences relate to. Viewers will relate to the familiarity of them and hopefully the sense of magnetism that we bring." The Turners were given an immediate link in Erinsborough through long-term resident Lou Carpenter, the father of Lauren and grandfather to Mason and his siblings.Taylor Glockner was cast as the eldest Turner sibling Mason. Speaking to Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy, Glockner explained that he had previously auditioned for a couple of guest roles on the show. The producers decided that they wanted to develop a long-term character specifically for Glockner instead. The actor called the creation of Mason "a very interesting process." Glockner was both "humbled and thrilled" to land the role and called it "a fantastic opportunity" for him as an actor. He told Brooke Hunter from Femail "One of my inspirations, Guy Pearce worked on Neighbours and that was one of my big reasons for auditioning and working hard on the project." Glockner initially had a two-year contract with Neighbours and he began filming his first scenes in November 2012. He shot his first scenes alongside actress Ashleigh Brewer who plays Kate Ramsay. Glockner made his debut screen appearance as Mason on 22 February 2013, two weeks after the rest of his on-screen family began appearing.
Development
Backstory
In his fictional backstory, Mason was born in June 1999. His birth date was changed to 15 February 1995 upon his introduction. Mason arrived in Erinsborough two weeks after his family due to being in juvenile detention, where he was serving a three-month sentence. Glockner revealed that Mason had fallen in with a bad crowd back in Mount Isa, where his family are from, and was led astray by "troublemaker" Robbo Slade. Robbo developed a plan to rob a local warehouse, which Mason went along with – but it went wrong. While Robbo escaped, Mason was caught and the arresting officer was his father Matt.Characterisation
Before his introduction, Kendall described Mason as "the smouldering, rebellious" child. While executive producer, Richard Jasek, commented that Mason is "a bad boy", who has a good heart. He has done the wrong things for the right reasons. Similar to Jasek, Glockner thought that Mason may not have made the best choices in life, but they always came from the right place. Glockner thought that it was "kinda cool" that Mason arrived after his family, saying that it was in his nature to be late to the party. He also said his character was "a good kid" deep down. Describing Mason, the actor stated "He's just lost his way a little bit recently and he's faced the consequences. At the end of the day, he loves his family and would do ANYTHING to protect them. He's smart, funny, serious, angry, caring, playful... and his cheekiness is particularly fun to play." The actor told Kilkelly that he loves Mason's "hard, rebellious edge", saying it was a part of him. He continued "It often works playing Mason with that chiselled element, because it really accentuates his moments of pain and vulnerability."Glocker also labelled his character "a lost puppy" and "impulsive". The actor stated that despite trying to be a better person, trouble often seemed to follow Mason. Relations between Mason and his father are "pretty icy" to begin with. Mason does not have a lot of time for Matt as he still blamed him for sending him to juvenile detention. Glockner commented that Mason also felt "a lot of frustration and resentment" towards his father, but thought he would overcome it and forgive Matt eventually. Glockner told an Inside Soap columnist that Mason was happy to be free and saw Erinsborough as an unexplored playground. Mason is quick to settle in and when he realises he needs a job, he asks Chris Pappas who works at the local garage. Chris is initially reluctant to take him on, but when Mason helps him out with Ralphie Mahone, Chris then owes him a favour.
Relationship with Kate Ramsay
Shortly after his arrival, Mason began pursuing Kate Ramsay and although she thought he was too young, there was a spark between them. Glockner said Mason and Kate were a great match and he thought that Kate might be the type of woman to help Mason get his life in order. Mason tries everything to impress Kate, including taking his shirt off in front of her. But when he tries "a more heartfelt approach" by compiling a CD of Kate's sister's music to give to her, it prompts Kate to invite him to Georgia Brooks's birthday party as her guest. However, just as Kate is starting to change her mind about Mason, his ex-girlfriend, Rhiannon Bates, shows up in town. Rhiannon's presence is not welcomed by Mason, but he ends up kissing her to get information about Robbo. Glockner told TV Week's Thomas Mitchell that Mason is prepared to go as far as he needs to, but Kate is the girl he has genuine feelings for. Kate witnesses Mason and Rhiannon's kiss and Mason fears his relationship with her is over before it has begun.Despite resisting Mason's advances at first, Kate becomes jealous when she sees him with Rhiannon. Brewer admitted that she was not sure her character should be with Mason, especially after she had previously been involved with someone younger. She explained "But it's different, he's very cheeky and it takes its time. Rhiannon turns up and Kate is like 'Why am I getting jealous?' And that's when it starts to unravel that maybe she really does like this guy. But he's really fun and opposites attract there and she just dives in." Kate and Mason begin dating, but soon after, Kate's ex-boyfriend, Mark Brennan, returns and asks Kate to come away with him. Kate had assumed Mark was dead, so when she begins spending time with him, Mason feels left out of Kate's life. He is threatened by the history between Kate and Mark and eventually he and Mark fight. Kate is left torn between Mark and Mason, but she eventually commits to a relationship with Mason. However, Mason feels like second best and when he learns Kate kissed Mark, he breaks up with her.
Glockner told an Inside Soap columnist that Mason was "shattered" over his break up with Kate and even though he put on a front, he was struggling inside. Mason tries to get over Kate by dating new neighbour Imogen Willis. Glockner insisted that Imogen was just a distraction for Mason and even though he thinks she is "a pretty cool girl", it becomes clear that Mason is not over Kate. Imogen quickly realises Mason still has feelings for Kate and she calls time on their brief relationship. Mason decides to forgive Kate for kissing Mark and he tries to reconcile with her. They kiss, but Kate pushes Mason away and flees. Glockner explained "When Kate runs out on him, Mason is confused. At the end of the day he still loves Kate and wants her back." Mason is unaware that Kate recently had a one-night stand with her housemate Kyle Canning and Glockner reckoned that Mason would not take it lightly when he found out, adding that it would interesting to see how he harnesses his "explosive temper."
Robbo and Lassiter's robbery
Mason's past catches up with him when Robbo Slade arrives in Erinsborough. A writer for Inside Soap observed that Mason was "not too pleased" to see Robbo, considering that he left Mason to take the blame for the robbery they both committed in Mount Isa. Robbo reveals that he has tracked Mason down to get his share of the proceeds from the robbery. Robbo's arrival brings Mason and Matt closer as they realise that they have more important things to worry about and need to work together to protect the family. Since Mason no longer has the money from the Mount Isa robbery, he is forced to come up with another way to pay Robbo back. Mason also learns that Robbo has been secretly dating his younger sister Amber. Robbo informs Mason that unless he comes up with his share of the money, he will continue to see Amber. Mason's desperation to get Robbo out of town leads him to agree to rob Lassiter's Hotel with him. Mason "listens in horror" as Robbo outlines his plan to rob the hotel while everyone attends Sonya Mitchell and Toadfish Rebecchi's wedding reception.Mason is aware that his criminal record means that he cannot afford to be caught up in anything illegal, but he believes that he has no choice but to go along with Robbo's plan to protect his family. Mason and Robbo's attempted armed robbery does not go according to plan and they are spotted by Sonya. However, she loses her memory during an explosion, leaving Mason to believe that he is in the clear. But when Sonya's memories return weeks later, Mason is arrested and told that he could go to prison for 15 years if he is convicted. Mason is "heartened" by Kate's forgiveness, but her uncle, Paul Robinson, disapproves of their relationship and asks his lawyer to represent Mason and deliberately damage his case, so he will be sent to jail. Mason is surprised by the offer and Glockner commented "Paul doesn't exactly like Mason, so Mason's taken aback when Paul offers to help." Paul's plan is rumbled by Mason's father, Toadie and Ajay Kapoor, who move quickly to stop it.
On 13 May 2013, it was confirmed that Jakubenko had returned to filming, after pictures of him filming with Glockner were released on the show's Facebook page. When Robbo returns, Mason calls the police and tells them that Robbo was responsible for the attempted robbery at Lassiter's. Mason later attempts to deal with Robbo using his fists, but Robbo outsmarts him when he reveals that he has an "illicit video" of Amber that will go viral, unless Mason gives him double the amount of money he owes him. Glockner said that Mason is distressed by the situation and knows that if the video got out, the ramifications would impact on Amber for the rest of her life. Mason becomes so desperate to get hold of the money, he turns to Paul for help, which is "a hard thing" for him to do. He also tries breaking into the old radio station, where Robbo is squatting, to try to find the video and delete it. Glockner thought that Mason would not rest until he had put a stop to Robbo's plan and commented "Mason's a total hothead and often acts before he thinks. But would he do something to Robbo that could have permanent consequences. We'll just have to wait and see..."