The episode saw several storylines play out with Kyle Canning (Chris Milligan) sustaining serious damage to his eyesight, a child kidnapping, the introduction of a new family and the return of two former characters; Mark Brennan (Scott McGregor) and Brad Willis (Kip Gamblin).
Television critics thought the episode was full of dramatic incidents, while others felt sorry for Kyle and agreed that Lucas and Vanessa's happiness had been short lived again.
Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) and Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) discuss Stephanie Scully's (Carla Bonner) state of mind after learning that she is off her medication.
At Harold's Store, Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) reacquaints himself with his former neighbour Brad Willis (Kip Gamblin), who has moved back to Erinsborough with his wife and two children.
When the sun comes back out, Lauren Turner (Kate Kendall) is surprised to see her first love, Brad, has moved onto Ramsay Street with his family.
Bailey Turner (Calen Mackenzie) shares a moment with his best friend's girlfriend, Rani Kapoor (Coco Cherian), when she becomes upset.
At Number 26, Amber Turner (Jenna Rosenow) comes to watch the eclipse with her friend Chris Pappas (James Mason).
At Lassiter's Lake, Mason Turner (Taylor Glockner) tells his girlfriend Kate Ramsay (Ashleigh Brewer) that he loves her for the first time.
[1] It was executively produced by Richard Jasek, who first teased the episode during a January 2013 interview with Jackie Brygel from TV Week.
[2] He revealed that Mark Brennan (played by Scott McGregor) would return during an eclipse, two years after being presumed dead, causing his ex-girlfriend, Kate Ramsay (Ashleigh Brewer), to question whether she has really seen him.
"[2] Herbison commented that he was proud of the episode, saying "It's really difficult to find a story that hasn't been done before and the eclipse was something a bit fresh and original.
[2] Mark Brennan's return was described by Hazel Bradley from The West Australian as being "nearly as dramatic as his exit", which saw him leave during a real-time episode in 2011.
"[4] The actor called it "a pretty cool return" and Kate was left "unable to shake the feeling" that Mark was alive.
[7] During the eclipse, Brad, his wife, Terese (Rebekah Elmaloglou), and their two teenage children, Imogen (Ariel Kaplan) and Joshua (Harley Bonner), moved into Number 22 Ramsay Street.
[16] He added "As the local community gathers together to witness the astronomical event, the Ramsay Street residents are unaware that some of their lives might be about to change forever.
[19] Michael Hogan of Grazia included the episode in their feature on the soap's "10 Maddest Moments", stating "Rapidly running out of disasters to inflict on the residents of Ramsay Street, the show hit upon the idea of a solar eclipse in 2013.