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Young character's prospects on soaps
Just thinking about some of the representations of young people in the big 3 soaps. Corrie's Jenna (yes I classify her as young) highly qualified demoted to working in a cafe. Katy is she going to educate herself (p/t). I know she has a baby but this is possible with her extended family. Todd- he's educated what's he doing? EE's is a bit better with Lola trying to make something of her life and maybe Peter has a point about qualifications. The Beale kids are aspirational. Abi will go to uni. Tamwar - what's he doing? Emmerdale can't think of any current youngsters that are applicable. Belle and Sean are a bit young still.
I know this is fiction and a degree of the young characters need to exist on the main sets but still let's have some characters working away from the Square/Street/Farm and having some goals.
Are the other soaps better in their depictions?
I know this is fiction and a degree of the young characters need to exist on the main sets but still let's have some characters working away from the Square/Street/Farm and having some goals.
Are the other soaps better in their depictions?
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Abi - Studying to be a Vet
Johnny- Studying to be a lawyer
Lucy - Wants to run her own businesses
Lauren - Art student (sometimes)
Whitney - Career in child card
Nancy - Had hopes of being in the army, but her epilepsy prevented this
Tamwar - Sticks 10p in a jar each week so he can go to uni instead of getting a loan
Jay and Dexter - Both apprentice mechanics
Peter Beale seems quite a hardworker with the veg stall and even Fatboy has ambitions, with him being a DJ.
BIB:
I do wonder if Johnny will eventually (once he's qualified) become involved with the Mitchells - they always need a lawyer!!!!
Johnny should get himself a psychiatrist boyfriend, the two of them would become the richest couple in walford as most people need either legal help/therapy or both.
Yeh! They could both get practices in Walford so wouldn't have to go far for work
I'm just imagining Whitney in a nursery full of children made out of card xD
She can fob the actual children off to Ronnie, nice little second income for her
Although not too young, Lee and Dean will be the ones to watch next to see what they do. Lee would no longer be in the army, where will he work? If Dean actually was working in a bar in Australia, I assume he'll work in Sharon's new bar?
Odd also he should be lecturing Lola this week on becoming a child carer and giving up her job "painting nails" to do something more worthwhile. While Peter works hard on the stall he should be looking for a better job as well and one that has prospects!
Corrie is not much better in terms of teenagers with ambitions with Sophie Webster happy to work as a shop assistant and not making much effort to find herself a career despite being quite bright
I'm wondering if Lee is a mechanic in the Army. I like the idea of him running the Arches for Phil now that AJ's gone.
I can see Ben getting free legal representation.
The only soap that promotes ambition is neighbours which is full of successful people. They've got Karl and Susan - a doctor and a Head Teacher, Toadie - a lawyer, Terese - the manager of a hotel and Paul - a very successful businessman and now the Mayor.
Anyone who comes into the soap with a profession, ends up working in the café or shop or in packing/sewing knickers/counting sweets in the factory
I agree Andy. Not a great message for our young people watching these soaps.
Sonia still is a nurse, she is working in the cafe to help out Carol
Jack used to be a copper, a corrupt one we are meant to believe but never came in as one. It is realistic to show characters with degrees working in cafes and bars as that is real life, a degree doesn't warrant you a professional job.
It's annoying/unrealistic that all the kids drop out of education completely at GCSE (if they even make it to that stage what with all the "free periods", afternoons off for no apparent reason, and generally hating school).
A-Levels or equivalent don't come into the equation, and as for going to Uni, they might as well be leaving the country. They either hate it and drop out, or are never seen or spoken of again.
None of the young characters ever realise their potential while they are living in Weatherfield. If they are successful in any way, they are soon stripped of their jobs (Jenna, Kirsty) and demoted to working in the factory or cafe.
Any sniff of ambition is quickly bashed out of them if they want to remain within the confines of the Coronation-Rosamund-Victoria Street triangle. If they do want to get anywhere, they have to leave Weatherfield and never been heard of again until they return as failures (Amber, Todd, Ryan).
One of Corrie's best ever young female characters was Angie Freeman, back when No.7. was a student house. She was tough and driven, but even she had to move away from Weatherfield to get anywhere in life. She went away to study Aztec design, which has been everywhere the past couple of years … time to bring Angie back as a high-flying fashion exec
Lol at Tamwar, true though!