Options
Anyone else switched off ALL the soaps?
![[Deleted User]](https://wc.vanillicon.com/v2/cfe2bd680a7d1424fea7edfb778b2e6c.svg)
[Deleted User]
Posts: 12,982 Forum Member
✭✭
Sorry, this is a bit ranty, but 2014 IMO has been the single worst year ever in the history of British soap opera. Every soap I used to watch - Corrie, Emmerdale and Pobol y Cwm - has just plummeted so far, and so fast, that it's unbelievable.
CORRIE
Woeful writing and dull, unappealing storylines. A large number of miscastings, including the abominable Nazirs and the horrific Des Lennis. Stupidly killing Tina off and totally changing and ruining Rob's character. Hence losing Rob, a character who had settled in well and brought new life to both Tracy and Carla. A Fayemian pregnancy storyline announced. Unlikeable characters brought to the forefront. Just awful.
EASTENDERS
Not a show I really watch nowadays. The early days of DTC were the last time I watched and they were quite promising, but it quickly went downhill again. Total and utter Carter overkill. Axing the promising Spraggans. The tedious and over-complicated Lucy storyline. Sam Strike - the worst actor I have ever seen on EE. Expecting us to root for murderer Ronnie and pretend her killing Carl never happened. Poor Ronnie. *roll eyes* Nick Cotton's woefully predictable 'back from the dead' nonsense storyline. Linda raped by Dean to instigate a disgustingly cynical and sensationalist rape reveal and Who's The Daddy storyline on Christmas Day. Christmas Day, FFS!
EMMERDALE
A show that has been quietly sinking for about four years, but 2014 being the absolute worst. Terrible writing, terrible acting and terrible, terrible continuity. Sex, crime and nastiness. Sex, crime and nastiness. Sex, crime and nastiness. Sex, crime and nastiness. Sex, crime and nastiness. Sex, crime and nastiness. Never afraid to recyle the same old crap time and again, deluded Kate Oates is at least the greenest and best-looking soap boss. But that's pretty much all she's got going for her.
POBOL Y CWM
Very evidently has had its budget cut. Good characters and good acting, but patchy storylines. The bad ones are really bad. Increasingly childish and silly, and undoubtedly the worst continuity in the history of television. Even John Logie Baird himself baulks at it from his coffin.
I get told time and again that Hollyoaks is totally bonkers trash, even by people who watch it. People are making positive noises about Neighbours lately, but for me it's just too slow and saccharine. Home And Away is unrecognisable. Essentially it's about shallow trash and nothing more. Doctors is mortifyingly middle class and rather surreal.
All in all, I don't think British soaps have ever been this bad. In fact, 2014 is the first time in my whole life I've actually switched the whole lot off.
CORRIE
Woeful writing and dull, unappealing storylines. A large number of miscastings, including the abominable Nazirs and the horrific Des Lennis. Stupidly killing Tina off and totally changing and ruining Rob's character. Hence losing Rob, a character who had settled in well and brought new life to both Tracy and Carla. A Fayemian pregnancy storyline announced. Unlikeable characters brought to the forefront. Just awful.
EASTENDERS
Not a show I really watch nowadays. The early days of DTC were the last time I watched and they were quite promising, but it quickly went downhill again. Total and utter Carter overkill. Axing the promising Spraggans. The tedious and over-complicated Lucy storyline. Sam Strike - the worst actor I have ever seen on EE. Expecting us to root for murderer Ronnie and pretend her killing Carl never happened. Poor Ronnie. *roll eyes* Nick Cotton's woefully predictable 'back from the dead' nonsense storyline. Linda raped by Dean to instigate a disgustingly cynical and sensationalist rape reveal and Who's The Daddy storyline on Christmas Day. Christmas Day, FFS!
EMMERDALE
A show that has been quietly sinking for about four years, but 2014 being the absolute worst. Terrible writing, terrible acting and terrible, terrible continuity. Sex, crime and nastiness. Sex, crime and nastiness. Sex, crime and nastiness. Sex, crime and nastiness. Sex, crime and nastiness. Sex, crime and nastiness. Never afraid to recyle the same old crap time and again, deluded Kate Oates is at least the greenest and best-looking soap boss. But that's pretty much all she's got going for her.
POBOL Y CWM
Very evidently has had its budget cut. Good characters and good acting, but patchy storylines. The bad ones are really bad. Increasingly childish and silly, and undoubtedly the worst continuity in the history of television. Even John Logie Baird himself baulks at it from his coffin.
I get told time and again that Hollyoaks is totally bonkers trash, even by people who watch it. People are making positive noises about Neighbours lately, but for me it's just too slow and saccharine. Home And Away is unrecognisable. Essentially it's about shallow trash and nothing more. Doctors is mortifyingly middle class and rather surreal.
All in all, I don't think British soaps have ever been this bad. In fact, 2014 is the first time in my whole life I've actually switched the whole lot off.
Is 2014 the poorest ever year for soap opera? 109 votes
Yes
32%
35 votes
No
26%
29 votes
Not the best year but not the poorest
24%
27 votes
A good year but not the best
7%
8 votes
Bran Flakes
9%
10 votes
0
Comments
I thought you stopped watching during DTC early days?
How did you know about the BIB? ;-)
I keep up with what's going on in EE because a lot of my friends watch it. Wouldn't want to feel left out, would I? :kitty:
Hollyoaks has had its excellent moments, too, mainly the Sienna stuff and Maxine and Patrick. Just lately, though, it's got a bit ridiculous with too many twists and turns.
Coronation Street, it goes without saying, has been awful. I think the reason was that all the resources went into the Roy and Hayley storyline, which was done really well, meaning other storylines didn't have a chance to develop. Now it feels like the writers have lost all direction. A new producer is desperately needed to halt the alarming slide in quality.
100%!
People complain when stories are wrapped up within 3 weeks, then complain when stories stretch over 2 months, while others complain that there's hardly any long running stories, but the moment you get a long running story, suddenly people feel it's too dragged out. This is just a general rant, not necessarily aimed at you, Cit.
Tina dead.
Katie soon to pop it.
Merecedes leaving.
Lauren leaving soon.
Boo hoo.
No, I hear what you're saying Desch. Some strories should be longer than others, of course. Unfortunately, nine times out of ten, the soaps seem to pick the wrong strories to elongate, and so they just become tedious, whereas some of the more interesting stories get wrapped up too quickly.
Sorry to bang on about Emmerdale, but here's an example or two: Belle killed a friend by accident, came out of prison and is now suffering some form of PTSD and possibly schizophrenia as she is so weighed down by her immense guilt. Now that's a long-running story, and rightly so, yet there are still those who say it's dragged out. Whereas another story, involving Megan/Jai/Archie/the Spencers etc. has been going on for TWO YEARS and has no end in sight, despite the fact that no-one cares less and the characters involved are some of the most unlikeable in Emmerdale.
And just recently, Lawrence from Home Farm had a heart attack one day, and was prancing about the next like nothing happened!
You're right!
Hello, lover ;-) *Offers Bran Flakes*
I honestly thought I was going mad, I only watch Corrie and Emmerdale, gave up on EE years ago when it became Slater Square. But this year I'm not bothered if my once favourite soaps are on or not, terrible writing, horrendous acting, s/ls that start and finish nowhere, boring cr*p played out for what seems like years.
Corrie and it's heavy handed "comedy" is embarrassing, a trademark from The Hat, also from The Hat is the foisting on us of complete families whether they a) can act, or (b actually fit into soap. The Nazirs in Corrie and the Spencers in ED.
A definite overload, especially in ED of gangsters, scams, petty quarrels, violence and general inner city type behaviour. ED is a rural soap not set in the middle of a down at heel housing estate. Corrie is inner city, but no one ever goes there, or works there, they all have to live on one tiny terraced street and work two steps from home, ridiculous.
EastEnders btw is not typical of the real Eastend, where are the yuppies, the merchant bankers, actors, theatre directors, fashion designers? THAT is the real East End of today, not jellied eels and pints of bitter.
The writers and producers seem to live in a middle bubble world of their own making, having no idea what the viewers really want. They are just so arrogant to presume to tell us what we want and who we should love, i.e. Maurel, the Nazirs, Andrea etc etc etc.
And b r e a t h e
I disagree with all of this, except for Nick Cotton. If they wanted to shock us, bring back Chrissie or something, someone with a bit more of an acting skill range, not John Altman, who acts out every scene as if it's some big joke.
The Lucy storyline, although tedious, has never been over-complicated. It's a murder investigation, it's bound to be tedious. The fact that it's been running low for most of the year makes it more exciting that it is now finally moving forward. Also, Sam Strike is certainly not a bad actor.
Emmer I have almost given up on, I watch it sometimes, but everyone is annoying me as they do in EE
I am still watching Corrie, it still makes me laugh.
I dont watch any others.
Coronation street I have also watched from 2007, it's really really really bad now tbh! The fans are agreeing and everything, EastEnders are doing A LOT better! Corrie has more long serving characters who the audience are familiar with, and that's probably the not think Corrie have over EastEnders! But EastEnders have plenty too! Corrie's written so badly these days, with forced and weak comedy, and very little excitement and drama.
Hollyoaks I don't think I could ever get into... Silly characters, very cringy, just trying to top one plot with another, severely bad writing, and way too OTT! It's a kiddie show IMO, and I'm 15, and have very little interest in it, because I can see that it's just so embarrassing these days!
Emmerdale I used to also love, and it's amazingly good/unmissable when they've got something big going on, but absolutely awful when they haven't, and that's because of the piss poor writing, and like you said same old shit... Sex, crime etc... And lots of very unlikable characters... Having said that though, I don't think Emmerdale have much deadwood in their cast! Every character gets some interesting stuff now and again, and the rest are great supporting characters, but it's definitely a soap I don't mind missing!:p
Good post, lou! I'd have to disagree about Emmerdale though, I think there's quite a bit of deadwood in it!
I can only really comment on the main three...
Corrie - Once my favourite soap, slowly declining in quality since 2005, had some great moments between 2010-2012 but quickly dissolved back into the rut it had been stuck in previously. There's always been certain characters that have made the show watchable for me but I've found myself frustrated at every single character in some capacity this year. I can't work out if it's the direction a lot of the actors are being given nowadays or whether it's their acting, but something just doesn't feel right. Liz, Gail, Deirdre, Eileen, Rita and Norris in particular all seem like completely different characters from a decade ago and not through development and continuity, they almost feel like caricatures of what they were.
EastEnders - Never been able to get into this but I got that fed up of feeling like I'm watching an inferior version of the programme with Coronation Street, I actually sat down and watched a weeks worth of episodes again last week to see if I could stomach it. I got through the episodes without falling asleep so I'll see it as progress. Some good acting, some good writing (mainly Darren Little, Rob Gittins) but some very corny dialogue and badly delivered lines too. Not keen on some of the characters either but I've tried various times to get into the show and been bored silly so actually quite surprised to give it some praise at all. Will keep watching and see how it goes.
Emmerdale - Probably the most consistent for me. Majorly improved on 2012 and the start of 2013, I like how more characters interact with one another now but the crime and police presence is starting to get boring beyond belief. Ross is a great character and Mike Parr is a great actor, but for God sake stop playing around with the character's development. That scene where he went up to the farm to demand money from Moira practically undid every bit of character development over the last year. The end to the Declan/Charity story after simmering all year has been a massive letdown as well but I'm intrigued by the DI Bails story (if there still is one? It's all gone quiet now it seems) and how Harriet may potentially link in as well. Also enjoying Belle's story and how they're forcing Aaron into a different situation.
Corrie is poor but i think it will come good again.:)
I'm not liking Emmerdale at all.:( Depends what happens early next for me.
Enders is very hit and miss.
I can't remember there being a time when I felt so indifferent towards all the soaps.:(
When they're good they make for a very pleasant distraction from everyday life, but when they're like they are now i feel i'm wasting a lot of valuble time, time which could be spent doing something else.
I hope for improvements all round for next year.:)
EDIT : I forgot Hollyoaks! It's OTT storytelling is good light hearted fun. There's nothing realistic about half of it but I don't mind it at all. The twincest story is crazy but well acted. Sienna is one crazy woman and well acted by Anna Passey. Patrick is a pantomime villain but he's good to watch. It's nothing like the other soaps. For a village it has so much going on but I still like it.
The cast is certainly the best it's been in awhile, the writing has improved greatly. I would say they just need to stop with the hype and try to ensure that stories have great resolutions. It does feel with some stories that they get bored halfway through and so just end it suddenly, like for instance carols cancer and Phils shooting.
So my conclusion is that it could and should be better but I have the upmost faith that it will be much better in 2015.
I agree about the cast.:)
With a few exceptions it's very strong!
Yes. The shooting of Phil was just so stupid. He would have been laid up for longer and would have aches and pains from being operated on. Carol's cancer seems to have been forgotten.