Is EastEnders in crisis?
The Queen Vic
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It has recently been reported in the papers that, despite ratings of averaging 8 million, the people behind everyone's favourite London soap opera are locked into crisis talks to discuss ways of turning the show around. But what do you think? Is the show in need of a revamp? Or is it simply being compared to the mighty Coronation Street, who seem to be having some major stories at the moment?
Bryan Kirkwood has received some major critisism on this forum for his era on EastEnders and some fans (emphasis on the word 'some') are calling for him to leave the show. But should he step down as producer and let someone else take over? Or do you think Kirkwood is doing a good job?
It's a simple yes or no question: do you think EastEnders is in crisis? Discuss below.
Bryan Kirkwood has received some major critisism on this forum for his era on EastEnders and some fans (emphasis on the word 'some') are calling for him to leave the show. But should he step down as producer and let someone else take over? Or do you think Kirkwood is doing a good job?
It's a simple yes or no question: do you think EastEnders is in crisis? Discuss below.
Is EastEnders in crisis? 95 votes
Yes
63%
60 votes
No
36%
35 votes
0
Comments
I tuned in for Pat's death. Other than that I could not force myself to sit through an episode as it's just too poor at the minute. Ratings might be good, but for me the show is currently in the doldrums and yes a revamp and change of EP/writers is needed.
I've not been a massive fan of the show recently, but I do think the reaction on here has been quite over the top. I agree when it comes to the direction of some of the characters recently it has been a bit bad, but I don't think it's crisis talks time - maybe just take the characters in different directions or tighten up on some of the writing.
I'm getting really bored of threads on here knocking EE and BK. :yawn:
But it's clearly going through one of those 'fallow patches' that blight soaps from time-to-time. It'll pull itself together - they all do (well, *nearly* all...).
i think corrie is getting more viewers because its leading up to a whodunnit SL
yesterday ep was great sharon marshall needs to keep writing for EE
I wouldn't describe the soap as being in "crisis" as they still have lots of good characters and actors but we do need better storylines.
JMO.
I agree to a certain extent but..
EE now has the largest cast size of any soap and it shows - Janine got some decent screentime last night, for the first time in what felt like ages, so did Ian and Mandy. How many actors on the show are getting paid thousands a year, just for a few scenes every couple of months?
I haven't looked at Emmerdale because I never watch it.
In simple terms EE is far away from being as good as it used to be.
What's the answer to solving it's slump in quality is to improve areas such as writing, cast/characters, realistic believeable well researched stories.
Emmerdale performed as normal.
How many of the 59 are key cast though?
Maybe EE just needs to use its cast better. I will admit that Janine's storyline is one of the few that I'm genuinely interested in at the moment - along with the Masoods - but both she and Tamwar/Afia have been given far less screentime since Christmas than the likes of Derek, Anthony, Tyler, Whitney etc and whilst I do like Derek, Anthony and Whitney - not so much Tyler - I don't want them on my screen every other episode, whilst other storylines are being neglected. I don't care who Roxy is currently sleeping with - same old, same old - I want to know how Janine really feels about being a mum.
That's my rant for today...
I second what towers said. It's far from being in "crisis", but it needs to improve quickly because if it doesn't, it WILL be in crisis. Even the most loyal, long-serving viewers aren't going to tolerate this tosh for much longer.
Despite the fact I don't think it's in crisis just yet, Kirkwood does needs to go. His reign has been a disaster and I see no sign of it improving.
But I admit I have for the main part stopped watching-its not engaging me any more, its like its heart has been torn out and I fed up (when I do watch) of the focus being mostly on irritating poor actors (The Moon brother's), teenage woes and who fancies who. then we have yet another pantomime gangster running around.
Teenage woes are fine, but there has to be a balance-like they used to do so well, especially in the early day's (Michelle, Sharon etc) and at other point's.
Character's like Denise are being wasted (this is lady who is a fine actor so what are they doing with her?) and I beginning to wonder wether Sharon coming back is a good idea.
And I think the Moons are wrong for the Vic-put Phil back in or let Sharon buy it again-or manage it. Or bring a new landlady/landlord in.
Oh and get rid of Kirkwood-he's dire. .
(Did Roxy ever find out Phil stole her money :eek:)
Anyway since switching back on I have found myself laughing a lot. There has been some great comedy moments recently, something lacking when I switched off.
I did also count characters who were leaving eg. Amira for EE so when she goes there will be even less characters in EE.
I think you've hit the nail on the head suggesting it's the way the cast is utilised rather than the no. of characters. I mean was the cast any smaller when Santer was there? It's not like there have been no cast departures under BK.
There are some characters in EastEnders who have been neglected recently like the Masoods but even the ones still getting major storylines aren't being used as well as they could be.
I agree totally with this post.
It was a slow news day, and lazy tabloid hacks went cruising onto forums such as this one, and saw numerous threads (from the usual suspects) moaning about how bad Eastenders is.
These threads are usually started by a handful of people and then quickly bulked out by lots of other people adding ther tuppence-worth - some of whom seldom post on any other threads concerning Eastenders, as they are probably fans of other soaps and jumping on the 'lets-bash-Eastenders' bandwagon.
Okay, the soap HAS been in better shape, but it is in no way 'in crisis' or terminal - the furore is largely press hype designed to sell more papers.
Also, don;t forget that there were a whole slew of negative Eastenders threads recently which were allk attributable to one sad individual with multiple usernames for the site. I'm sure he/she helped to encourage a lot of the negativity here.