EE: Honey doesn't want a down syndrome child

[Deleted User] · 07/06/14 - 12:03

Anyone else feel this way when she said to Billy that Janet could stay with him? Maybe it's just me but i feel that's why she let him have her. Especially with the fact that she wasn't always keen on Janet in the first place because of her down syndrome. Anyone else see what i mean?

Scrabbler · 07/06/14 - 12:11

I thought it was more to do with the fact she is uprooting Janet out from her life, she sounds like she has got a very active lifestyle and Honey thought the move may have a bad effect on her. She was over the moon when Aleks gifted his laptop so she could skype Janet a lot.

c120701 · 07/06/14 - 12:14

I thought it was good to be fair, they needed to portray the Downs all along, DTC corrected that mistake. Obviously without William it seems like tokenism.

Ell_Ren · 07/06/14 - 12:19

I got the impression that Honey was struggling with the demands of bringing up Janet and used the uprooting explanation in order to feel less guilty about leaving her behind. It will be interesting to explore how Billy copes and it's definitely a good opportunity for them to explore downs syndrome.

Harlowe · 07/06/14 - 12:22

I think it was a bizarre plot, would any mother seriously leave their child for a year, down syndrome or otherwise to go to Canada for a child to be a model, not one of DTC best, Honey said it herself, Billy has no clue he sees them every other Saturday looking after her full time is a whole another matter.

[Deleted User] · 07/06/14 - 12:49

Splitting up siblings up is even worse than just taking them away from their dad

Wheeler2 · 07/06/14 - 12:57

I genuinely thought billy would say no and let her take them both in the end .

It will be great to see how eastenders explore this storyline . The little girl who plays Janet is absolutely fantastic .

[Deleted User] · 07/06/14 - 12:58

Ell_Ren wrote: »

I got the impression that Honey was struggling with the demands of bringing up Janet and used the uprooting explanation in order to feel less guilty about leaving her behind. It will be interesting to explore how Billy copes and it's definitely a good opportunity for them to explore downs syndrome.

Yep, this is exactly what i mean

[Deleted User] · 07/06/14 - 13:03

Boofie wrote: »

Splitting up siblings up is even worse than just taking them away from their dad

Uprooting Janet from everything else would be far worse, has nothing to do with Billy.

Joshyx · 07/06/14 - 13:09

Janet will be revealed as Lucy's killer, Bobby Beale helped to dump the body in the woods.

boddism · 07/06/14 - 13:25

3sweet5u wrote: »

Anyone else feel this way when she said to Billy that Janet could stay with him? Maybe it's just me but i feel that's why she let him have her. Especially with the fact that she wasn't always keen on Janet in the first place because of her down syndrome. Anyone else see what i mean?

That's EXACTLY how I interpreted it!
Life's gonna be easier for her in Canada without a burdensome child eh??

I did not take it as this great charitable act it was made out to be.

HOWEVER it now means we have a Downs character in EE. This,along with the disabled market stall owner (sorry- forgot name!) means representation of disabled people is higher than ever before on British TV. This can only be a good thing.

When Honey initially left with the kids there were rumblings that the subject of bringing up a disabled child would not be adressed on EE. Now Janet is back.

Imagine in 20 yrs time if a grown Janet became a staple character on EE. It'd be a first in the world of soaps I believe.

fayemian · 07/06/14 - 13:28

since when do children have to move country to be a model? its not as if they'd do it as a full time career. surely most child models just do the odd photo shoot on an ad hoc basis?

[Deleted User] · 07/06/14 - 13:48

fayemian wrote: »

since when do children have to move country to be a model? its not as if they'd do it as a full time career. surely most child models just do the odd photo shoot on an ad hoc basis?

Maybe Honey is milking it, making out it's something bigger than what it really is. That's probably how it'd be in real life anyway.

olivej · 07/06/14 - 13:55

no, not at all, Honey loves Janet, I think she thought about what BIlly said and its whats best for Janet - she does need specialist care etc and why uproot her to Canada, which might be too much for her, when she has a dad who is more than willing to look after her and her routine doesnt get disrupted as much

Ashley79 · 07/06/14 - 14:10

3sweet5u wrote: »

Anyone else feel this way when she said to Billy that Janet could stay with him? Maybe it's just me but i feel that's why she let him have her. Especially with the fact that she wasn't always keen on Janet in the first place because of her down syndrome. Anyone else see what i mean?

Nah, Honey loves her. It's such a difficult job bringing up a special needs child but the love and need to protect is huge. Who could grudge her a bit of respite. I think Honey is great

machobob · 07/06/14 - 14:13

It was so random and totally ridiculous.

vald · 07/06/14 - 14:18

Honey probably realized that it could set Janet's education back by taking her out of school and away from her friends and regular routine. She's not left her with strangers, she's with her dad and Lola.

[Deleted User] · 07/06/14 - 15:16

3sweet5u wrote: »

Anyone else feel this way when she said to Billy that Janet could stay with him? Maybe it's just me but i feel that's why she let him have her. Especially with the fact that she wasn't always keen on Janet in the first place because of her down syndrome. Anyone else see what i mean?

That is exactly how I saw it to.

Everyone being eternally grateful for it was just stupid.

[Deleted User] · 07/06/14 - 15:20

Bizarre way of bringing Janet back to Billy. I've never liked Honey, awful wooden actress and never found the character funny or sweet.

[Deleted User] · 07/06/14 - 15:56

Harlowe wrote: »

I think it was a bizarre plot, would any mother seriously leave their child for a year, down syndrome or otherwise to go to Canada for a child to be a model, not one of DTC best, Honey said it herself, Billy has no clue he sees them every other Saturday looking after her full time is a whole another matter.

He's a much more competent father than a lot of characters who've been on the show.

[Deleted User] · 07/06/14 - 17:36

Ell_Ren wrote: »

I got the impression that Honey was struggling with the demands of bringing up Janet and used the uprooting explanation in order to feel less guilty about leaving her behind. It will be interesting to explore how Billy copes and it's definitely a good opportunity for them to explore downs syndrome.

I agree.

ameredith · 07/06/14 - 17:36

At least she's with her family and not strangers. It will be lovely for Billy to have his daughter there with him for a while.

[Deleted User] · 07/06/14 - 17:40

3sweet5u wrote: »

Anyone else feel this way when she said to Billy that Janet could stay with him? Maybe it's just me but i feel that's why she let him have her. Especially with the fact that she wasn't always keen on Janet in the first place because of her down syndrome. Anyone else see what i mean?

I think it's just you. She was doing it as a nice gesture to Billy and so as not to disrupt her daughters life too much.

mrs.deschanel · 07/06/14 - 17:51

It may be that she couldn't take Janet for an extended stay in Canada. They are very strict with entry requirements and a child who may need medical treatment or additional care in schools would make her getting a visa difficult. It's something to do with medical treatment and "excessive demand". I can't see that Honey could prove she'd cover all expenses for Janet. DS children often have a lot of medical needs.

Hit Em Up Style · 07/06/14 - 17:55

boddism wrote: »

Imagine in 20 yrs time if a grown Janet became a staple character on EE. It'd be a first in the world of soaps I believe.

I think its great and I do hope Janet becomes a character in her own right. I don't think there is any danger of Perry being axed or even leaving the show so I think he is in it for the long haul.

I wonder if Grace who plays Janet attends a drama group? I know some Down's charities run specialist workshops, she seemed really into her scenes this week and was really good at them too bless her. If she continues to grow in confidence she could be really good. Be a real treat if she plays Janet into adult hood and then as a main character on the show.

Neu Intention · 07/06/14 - 18:28

In ways I liked the idea of Honey leaving Janet with Billy - it meant she wasn't leaving Billy with nothing, even if her being a single mum is difficult. I also think it a good idea to have a more regular Down Syndrome character in the soap - it raises awareness and is a scope for story lines for Billy and Janet and surrounding characters i.e. Lola and other Mitchells.
However I have several problems with this:

1. Honey practically chose between her children. Parents shouldn't 'choose' between their children, they should be loved equally.
2. Honey has split up two siblings. Surely aren't Janet and William close as sister and brother?
3. Honey has split up her family for child modelling the other side of the world for William. Bit of a silly reason surely? I know Honey's not the wisest character in soap but this kinda takes the biscuit for me imo.
4. Doesn't Janet and William have a say in all this?
5. Honey's return seems a damp squib for this storyline. Honey could have had a serious and/or terminal illness or something. Would have had a greater impact and long term impacts on Billy and surrounding characters.

I don't know they could have gone a better direction with Honey's return than this, but thats just me.

Hey there!

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EE: Honey doesn't want a down syndrome child

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