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Old 16-06-2004, 10:50
alan45
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At the suggestion of Garbage on another thread (Woeful EE tonight) I have started this thread so people can vent their frustration on how woeful the once great soap has become. So rather than post all over the place post here and get it off your chest. Who knows we may make this like the snared thread
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Old 16-06-2004, 11:00
HotCrossBun
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Good idea! I am honoured to be the first poster in what may become a top thread.

Eastenders has been terrible for two years now, and I pinpoint the following to be the reasons for this:

(1) Character progression - too many characters (Ferriera's, Minty, Kate, Spencer, Vicki) are thrown into the soap and then not developed at all, thus we don't care about them. They are given storylines that bomb and then the bosses don't understand why.

(2) Character relationships - Too many of the characters stand alone and have nothing to do with anyone else because of the endless affairs and family breakdowns that leave them alone, and because they were 'part time' characters that appear very regularly - Pat, Billy, Kate, Minty, Mickey, Pauline, Nana, etc.

(3) Continuity - Character's pasts are changed in order to suit the current storyline they are in. They are given brain transplants and suddenly are best friends with someone that 2 weeks ago they were arch enemies with. There are also big holes in storylines, and stories which just fizzle out and don't get concluded.

(4) Storylines - repeated stories have bought the show down to its knees:- Affairs, 'Who's the ...........', endless gangsters, death - it's all been done so many times in exactly the same way.
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Old 16-06-2004, 11:10
Garbage
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Originally Posted by HotCrossBun

(3) Continuity - Character's pasts are changed in order to suit the current storyline they are in. They are given brain transplants and suddenly are best friends with someone that 2 weeks ago they were arch enemies with. There are also big holes in storylines, and stories which just fizzle out and don't get concluded.
I agree with all your points fully, however I think your third is indeed the main killer of the show's quality at the moment. The script-writers are sacrificing the personalities and individuality of their characters in order to adapt them to "sensational" storylines. This never pays off but they continue to attempt it and eventually every character will have been engulfed in at least one of these ridiculous plots and there will be no credibility left.

Corrie has proved that even the most pointless plots can be v.entertaining if the right characters are involved. Therefore surely EE should be trying to make their Albert Square residents more likeable rather than more flexible. Look at Alfie; came into the show a smart, slick dodgy geezer.. shortly after he falls into a trap set by the local gangster who's fiancee he stole. Dennis Rickman, tough as nails when he entered, would barely talk to his sisters.. suddenly he's frolicking with Spencer as he trains him to buff up. Martin gets Sonia pregnant, leaves her, knocks down her fiancee.. but she still forgives him AND marries him!?! There are plenty more examples of where this irritating character-morph has occured in the show. What they should be trying for is plots like Norris' shop ghost, Fred's fraudulent bride etc. They may not be v.believable but people still enjoy them because the characters are more interesting and have set personalities.
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Old 16-06-2004, 11:10
Agent Krycek
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Agree heartily with the above and can I just add -

Writing - the current crop of writers appear to have no concept of how working class Londoners actually speak.

Acting - some of the new 'talent' is awful. Spencer, Vicki and Gus's brother being three prime examples. Their range is limited at best (Spencer does gormless and that's about it), and at times just dreadful - Vicki is a prime example, even without the disappearing accent and Gus's brother's attempts would be funny if he wasn't so dreadful.
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Old 16-06-2004, 11:12
Ingrid_W
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...there is also no build-up to each storyline. Storylines come and go very quickly nowadays. Instead of plots being intricately woven (leading to a big exciting cresendo), they are over and done with within a few episodes. This makes for incredibly dull viewing.
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Old 16-06-2004, 12:35
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To add to the frankly incredible storyline of Kat/Andy/Alfie gangster shag, there was the equally unbelievable Mo/rapist/baby one last year as Kacey's exit. The writers seem to inhabit a different universe.

Then there are the disappearing plotlines -- what happened about Patrick and Yolande fostering that teenager? Did I miss the episode when they were refused? Has it been resolved? (Do I care - not really!)

On the point made above about lack of character development, I see in the spoilers (don't worry, this is unlikely to ruin anything for anyone) that a character who has appeared for 10 seconds in one episode is going to be killed in the next week or so. What for? Why would we care? And how come a fairground can collapse and Spencer gets out alive? At least give us some natural justice!
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Old 16-06-2004, 16:36
bapak
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agree with all of the above,and will add this-the accents are all wrong,they nearly all have north london accents (i have family there).
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Old 16-06-2004, 16:46
chriswotton
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who are we talking about getting killed off
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Old 16-06-2004, 19:14
TOMMY C
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If none of you like Eastenders why watch it? I find this topic a bit sad how old are all of you?
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Old 16-06-2004, 19:17
bapak
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i stopped watching aussie soaps and family affairs a couple of years ago.i watched longer than i should've ,i guess it's a fascination to see how bad a show can get.
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Old 16-06-2004, 19:19
Tigerzondaprowl
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it's not that bad, Brookside was worse in the run-up to it's finale
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Old 16-06-2004, 19:57
Neily N
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There are so many faults with this show and I am waiting for the day that this show gets less than 6 million viewers.

The Ferrira's are the worst family in soap ever. Who the fcuk cares aboiut Kareena going off to Spain - can't they just throw her in the Mediterrian Sea and let her drown. Who cares about their financial plight? Who cares about them fall stop? MY and LB must have been on acid hiring this bunch of nobodies.

The Martin and Sonia marriage storyline was complete off their heads. Who would marry someone who killed their ex partner and served time for it? In fact who would marry six weeks after dating? I know people who took 19 years to marry and I have never heard of anyone who took 6 weeks to tie the knot all. It's so unrealistic and I am glad it flopped in the ratings. Also another thing is why couldn't have Martin stood up to his Mother instead of running away?

The gangster storylines are very laughable. They are more menacing than Julian Clary! Since when have you walked into a town ruled by no-marks like Andy and Sam? Why can't the inhabitants stand up to them? In real life Sam would have been raped or worse.

Characters are ruined completely and storylines are just a complete joke. Its about the show was put to rest because in the end no-one will watch and the BBC will be fed up of investing in it.
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Old 16-06-2004, 20:08
bapak
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Originally Posted by TOMMY C
If none of you like Eastenders why watch it? I find this topic a bit sad how old are all of you?
ah! the EE spin doctor is back with us.
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Old 17-06-2004, 03:54
alan45
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Originally Posted by TOMMY C
If none of you like Eastenders why watch it? I find this topic a bit sad how old are all of you?

Old enough to know what a pile of keek it has become
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Old 17-06-2004, 03:55
alan45
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Originally Posted by bapak
ah! the EE spin doctor is back with us.
ITs LBs lover
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Old 17-06-2004, 18:39
Marky2001
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Originally Posted by HotCrossBun
Good idea! I am honoured to be the first poster in what may become a top thread.

Eastenders has been terrible for two years now, and I pinpoint the following to be the reasons for this:

(1) Character progression - too many characters (Ferriera's, Minty, Kate, Spencer, Vicki) are thrown into the soap and then not developed at all, thus we don't care about them. They are given storylines that bomb and then the bosses don't understand why.

(2) Character relationships - Too many of the characters stand alone and have nothing to do with anyone else because of the endless affairs and family breakdowns that leave them alone, and because they were 'part time' characters that appear very regularly - Pat, Billy, Kate, Minty, Mickey, Pauline, Nana, etc.

(3) Continuity - Character's pasts are changed in order to suit the current storyline they are in. They are given brain transplants and suddenly are best friends with someone that 2 weeks ago they were arch enemies with. There are also big holes in storylines, and stories which just fizzle out and don't get concluded.

(4) Storylines - repeated stories have bought the show down to its knees:- Affairs, 'Who's the ...........', endless gangsters, death - it's all been done so many times in exactly the same way.
Sounds about right!!!
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Old 17-06-2004, 20:03
TOMMY C
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Originally Posted by alan45
ITs LBs lover
wheres my lawyer I can sue for that!
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Old 17-06-2004, 20:28
peasonokay
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So much for hoping to repeat the Todd Snared thread. EASTENDERS IS SO BORING NOW PEOPLE CANT BE BOTHERED TO EVEN COMPLAIN ABOUT IT :
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Old 17-06-2004, 21:25
Neily N
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I think this fairground collapse storyline could be the beginning of the end for the show because looking at the spoilers, I've noticed some flaws:

a) It's over and done with in a day.

b) It's only key deaths are an unborn child (enough of these infant deaths) and an extra!

c) It looks as if its badly written and again as explosive as opening a packet of crisps.

Their final desperate attempt is likely to go tits-up before it even airs. I'm afriad its now time for the BBC to invest something worthwhile and completley cut the budget on this show because we don't care no more and its about time it was laid to rest.
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Old 17-06-2004, 21:56
Garbage
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The many departures of characters is gonna pose a huge problem for the show too. All the old faces people are familiar with, and keep watching for the sake of seeing the latest developments in the lives of these residents... well loads are going aren't they? They've lost Janine, Barry, Phil, Peggy, Sharon's on her way out etc. All big names. Who are they left with? The Ferreiras, and their like. They either need to bring back former stars or import some fresh new talent.. immediately! There is no time to waste because the only way to avoid rubbish plots is to throw in a decent arrival/return scenario. This would inject some freshness..
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Old 17-06-2004, 22:18
Helen 2002
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Originally Posted by Neily N
I think this fairground collapse storyline could be the beginning of the end for the show because looking at the spoilers, I've noticed some flaws:

a) It's over and done with in a day.

b) It's only key deaths are an unborn child (enough of these infant deaths) and an extra!

c) It looks as if its badly written and again as explosive as opening a packet of crisps.

Their final desperate attempt is likely to go tits-up before it even airs. I'm afriad its now time for the BBC to invest something worthwhile and completley cut the budget on this show because we don't care no more and its about time it was laid to rest.
Question: How can you slate a storyline before even watching it? "It looks as if it's badly written"??? What, you seen the scripts have you?? How can you say it's badly written? I seriously doubt it will be over in one day! Ian's in a wheelchair and Lynne loses her baby - there just the two things I've heard about.

Helen
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Old 17-06-2004, 23:37
alan45
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Originally Posted by Helen 2002
! Ian's in a wheelchair and Lynne loses her baby - there just the two things I've heard about.

Helen

Yea rivetting stuff
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Old 17-06-2004, 23:57
Benc533
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Originally Posted by Helen 2002
Question: How can you slate a storyline before even watching it? "It looks as if it's badly written"??? What, you seen the scripts have you?? How can you say it's badly written? I seriously doubt it will be over in one day! Ian's in a wheelchair and Lynne loses her baby - there just the two things I've heard about.

Helen
We don't need to have watched it to know that it will be rubbish. It is shades of Brookside. In the last few years of the show people were being killed off and places blown up like there was no tomorrow. This was all done in the hope of bringing in viewers for the long term - but did not work.

Sensational disasters do bring in viewers - but only for the short term. If Young and Berridge remain then all I can see that will come out of this disaster, and also the removal of the rumoured 16 characters - is more rubbish cast like the Ferreiras, followed up with storylines to match.

As was mentioned in another post, I think MY and LB have a down right cheek to say that there isn't a problem with the show. They are taking us the viewers for mugs just so that they can stay in their plush jobs....yet it is inevitably us that they need to get the ratings back up.
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Old 18-06-2004, 03:06
Drifter
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While I like the idea of this thread, all the topics that get posted all the time in recent months slagging off EE are quite funny really, because let's face it, they only reflect the truth. I say let them continue - if the show's bad, then the topics should be around to match it.
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Old 18-06-2004, 09:46
Author 007
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I can't really agree that Eastenders has got worse because i never thoguht it was that good in the first place.
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