DS Forums

 
 

Should there be a limit to the eastenders revolving door of characters coming going


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 27-05-2014, 20:32
DUNDEEBOY
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 56,342

I always liked honey but comeback was completed random.

I am primarily looking at characters like Tanya, david and the likes of Bianca.

Should you just be allowed one comebank and once you close the door the next times it stays closed

Maybe the revolving door is stopping the development of new characters
DUNDEEBOY is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 27-05-2014, 20:34
Uncle_Phil
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Pendle
Posts: 459
The revolving door makes it seem more real. I like all these little comebacks.
Uncle_Phil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 20:38
JayLee1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 569
Seeing Honey again was a nice surprise. It's less realistic when Billy's kids turn up out of the blue unaccompanied for a visit (as Oscar did a few weeks ago at the Brannings - Tanya not making an appearance). Also, it gives something for Billy to do - Perry Fenwick has literally had nothing substantial since the Olympic torch episodes and Lola's custody of Lexi (and even then, he was in the background).

Chatting up Ava Hartman does not count.
JayLee1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 20:38
sean_brom
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Derby
Posts: 1,264
It's a soap, not football. We can't cap transfers. Why would you? i like the idea that people pop in and out. I think that kind of role for Peggy would be good, i also think it's a good way of moving stories forward.
sean_brom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 20:40
Menime123
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,608
No. Fans will always love a favourite to return, no matter how many times. Look at Sharon!
Menime123 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 20:42
actual_soap
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: locked in the diary room
Posts: 4,976
I think it's brilliant, because in reality, people do call in and visit family every now and then
actual_soap is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 20:45
Seanieb1983
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: London
Posts: 1,064
Limit?

Why?

It's more realistic for friends and family to pop back for visits.
Seanieb1983 is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 20:49
vald
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 31,001
It's working just fine. I love all the visits, it makes the show more realistic.
vald is online now Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 20:52
KornerKabin
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 13,706
I think EastEnders is bringing soap more widely into new territory, with more flexible contracts and more believable reappearances from characters you would expect to see quite frequently.

Hopefully we are coming towards the end of the days when a character leaves and is never heard of ever, ever again. Coronation Street, by contrast, is firmly stuck in this habit. It exists in a bubble that does not extend beyond the confines of the outdoor set. If a character leaves, they will be never heard of again unless they come back full time. It actually grates on me quite a lot.
KornerKabin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 20:58
benbenalen
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Albert Square
Posts: 10,674
Loving all the visits! Havent seen Honey since 2008! Was nice to know that she was alive! Unlike Michelle Fowler who has a pre recorded voice message to answer to when ever Ian phones her to let her know someone has died!

"Hi, Oh dear, sorry to her that, he/she was a great person, sorry can't come to the funeral, I'm very busy at work" ok bye"

Is what Ian or Sharon hears everytime he calls her!
benbenalen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 21:57
belle15
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 241
I like the short returns of characters that you would realistically see - Honey, Carly, Libby. However, EastEnders definitely do many permanent returns - this past year we have seen Sonia, Peter, David, Jane, Stacey, Dean, Shabnam and Ronnie permanently return. Quite a lot in a year! I feel Peter/Shabnam is slightly different as they're being played by different actors. Far too many returns for one year though.
belle15 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 22:03
sorcha_healy27
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 69,012
The revolving door makes it seem more real. I like all these little comebacks.
I agree. Especially with Christian and Lucy's funeral
sorcha_healy27 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 22:05
Joe_Zel
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 17,148
It's not a revolving door, it keeps the show feeling fresh and lively when you have familiar faces just pop back in and out.

If they were all drifting in and staying permanently then maybe but they're not. They're just opening up the show a bit which makes it better.
Joe_Zel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 22:14
Stupid_Head
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 36,061
I think it works for some characters though, like Frank in the past and now these days his daughter Janine.

They return, cause some mayhem, run off with a smile on their face then return dirt poor and vengeful.
Stupid_Head is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 22:20
VioletSummers
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: London
Posts: 1,341
I like the short returns of characters that you would realistically see - Honey, Carly, Libby. However, EastEnders definitely do many permanent returns - this past year we have seen Sonia, Peter, David, Jane, Stacey, Dean, Shabnam and Ronnie permanently return. Quite a lot in a year! I feel Peter/Shabnam is slightly different as they're being played by different actors. Far too many returns for one year though.
Sonia - To be there for her mum as she copes with her cancer diagnosis. Makes sense, and she hasn't just moved back and quit her job. It's good that she is still living off the square. Very realistic.
Jane - Frequently said that Bobby was "staying with Jane" so it's not unrealistic that she would come by Walford. Then she is around for the aftermath of Lucy's death. Considering she is like a mum to Ian's kids - Realistic.
Stacey - Kat tracked her down relentlessly, keeping in with the character. Stacey's family and friends live on the square, it's fair that she wants to do her time to clear her husband's name and be able to see her family again. Realistic.
Dean - Close to his Grandad, who is temporarily living on the square and taking the rap for him. Realistic that we'll see him in and out. Realistic.
Ronnie - Got out of prison, wants to live with her sister. They stretched reality a bit by letting her live so close to Kat and Alfie but the rest checks out. Moderately-realistic.

The only iffy one is David in my opinion.
VioletSummers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 22:21
CherryRose
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: #EE#TheCarters
Posts: 11,310
The only door that should be permanently shut, is on Bianca!
CherryRose is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 22:25
bumpandgrind
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London Town
Posts: 8,791
I wonder if Zainab will be next?!
bumpandgrind is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 22:26
Scrabbler
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 31,192
After kirkwood messed up the show, these returns and guest appearances are needed to make the show more realistic again.
Scrabbler is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 22:32
CherryRose
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: #EE#TheCarters
Posts: 11,310
I wonder if Zainab will be next?!
Oh I miss Zainab, I'd love to see her on the square again!
CherryRose is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 22:36
sw2963
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 7,261
In life people come and go so this is realistic imo.
sw2963 is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 22:42
belle15
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 241
Sonia - To be there for her mum as she copes with her cancer diagnosis. Makes sense, and she hasn't just moved back and quit her job. It's good that she is still living off the square. Very realistic.
Jane - Frequently said that Bobby was "staying with Jane" so it's not unrealistic that she would come by Walford. Then she is around for the aftermath of Lucy's death. Considering she is like a mum to Ian's kids - Realistic.
Stacey - Kat tracked her down relentlessly, keeping in with the character. Stacey's family and friends live on the square, it's fair that she wants to do her time to clear her husband's name and be able to see her family again. Realistic.
Dean - Close to his Grandad, who is temporarily living on the square and taking the rap for him. Realistic that we'll see him in and out. Realistic.
Ronnie - Got out of prison, wants to live with her sister. They stretched reality a bit by letting her live so close to Kat and Alfie but the rest checks out. Moderately-realistic.

The only iffy one is David in my opinion.
They're all fairly realistic yeah. But it's a bit too much relying on old characters imo. Like did we really need to see Stacey again? Audience were told she was in Mexico, she could have stayed in Mexico. Dean could have stayed wherever he was before they created this close relationship with his granddad. Ronnie could have easily moved elsewhere. Just a few too many permanent returns this last year
belle15 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 22:54
Joe_Zel
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 17,148
As someone who's not a fan of Stacey I would say yes, we did need to see her again.

As much as I am dubious about how they're going to use her when she's back for good, the Archie storyline desperately needed to be wrapped up. So, at least we're getting that.

Do you have any alternatives?

If they have stories that can involve Ronnie and there's now a place for Dean with the Carter's arriving then why not?
Joe_Zel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 22:58
BadRomance
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,722
I think it makes it more realistic. They do it a lot on Home and Away too and it keeps it real.
BadRomance is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 23:13
belle15
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 241
As someone who's not a fan of Stacey I would say yes, we did need to see her again.

As much as I am dubious about how they're going to use her when she's back for good, the Archie storyline desperately needed to be wrapped up. So, at least we're getting that.

Do you have any alternatives?

If they have stories that can involve Ronnie and there's now a place for Dean with the Carter's arriving then why not?
It's just too much reliance on them really. I like the fact the Archie storyline has been wrapped up, but really not the way it was done - the 'hello Stacey, goodbye Janine' storyline really did not have to be done... Kat spots Stacey in London, Stacey goes to Walford and sees Dot, Stacey realises she has to do her time, she confesses - no Kat being charged with perjury

I was never a fan of Dean, and haven't liked his return. The character was axed 6 years ago for a reason imo. However with the Mick/Shirley twist I do want to see how Dean reacts to that, but that's a long way off

Ronnie's return has been okay. Could have coped fine without her though

It'd just be great if they created some new 'classic' characters
belle15 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-05-2014, 23:20
Hildaonpluto
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 23,726
I agree up to a point as I think popping back or coming through the revolving door too much reduces the impact and payoff for the viewers of an exit story.Kinda makes them more meaningless less effective.It also increases the chances of some cast members getting complacent and treating the show as a cash cow.
Hildaonpluto is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 12:57.