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Anyone feel sorry for Adam Barton?


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Old 02-08-2014, 09:35
glen20
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You've got to admit he's had a tough time:

Sister's addiction to heroin
Mother's affair with Cain
Father's death
Mother eventually marrying man who indirectly led to John's death
Finding out James is his real father
Dumped by Katie… to name but a few!

And people wonder why he's a bit cross?!
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Old 02-08-2014, 09:47
Noush
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I see what you are saying but we could do that for every soap character on TV and come up with a plethora of reasons to feel sorry for them.
I do not feel sorry for Adam at all but then again I do not really like his character. I also feel he is seriously overacted during the drug scene.
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Old 02-08-2014, 09:57
kitkat1971
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As Noush says, he's not really gone through much more than most soap characters.
When you list the reasons out like that, yes I should feel sorry for him, in principle i'd feel sorry for anybody but he is such a petulant little boy (who should have grown up by now) who always takes his problems out on everybody else and lashes out in such destructive ways (arson, drunk driving) so I just can't. Also, some of his problems are self inflicted (like sleeping with his girlfriend's mother) and he never as to face the consequences of his actions.
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Old 02-08-2014, 10:11
sheepiefarm
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I guess I'm supposed to feel sorry for him - but unfortunately the narrative for him is written in such a way that it's hard to have any sympathy for him.

He's written as little more than a self-indulgent, self-expectant man-child, and when he doesn't get what he wants he stamps his little feet and throws a tantrum.

He's f**ked up on numerous occasions and always adopts his "poor-little-me-help-me" persona and allowed others to sort out his mess for him, never learning & never taking responsibility.
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Old 02-08-2014, 10:12
Dr K Noisewater
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While I agree his behaviour recently has been that of petulant child I do feel sorry for him. Moira has been an absolutely appalling mother to the boy. He has witnessed her cheat on his beloved dad with a particularly vile man (remember Cain was far from the Mr Nice Guy he is now back then) who very cruelly tormented John. He then loses his dad and his mother quickly remarries the man that destroyed his fathers life. Now he finds out that he was the result of another affair his mother had. His entire life and identity being a lie and losing that link to John who was his hero and the only decent parent he ever had. That's a lot for anyone to deal with. Moira has a lot to answer for.
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Old 02-08-2014, 10:28
stellers
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Just being dumped by a girl as like Katie would be enough for me to lose it.
I'd turn to the drink, getting up at 2pm and sitting there all day in an egg stained vest.
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Old 02-08-2014, 10:29
sheepiefarm
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While I agree his behaviour recently has been that of petulant child I do feel sorry for him. Moira has been an absolutely appalling mother to the boy. He has witnessed her cheat on his beloved dad with a particularly vile man (remember Cain was far from the Mr Nice Guy he is now back then) who very cruelly tormented John. He then loses his dad and his mother quickly remarries the man that destroyed his fathers life. Now he finds out that he was the result of another affair his mother had. His entire life and identity being a lie and losing that link to John who was his hero and the only decent parent he ever had. That's a lot for anyone to deal with. Moira has a lot to answer for.
It seems you've bought into this rose-tinted backstory of Adam & his dad that we're being spoon-fed too then.

Let's not forget, when Adam caused the chemical spillage on the farm that resulted with Carl King's kids in hospital and when John was angry with him about it, Adam went running off to work for Declan.
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Old 02-08-2014, 10:36
Oldnjaded
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It seems you've bought into this rose-tinted backstory of Adam & his dad that we're being spoon-fed too then.

Let's not forget, when Adam caused the chemical spillage on the farm that resulted with Carl King's kids in hospital and when John was angry with him about it, Adam went running off to work for Declan.
Agreed sheepie. Seems to me John only became Adumb's revered hero after he was dead. He treated him like sh*t when he was alive, the same as he does everyone.

I did feel sorry for him when he first found out that John wasn't his biological father, and to start with he handled it quite well - he was quiet and brooding rather than shouting and foot-stamping. But because the writers have to drag out their sls as long as possible, he then had to totally overreact massively and they've really not done the character any favours. He just looks like a tool now.
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Old 02-08-2014, 10:47
kitkat1971
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It seems you've bought into this rose-tinted backstory of Adam & his dad that we're being spoon-fed too then.

Let's not forget, when Adam caused the chemical spillage on the farm that resulted with Carl King's kids in hospital and when John was angry with him about it, Adam went running off to work for Declan.
I have to agree. When they first came in, I got the impression that Holly was a Daddy's Girl and Adam a Mummy's Boy. He and John clashed quite a lot and remember he was the only one to support Moira over her affair with Cain and he did go and work for Declan in a fit of pique who was trying to get the farm back and happy to bankrupt John in the process at the time.

It's easy for him to hero worship John and 'always love' John now - he's not here to disappoint him and he can pick and choose his memories.
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Old 02-08-2014, 11:08
cyrilandshirley
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I have to agree. When they first came in, I got the impression that Holly was a Daddy's Girl and Adam a Mummy's Boy. He and John clashed quite a lot and remember he was the only one to support Moira over her affair with Cain and he did go and work for Declan in a fit of pique who was trying to get the farm back and happy to bankrupt John in the process at the time.

It's easy for him to hero worship John and 'always love' John now - he's not here to disappoint him and he can pick and choose his memories.
Sometimes it's when we haven't really got on with someone in life, or have unfinished business, it's much harder to get over the loss of them. Maybe you could see the way he talks about John now as a way of overcompensating, but I'm probably reading too much in.

I can see Adam's been through a horrible time. He's lost his Dad twice, one when John died, and again when James trampled all over his memories. James is the one in my book who has got a f*ck of a lot of making up to do. But Adam has handled it really badly. All that anger at Moira, Katie, Andy - Jesus! He's behaving like a spoilt self-indulgent childish little brat. He needs to eff off and grow up.
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Old 02-08-2014, 11:25
kitkat1971
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Sometimes it's when we haven't really got on with someone in life, or have unfinished business, it's much harder to get over the loss of them. Maybe you could see the way he talks about John now as a way of overcompensating, but I'm probably reading too much in.

I can see Adam's been through a horrible time. He's lost his Dad twice, one when John died, and again when James trampled all over his memories. James is the one in my book who has got a f*ck of a lot of making up to do. But Adam has handled it really badly. All that anger at Moira, Katie, Andy - Jesus! He's behaving like a spoilt self-indulgent childish little brat. He needs to eff off and grow up.
I don't think you are reading too much into it actually - i'm not sure the writers have put that much thought into the psychology of it but your point is very accurate and there probably being submerged guilt for not having been a 'better' son so he now overcompensate in protecting his memory. There might also be some level of anger at John having 'abandoned' him by dying but he can't express it towards the dead parent so takes it out on the living one instead.
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Old 02-08-2014, 12:50
Ross1998
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No.

Adumb is a disgraceful human being. And Adam Thomas is a terrible actor.
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Old 02-08-2014, 13:17
Oldnjaded
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No.

Adumb is a disgraceful human being. And Adam Thomas is a terrible actor.
Each to his own of course, but personally, much as I detest Adumb, I don't actually think Adam Thomas has done that bad of a job with this sl. The fact that most of us are now screaming 'you stupid pathetic tool!!' at our screens recently perhaps backs that up?
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Old 02-08-2014, 13:39
samcains90
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I used to love Adam. Especially his Mia and Ella phase.

Yes, I admit he has been through a lot in the past couple of years but that's no excuse for his behaviour. Every time something bad happens he acts out like a petulant child. He's not a kid anymore and he needs to grow up. When he does that I will like him again.

I think the actor is pretty good and has improved drastically since last year.
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Old 02-08-2014, 13:52
Matt35
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I do feel sorry for him although he doesn't make it easy. I try to imagine how I'd be in that situation and im sure it would mess me too maybe not to the extreme of adam but then everyone reacts differently. Anyone who says it wouldn't is kidding themselves.
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Old 02-08-2014, 13:56
tenchgirl
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No. Everyone has issues and baggage, he is in his 20's acting like a 12 year old. He needs a slap, a hard one right round the lug. At least moira disowns him this week. Now when he messes up there will be no one to cover up for him and he might actually get nicked for whatever it is he does next.

Don't forget he's done arson, tried to kill cain in that fire, stalked james with a shot gun, theft from the pub, Pissed on the tractor that injured Angry Thugden, theft of Nessa's ketamine, without mummy to cover his arse he might just grow up when he finds himself in a cell.
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Old 02-08-2014, 14:09
Maria_Robinson
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He is a tool
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Old 02-08-2014, 14:15
sheepiefarm
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But tools are useful
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Old 02-08-2014, 14:16
scone
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First off I think Adam Thomas is a good actor, at least he can actually cry tears unlike some others. He also has some heartbreaking acting faces and I like that about an actor how you can almost tell what they are feeling without them saying anything, again this is something other actors cannot do.

Secondly, I think most of this anger now is that he feels like he has been betrayed, he stood up to James over his mum, he thought that James had just been trying it on with his mum, he did not realize that he had slept with her and then to find out that their assignation resulted in a pregnancy that was covered up and Adam being the baby of a one night stand with his uncle.

Adam feels angry for his father (John) and he just can't stand James, he sees him as a bit of a ****, whereas he sees his dad as the perfect role model, it's just sent him off the rails knowing that he is the son of a ****.
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Old 02-08-2014, 14:21
Zebstriker
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No. Everyone has issues and baggage, he is in his 20's acting like a 12 year old. He needs a slap, a hard one right round the lug. At least moira disowns him this week. Now when he messes up there will be no one to cover up for him and he might actually get nicked for whatever it is he does next.

Don't forget he's done arson, tried to kill cain in that fire, stalked james with a shot gun, theft from the pub, Pissed on the tractor that injured Angry Thugden, theft of Nessa's ketamine, without mummy to cover his arse he might just grow up when he finds himself in a cell.
Not to mention a hit and run whilst drunk behind the wheel
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Old 02-08-2014, 14:30
Matt35
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No. Everyone has issues and baggage, he is in his 20's acting like a 12 year old. He needs a slap, a hard one right round the lug. At least moira disowns him this week. Now when he messes up there will be no one to cover up for him and he might actually get nicked for whatever it is he does next.

Don't forget he's done arson, tried to kill cain in that fire, stalked james with a shot gun, theft from the pub, Pissed on the tractor that injured Angry Thugden, theft of Nessa's ketamine, without mummy to cover his arse he might just grow up when he finds himself in a cell.
I think its a bit more than issues and baggage don't you? He finds out the man he believed was his dad isn't and the man he hates is. He's angry and lashing out. Eventually he'll calm down probably in a couple of weeks when aaron returns.
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Old 02-08-2014, 14:46
lotty27
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It seems you've bought into this rose-tinted backstory of Adam & his dad that we're being spoon-fed too then.

Let's not forget, when Adam caused the chemical spillage on the farm that resulted with Carl King's kids in hospital and when John was angry with him about it, Adam went running off to work for Declan.
Breaking his dad's heart in the process. Let's also not forget that this man-boy has the mindset that immediately shifted the blame for what he did onto Declan himself therefore absolving himself of any blame!

Speaking of Delcan, he tried to save his dad's life (and did save his mum's) but got repaid by Adam throwing clods of mud at his car whilst he was driving past - Adam as per was having a tantrum! Instead of thanking this man he gave him grief. There had been bad blood between the families but that was just too ridiculous and pretty much shows Adam up for what he is - an immature idiot who will take his problems out on anyone, no matter who, as long as he has a punchbag.

I guess I'm supposed to feel sorry for him - but unfortunately the narrative for him is written in such a way that it's hard to have any sympathy for him.

He's written as little more than a self-indulgent, self-expectant man-child, and when he doesn't get what he wants he stamps his little feet and throws a tantrum.

He's f**ked up on numerous occasions and always adopts his "poor-little-me-help-me" persona and allowed others to sort out his mess for him, never learning & never taking responsibility.
Again, spot on.

Adam is no saint and it's infuriating that people continually clear up his mess after him, even Cain nowadays. If he'd been made to face the consequences of his actions long before now he might not have turned into such a brat who can only see things from his POV with absolutely no comprehension or understanding about how other people think or feel. It's all me, me, me with him.

No. Everyone has issues and baggage, he is in his 20's acting like a 12 year old. He needs a slap, a hard one right round the lug. At least moira disowns him this week. Now when he messes up there will be no one to cover up for him and he might actually get nicked for whatever it is he does next.

Don't forget he's done arson, tried to kill cain in that fire, stalked james with a shot gun, theft from the pub, Pissed on the tractor that injured Angry Thugden, theft of Nessa's ketamine, without mummy to cover his arse he might just grow up when he finds himself in a cell.
Again spot on - Adam is NO victim.




He's such a tunnel visioned, me, me, me, look what they've done to MEEEE brat that he's paying a visit to that drugs den - not because he wants to get off his face (IMO) but because his mother has pleaded with him not to so he's going to go just to hurt her. How absolutely pathetic.

I wouldn't care if he'd been dragged up and this latest was just an accumulation of a terrible upbringing but like I've said before he had a lovely bringing in a happy family with doting parents, probably too doting! But all that is forgotten in his self- pity party.
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Old 02-08-2014, 14:56
thejoyof_pat
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I don't feel sorry for Adam, even when it all came out I didn't feel sorry him due to the way he spoke to his mother. Like Victoria said Adam isn't exactly innocent but in Adam mind because HE didn't have a wife and kids then that make the Mia/Ella thing ok. Right on.

I have always seen Adam as a Mammy's boy and going through the clips he was always on his mother side when it came to anything so I do believe that posters are right in saying that there has been a switch however I think it's really, really easy to make a hero out of a parent we have lost when we are younger so I do see Adam behaviour from that side of things completely normal.
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Old 02-08-2014, 15:13
cyrilandshirley
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First off I think Adam Thomas is a good actor, at least he can actually cry tears unlike some others. He also has some heartbreaking acting faces and I like that about an actor how you can almost tell what they are feeling without them saying anything, again this is something other actors cannot do.

Secondly, I think most of this anger now is that he feels like he has been betrayed, he stood up to James over his mum, he thought that James had just been trying it on with his mum, he did not realize that he had slept with her and then to find out that their assignation resulted in a pregnancy that was covered up and Adam being the baby of a one night stand with his uncle.

Adam feels angry for his father (John) and he just can't stand James, he sees him as a bit of a ****, whereas he sees his dad as the perfect role model, it's just sent him off the rails knowing that he is the son of a ****.
I think when Adam was standing up to James, telling him to take his creepy obsession with Moira and f*ck off, was when I felt most sympathetic to Adam. Because basically, he was right, James is a total weirdo over Moira and he's a one man walking destruction zone.

If Adam stood up now and said, I don't care if you're my biological Dad, John will always be my Dad, and I want you to f*ck off and leave us all alone, I might respect him again. Alternatively, he could just aim a tractor at James and not miss this time.

Do think Adam Thomas was pretty good in some of the scenes with Cain where he went off with the gun though.
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Old 02-08-2014, 15:34
Janet Plank
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When Jai threw a punch at Rakesh in The Woopack, and mistakenly hit David, I so wished it had been Adam standing where David was. He is a horrible, spoilt 10 year old in a mans skin; if Moira was to stop pandering to him he would have to grow up. It looks as if he is going to use the rent money she gave him to buy drugs.
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