Soaps are really good for highlighting real-life issues, but they've always been very good at separating the story from the other going-ons of the soap as a whole to avoid it from offending. I feel Hollyoaks gets this horribly wrong.

I know Hollyoaks love a ridiculous storyline, but doesn't anyone think their portrayal of bipolar disorder is totally off and borderline offensive. I don't see how they're supposed to be raising awareness about a serious illness with Cindy and her imaginary friend. To me it seems like they just wanted to give Rhys' actor a job. That weird thing she does with her eye is totally weird and over dramatic.

For the record I've actually come to enjoy Hollyoaks, because I've come to accept their OTT storylines as their new style i.e I expect a murder every other day and expect it to be over with in hours and I also thought elements of the domestic abuse storyline were quite poignant, but the rape storyline was preposterous and I feel like they've only gone and topped it with this absurd portrayal of bipolar disorder.

What are your opinions on the matter?

Oh yeah, I don't like the bi-polar storyline at all. I don't really recognize Cindy's symptoms as being typical of bi-polar disorder. However I don't like most soap portrayals of mental illness, most don't get it right. You really have to take time with storyline like that and concentrate on the internal struggle of the person rather than action scenes and facial ticks and stuff like they are doing with Cindy. There is only one soap that does mental health storylines consistently well.

Used to be great, shite now

You only need to look at the difference between Esther's bullying and Patrick/Maxine's abusive relationship

I totally agree. It's embarrassing to watch.

It's great to have Rhys back though

awful they take gaps in huge storylines so we never actually see the emotional journey which is the most important part and block storytelling cant be an excuse cause im pretty sure grace and freddie have featured in atleast one episode a week all year

Their aftermaths tend to be weak which is a shame.

HOs gets great praise when they announce/show the big episodes of a issue led storyline, but then it all dies out because they end up ruining the storyline, then it starts over with a new storyline.

They had a lot of praise for raising awareness for Esther's suicide attempt after being bullied, then HOs ruined it by not bothering to show Esther's physical and mental recovery or any of the bullies being punished and feeling remorse.

JP's rape got praise for raising awareness only for HOs to have people turn against him thinking he is a abuser and have him put in jail for a couple of months, all to make it so JP is well and truly battered down.

They get the attention and praise when they announce they will be showing a certain issue and then again when they show the big episodes (which are usually good) only for them to ruin it by dragging the storyline out and then not bothering to show any aftermath.

Then they move on to the next big thing and the whole thing starts over again. The problem is that they continue to get the praise (from charities) for showing these issues but there is then no comment when HOs ends up ruining the storyline by their laziness, so they just carry on doing things the same way over and over.

I don't what's worse?

The huge gaps inbetween the storylines which last for weeks and weeks or the OOT unrealistic plot twists?

I think Cindy's symptoms are quite realistic. I didn't think at first but I looked up the symptoms and they are there and I don't think that should be offending anyone I get it though with other storylines like the male rape.

To be honest I don't believe there was ever a serious attempt to explore mental illness with Cindy's storyline. Its always been a rather cliché storyline about talking to imaginary people and stunts. They really shouldn't advertise more than that. Its publicity for them I guess.

The real-life issues were what properly sucked me in to the show around 2007/2008, with domestic abuse, anorexia and drug addiction all showing me the harrowing effects of things I hadn't really considered before.

But I find sometimes Hollyoaks hide behind a curtain of pretence for the motive behind their storylines. I don't believe the rape storyline was done to raise awareness, I think it was done because they wanted to do a rape storyline. Sure, causing awareness is a great result of the storyline for them and I'm sure that's something they want, but let's not pretend that they sat down and thought about tackling something to raise public awareness before doing this storyline.


Can you elaborate?

I'm not sure about this. Esther was in hospital ages after the incident. We saw her suffering from jaundice. There was a storyline centred around her liver transplant and the difficulties. We've been reminded repeatedly that she isn't able to drink anymore.

The bullies were punished. They were suspended/expelled, and Sinead went on a massive downward spiral afterwards that lasted almost a year. Ruby felt great remorse immediately which is why she wasn't punished as much, whereas it took Sinead a lot longer.

One thing I do not like now though is that how Sinead and Esther are now friends. I don't care how virtuous Esther is, it's not very realistic. The village was big enough for them to stay apart. I wouldn't even acknowledge my teenage bullies if I met them now, and Esther was put through a lot worse so I can't see how she can stomach Sinead.

Doug losing the love of his life and contemplates suicide, he turns gay and forgets she ever existed.

Caramel being scarred for life. She goes away and is magically cured.

There's probably more but that's just a couple of stoyrlines that have been handled really badly.

I agree. They were handled really badly. Although one good thing came out of Doug being gay. The expression 'being hugged gay' that always makes me laugh

Agree that they used to be good at handling such story lines but not now, not by a long shot.

Story lines such as Hannah's anorexia was well done imo but now they've been hinting they're going to do a similar story line with Jason but keep putting it on the back burner.

They've gotten worse with how they handle the amount of story lines nowadays. Used to be bad enough with focusing on two or three for a few weeks, drop them completely for the next few weeks and focus on new ones, rinse repeat..

Now it's like they start each story line from scratch each time they eventually go back to it.

Soooo much potential on the show imo, very poorly executed.

Board room meeting for Maxine abuse conclusion:

'So guys how should we end this abuse storyline to help promote awareness and encourage women in relationships who are suffering?'

'Umm well..how about a realistic and emotional ending fitting to the actors'

....*Room turns round and laughs*

BK: Get out of my sight!. I know, let's have her bruises revealed in front of everyone BUT nobody will really care in fact, let's have most of them believe Patrick over the woman covered with bruises. Victims of abuse will just love that!'

*Room claps and nods in agreement*

BK: Now onto this rape wrap up *takes out stunt book and places it on top of 'potential death book' OH and I'm not too sure how to do an aftermath to the abuse storyline without any deaths so let's just not include it for the next week or so and focus on other shocking deaths and stunts so viewers will just forget about it, hmm?

It's funny cause I can actually see this happening.

THIS!

I felt that the Maxine/Patrick domestic abuse storyline was very well portrayed - however it was slightly let down by poor writing & the aftermath

I also feel the Cindy bipolar abuse storyline is being really well portrayed, and I've seen positive comments about it on Twitter from people who suffer from bipolar. My issue is that Cindy suddenly had bipolar one episode and started acting manic. Yes she is acting more manic than she was before so there's been build up, but still she was suddenly manic in one episode whereas a week or two before (where she found out about Holly/Dodger) she was acting normal

They really do cheat with these storylines. They like to portray every 'issue' going but do it in a shorthand matter pretending that they have done extensive research into the subject when most of the time it is used for cheap sensationalism. Its like the Lett's notes version of issues. The show isnt interested into getting down to the most realistic portrayal of any big 'issue' and instead only wants to show the big dramatic moments before it gets bored with that storyline and focuses on something else or leaves it for a few months and then by-passes all the most interesting moments entirely just for an exciting climax.
It is the same with the lax attitude the show has with murder. Seems to just be an everyday occurrence now. Appalling.

They like the heightened moments, the twists, the high drama, the OTT daft crap and then gloss over any character development, aftermath, actual substance.

That was the only reason they killed Sam and Danny, to skip right to Cameron growing as a villain, no doubt to be revealed as behind their deaths and they don't have to focus too heavily on the aftermath of Peri's parentage being revealed.

Currently - rubbish.
In the past - very good at times.

I don't know what exactly we're supposed to watch, in real life people with problems tend to just come to an Internet forum like this and moan or else ask for advice..

And I wouldn't enjoy watching Cindy sit at her laptop answering replies about how her life's falling apart and she needs help. That's a realistic portrayal.

Hollyoaks is a soap, everything on TV is exaggerated and manipulated to suit the creator's direction. All scripted Tv programmes take things from life and write about it, so Hollyoaks isn't dong anything different to them so I won't call them out for it.

It just seems that people think there's some sort of invisible line that exists of issues that could hurt or offend people and should never be talked about or seen on TV and that doesn't exist because anybody anywhere could get offended by any portrayal in a soap/drama/comedy even in a news story.

I don't think this is true at all. I've seen a number very good portrayals of mental illness on soaps. I have to say I don't think this storyline with Cindy is one. They give out the mind mental health awards every year there have been some worthy things nominated. I've done some mental health advocacy work and you can absolutely use popular entertainment to reach people.

That being said I am not highly offended by this storyline with Cindy. I don't think its a real life portrayal of mental illness, rather an attempt to do a dramatic storyline for 6 weeks of summer. Fine if you want to do that just don't say you're trying to raise awareness of mental illness. When they killed off Sam and Danny they didn't release a statement about exploring the effects of grief on the modern family. If they want OTT sensational storylines stop trying to rationalize that by making them real life issues.