Reading this weeks 'Inside Soap' interview with DTC, I was most intrigued to read that EastEnders is now being written by a team including several 'angry young writers'.Because while I applaud him for bringing new energy and interest to the show, I honestly don't think EastEnders has been 'angry' since about 1992. Back then we had Mark Fowler dealing with his HIV and Mo Butcher struggling with her dementia, both of which were hard to watch but without a doubt were edgy, challenging and angry TV which clearly had something to say.
Fast forward 20+ years and Albert Square is now a clean, sunny, antiseptic, Ikea ridden TV fantasy land where people still use a launderette, no one can get a job just a few tube stops away, and once hard faced, complex, flawed Eastend harridans are now dishing out comforting words of wisdom as if they are channelling the ghost of Neighbours Helen Daniels (I'm talking about you Shirley Carter and Kat Moon, as seen in recent episodes!)
For me the real issue is the oh so familiar and predictable soap opera formula. When EastEnders started it was like a drama documentary: the Square looked real, no formula has been established, and characters behaved unpredictably as in real life, not seeming confined to the restrictions of the soap opera format, because the show was character driven, issues arising organically out of the lives of its people without being compromised by a constant need for sensationalism and ratings. Stories also continuously developed over a block of weeks, allowing the drama to build and the audience to connect with the characters. These days we seem to have a bit of story here and a bit there with no continuous momentum, Sharon's recent revenge against Phil being a prime example, leading to a lacklustre impact all round. The much hyped who killed Lucy Beale plot has also suffered in this way, resulting in many people now thinking 'Who cares who killed Lucy!'
For the show to get back its anger, it needs to free itself from its shackles and get back to dramatizing real life, warts and all, without one eye on OFCOM and the censor brigade.
But maybe this is a problem with TV in general. Whilst once it was a platform to inform, educate and rattle cages, in an age of huge regulation and censorship it's been usurped by the Internet so now serves as a tool for simple distraction rather than stimulation.
But regardless of this, the show seems incredibly out of touch. Hardly any story lines embrace or depict the huge technological changes impacting on our lives - Neighbours mentions Facebook literally every episode - and the teens are depicted as being unbelievably dull and square. So it all comes down to the writing and plotting, and whether the powers that be genuinely want to comment on contemporary reality or simply want to distract us with 2 hours of irrelevant pantomime each week.
EastEnders, I look forward to you becoming the angry young upstart you once were. If possible! But judging by your current performance you're like a once colourful shirt that has faded in the wash over the years.
What do you think? Are you angry as well?
