I think the cast is very strong we just need to have some patience not every character can get screen time all the time.
DTC claims EastEnders has currently got it's strongest ever cast...
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Apart from Matt Di Angelo and Harry Reid, I agree. It has a great range of different actors and talent. But the use of them isn't strong though.
Originally Posted by sorcha_healy27:
“I think sharon is ok and although Roxy is being a cow, she isn't acting out of character.
I think Kathy will reunite with phil and perhaps grant will return for sharon.
”
“I think sharon is ok and although Roxy is being a cow, she isn't acting out of character.
I think Kathy will reunite with phil and perhaps grant will return for sharon.
”
A Grant return would be brilliant.
Sharon & Grant suit so much more than Sharon & Phil. I'd love it if Grant returned and brought The Vic again
.
Originally Posted by curvybabes:
“I think the cast is very strong we just need to have some patience not every character can get screen time all the time.”
“I think the cast is very strong we just need to have some patience not every character can get screen time all the time.”
I do agree, but they are really testing a lot of fans patience. I get that not everyone can appear and take centre stage all at once, but characters going missing is a bit weird. For some reason, characters only really appear when they have a storyline going on, and they don't generally appear for continuity purposes. There's also a lack of everyday life/scenes. It can ruin characters and make them unlikeable IMO. It feels like they're being shoved down our throats a bit.
Originally Posted by bass55:
“Exactly. There is a good representation of the 80s, 90s and 00s in the current cast, but they are being horribly underused due to the obsession with the Carters. Nobody will look back at this era and think "I wish we'd seen more of the Carters"; they will be wondering why the rest of the excellent cast wasn't exploited to its full potential.”
“Exactly. There is a good representation of the 80s, 90s and 00s in the current cast, but they are being horribly underused due to the obsession with the Carters. Nobody will look back at this era and think "I wish we'd seen more of the Carters"; they will be wondering why the rest of the excellent cast wasn't exploited to its full potential.”
It's the fact they're running The Vic. They went straight in there and shoved them down our faces and it's been the same ever since. They were great when they rust arrived, but have really lost their spark for me. I prefer the Carters out of the pub. I feel like they're bringing The Vic down with them. It's more like the Carters home, than The Vic.
Well he's hardly going to say, "I've got a really weak cast and I'm a rubbish executive producer", is he? 
Originally Posted by vald:
“I agree about David, Bianca (and Stan) are a big loss. but I do like having Martin back, still hope they can develop Charlie and, as you say, Kathy is on her way.
Of course if Janine, Zainab and Jean were to return the show would improve no end...IMO.”
“I agree about David, Bianca (and Stan) are a big loss. but I do like having Martin back, still hope they can develop Charlie and, as you say, Kathy is on her way.
Of course if Janine, Zainab and Jean were to return the show would improve no end...IMO.”
And Tanya
.
Originally Posted by Get Den Watts:
“Well he's hardly going to say, "I've got a really weak cast and I'm a rubbish executive producer", is he?”
“Well he's hardly going to say, "I've got a really weak cast and I'm a rubbish executive producer", is he?
”
. He's not a rubbish executive producer, he just doesn't put all of his passion into the show. I don't expect him to say he has a weak cast, but the strongest ever cast is excessive.
Originally Posted by fawltytowers93:
“It's an extremely strong cast, possibly the strongest since about 2005. They're just being badly used...that's why the cast is appearing weaker than it actually is
We have Ian, Kathy, Phil, Dot, Sharon, Martin, Sonia, Carol, Kat, Alfie, Stacey, Shirley, Ronnie, Roxy, Jane, Max, Patrick etc.
However, a great number of these characters are being sacrificed for the sake of the precious Carters”
“It's an extremely strong cast, possibly the strongest since about 2005. They're just being badly used...that's why the cast is appearing weaker than it actually is
We have Ian, Kathy, Phil, Dot, Sharon, Martin, Sonia, Carol, Kat, Alfie, Stacey, Shirley, Ronnie, Roxy, Jane, Max, Patrick etc.
However, a great number of these characters are being sacrificed for the sake of the precious Carters”
I agree with this. There's a great mix of characters and ethnicity, but the Carters are overused, which has an effect on everyone else's screen time. For example, tonight when we pay our respects to Jim/John Bardon, there will be endless Carter drivel, based on this rape storyline, which is beyond repair now. (I haven't watched the episode yet, but have seen the spoilers and Shirley with the sign, etc...).
Since 2005, I'm not 100% sure... You have a point, but 2007-2010 was also really good. It's a shame DTC hasn't got Ricky, Bianca, Janine, Pat, Peggy, Tanya & Zainab these days. However, he does have Kat, Alfie, Sharon, Martin, Sonia, Kathy which Santer didn't, and I suppose Tanya, Zainab & Janine will all be back one day
.
They are a decent cast it's just that the Carters are the only cast who get regular outings and everyone else is just slotted into any left over gaps!
DTC needs to make better use of the other cast members and give the better storylines (employ better writers) and put more care and compassion into the non Carter stories.
DTC needs to realise that EE is ALL the cast NOT just the Carters!
DTC needs to make better use of the other cast members and give the better storylines (employ better writers) and put more care and compassion into the non Carter stories.
DTC needs to realise that EE is ALL the cast NOT just the Carters!
Originally Posted by lou_123:
“And I completely disagree...
Carters everywhere and a handful of secondary characters, who disappear for weeks on end, is not their best cast ever.
Thoughts?
http://m.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/e...-off-show.html”
“And I completely disagree...
Carters everywhere and a handful of secondary characters, who disappear for weeks on end, is not their best cast ever.
Thoughts?
http://m.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/e...-off-show.html”
Nope I think the cast are great. It's the storylines that are the weakness at the mo.
Originally Posted by sorcha_healy27:
“The cast is fantastic. It's the use of them that's the problem.”
“The cast is fantastic. It's the use of them that's the problem.”
Originally Posted by lou_123:
“I do agree, but they are really testing a lot of fans patience. I get that not everyone can appear and take centre stage all at once, but characters going missing is a bit weird. For some reason, characters only really appear when they have a storyline going on, and they don't generally appear for continuity purposes. There's also a lack of everyday life/scenes. It can ruin characters and make them unlikeable IMO. It feels like they're being shoved down our throats a bit.”
“I do agree, but they are really testing a lot of fans patience. I get that not everyone can appear and take centre stage all at once, but characters going missing is a bit weird. For some reason, characters only really appear when they have a storyline going on, and they don't generally appear for continuity purposes. There's also a lack of everyday life/scenes. It can ruin characters and make them unlikeable IMO. It feels like they're being shoved down our throats a bit.”
I know what you mean I think it will all balance out more once the rape storyline ends, I do miss the everyday scenes but when we get a few episodes like that then there is complaints of where is the gritty drama
they can't win whatever they do.
Originally Posted by RetroMusicFan:
“They are a decent cast it's just that the Carters are the only cast who get regular outings and everyone else is just slotted into any left over gaps!
DTC needs to make better use of the other cast members and give the better storylines (employ better writers) and put more care and compassion into the non Carter stories.
DTC needs to realise that EE is ALL the cast NOT just the Carters!”
“They are a decent cast it's just that the Carters are the only cast who get regular outings and everyone else is just slotted into any left over gaps!
DTC needs to make better use of the other cast members and give the better storylines (employ better writers) and put more care and compassion into the non Carter stories.
DTC needs to realise that EE is ALL the cast NOT just the Carters!”
I'd agree with this. I'd say the writers/storyliners have done some great stuff but most of the cast are stuck in repetitive loops and a lot of characters feel predictable and damaged.
Also non Carter plots are woefully underwritten so any promise that the scenarios may hold just drains away.
The cast is amazing particularly the females Linda Henry Kellie Bright Diane Parish. Laurie Brett. Lindsey Coulson. Mimi Keene. Shona Mcgarty. Sam Womack. Annette Badland. Could go on.
Originally Posted by Firegazer:
“That's such a DTC thing to say. He's like a cat trying to climb up a slide, but in this scenario the slide is DTC's arse.
If he thinks the cast is so amazing, then why doesn't he make use of half of them?”
“That's such a DTC thing to say. He's like a cat trying to climb up a slide, but in this scenario the slide is DTC's arse.
If he thinks the cast is so amazing, then why doesn't he make use of half of them?”
How would you feel if your boss came out and said everyone who worked for him was rubbish?
Originally Posted by CM2604:
“How would you feel if your boss came out and said everyone who worked for him was rubbish?”
“How would you feel if your boss came out and said everyone who worked for him was rubbish?”
That's really not the case, there's a clear difference between EE having a very good cast...and EE having the strongest cast than before. I agree, there's lots of very good cast members but for me it's not even about the way they're used. It's about Characters, not enough legends or potential legendary characters in the square at the moment...by far, this 2015 cast is beaten by a few previous casts. Not Saying These Cast Members Are Great. I just have to state that as I guess someone will misinterpret what I'm saying
Originally Posted by lou_123:
“And I completely disagree...
Carters everywhere and a handful of secondary characters, who disappear for weeks on end, is not their best cast ever.
Thoughts?
http://m.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/e...-off-show.html”
“And I completely disagree...
Carters everywhere and a handful of secondary characters, who disappear for weeks on end, is not their best cast ever.
Thoughts?
http://m.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/e...-off-show.html”
It's absolutely the best cast they've had since the turn of the century, for sure. We shouldn't be selective about the fact that many previous casts had their weak actors and characters at the bottom of the pile. We have a small handful of secondary characters who are actually pretty inoffensive whilst everyone else is absolutely top notch.
It's been one of the strongest attributes of EastEnders in the last eighteen months, and I've said it long before now.
I'ts strong but losing Jac Jossa and Ben Hardy has weakened the younger cast.
Losing one of the best actresses Jessie Wallace weakens the cast.
Losing one of the best actresses Jessie Wallace weakens the cast.
Well, the boss would say that, but it doesn't mean it's true. I do think the cast is currently strong, though, not the strongest it's ever been, for me that was the original cast / the early years.
But I don't like the way we get intensity / closeness to a character, then they just disappear / it fizzles out (as with Kat recently). It's unsatisfying for the viewer, and makes the storyline feel like it was filler rather than interesting, meaningful character development?
I don't know, it's tricky to strike the right balance - I'm not sure we need to see weeks of Kat staring at the ceiling / being depressed - but Jessie and Shane's acting was really good when she took the overdose, and I think DTC is letting them down somewhat by not following this up at all. (Notice how Alfie was doing his usual chirpie chappie routine last night, with no sign of what he's going through with Kat at the moment?) It's a bit weird for the viewer, plus it's all well and good having strong actors but it's important to capitalize on them properly too.
But I don't like the way we get intensity / closeness to a character, then they just disappear / it fizzles out (as with Kat recently). It's unsatisfying for the viewer, and makes the storyline feel like it was filler rather than interesting, meaningful character development?
I don't know, it's tricky to strike the right balance - I'm not sure we need to see weeks of Kat staring at the ceiling / being depressed - but Jessie and Shane's acting was really good when she took the overdose, and I think DTC is letting them down somewhat by not following this up at all. (Notice how Alfie was doing his usual chirpie chappie routine last night, with no sign of what he's going through with Kat at the moment?) It's a bit weird for the viewer, plus it's all well and good having strong actors but it's important to capitalize on them properly too.
cast is very strong, just bad implementation still. They did away with the block storytelling for a bit before Lucy died and maybe for a bit after but really its back to the bad old days...cutting characters like denise for weeks is pretty much unforgivable...its a serial drama...i want to watch all the characters integrated. Yes, there has to be a focus and I dont mind themed weeks but ditching everyone else at the expense of 'oh its a mitchells week' is lazy and inept.
Originally Posted by M-M-M Mouse:
“Well, the boss would say that, but it doesn't mean it's true. I do think the cast is currently strong, though, not the strongest it's ever been, for me that was the original cast / the early years.
But I don't like the way we get intensity / closeness to a character, then they just disappear / it fizzles out (as with Kat recently). It's unsatisfying for the viewer, and makes the storyline feel like it was filler rather than interesting, meaningful character development?
I don't know, it's tricky to strike the right balance - I'm not sure we need to see weeks of Kat staring at the ceiling / being depressed - but Jessie and Shane's acting was really good when she took the overdose, and I think DTC is letting them down somewhat by not following this up at all. (Notice how Alfie was doing his usual chirpie chappie routine last night, with no sign of what he's going through with Kat at the moment?) It's a bit weird for the viewer, plus it's all well and good having strong actors but it's important to capitalize on them properly too.”
“Well, the boss would say that, but it doesn't mean it's true. I do think the cast is currently strong, though, not the strongest it's ever been, for me that was the original cast / the early years.
But I don't like the way we get intensity / closeness to a character, then they just disappear / it fizzles out (as with Kat recently). It's unsatisfying for the viewer, and makes the storyline feel like it was filler rather than interesting, meaningful character development?
I don't know, it's tricky to strike the right balance - I'm not sure we need to see weeks of Kat staring at the ceiling / being depressed - but Jessie and Shane's acting was really good when she took the overdose, and I think DTC is letting them down somewhat by not following this up at all. (Notice how Alfie was doing his usual chirpie chappie routine last night, with no sign of what he's going through with Kat at the moment?) It's a bit weird for the viewer, plus it's all well and good having strong actors but it's important to capitalize on them properly too.”
Very well said. I don't like how characters only appear when they have a plot going on. Every character should appear at least once or twice a fortnight IMO, unless the actor/actress is busy. Too many cast members go missing and only pop up again when they have a storyline going on, before fizzling out. We barely see them playing second fiddle/having an everyday normal scene, for continuity purposes. No one drinks in The Vic. The cast barely interact with eachover, apart from in their families. It's all a bit wired. The continuity is really bad and it's having an impact on the cast.
Back in the 80's, characters appeared all of the time, and were CHARACTER driven, rather than PLOT driven. Kat is a clear example, of poor characterisation... 'We won't do much for her character, but we'll just give Jessie Wallace lots of depressing plots to play out, because she's an exceptional actress'. Why can't Kat have any friends? Why don't we see a more maternal side to her? Why don't we ever see her popping in to the cafe getting a cup of tea, or going into The Vic (without getting shitfaced every time)? She's constantly miserable, and only appears when she has a plot going on, so it feels like she's shoved down our throats, when Kat does appear. Do you see where I'm coming from?
. Back in the 80's/90's, characters didn't need endless plots for the audience to care about them. Their characters came first.
It's a great cast - possibly talent heavy on the female side (they really need a top notch actor on the make side to balance it out especially now that Timothy West has gone) but overall pretty much on par with any of the casts I can remember.
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