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EastEnders: Affair Storylines


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Old 06-06-2015, 21:25
Ell_Ren
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With the recent influx of affairs/love triangles on EastEnders (Stacey/Kush/Shabnam, Kim/Vincent/Ronnie/Charlie/Roxy, Abi/Paul/Ben and now Carol/Buster/Shirley, I wanted to take the opportunity to ask other posters opinions on affair storylines.

I, personally, am completely bored of love triangles, cheating, secret wives and families appearing and affairs in soaps. They don't have the impact they used to anymore, like Stax or Sharongate. They are so dull, run of the mill and more often than not, most characters come across badly and can be ruined by these stories. Most recently Charlie has received a LOT of backlash.

I feel like it is lazy writing and I don't see why it is seemingly impossible to have honest, faithful couples on soaps? Can they not think of other stories to do? Ian and Jane may be a bit out of line with Cindy at the moment, but at least they are being out of line together and aren't sleeping with or starting affairs with their neighbours or sisters/friends husbands/fiancées at the first sign of trouble.

I'd like to see couples that I can invest in on screen, friendships I can invest in. I'm not saying bring back the 'love and warmth' era but can't they have couples who stay together and have storylines that don't involve being unfaithful?
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Old 06-06-2015, 21:43
Aaron_Silver
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With the recent influx of affairs/love triangles on EastEnders (Stacey/Kush/Shabnam, Kim/Vincent/Ronnie/Charlie/Roxy, Abi/Paul/Ben and now Carol/Buster/Shirley, I wanted to take the opportunity to ask other posters opinions on affair storylines.

I, personally, am completely bored of love triangles, cheating, secret wives and families appearing and affairs in soaps. They don't have the impact they used to anymore, like Stax or Sharongate. They are so dull, run of the mill and more often than not, most characters come across badly and can be ruined by these stories. Most recently Charlie has received a LOT of backlash.

I feel like it is lazy writing and I don't see why it is seemingly impossible to have honest, faithful couples on soaps? Can they not think of other stories to do? Ian and Jane may be a bit out of line with Cindy at the moment, but at least they are being out of line together and aren't sleeping with or starting affairs with their neighbours or sisters/friends husbands/fiancées at the first sign of trouble.

I'd like to see couples that I can invest in on screen, friendships I can invest in. I'm not saying bring back the 'love and warmth' era but can't they have couples who stay together and have storylines that don't involve being unfaithful?
I agree cheating has been done to death
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Old 06-06-2015, 21:50
londongirlGre
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I'd like to see couples that I can invest in on screen, friendships I can invest in. I'm not saying bring back the 'love and warmth' era but can't they have couples who stay together and have storylines that don't involve being unfaithful?
I agree with you, especially your last paragraph.


I would like to see couples having storylines where they are dealing with problems, together. I'm sure, there are plenty of storylines, that they can give couples, which don't include affairs.
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Old 06-06-2015, 21:57
Stube
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The worst kind of storyline in my opinion.
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Old 06-06-2015, 22:04
vald
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It's just a waste of time investing in couples, friendships or even families lately. The show is full of cheats and liars. This happened a couple of years ago too...there was no one left who I could really like. It's so lazy. Just waiting for Tam and Mick to get in on the act now.
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Old 06-06-2015, 22:07
Ell_Ren
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I also forgot the Tina/Sonia/Martin scenario recently, which I am still unable to understand the point of.
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Old 06-06-2015, 22:09
jamesc_715
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Mick and Linda are the only stable couple on the show.

In regards to friendship, Sharon and Linda seems to be the only one that they focus on. I would have said Shabnam and Stacey but not anymore , Hopefully Lola and Paul will strike up a friendship soon.

But yes I am sick to death of cheating in EastEnders. Is Buster and Carol going to have an affair?
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Old 06-06-2015, 22:14
NoughtiesMusic
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The last EE affair storylines I really enjoyed were Stax and Chryed. Going back further, Pat and Frank was an awesome storyline in 2000.

Kat Shagger scraped the barrel. The recent ones with Roxy/Charlie and now Stacey/Kush are just boring and unnecessary.
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Old 06-06-2015, 22:15
NoughtiesMusic
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Mick and Linda are the only stable couple on the show.

In regards to friendship, Sharon and Linda seems to be the only one that they focus on. I would have said Shabnam and Stacey but not anymore , Hopefully Lola and Paul will strike up a friendship soon.

But yes I am sick to death of cheating in EastEnders. Is Buster and Carol going to have an affair?
Linda has good chemistry with Jane and Pam too, would like to see them hang out more. I reckon Ronnie could be an interesting friendship as they seem so different in personality but she has barely interacted with the Carters (except for Shirley in the past).
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Old 06-06-2015, 22:18
Ell_Ren
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Mick and Linda are the only stable couple on the show.

In regards to friendship, Sharon and Linda seems to be the only one that they focus on. I would have said Shabnam and Stacey but not anymore , Hopefully Lola and Paul will strike up a friendship soon.

But yes I am sick to death of cheating in EastEnders. Is Buster and Carol going to have an affair?
Mick and Linda are the only stable couple currently, which is a shame. I would like to see couples tackling stories together, rather than constantly cheating.

Friendships seem to be picked up and then dropped when the story requires. Sharon never visited Linda in hospital or made any reference too it, Shirley and Denise are friends when the storyline needs it and Stacey and Shabnam won't last much longer!

're Carol and Buster - it looks like it, yes. Alot of people called it after their first scene. I liked Buster and Shirley but they are just another couple to be ruined.
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Old 06-06-2015, 22:35
jamesc_715
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Mick and Linda are the only stable couple currently, which is a shame. I would like to see couples tackling stories together, rather than constantly cheating.

Friendships seem to be picked up and then dropped when the story requires. Sharon never visited Linda in hospital or made any reference too it, Shirley and Denise are friends when the storyline needs it and Stacey and Shabnam won't last much longer!

're Carol and Buster - it looks like it, yes. Alot of people called it after their first scene. I liked Buster and Shirley but they are just another couple to be ruined.
Oh god I forgot about Shirley and Denise - but they only have scenes when there is a plot. Ah yes Sharon didn't visit Linda in hospital, which was odd. Maybe she did it offscreen? But Kat was there for Linda but again that seems to be a plot device.

Stacey, Shabnam, Martin and Kush had potential to be a really believable friendship group but I can't invest in them anymore because of this Stacey/Kush storyline.

That Carol/Buster scene was foreshadowing wasn't it? I don't think Carol would go that far to sleep with someone else's partner so I'm guessing it's a drunken one night stand?

Let's look at our current couples.

Mick and Linda = nothing needs to be said - they are DTC's golden couple and we know they won't split up

Sharon and Phil: they seem to be the endgame couple but they are always plotting games and keeping secrets.

Nancy and Tamwar: they are ok but we haven't seen much of them. They need more development,

Tina and Sonia - couldn't care less. I like Tina but Sonia bores me so I can't invest in any Sonia scenes . But I don't think they will last.

Kim and Vincent: They have potential but I'm not sure if Vincent truly loves Kim. He seems to want to settle down with Kim to be a father to Pearl. Also Vincent and Ronnie were an item before so it would not surprise me if Vincent cheats on Kim.

Shirley and Buster: Before reading the Carol and Buster spoiler, I was rooting for them as a couple because Buster genuinely treated Shirley well and they both love each other. They have good banter. But no, their relationship will be on the rocks because of Buster and Carol. And Dean......

Ben and Abi: Ha they won't last

Shabnam and Kush: Does Kush really want to marry Shabnam as he felt pressured to propose to her? Also he kissed Stacey 3 weeks ago. Stacey/Kush storyline will pick up again.

Jane and Ian: I cannot see them together in 6 months time. Jane did a very callous thing by dumping Lucy's body in the common and covering up Bobby's crime.

I can't remember who else I missed but you get the drift.

I'm so bored of the repetitive storylines.
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Old 06-06-2015, 22:55
ChatterFace
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I think a big problem with affair storylines is not that they are simply 'done to death' (although that does come into it considering everyone is currently at it) but more importantly... No one cares. Affair storylines that bubble for a while and involve characters/couples we have grown to really care about can be great viewing (Sharongate, Pat/Frank/Peggy).

Now whilst many of us care about Ronnie/Roxy/Charlie the affair itself wasn't bubbling away or with any real interest and there was more character damage done than there was drama. Stax was a full blown affair that climaxed in a dramatic family Christmas argument and lead to a broken family which I believe can be great viewing. The Roxy/Charlie affair was just a broken record that lead to a couple of bitchy comments and a damaged unit that wasn't worth breaking. None of the current affairs I can think of have any fire in their belly and I just couldn't care what sort of "shockwaves" Kush, Claudette and Buster will bring because all it will lead to is a messy dynamic and a lack of dramatic viewing.
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Old 06-06-2015, 23:24
Keyser_Soze1
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With the recent influx of affairs/love triangles on EastEnders (Stacey/Kush/Shabnam, Kim/Vincent/Ronnie/Charlie/Roxy, Abi/Paul/Ben and now Carol/Buster/Shirley, I wanted to take the opportunity to ask other posters opinions on affair storylines.

I, personally, am completely bored of love triangles, cheating, secret wives and families appearing and affairs in soaps. They don't have the impact they used to anymore, like Stax or Sharongate. They are so dull, run of the mill and more often than not, most characters come across badly and can be ruined by these stories. Most recently Charlie has received a LOT of backlash.

I feel like it is lazy writing and I don't see why it is seemingly impossible to have honest, faithful couples on soaps? Can they not think of other stories to do? Ian and Jane may be a bit out of line with Cindy at the moment, but at least they are being out of line together and aren't sleeping with or starting affairs with their neighbours or sisters/friends husbands/fiancées at the first sign of trouble.

I'd like to see couples that I can invest in on screen, friendships I can invest in. I'm not saying bring back the 'love and warmth' era but can't they have couples who stay together and have storylines that don't involve being unfaithful?
That is an excellent post and I totally agree.

The last love-triangle storyline that I had any investment in was Stax and that was almost a decade ago.

It is incredibly lazy writing - and dull, dull, dull.

By the way how long before the Philth sleeps with Kathy once she returns?

Days?

Weeks?

Yawn.
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Old 06-06-2015, 23:38
rfonzo
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Sharon with Phil whilst being married to Grant was the best. Simply because they took their time to allow it to come out as Grant was initially in prison. it was also very tense in the build up when Grant had the cassette. It was also good how Kathy knew about the initial affair but not about the second time when they slept together which really stuffed up Phil's engagement to her.
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Old 06-06-2015, 23:58
abbottab
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At the moment EE is a hotbed of it. You've got Roxy and Charlie at it - You've got the undertaker and that black woman at it - Kush and Stacey (nearly) at it - probably Carol and Buster at it - The whole programme is one big orgy-fest!
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Old 07-06-2015, 00:02
owen10
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Without affairs soaps would be so boring You always need a god love triangle
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Old 07-06-2015, 00:10
Mormon Girl
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With the recent influx of affairs/love triangles on EastEnders (Stacey/Kush/Shabnam, Kim/Vincent/Ronnie/Charlie/Roxy, Abi/Paul/Ben and now Carol/Buster/Shirley, I wanted to take the opportunity to ask other posters opinions on affair storylines.

I, personally, am completely bored of love triangles, cheating, secret wives and families appearing and affairs in soaps. They don't have the impact they used to anymore, like Stax or Sharongate. They are so dull, run of the mill and more often than not, most characters come across badly and can be ruined by these stories. Most recently Charlie has received a LOT of backlash.

I feel like it is lazy writing and I don't see why it is seemingly impossible to have honest, faithful couples on soaps? Can they not think of other stories to do? Ian and Jane may be a bit out of line with Cindy at the moment, but at least they are being out of line together and aren't sleeping with or starting affairs with their neighbours or sisters/friends husbands/fiancées at the first sign of trouble.

I'd like to see couples that I can invest in on screen, friendships I can invest in. I'm not saying bring back the 'love and warmth' era but can't they have couples who stay together and have storylines that don't involve being unfaithful?
Lots of Soaps are doing cheating storylines Emmerdale and Coronation Street and Hollyoaks are all doing them.
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Old 07-06-2015, 00:10
acid rain
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Yeah, I'm bored of affairs/love triangles.

That sort of thing was probably interesting 30 years ago when it was still fresh, but it's been done to death now.
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Old 07-06-2015, 00:15
Mormon Girl
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Eastenders is not the only soap right now Emmerdale are doing cheating storylines as well.
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Old 07-06-2015, 00:30
cardiff boyo
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I was thinking about this before and I thought it would be good if they offered partner contracts to the actors.."we will give x and y a contact if u both sign this joint contact for 5/10/15 years " in the event of maternity they would not be allowed to break up .
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Old 07-06-2015, 00:38
Adrian_Ward1
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Seems like cheating storyline will always be around.
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Old 07-06-2015, 10:00
Ell_Ren
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Oh god I forgot about Shirley and Denise - but they only have scenes when there is a plot. Ah yes Sharon didn't visit Linda in hospital, which was odd. Maybe she did it offscreen? But Kat was there for Linda but again that seems to be a plot device.

Stacey, Shabnam, Martin and Kush had potential to be a really believable friendship group but I can't invest in them anymore because of this Stacey/Kush storyline.

That Carol/Buster scene was foreshadowing wasn't it? I don't think Carol would go that far to sleep with someone else's partner so I'm guessing it's a drunken one night stand?

Let's look at our current couples.

Mick and Linda = nothing needs to be said - they are DTC's golden couple and we know they won't split up

Sharon and Phil: they seem to be the endgame couple but they are always plotting games and keeping secrets.

Nancy and Tamwar: they are ok but we haven't seen much of them. They need more development,

Tina and Sonia - couldn't care less. I like Tina but Sonia bores me so I can't invest in any Sonia scenes . But I don't think they will last.

Kim and Vincent: They have potential but I'm not sure if Vincent truly loves Kim. He seems to want to settle down with Kim to be a father to Pearl. Also Vincent and Ronnie were an item before so it would not surprise me if Vincent cheats on Kim.

Shirley and Buster: Before reading the Carol and Buster spoiler, I was rooting for them as a couple because Buster genuinely treated Shirley well and they both love each other. They have good banter. But no, their relationship will be on the rocks because of Buster and Carol. And Dean......

Ben and Abi: Ha they won't last

Shabnam and Kush: Does Kush really want to marry Shabnam as he felt pressured to propose to her? Also he kissed Stacey 3 weeks ago. Stacey/Kush storyline will pick up again.

Jane and Ian: I cannot see them together in 6 months time. Jane did a very callous thing by dumping Lucy's body in the common and covering up Bobby's crime.

I can't remember who else I missed but you get the drift.

I'm so bored of the repetitive storylines.
Great post! Regardless of whether Carol and Buster have a drunken one night stand or an affair, it will still ruin the foundations of Shirley and Busters relationship just like it has done with Sonia/Tina/Martin, Ronnie/Charlie/Roxy and Shabnam/Kush/Stacey.

Most friendships only seems to be remembered when the story calls for it. It is something I think tptb should work on.

On to our current couples:

Mick and Linda seem to be the only immune couple within the show at the moment.

Sharon and Phil - they do seem to be endgame but their marriage is far from ideal, Phil is constantly lying to Sharon and they seem to have been embroiled in a game of one upmanship for the majority of their relationship.

Tina and Sonia - they spent ages building them up, only to have them officially become a couple and for Sonia to fall back into bed with Martin - which was utterly pointless, was not shocking in any way and basically just tainted Tina/Sonia as a couple.

Kim and Vincent - I can't invest in them because Kim seems like Vincent's second choice, and he will no doubt cheat with Ronnie eventually.

Ronnie and Charlie - once again, tainted by Charlie cheating with Roxy.

Shirley and Buster - loved them as a couple, I had also been rooting for them and spoke about wanting to find out more about their history and see them develop as a couple away from Dean however as soon as Buster cheats with Carol - they will be ruined and Shirley would be a fool to accept him back afterwards - just like Sharon, Tina and Ronnie.

Ben and Abi - enough said.

Shabnam and Kush - I felt like he proposed off the cuff because he was worried about losing her, however if he is off with Stacey so quickly after the engagement, you get the feeling that his heart isn't really in it. I like the idea of Stacey and Kush but would have preferred them getting together legitimately.

Jane and Ian - are under a lot of pressure and I think they will conflict when it comes to Bobby and the part Jane playing in the Lucy cover up. They may last, but I'm not sure.

There is also Les and Pam - seemingly long term, committed, happy couple. But, no. Whether it's an affair or not, Les is still lying to Pam.

The whole musical partners is frustrating and I'm really bored with it.
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Old 07-06-2015, 10:05
Ell_Ren
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Eastenders is not the only soap right now Emmerdale are doing cheating storylines as well.
Yeah, I know. I only watch EastEnders so am using it as the basis for the thread. And also EE has several affairs running and in the pipeline all in one go. It's silly, imo.
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Old 07-06-2015, 10:05
GeekInfected
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Whitney and Lee are supposedly living romantic bliss, I'm glad we aren't having to watch it. I don't like them two together.
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Old 07-06-2015, 10:11
londongirlGre
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Whitney and Lee are supposedly living romantic bliss, I'm glad we aren't having to watch it. I don't like them two together.
Do you like any EE couples?
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