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When did we become so DONE with affairs? |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,968
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When did we become so DONE with affairs?
I can't remember the last time that an affair, or any other kind of infidelity, was well received or felt like a classic or important storyline... and yet affairs such as Sharongate, Stax, Ken/Deirdre/Mike, Shelly/Peter/Lucy are considered absolute blockbuster storylines in the history of soap.
So what is it that has turned us against the soap affair, which was once such a popular soap staple? Is it because we've grown increasingly more accustom to crime and murder storylines? Is it because we've simply seen enough of people constantly having affairs? Is it because modern soaps aren't able to hit the high notes that some of those classic affair storylines were so obviously able to? What are your thoughts? |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: East Kilbride, Scotland
Posts: 4,343
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When they began to be used as a crutch between better storylines with a random hook up that no-one ever saw coming, rather than it being seen as two characters coming together naturally.
When they all resulted in the obvious pregnancy. And when apparently nobody in the soap can remain faithful. A good affair storyline would be great, if it were invested in properly. |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 476
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I think its just overdone. Every character has about 20 relationships during their time on the show and its the quickest, easiest method of splitting up the current one. And I think because they started having affairs for no reason - they're happy and show no signs of discontent but yet one day you tune in and bam they're lured into bed by someone totally random they have had no prior 'chemistry' with. I don't mind affair storylines as much as some other storyline staples (like health scares, murders (how the eff are there so many murders in such small towns/streets?) crashes/accidents etc) but I can see why some people have gotten a bit tired of them being so frequent and happening to every.single.character.
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Emmerdale
Posts: 4,290
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Just too many of them, they're all guilty of it now
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: here
Posts: 4,814
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Absolutely no-one is capable of keeping their pants on in soaps these days and it's dull.
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 16
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I agree with those above who say that the affair storyline is now just used to create a shock (as if that equals drama) rather than having it develop out of any natural development of a relationship between two characters. I'm also fed up of the fact that despite the fact that the word 'condom' is apparently unheard of in soapland (either that or everyone is a rampantly practising Catholic) the only result of any unprotected sex is an unplanned pregnancy. Apart from Val in Emmerdale no-one ever goes down with a sexually transmitted infection (and she left before it went anywhere). Before her it was Mark in Eastenders (also HIV).
Would love to see one of the supposedly irresistable lotharios or nymphomaniacs in soaps end up catching a dose of the clap or complaining about that embarrassing itch in a really non-glamorous manner. It's also a pretty relevant 'issue' that today's supposedly savvy soap researchers seem to avoid like....well, like the clap
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: I like to singy singy singy...
Posts: 17,667
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I think it was when Ian and Phil were both shagging Glenda in EE. I can still remember Ian's dirty feet.
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Martin Fowler
Posts: 11,362
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It's overuse as a plot device has cheapened its value and effect within the narrative of the show. When everybody is having an affair, there's less of an impact when somebody begins an affair.
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: London
Posts: 9,412
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When they started picking two random names out of a hat to decide who should have the next affair. It's become a lazy plot device to generate drama, and all of the soaps are guilty of it. Nearly every affair plot is tedious because you know exactly where they will go, and even when they are revealed there are no consequences any more. For all the times Kat cheated on Alfie, you knew they'd get back together in the end.
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,407
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When they created affair storylines just for the sake of wanting a storyline so they can have an explosive ending (whodunnit, who's the daddy, mental breakdown etc) with random characters who have never had a connection with each other and completely against the characterisation of the characters involved. Long gone are the days of slow burning affairs, now all they have to do is look at each other and they're at it.
I know I have only been gripped by two affairs in Corrie (Liam / Carla, Nick / Leanne) in the last 10-15 years since affairs have became a staple, the rest have either been dire or tediously boring to watch. |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Dublin
Posts: 51,658
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Quote:
It's overuse as a plot device has cheapened its value and effect within the narrative of the show. When everybody is having an affair, there's less of an impact when somebody begins an affair.
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: here
Posts: 4,814
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Quote:
I agree with those above who say that the affair storyline is now just used to create a shock (as if that equals drama) rather than having it develop out of any natural development of a relationship between two characters. I'm also fed up of the fact that despite the fact that the word 'condom' is apparently unheard of in soapland (either that or everyone is a rampantly practising Catholic) the only result of any unprotected sex is an unplanned pregnancy. Apart from Val in Emmerdale no-one ever goes down with a sexually transmitted infection (and she left before it went anywhere). Before her it was Mark in Eastenders (also HIV).
Would love to see one of the supposedly irresistable lotharios or nymphomaniacs in soaps end up catching a dose of the clap or complaining about that embarrassing itch in a really non-glamorous manner. It's also a pretty relevant 'issue' that today's supposedly savvy soap researchers seem to avoid like....well, like the clap ![]() |
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,233
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Affairs just aren't even shocking anymore - it's more surprising to see a normal, happy couple. It's pretty clear that TV writers (not even just soap writers) have a lack of imagination on how to write couples so always, always resort to finding ways to break them up and do a whole will they/won't they again. It's stupid and not a reflection on real life to have every couple bed hopping everytime the opportunity arises solely for rating purposes.
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 263
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Quote:
When they began to be used as a crutch between better storylines with a random hook up that no-one ever saw coming, rather than it being seen as two characters coming together naturally.
When they all resulted in the obvious pregnancy. And when apparently nobody in the soap can remain faithful. A good affair storyline would be great, if it were invested in properly. |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South West England
Posts: 4,636
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Quote:
When they started picking two random names out of a hat to decide who should have the next affair. It's become a lazy plot device to generate drama, and all of the soaps are guilty of it. Nearly every affair plot is tedious because you know exactly where they will go, and even when they are revealed there are no consequences any more. For all the times Kat cheated on Alfie, you knew they'd get back together in the end.
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Not Kansas anymore...
Posts: 16,935
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For me it's the fact that affairs come out of nowhere, and as soon as characters interact for the first time, we know they're going to have an affair. I remember when Laurel started looking wistfully at Marlon (grrrrr)
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 31,001
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I've never liked them, and I think they make poor viewing. If you're unhappy then leave, don't expect to have the best of both worlds. The only one in EE that I enjoyed was Arthur and Christine, it evolved naturally from a friendship and he didn't set out to hurt Pauline.
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 560
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When everyone and their mother started having one.
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