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Emmerdale - Laurel far too prominent


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Old 04-04-2016, 11:45
DroolinFool
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Emmerdale is by far my favourite soap - but am I alone in being sick to death of Laurel?

I'm not just talking about recently, I understand she's part of Ashley's storyline at the moment, but purely over the last couple of years it seems like Laurel has had far more storylines than most other characters - and let's be honest, she's not exactly an entertaining or exciting character is she?

Even if she's not featuring prominently in an episode, she's still popping up in odd places - I'm just baffled as to why she features so prominently all the time when there are far more interesting characters who barely seem to get the time of day

I've now resorted to recording Emmerdale and watching it back later so that I can fast forward past all the bits with Laurel in, just sick to death of her
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Old 04-04-2016, 11:48
bornfree
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IMO Charlotte Bellamy is probably the best soap actress around and it would be a shame if some of the strong story lines were given to someone not so good. People would soon be moaning if a strong story line was given to Fiona Wade, who is beautiful but not a strong actress.
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Old 04-04-2016, 11:56
DroolinFool
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IMO Charlotte Bellamy is probably the best soap actress around and it would be a shame if some of the strong story lines were given to someone not so good. People would soon be moaning if a strong story line was given to Fiona Wade, who is beautiful but not a strong actress.
She may well be a good actress, but that doesn't necessarily mean the show has to resolve around her 80% of the time - some balance would be nice!
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Old 04-04-2016, 11:58
Adrian_Ward1
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I don't mind Her and she's part of a big Storyline right now
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Old 04-04-2016, 11:58
bornfree
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I don't think anybody would moan if someone else got a storyline to be honest, I think they'd just be glad someone else actually has a storyline.

She may well be a good actress, but that doesn't necessarily mean the show has to resolve around her 80% of the time - some balance would be nice!
I agree it would be nice to see what some of the others are able to deliver when put to task.
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Old 04-04-2016, 12:06
kaiserbee
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Emmerdale is by far my favourite soap - but am I alone in being sick to death of Laurel?

I'm not just talking about recently, I understand she's part of Ashley's storyline at the moment, but purely over the last couple of years it seems like Laurel has had far more storylines than most other characters - and let's be honest, she's not exactly an entertaining or exciting character is she?

Even if she's not featuring prominently in an episode, she's still popping up in odd places - I'm just baffled as to why she features so prominently all the time when there are far more interesting characters who barely seem to get the time of day

I've now resorted to recording Emmerdale and watching it back later so that I can fast forward past all the bits with Laurel in, just sick to death of her
I like her but understand the sentiment. I feel the same way about Aaron.
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Old 04-04-2016, 12:19
samcains90
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I think other characters are more guilty of this before Laurel.

Chas and Aaron for starters.
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Old 04-04-2016, 12:21
Leanne_Blake1
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Emmerdale is by far my favourite soap - but am I alone in being sick to death of Laurel?

I'm not just talking about recently, I understand she's part of Ashley's storyline at the moment, but purely over the last couple of years it seems like Laurel has had far more storylines than most other characters - and let's be honest, she's not exactly an entertaining or exciting character is she?

Even if she's not featuring prominently in an episode, she's still popping up in odd places - I'm just baffled as to why she features so prominently all the time when there are far more interesting characters who barely seem to get the time of day

I've now resorted to recording Emmerdale and watching it back later so that I can fast forward past all the bits with Laurel in, just sick to death of her
Agreed. I find the character extremely annoying.
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Old 04-04-2016, 12:23
little-monster
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I don't see an issue. She isn't dominating the show though as a whole. Other female characters are still shining.

The main reason why they allow Laurel such a big storylines because they know the actress always 100 per cent pull it off. Much like Danny Miller for Aaron.
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Old 04-04-2016, 12:25
DroolinFool
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I think other characters are more guilty of this before Laurel.

Chas and Aaron for starters.
Meh, yes Chas and Aaron have featured significant lately, but I still think Laurel has had more screen time - counting back over the last few years.

I can sort of see the point you're trying to make, but at the same time as much as the whole Aaron storyline seems to generate hate - at least it's sort of entertaining.

All Laurel seems to do is potter about “woe is me” - she's very boring IMO.
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Old 04-04-2016, 12:29
samcains90
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Meh, yes Chas and Aaron have featured significant lately, but I still think Laurel has had more screen time - counting back over the last few years.

I can sort of see the point you're trying to make, but at the same time as much as the whole Aaron storyline seems to generate hate - at least it's sort of entertaining.

All Laurel seems to do is potter about “woe is me” - she's very boring IMO.
Chas always features significantly though. She is in pretty much every single episode even if she is doing nothing of import. Injected into things that have little to do with her while also getting her own storlyines.

Aaron is more guilty of just getting every big storyline and featuring loads with his "woe is me" attitude.

Laurel is not one of my favourites but her alcoholism story has been great. The latest story is Ashley's so she's not shining so bright now. The trouble is the writers are piling everything onto her ready for her to fall off the wagon again. It's very transparent.
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Old 04-04-2016, 12:52
rollockingbat
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I don't think she's appearing quite as much as it seems in all honesty. To date this year, she's appeared in 41 episodes out of a possible 75. Last year, despite the alcohol story, she only clocked up 122 episodes out of 291 - coming joint 16th in cast rankings with Moira. The year before that was lower, appearing in 112 episodes out of 295 - coming joint 22nd that year with Declan who had appeared in that many episodes by October.
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Old 04-04-2016, 12:54
EG21
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Charlotte Bellamy is one of the best actresses in Emmerdale.

I don't think she has been that prominent in episodes - I would agree that other characters such as Chas and Debbie (when she was in Emmerdale) are two characters who appear in a lot more episodes than Laurel. Laurel as a character doesn't annoy me though so maybe I just don't notice how many episodes she is featuring in.

I'm not sure why Laurel is being written as all "woe is me" as she never used to be. She was always quite a happy, cheerful character back in the day.

I'd take Laurel in an episode over miserable Aaron any day.
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Old 04-04-2016, 13:23
cyrilandshirley
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I never think of her being around too much really - but then I wasn't really watching when they had the big marital breakdown with Ashley, and the Marlon stuff.

The alcoholism story last spring was great, then she pretty much disappeared until Ashley's story kicked in. I wish they hadn't put her and Ashley back together really, and she had to watch as Harriet supported him, but it's done now.
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Old 04-04-2016, 13:24
Andybear
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I've never liked Laurel and have frequently wished she'd put on her bee suit and buzz off! I wasn't happy when Ashley dumped Harriet and then got back with Laurel as I knew Laurel would feature more than if she wasn't with him. And this coming on top of the alcohol story line last year. You can get too much of a bad thing.
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Old 04-04-2016, 13:41
Mark_Washingto1
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I don't think Laurel is too prominent, she is a very interesting character played by a great actress and IMHO Laurel had the best story line last year with her alcoholism, I remember when they first mentioned her becoming a drunk I didn't think I would buy it but Charlotte Bellamy made the story very believable.
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Old 04-04-2016, 13:43
Oldnjaded
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I think other characters are more guilty of this before Laurel.

Chas and Aaron for starters.
100% agreed!

And yes, ED would be stupid not to give big sls to their best actors - it'd be like Real Madrid leaving Ronaldo on the bench every week.

As it happens, I think ED are generally pretty good at character rotation and giving sls to all of them. (Interestingly, the sls involving more minor characters are rarely well received here on DS).
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Old 04-04-2016, 13:46
DroolinFool
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I don't think Laurel is too prominent, she is a very interesting character played by a great actress and IMHO Laurel had the best story line last year with her alcoholism, I remember when they first mentioned her becoming a drunk I didn't think I would buy it but Charlotte Bellamy made the story very believable.
Difference of opinion but regardless of how much praise Charlotte Bellamy seems to get on here (personally I don't think she's that good of an actress), I still think the actual character is incredibly dull and dreary.

All these storylines involving her (and there has been a few over the years), seem to drag out for months on end and I'm afraid it just gets boring after a while - I'm at the stage now when she pops up on my screen I roll my eyes and dive for the fast forward button on the remote...

I'm not saying she should be booted off the show, I'm just saying I'd like to see some balance, and someone else get the chance of a drawn out storyline for a change. There's loads of far more interesting characters who never seem to get a look in.

It's all well and good saying she is their best actress so she should get all the storylines, it's a dull character begin with and these storylines are never going to be as good as they could be whilst being portrayed by the vicars dull wifey.
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Old 04-04-2016, 14:43
Mark_Washingto1
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Difference of opinion but regardless of how much praise Charlotte Bellamy seems to get on here (personally I don't think she's that good of an actress), I still think the actual character is incredibly dull and dreary.

All these storylines involving her (and there has been a few over the years), seem to drag out for months on end and I'm afraid it just gets boring after a while - I'm at the stage now when she pops up on my screen I roll my eyes and dive for the fast forward button on the remote...

I'm not saying she should be booted off the show, I'm just saying I'd like to see some balance, and someone else get the chance of a drawn out storyline for a change. There's loads of far more interesting characters who never seem to get a look in.

It's all well and good saying she is their best actress so she should get all the storylines, it's a dull character begin with and these storylines are never going to be as good as they could be whilst being portrayed by the vicars dull wifey.
As others have said I don't think Laurel has been shoved down the viewers throats, she has had some big stories the last few years but there are other characters that get way more screen time than Laurel like Ross, Debbie and Aaron. IMHO Ross is the worst offender because Kate Oates started shoehorning him into every story even at times when it seemed illogical like making him Moses' father. Also even wit the Ross getting a lot of screen time Kate Oates has tried to give stories to most characters, most characters have been involved in their own front burner story during her tenure.
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Old 04-04-2016, 14:54
Chiltons Cane
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I'd rather 30 minutes of Laurel than 30 seconds of Holly.
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Old 04-04-2016, 16:05
Storm_Shaker
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Actually Laurel only ranks seventh on the list of character appearances so far this year. Chas, Cain, Rhona, Paddy, Leyla and Aaron all rank higher than her. If there's anyone who's getting too much exposure it's Chas who's appeared in 60 episodes so far compared to Laurels 41.
And Laurel is one of the most well rounded, layered characters in the show, she has a lot of history, many links to other characters and imo is played by the shows best actress, so it's not surprising she's being featured fairly heavily.
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Old 04-04-2016, 16:09
Hound of Love
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I am not a great fan of Laurel, character-wise.

But she is nowhere near as prominent at Lucy "Chas" Pargeter.
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Old 04-04-2016, 16:17
pie-eyed
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I agree OP. Far too much of laurel for my liking. We had her last year with the alcohol and now with the Ashley storyline. I just don't find her interesting enough. I'd rather see more of Chrissie, Berniece and Harriet.
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Old 04-04-2016, 16:18
little-monster
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I am not a great fan of Laurel, character-wise.

But she is nowhere near as prominent at Lucy "Chas" Pargeter.
I think Chas will take a backseat once the abuse storyline wraps. To be fair though, it is nice seeing Chas become more prominent. She had a quiet few years after the cameron saga. 2014 and some of 2015 consisted of her in a boring relationship with Pete Barton and it wasn't until Robert being shot when she was actually given her own story to be at the centre of the show.
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Old 04-04-2016, 16:28
rollockingbat
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I think Chas will take a backseat once the abuse storyline wraps. To be fair though, it is nice seeing Chas become more prominent. She had a quiet few years after the cameron saga. 2014 and some of 2015 consisted of her in a boring relationship with Pete Barton and it wasn't until Robert being shot when she was actually given her own story to be at the centre of the show.
While that maybe the case, she still managed to clock up a considerable amount of episodes during her quiet run. For 2014, she came out 5th overall for the year (143 out of 295 episodes) and last year, she came out on top place, appearing in 191 episodes out of 291. So far this year, again she's leader of the pack with 60 episodes out of 75 - 12 in front of any other cast member.
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