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Very harsh from the EastEnders writers!


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Old 21-07-2016, 22:26
lou_123
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They don't like their characters to be happy, but that was pretty dark.

Ben doesn't have much luck does he, and now this. Very emotional scenes tonight.

I understand these things happen, but that was not putting out a good/positive message for the LGBT community. Poor Ben! Some very eye opening stuff.
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Old 21-07-2016, 22:33
VGKid
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It can be argued that it can be good to raise awareness of homophobia and hate crimes. Hopefully this will have a bigger effect than Shabnam's ordeal (by the gang, not her stillbirth) and raise awareness that stuff like this happens, and its perhaps even more poignant now after the events of Orlando.
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Old 21-07-2016, 22:37
soap-lea
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I think it raises a good question actually and awareness to un needed violence

Ben has started the fight not the homophobes, if he had kept his fists away and walked off would Paul still be alive

perish the thought, I shall not think of that again
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Old 21-07-2016, 22:48
Pete Callan
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Homophobia is pretty invisible these days, but it's still there, lurking in the background. The soaps themselves still receive the same amount of homophobic abuse from viewers as they ever did. The social media feeds are constantly littered with vile messages, especially on anonymous platforms like YouTube and online news articles.

I'm so glad EastEnders are highlighting the issue. I think something like this, happening to a likeable character, does far more for the gay community than any other gay-themed story. It raises questions and makes the viewer think how could something so brutal happen to a generally nice guy like Paul. I'm only annoyed they didn't show us the attack. People need to see it to believe it. Not nice, but necessary.
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Old 21-07-2016, 22:59
Aaron_Silver
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I think this weeks episodes have been brilliant.

I am also not displeased that we didn't see the attack, sometimes things are best left to the imagination. As somebody who lost a friend to a homophobic attack I have found it hard enough to watch, I'm glad to have not seen it tbh.

Harry has done himself and the programme proud, as have Lin and Roger their portrayals of grief, struggle and pain have been heart wrenching.

The scenes with Jay and Ben were fantastic two young actors at the top of their game, being able to portray so much with so few words. They really do work fantastically well together.

Well done EE keep up the good work
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Old 21-07-2016, 23:13
attitude99
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I think this weeks episodes have been brilliant.

I am also not displeased that we didn't see the attack, sometimes things are best left to the imagination. As somebody who lost a friend to a homophobic attack I have found it hard enough to watch, I'm glad to have not seen it tbh.

Harry has done himself and the programme proud, as have Lin and Roger their portrayals of grief, struggle and pain have been heart wrenching.

The scenes with Jay and Ben were fantastic two young actors at the top of their game, being able to portray so much with so few words. They really do work fantastically well together.

Well done EE keep up the good work
BIB: Sorry to hear about that Aaron. I once read about a homophobic attack where a poor man had acid poured into his eyes, and I was just sat there in utter shock thinking how could somebody do this to someone just because they like men not women? It's horrifying. Last year there was over 5000 homophobic attacks in the UK and therefore I think it is important homophobic attacks are highlighted, as much as LGBT people are accepted these days there will always be those narrow minded bigoted individuals who feel they have the right to invade on other's personal matters just because of their views.

This weeks EastEnders episodes have been brilliant. Such real emotion, excellent scripts and superb acting from Harry, Lin and Roger over the death of Paul. It's been amazing that the quality has increased so much from last week and the episodes have been heart wrenching. It's been really good actually that all of the soaps have been half decent at the same time. It's actually a pleasure to switch from one soap to another and they are all brilliant at the moment.

I agree regarding not seeing the attack. For some it would be too close to home to watch it and there is no way it could be done properly without the Ofcom brigade on speed dial because their little darlings have been subjected to horror on a supposed 'family show'.

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Old 21-07-2016, 23:15
dazza89
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I think this weeks episodes have been brilliant.

I am also not displeased that we didn't see the attack, sometimes things are best left to the imagination. As somebody who lost a friend to a homophobic attack I have found it hard enough to watch, I'm glad to have not seen it tbh.

Harry has done himself and the programme proud, as have Lin and Roger their portrayals of grief, struggle and pain have been heart wrenching.

The scenes with Jay and Ben were fantastic two young actors at the top of their game, being able to portray so much with so few words. They really do work fantastically well together.

Well done EE keep up the good work
Spot on, also we have to take into account EastEnders timeslot, absolutely no way could an attack be portrayed in a realistic way in a 7.30pm slot without complaints. We've seen EE fail miserably with gang/fight storylines in the last few years so an off screen attack was the best way forward. I agree the mistaken identity wasn't necessary but these last two eps have been brilliant and I am pleased we've had a wide reaction from other characters.
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Old 21-07-2016, 23:20
danyell
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It can be argued that it can be good to raise awareness of homophobia and hate crimes. Hopefully this will have a bigger effect than Shabnam's ordeal (by the gang, not her stillbirth) and raise awareness that stuff like this happens, and its perhaps even more poignant now after the events of Orlando.
True but why couldnt they have shown the scene where they were attacked? They've shown violent scenes before.
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Old 21-07-2016, 23:49
Keibro
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They don't like their characters to be happy, but that was pretty dark.

Ben doesn't have much luck does he, and now this. Very emotional scenes tonight.

I understand these things happen, but that was not putting out a good/positive message for the LGBT community. Poor Ben! Some very eye opening stuff.
Its a very dark story that is sadly all too real.

I argued earlier it was disappointing the BBC did not include a helpline at the end, given how harrowing it was.

That said it was very good. Gay characters should not be exempt from harrowing plots, especially as this is a very real occurrence still.
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Old 21-07-2016, 23:51
Mel94
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True but why couldnt they have shown the scene where they were attacked? They've shown violent scenes before.
Maybe they wanted to keep the viewers in suspense over what happened and see Ben struggle with what he told the police and what he was keeping to himself.
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Old 22-07-2016, 00:39
0...0
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I think this weeks episodes have been brilliant.

I am also not displeased that we didn't see the attack, sometimes things are best left to the imagination. As somebody who lost a friend to a homophobic attack I have found it hard enough to watch, I'm glad to have not seen it tbh.

Harry has done himself and the programme proud, as have Lin and Roger their portrayals of grief, struggle and pain have been heart wrenching.

The scenes with Jay and Ben were fantastic two young actors at the top of their game, being able to portray so much with so few words. They really do work fantastically well together.

Well done EE keep up the good work
Sorry for your loss Aaron. I think it's a good storyline and more powerful left to the imagination given EE's time slot.
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Old 22-07-2016, 01:00
lou_123
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do you need the advice line?

I think it raises a good question actually and awareness to un needed violence

Ben has started the fight not the homophobes, if he had kept his fists away and walked off would Paul still be alive

perish the thought, I shall not think of that again
Wouldn't really say so, as I'm aware it is fiction. It is pretty sad they didn't include one at the end however.

I suppose you could argue it is a good thing they are raising awareness.
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Old 22-07-2016, 01:13
Keibro
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Well homophobia was involved, regardless of the physical side of it, Paul and Ben were attacked.

The signs have been there all along of Ben struggling to be comfortable in his own skin. Even tonight when the officer asked Ben to confirm that he and Paul were a couple, he hesitated and looked at Phil.

We are seeing homophobia as a factor in Paul's murder, an extreme case n but also in Phil and indeed, Ben's own internal homophobia.

Its a very good story. Very realistic. Tonight was heartbreaking. Nice to see the Square united in the Vic.
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Old 22-07-2016, 01:31
SULLA
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They don't like their characters to be happy, but that was pretty dark.

Ben doesn't have much luck does he, and now this. Very emotional scenes tonight.

I understand these things happen, but that was not putting out a good/positive message for the LGBT community. Poor Ben! Some very eye opening stuff.
The message is that when you are a victim of crime you tell the Police the whole truth.
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Old 22-07-2016, 03:51
ArthurJBear
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do you need the advice line?

I think it raises a good question actually and awareness to un needed violence

Ben has started the fight not the homophobes, if he had kept his fists away and walked off would Paul still be alive

perish the thought, I shall not think of that again
No Ben did not start the fight. The homophobes did by calling them faggots. Plus I don't think we knew who threw the first punch, for all we know Ben could have started shouting and the homophobes could have retaliated. Plus I'm pretty sure that even if they did walk away they would have been attacked anyway.
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Old 22-07-2016, 06:01
lou_123
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Well homophobia was involved, regardless of the physical side of it, Paul and Ben were attacked.

The signs have been there all along of Ben struggling to be comfortable in his own skin. Even tonight when the officer asked Ben to confirm that he and Paul were a couple, he hesitated and looked at Phil.

We are seeing homophobia as a factor in Paul's murder, an extreme case n but also in Phil and indeed, Ben's own internal homophobia.

Its a very good story. Very realistic. Tonight was heartbreaking. Nice to see the Square united in the Vic.
Very heartbreaking. I have a friend who is struggling to come out/come to terms with their sexuality at the moment, who is a viewer of the show, and I just hope this doesn't effect them.
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Old 22-07-2016, 10:44
joe gillott
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I think this weeks episodes have been brilliant.

I am also not displeased that we didn't see the attack, sometimes things are best left to the imagination. As somebody who lost a friend to a homophobic attack I have found it hard enough to watch, I'm glad to have not seen it tbh.

Harry has done himself and the programme proud, as have Lin and Roger their portrayals of grief, struggle and pain have been heart wrenching.

The scenes with Jay and Ben were fantastic two young actors at the top of their game, being able to portray so much with so few words. They really do work fantastically well together.

Well done EE keep up the good work
I'm sorry to hear about your friend Atleast he/she is in a place that isn't so hateful and cruel now. I am lucky not to know anyone involved in an homophobic attack yet.
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Old 22-07-2016, 10:50
joe gillott
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I think this weeks episodes have been brilliant.

I am also not displeased that we didn't see the attack, sometimes things are best left to the imagination. As somebody who lost a friend to a homophobic attack I have found it hard enough to watch, I'm glad to have not seen it tbh.

Harry has done himself and the programme proud, as have Lin and Roger their portrayals of grief, struggle and pain have been heart wrenching.

The scenes with Jay and Ben were fantastic two young actors at the top of their game, being able to portray so much with so few words. They really do work fantastically well together.

Well done EE keep up the good work
The message is that when you are a victim of crime you tell the Police the whole truth.
And to be careful when out with your partner and not to rise to their bigoted slurs.
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Old 22-07-2016, 10:58
vaslav37
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Homophobia is still around us and Homophobic crimes are still happening.

I have to praise EastEnders for this, Paul was very out and happy with his sexuality but Ben due to Phil's homophobia has struggled to accept his sexuality and now his boyfriend has been murdered in a brutal attack so what next for Ben? I am surprised that Masood has not had a scene with Phil- it took Masood and Zainab a long time to accept Syed being gay but they came around around- Phil is still struggling with this.

Pam and Les have always been accepting of Paul.

Lin Blakely and Harry Reid have been superb this week and I really liked the scene between Pam and Belinda- it was very touching.
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Old 22-07-2016, 11:06
mossy2103
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Ben has started the fight not the homophobes, if he had kept his fists away and walked off would Paul still be alive
You don't know that though. Even allowing for the scriptwriters, Ben's actions might only have hastened the inevitable.
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Old 22-07-2016, 11:12
Miss_Moo
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I don't think we needed to see the attack. I don't think Ben's anguish at what happened would have worked as well if we had seen it. The way he spat out the word 'faggot' had me in tears. It was a powerful piece of television and I don't think it would've been the same had we seen what happened.
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Old 22-07-2016, 11:29
penelope_smith
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BIB: Sorry to hear about that Aaron. I once read about a homophobic attack where a poor man had acid poured into his eyes, and I was just sat there in utter shock thinking how could somebody do this to someone just because they like men not women? It's horrifying. Last year there was over 5000 homophobic attacks in the UK and therefore I think it is important homophobic attacks are highlighted, as much as LGBT people are accepted these days there will always be those narrow minded bigoted individuals who feel they have the right to invade on other's personal matters just because of their views.

This weeks EastEnders episodes have been brilliant. Such real emotion, excellent scripts and superb acting from Harry, Lin and Roger over the death of Paul. It's been amazing that the quality has increased so much from last week and the episodes have been heart wrenching. It's been really good actually that all of the soaps have been half decent at the same time. It's actually a pleasure to switch from one soap to another and they are all brilliant at the moment.

I agree regarding not seeing the attack. For some it would be too close to home to watch it and there is no way it could be done properly without the Ofcom brigade on speed dial because their little darlings have been subjected to horror on a supposed 'family show'.

It was obvious to me,,,,Ben caused the fight...Paul having his coat with phone/money etc.........Was Ben taking said coat off to have a fight,
Then Ben his not wanting in front of Phil it was a homophobic cause.
naturally he will feel/be guilty of causing the fight and Paul being the fatality.

Yes mabe there are anti homosexual skin heady types........(usually homosexuals denying selfs hiomosexuality by such skinhady thuggy types)

Soaps of late are not really very entertaining all violence etc.... I am indoors or bed at a time when/if these 'types' are about in real life
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Old 22-07-2016, 11:47
bass55
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Homophobia is pretty invisible these days, but it's still there, lurking in the background. The soaps themselves still receive the same amount of homophobic abuse from viewers as they ever did. The social media feeds are constantly littered with vile messages, especially on anonymous platforms like YouTube and online news articles.

I'm so glad EastEnders are highlighting the issue. I think something like this, happening to a likeable character, does far more for the gay community than any other gay-themed story. It raises questions and makes the viewer think how could something so brutal happen to a generally nice guy like Paul. I'm only annoyed they didn't show us the attack. People need to see it to believe it. Not nice, but necessary.
This. Great post, Pete.
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