I'm trying to be optimistic and focus on how strong this pairing is, but it's Hollyoaks! They don't seem to know a good thing when they've got it - they also batter through storylines at a rate of knots and play 'pass the partner' just as fast. As much as I hate my poor salt-stick James going through a terrible time with his dad, I hope the abuse storyline, and the fact James has chosen to confide in John Paul of all people, means the show will treat this relationship better than they usually treat their others.

I just want John Paul to be happy, dammit! He can be in a settled relationship and still have drama that doesn't centre around his tumultuous love life for once, surely?

aww, thank you! I couldn't resist! He really is, isn't he? I don't know what it is, a combination of good acting and good writing I guess, but certain characters just become more then characters, its rare but its wonderful when it happens. James has a lot of layers.

Yes, I find that with Hollyoaks. I found they handled Brendan's storyline with his dad very well, but then totally messed up JP's storyline with Finn. Those were both hard-hitting storylines with great potential, but while one went on a high, the other I think went dangerously on a low (i.e. JP going to prison) I don't want any of that with James, no him going to prison for assaulting his dad! I hope James and JP can be happy together too. ^^

The thing is I can see James going behind bars for potentially hitting or beating his dad one day. I don't think it will a sentence of any kind of it going to court like JP did over Finn but I can see James spending a night in the cell. This will make any allegations against his dad harder to prove. In the end Marnie will have to either step forward or one of James's siblings overhears a conversation of some kind????

Unfortunately I think you're right. I feel as they already seem to distrust James a little already but they love their dad that any allegations he makes will not be taken well! As we already see that he hits Mac, maybe this will be the start of him fighting to prove the allegations. I think Nathan, Alfie or Ellie will hear some sort of conversation or fight between James and his dad. Mac saying something like 'they will never believe you over me.' I also think Neeta has to be involved somehow! She saw first hand what Mac was like.

I get the feeling that only Neeta in the end will be the one to believe James. She's seen what Mac's temper has been like (even though he's never been violent towards her) and she has no strong feeling towards James either way. She has no reason to detrust him. It's a shame because James really needs a blood relative to stand by him. After all, it is they who are his family, but it's totally realistic, given the circumstances, that his siblings will stand by thier father. However Neeta is better than no one (besides JP) and who knows James and she may actually develope a friendship out of this, which would be nice. I'm sure that will make Marnie's blood boil lol but she's hardly been mother of the year to James.

I wonder if we will see Marnie have a break down before the storyline is over. We know that she is unstable and has been on anti-depressants before. I think there's a lot of denial keeping her going. Once she is forced to confront and admit what her adored Mac has done to her "favourite son", possibly revealing that she turned a blind eye, I can see her falling apart, especially if James finally turns his back on her (at least temporarily).

Lots of potentially interesting drama and angst ahead.

Yep, there is so much drama to he had with this story and so many possibilities. I do worry though that he writers have maybe piled too much drama on one family though. We have Alfie's (and Jade's cancer), Ellie's consent story and then the historic abuse plot with James. I'm surprised Nathan hasn't got a eating disorder. 😶 What's more worrying is that the cast is so big right now and we still have more new additions among the way. I hope the James plot doesnt fall into the background, especially since they've over did it with the lindsey, nico and cameron plots. A story such as James's should receive the care and time that it deserves.

Looks like there's definite John Paul tonight in the wedding plot, but I've no idea how heavily he features. Better than nothing I suppose! 👍

He will probably just stand there, helpless, looking at his family's shenanigans for the umpteenth time. Pure wallflower!!

He's too pure for this world.

Well, for HO and soaps maybe!! In real life I would have some things to berate him for!

I'm grading on a curve 😅

He will sit there being ashamed of the scam and day dreaming of James

Any appearance by JP so far??

On and off throughout the episode. It was as we thought, just reacting to the shenanigans.

He was driving, so that'll be his vision totally back then.

Someone in the eppy thread said there are James and Neeta spoilers in the waveguide today but I can't see them. Anyone else?

I can't read the spoilers either, waveguide never works for me. If someone copies and pastes them, I'll be very grateful!

Yeah me too. Apparently James and Neeta team up. That's all I know so far. If someone can acess them and past them here, that would be fab.

Friday, October 14

Maxine seeks the truth on a prison visit to Sienna. Peri and Nico's plan for revenge on Cameron has horrific consequences. Things get a bit messy at Mercedes' birthday bash, while James attempts to help Neeta against Mac, but will Marnie spoil their plans?

The woman playing Neeta is such a bad actress tho.

Thank you

Not a lot but something.

I had a feeling James and Neeta would team up.

Marnie though. 😡

I don't think she's downright terrible myself. She's not the best and definitely one of the weaker links of the nightingale clan but I think she's ok. She plays a ditsy barmaid. Maybe her being seperated from Mac will allow the character to come into her own a bit, especially with the material being a bit darker. We'll see.

I'm pleased James has got Neeta though. It would be great to see he be a better mother to James than Marnie ever was.

At least it's not November LOL (almost, though)

No mention of JP unfortunately, so it might be November for him.