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ED - Have we lost too many big characters?


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Old 01-09-2016, 15:46
Storm_Shaker
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I can't help but feeling like ED has lost way too many iconic, long running characters over the last couple of years, we've lost Donna Windsor, Katie Sugden, Val Pollard, Betty Eagleton, Andy Sugden and Ashley Thomas (in the near future), as well as Edna and Alan, which obviously couldn't be helped.
And in return the new characters replacing them are Jermaine, Pierce and Ronnie etc who I can't imagine staying for long and becoming emmerdale legends.
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Old 01-09-2016, 15:49
al_capo
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I can't help but feeling like ED has lost way too many iconic, long running characters over the last couple of years, we've lost Donna Windsor, Katie Sugden, Val Pollard, Betty Eagleton, Andy Sugden and Ashley Thomas (in the near future), as well as Edna and Alan, which obviously couldn't be helped.
And in return the new characters replacing them are Jermaine, Pierce and Ronnie etc who I can't imagine staying for long and becoming emmerdale legends.
Killing Donna off was the biggest mistake, Ross actually made her character quite interesting. They had massive potential, IMO.
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Old 01-09-2016, 15:54
mushymanrob
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I can't help but feeling like ED has lost way too many iconic, long running characters over the last couple of years, we've lost Donna Windsor, Katie Sugden, Val Pollard, Betty Eagleton, Andy Sugden and Ashley Thomas (in the near future), as well as Edna and Alan, which obviously couldn't be helped.
And in return the new characters replacing them are Jermaine, Pierce and Ronnie etc who I can't imagine staying for long and becoming emmerdale legends.
to a degree yes, but it would help if they kept couples together , they then make 1 strong, likeable unit. this point is sadly lost on emmerdale production team who thinks its more fun to split everybody up after a couple of weeks or so... it isnt, its annoying, we cant get to see couples be happy for bloody once and grow older together, fighting off all other troubles. more more realistic then splitting them up needlessly every month.
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Old 01-09-2016, 15:54
Storm_Shaker
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Killing Donna off was the biggest mistake, Ross actually made her character quite interesting. They had massive potential, IMO.
Yeah I definitely agree Donna was the worst decision, very pointless to bring back such an iconic character with so much history and links, just to kill her off.
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Old 01-09-2016, 15:56
little-monster
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Every soap loses big characters. It's a shame but you get over it. Like i say time and time again, a soap shouldn't be summed up or be subjective to one particular character or characters.
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Old 01-09-2016, 16:21
spunger
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Yeah I definitely agree Donna was the worst decision, very pointless to bring back such an iconic character with so much history and links, just to kill her off.
The actress never had any intention of staying for long. She loves musical theatre more than being in a soap. I never liiked Donna anyway. Dreadful first time round and not being fond of Ross made me not care for her second time round.
The only character that ever left a real hole when they left was Kim Tate.
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Old 01-09-2016, 16:30
Mark_Washingto1
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Killing Donna off was the biggest mistake, Ross actually made her character quite interesting. They had massive potential, IMO.
I agree with this, Ross and Donna were so hot, they had great chemistry and were very entertaining. I would have liked for them to have them be like one of the old school super couples form the US soaps and have them going on different adventures. It would have been great


Every soap loses big characters. It's a shame but you get over it. Like i say time and time again, a soap shouldn't be summed up or be subjective to one particular character or characters.
I disagree with this, some characters define the show. Like you're watching Y&R now, I can't see Y&R without Victor Newman, or All My Children with Erica Kane, Erica was the main character of the show, and when they tried to relaunch the show online without Susan Lucci as Erica it failed.
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Old 01-09-2016, 16:48
Hound of Love
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I'm not bothered about long-term characters getting killed off.

I don't see why they should ever be exempt from dying. Good on Emmerdale for not leaving the door open for some of them.
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Old 01-09-2016, 16:50
sorcha_healy27
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I'm not bothered about long-term characters getting killed off.

I don't see why they should ever be exempt from dying. Good on Emmerdale for not leaving the door open for some of them.
Agreed
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Old 01-09-2016, 17:30
Oldnjaded
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I'm not bothered about long-term characters getting killed off.

I don't see why they should ever be exempt from dying. Good on Emmerdale for not leaving the door open for some of them.
Agreed. Once a character is leaving, for whatever reason, it's far more entertaining to see them die than watch them drive off in the back of a taxi.

(I'll have forgotten they ever existed within a couple of months anyway).
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Old 01-09-2016, 17:35
cyrilandshirley
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I'm not bothered about long-term characters getting killed off.

I don't see why they should ever be exempt from dying. Good on Emmerdale for not leaving the door open for some of them.
I wish someone would kill off Paddy and Marlon, and make it final.

ED has taken a bit of a hit recently. I miss Edna and Betty most, as well as Vile Val, who made me cry with laughter. I'll also miss Andy.

Characters always come and go on soaps, but it is a bit strange that so many of the new characters just feel like guests, brought in for one story. I feel like Emma, Pierce, Jermaine and Ronnie will probably all be gone soon. Holly we know about. Possibly (please) Joanie as well. Not sure about Robin of Sherwood, surely he can't last long. The only potentially long-term new character we've had for ages is Carly.
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Old 01-09-2016, 18:16
lou_123
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Every soap loses big characters. It's a shame but you get over it. Like i say time and time again, a soap shouldn't be summed up or be subjective to one particular character or characters.
People say they don't, but they do. You have your long running cast members who the audience are familiar with, and once they go, the show can feel completely different.

To answer the question though, no. Emmerdale has lost a lot of big/iconic characters, but the ITV soaps have quite a long serving cast. A lot of them have been there for years. EastEnders on the other hand has lost way too many in the last 5/6 years. The result is that it now feels like a different show, which is why I find it hard to enjoy it as much as I used to.
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Old 01-09-2016, 18:19
lou_123
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I'm not bothered about long-term characters getting killed off.

I don't see why they should ever be exempt from dying. Good on Emmerdale for not leaving the door open for some of them.
Well it depends. I think if the storyline is right and it will have a big impact, then yes fair enough. If it's just out of spite because that certain cast member has decided to quit and the current producer wants a short term ratings boost, then no, it's a mistake. Imagine if EastEnders hadn't killed off the likes of Angie and Pat? Their deaths were pointless and they could have returned at any point.
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Old 01-09-2016, 18:26
SS_Summer
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Yes and no. Not much they can do if the actors want to leave. And killing them off is more effective sometimes...no loose ends. But yeah some of them are big losses...Val, Andy...and Ashley will be a huge one. Characters with a long history and lots of links to other characters are the most unfortunate. The real goal though, needs to be making sure you have or create enough new pillar characters to replace them. If a show ever becomes a revolving door where everyone only stays a few years, I think thats when you decline dismally. You really do need those major families, major characters, who are stable and somewhat permanent.
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Old 01-09-2016, 19:20
spunger
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Agreed. Once a character is leaving, for whatever reason, it's far more entertaining to see them die than watch them drive off in the back of a taxi.

(I'll have forgotten they ever existed within a couple of months anyway).
Desperately duller than dull Dan is not even worth an exit in a Taxi. He should go to buy a pint of milk one day and just never be seen or heard of ever again.
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Old 01-09-2016, 19:45
Oldnjaded
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Desperately duller than dull Dan is not even worth an exit in a Taxi. He should go to buy a pint of milk one day and just never be seen or heard of ever again.
Agreed. Except then I'd be constantly fretting in case he came back again at some point.
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Old 01-09-2016, 22:17
CollieWobbles
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Most of those mentioned I don't even miss tbh apart from Edna, and I will miss Ashley. One character I would like to see leave permanently in a box is that insufferable murderous prick Robert . I've even come to a point where I can tolerate Aaron on his own or in scenes with the Dingles, but once he's in scenes with Robert again I want to club them both with a mace. Sooner he buggers off the better.
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Old 01-09-2016, 22:25
Louis_Brady
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People say they don't, but they do. You have your long running cast members who the audience are familiar with, and once they go, the show can feel completely different.

To answer the question though, no. Emmerdale has lost a lot of big/iconic characters, but the ITV soaps have quite a long serving cast. A lot of them have been there for years. EastEnders on the other hand has lost way too many in the last 5/6 years. The result is that it now feels like a different show, which is why I find it hard to enjoy it as much as I used to.
I actually feel Eastenders has too many long serving, untouchable characters, it needs freshened up.
In terms of the question, I think it's good to kill long term characters off. Having too many makes a show grow stale and prevents new legends from emerging.
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Old 02-09-2016, 00:08
samcains90
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Most of those mentioned I don't even miss tbh apart from Edna, and I will miss Ashley. One character I would like to see leave permanently in a box is that insufferable murderous prick Robert . I've even come to a point where I can tolerate Aaron on his own or in scenes with the Dingles, but once he's in scenes with Robert again I want to club them both with a mace. Sooner he buggers off the better.
I am with you 100% on the Robert front.
He's so smug and he annoys me more than anyone else in any scene he's in and has done since shortly after his arrival.

Back on topic, I'm not overly worried, most of the long serving characters were stuck in ruts because they can't do anything too outlandish lest they lose viewer support. Mind you I'm quite a fan of nothing storylines and characters that don't ultimately serve a massive purpose for plot points but it's soapland now I suppose.
I think Ashley will be a loss though, I think that was a poor decision. And I miss Edna too.
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Old 02-09-2016, 07:23
mushymanrob
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nooo not get rid of robert... hes great!
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Old 02-09-2016, 07:28
sorcha_healy27
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nooo not get rid of robert... hes great!
I agree

I would like a few of the loathsome Dingles culled though
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Old 02-09-2016, 07:45
trevon1
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Most of those mentioned I don't even miss tbh apart from Edna, and I will miss Ashley. One character I would like to see leave permanently in a box is that insufferable murderous prick Robert . I've even come to a point where I can tolerate Aaron on his own or in scenes with the Dingles, but once he's in scenes with Robert again I want to club them both with a mace. Sooner he buggers off the better.
Agreed. I'm sure Ashley's eventually exit will be quite moving.

I also agree about Robert. It's been a strange turn of events, but I think I hate him even more than I do Aaron. Horrible character.
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Old 02-09-2016, 08:25
sarah_short
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Katie was one of my most favourite characters, so I do miss her, but I soon get over the loss of even those characters I love.
Interesting, though nobody else seems to miss her her death had a bigger impact upon the village and provided more story material than the others mentioned in this thread.
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Old 02-09-2016, 11:11
CollieWobbles
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I am with you 100% on the Robert front.
He's so smug and he annoys me more than anyone else in any scene he's in and has done since shortly after his arrival.

Back on topic, I'm not overly worried, most of the long serving characters were stuck in ruts because they can't do anything too outlandish lest they lose viewer support. Mind you I'm quite a fan of nothing storylines and characters that don't ultimately serve a massive purpose for plot points but it's soapland now I suppose.
I think Ashley will be a loss though, I think that was a poor decision. And I miss Edna too.
Yep he has me too, for someone with less morals than a sewer rat he doesn't half like to prance about on his high horse. How can he be so bothered about his brother being on the run when he himself killed said brother's wife ffs? He doesn't really gives a toss about Andy, he just wants to pounce on any excuse to make miserable a family he's bitter about for casting him out, cos in his twisted mind it's their fault not his. Horrible dreadful character, he's as bad Corrie's Tracy Barlow, who funnily enough is also a smug, gloating, pantomime acting seriously nasty piece of work who is all 'its ok for me to do anything I want to others, even kill them but how dare someone do something to me'.
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Old 02-09-2016, 11:16
cyrilandshirley
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Katie was one of my most favourite characters, so I do miss her, but I soon get over the loss of even those characters I love.
Interesting, though nobody else seems to miss her her death had a bigger impact upon the village and provided more story material than the others mentioned in this thread.
I don't miss her that much, to be honest - her exit gave Andy a really good bereavement story, and Kelvin was cracking in it. But at the same time, she has left a gap - Andy and Katie were one of those sustainable long-term couples who could have had a future on the show, bringing up Andy's kids together. Katie was lovely with Sarah.

I guess Adam and Victoria sort of fill that role now.
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