So much for EE tackling homophobia, LGBT issues, hate crime, "raising awareness" etc, etc. I wonder how Stonewall feels about the storyline now.

I wonder if Ben and Jay's revenge plot, the ludicrous kidnapping jape and the estranged uncle (and his unknowing son) riding to the rescue (like Bruce Willis and his son in the latest Die Hard film) reflect the reality of LGBT issues.

I actually find it disgusting that they've gone in this direction for the storyline. The episodes following Paul's attack were raw and unflinching, as they should have been. The farce we've been given this week is so far removed from the story they told us they were going to be telling that I wonder how they can screen it without feeling ashamed.

Pretty much

and like Dame Elly, i am disgusted too

Who would of thought the murder of a young gay lad could prove to be such a farce?

Hopefully Pam and Les will save the week as from what we have seen so far I think Roger and Lin will put in a fantastic emotional performance for the funeral. Comparing some of their scenes after the death with the overhyped Grant running around with a bat for ten seconds episode last night is a big contrast. As I said on another thread, they have made me feel emotional for the death of Paul who I wasnt particularly fond of which is testament to their acting and I think its a shame they are going.

The kidnap plot just doesnt make any sense and was overhyped.

The whole nonsense just adds more fuel to the fire of what a mess EE has continued to be

I honestly could weep for SOC and the wreckage he needs to go through.

Fair points, EE is in a bit of a mess again isn't it.

The writing for last nights episode in particular was an abomination. So many things wrong it was utter garbage

Since when did people get in trouble with the police for being kidnapped?
No way on the planet Ben would have left Jay in the van
Why could Grant not take three paces forward and open the van as the copper did?

Absolute piffle and utter abominable storyline for the sake of the Grunting plank of wood while the two actors who can act flail about with shocking scripts an utter outrage and nonsense.

A bit? I admire you being so polite

I think the mess goes beyond this nonsense.

Well, I could have said a torrent of effluence cascading across our screens but I didn't want to be over dramatic...

Haha

Just say it as it is 0...0, no one will bite

It's kind of funny in retrospect that people on here were moaning about Johnny's involvement with the storyline. At least he played a part that made sense in the context of this issue-led storyline: a young, openly gay person, like Paul, emotionally affected by this awful crime and wanting to support Ben. Just honest, simple drama. Since then we've had the Mitchells hijack Paul's death in favour of their outdated 'family code' cliches and boring secret son crap. It's just so exasperating and insulting. This was such an important story to tell and they bottled it. I can only hope that we get some semblance of appropriateness at Paul's funeral tomorrow and Friday.

Preaching to the converted, Aar. SOC really has his work cut out for him, but I fear that as long as we have Alex Lamb penning this rubbish we're not going to see any significant difference.

My heart breaks for SOC, as i have said in other threads. It really does.

When DTC was finishing up he probs thought "sod this, i will ruin the show more than i have and have this new fella clean my mess up"

Bit of a dickish move.

Even that would be an understatement. SOC has got one hell of a mess to clean up.

DTC had a rod shoved so far up his backside he could have been a ride on the merry go round.

It has been made all about the Mitchells.

This is very true

I agree.

It is absolutely disgusting how a storyline about homophobic attacks, resulting in a characters death, has just been turned into another Gangster plot for the Mitchell's where they run around wanting revenge, refusing to involve the police, rabbitting about 'Family' and perhaps worst of all, Paul's killers running away like frightened toddlers when confronted with Grant.

What message is that sending out? That if a 'real man' stands up to these people, they'll run away from the fight so any gay man that gets beaten up or killed was just too weak?

Perhaps I'm reading too much into it but that is how it has come across.

They had a chance to tell a powerul story here about a very real problem that affects millions of people, either because they have been attacked or know somebody that has or because they live in fear of public displays of affection in case there is a homophobe around who starts something.

But Pam and les' grief is sidelined and it just becomes a platform for the Mitchells.

I agree, it's insulting.

Reminds me of when they cheapened Linda's rape storyline by having the 'reveal' (ugh) on Chritmas Day, and then adding the "Who's the daddy?" element. What should have been a very hard-hitting story turned out to be sensationalist and in very bad taste. It's exactly the same with Paul's death.

He has. DTC was lucky he started with a blank slate. Soc doesn't have that luxury.

And then it became all about Mick, Dean and Shirley for the rest of the year. They have form for this.

Yep. Linda being raped was evidently just a catalyst for a story about Shirley and her boys. And Paul's death was just a plot device for a story about the Mitchells rather than a story in itself.

Yes, I ver nearly mentioned Linda's rape. The way the Cokers and the actual issue have been sidelined is ver similar to how Linda became a bit part player in her own story, playing second fiddle to Mick, Dean and shirley's family dynamic - not to mention the soapy elements you mentioned.

Like most things then.

I can only echo the sentiments of others... it's a disgrace how they have handled this storyline. Another one sacrificed to worn out Mitchell clichés while Pam and Les's grief, the most affecting bit of the story, is sidelined.

Great post Kitkat