Remember USA High the kids series regarding Mark !

I hope Jay hasn't gone permanently. Wish we'd seen a bit more of Colin but I'm glad Dot changed her mind and went to the wedding.

I do like Tina but she's too immature for an adult woman and always needs to have someone keeping any eye on her and getting her out of trouble.

Good casting regarding Mark Jnr. He does have a look of Michelle about him and reminds me of the very first Mark played by David Scarboro.

I'm not sure Jay can just up and leave anyway. He has to sign the sex offenders register so the police need to know his whereabouts for the duration he is on it. I think any attempt to move needs clearance first.

None of that has made any sense and it has dented what could have been a great story.

What can I say - that was a fantastic episode. This is what EE is all about - character driven drama. It was nice to see a character from the 1980s back with Colin and the scenes with Dot and with Johnny were powerful. It's an insight as well, that regardless of Dot's beliefs and being of an older generation, she is accepting of Colin and of Sonia. Colin's struggle sadly is reality for a fair few gay men in the 1980s and it's the same today Lord Cashman should be proud of his performance and being a pioneer voice for the LGBT community in the 1980s.

I liked the scenes with Grant and his two children, Mark jr knows, and he accepts the fact that Grant is his father. Does have some of his Dad's ways. The scene with Grant and Courtney before he left and at the tube station was beautiful too. A true father and daughter bond there. Ross Kemp really gave a powerhouse performance tonight. I liked the scene with Phil and Grant too - Steve and Ross are like real-life brothers with fantastic chemistry even if they're not related in real life too. Classic.

As for Ben - selfless act, but surely there has to be certain blood type and standards? I did like the scenes with him and Phil, plus him and Jay who I hope is not leaving forever. Jay was right, they are brothers forever.

I am annoyed we didn't see Paul's funeral service (Damn you BBC and damn you the Tories cutting the BBC's budget), but I think Pam's reaction after Les' speech was natural. She has lost her whole world, and felt alone and lost. I am glad she's accepting Christine and I do hope Christine comes into the Vic and punches Babe in her piggy face. Why are they being axed when we have dead wood with other cast members?

10/10 - Classic Eastenders. This is what the show is about - forget buzz characters, focus on real drama.

Goodbye Mim, Jay, Courtney, Mark, Grant, Colin, DeadPaul/Deadpool the list goes on

For an episode with so much going on, the duff duff should have been Grant leaving with Courtney.

I don't think that Jay has left the show just yet. He will probably be back when the verdict comes for Paul's killers, to support Ben.

I wanted Mark and Courtney to have a final scene - Mark didn't seem to react to the fact that he nearly kissed his half sister. He also wasn't told that Grant only found out the secret recently. I'm sure Sharon will frequently mention that there is offscreen drama happening in America

I was hoping to see Christine tonight but I feel that Pam will tell Les that they should leave the Square together so that he can be Christine.

All of Colin's scenes were great and I liked how it was linked with Paul's death.

I'm really going to miss Grant Courtney and Mark . It's a shame there not around permantly .

I share these sentiments 100%

I'm no Tory but it's really not true that John Whittingdale spent licence fee money on prostitutes.

You've picked that up wrong somewhere.

No but i remember Saved by the Bell

Which was a far better show

I hope not. He is a good young actor.

I heard that unless someone twisted it. Thanks for correcting me anyway.

Good point. I didn't think of that.

But EastEnders isn't hot on realism at the moment so he could easily have gone even bearing that in mind. I don't think he has though. I know Jay is often a background character but he's been involved in some big storylines and has been on the show nearly 10 years. Surely he deserves more than a couple of quick goodbye scenes in the middle of an episode. If that was his permanent exit, I think they would've made more out of his and Ben's goodbye and I also think we'd have seen Jay say goodbye to Billy and Honey.

Of course, although USA High was all about kids from different countries with a British headmaster (Nicholas Guest) and his daughter who had that stereotypical British accent.

That was by far one of the best episodes of EE I've seen for a very long time!

The long scenes between Phil & Ben, Grant & Phil & Grant & Courtney were fantastic and brilliantly written. This is EE at it's best, long conversations between two people figuring their relationships out, they are emotional & heart wrenching & kept me on the edge of my seat wondering which direction the conversations are going to go. Not pointless affairs & revealing secrets just for the shocks! The conversations had lots of twists & turns which keep you on the edge of your seat.

Even the stuff between Pam & Les and Dot & Sonia/Colin were really good. That scene in the Vic where Pam was begging Les for his support was heart wrenching & for the first time I thought the actress who plays Pam is actually a good actress! I still think Les is a bit rubbish but maybe it's just the way he plays Les & it's just the character, he's a bit odd & eccentric?!

The scenes where Dot, Sonia & Colin were talking about homosexuality were brilliant because they raised a lot of important issues in society today that get you thinking about your own views on things & can help people to see things in a different light & it also helps people who can relate.

The same can be said with all the other situations in the episode. The way it was written makes you think what you would do in that situation & can help you figure things out in your own life if you can relate to the situation. Instead of thinking oh this is ridiculous & would never happen in real life!

But the episode still managed a few shocks like Dot telling Sonia she wouldn't go to her wedding if she married a woman, Sharon being the one to tell Mark that Grant is his dad & Ben telling Phil he wants to give him his liver, I really didn't see that one coming! Edit: how could I forget Pam telling Les they need Christine!!! My mouth literally dropped open at that! There was just so much in this episode!

If this is a sign of things to come from SOC then I think him taking over as Executive Producer could be the best thing that's happened to EE for a very long time!
Last edited by S_Davidoff : 09-09-2016 at 20:57

Can't belive I won't see My Courtney Again bringbackcourtney

Great episode tonight.

So many touching scenes.

Colin has still got it.💕 👍 His scene with Johnny was superb.

Poor Grant. How Sharon could talk about him as the devil when she's married to Phil is ludicrous. She was all ready to jump into bed with him the other week.😠

0/10 Episode
0/10 MyLauren
0/10 MyCindy

Even in death, Paul has to bring the mood of any room down doesn't he?

Horrible Johnny trying to make it about him as always, I thought we would have had at least 10 minutes of him harassing Ben again.

Another episode of McBeale moralising about raising kids to anyone who will listen What a repulsive witch she is.

Incompetent DTC really did despise the younger characters didn't he? How does any rational human being sit down and continue to employ Shakil whilst getting rid of Jay and Courtney?

Thanks.

I like Courtney and would like her to return but I completely disagree with your last statement. That is the last thing the show needs imo, Albert Square has become some unbelievable pool of incest with everyone related to everyone or having a connection to someone else. The thing the show needs at the moment is fresh new, interesting characters who can be put at the forefront of the show with big storylines that aren't related or connected to a current character!! The characters should also be professionals who actually have decent, stable jobs and don't settle for a few shifts in the Minute Mart. The show needs to at least try and represent the East End a little better, an influx of middle class characters is needed. And by middle class it doesn't mean they have to be snobby and dislikable.

It made a nice change for EE to realise that sometimes water is thicker than blood.

Of course, had Ross Kemp stayed around, Mark would have had his head shaved, been working the Arches and calling himself "a proper Mitchell" in no time at all.

What a sensational episode

Very emotional regarding the stuff to do with Paul, Colin and Dot

Bravo EE to raising awareness of LGBT hate and attacks. They got it in the end, after the farce that was Monday and Tuesday's episode.

It's all so unbelievable - even if he did go to a British school, it'd be highly unlikely he'd have a cocker knee accent!!!

Sad of course to see Grant go but pleased that Courtney went with him and Mark realised the truth.

I have gone right off Sharon now. How dare she criticise any one as a parent when she is one of the worst mothers going.

Linda asking Johnny if she was alright made me so mad - Paul's death had nothing whatsoever to do with him!

Glad Sonia was honest about not loving Tina anymore she deserves a lot better.

Jay better come back!!

More bad taste Sorcha


better choice


Yes. It was all very PC


Mark knows that in 3 years time he will be as bald as a coot


Friends who have not kept in touch


She's a nasty piece of work.


Colin accepted her as she was


He should not have been told !!!!!!!


and one of my MEPs


Do they believe in life after death ?

That's the bit that seemed a little unnecessary (also Colin and Sharon not at least exchanging a couple of words)) and made it feel slightly more contrived. Could easily have said they exchanged occasional cards, phone calls, etc. Still its a themed episode which apparently Eastenders used to do a lot more of in the 90's, etc.

Coincidentally the last episode (before yesterday) Colin was in was when Sharon's Dad (Den) "died".