DS Forums

 
 

EE: Is there an element of 'the calm before the storm'


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 19-10-2016, 07:46
Tomski12
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 789

I know EE is getting slated on here, online and in the press at the minute for being boring. But are all these seemingly filler storylines building up to something? I personally think we're all being a bit impatient. By the looks of things, the first week of November looks to be the start of SOC's bigger storylines. The re is a lot of stuff just bubbling nicely under the surface. Such as Denise's pregnancy, Steven's thieving, Whitney and Lee's wedding day, Max's imminent return and although the bins at first just seemed like a real life reference to make the show more realistic, I now think they may be leading to something, but only time will tell.
Tomski12 is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 19-10-2016, 08:08
The_abbott
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Ronnie's bed
Posts: 20,574
A storm in Mick's tea cup yes.
The_abbott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 08:44
Superstar99
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,077
I would say its extremely doubtful.

There have been a few interviews recently with different members of the cast and they have all said that the show is heading in a new direction which I think is pretty obvious what we are now seeing on screen. The mention of a low key Christmas I think is a sign of things to come, otherwise, why say it?

SOC has completely misread the soap genre and thinks he can go back to the halcyon days of the 80's and early 90's where the happenings of everyday folk was enough to entertain the public.

However with so many channels now available, if you bore the audience you are in severe danger of a show going into terminal decline.

There is a reason why soaps are more sensational today, its borne out of necessity to keep the audience gripped and coming back for more. Not to say it needs to be sensational every week or even every month but at least a big event 2 or 3 times a year on a big scale is what viewers expect now. You can see from the reactions in the media, on here and social media the knives are already sharpening. You have to give the masses what they want and not what a few people who harp back to the 'olden days' want. TV has changed and is changing all the time, I think the BBC is slowly dying IMO and I think its a matter of time before it ceases to exist in its present format.
Superstar99 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 09:43
jazzydrury3
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,800
With the Bins could we see some kinda incident like they had for real in Glasgow, when the refuge lorry speed down the high street, knocking down shoppers and a few died.

There are so many being axed, Kim thinking she is a super driver and she isnt.
jazzydrury3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 10:46
lux_aeterna
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 215
Steven is gonna kidnap that baby
lux_aeterna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 11:38
nigel12
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 853
He just needs a better balance i think. Its great that hes making the characters nicer and more likeable, and the interaction is so much better. But he does need some conflict / storyline drive which is lacking at the moment. Usually in September you can see the big xmas / dec episodes coming but there's none of that yet really.

I didnt listen to the Archers but all that stuff about the domestic abuse storyline made me optimistic for some good EE drama and grit, so im prepared to give him the doubt for now.

Max needs to hurry back!

And its a definite shame if hes not going to do anything special on Halloween. Max scaring the beales would have been great.
nigel12 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 12:09
VGKid
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 485
Its not like SOC isn't giving us anything - we've had Whitney's miscarriage and the conclusion to Pam and Les's stories, as well as a few hints of what is to come. I think that SOC will use Christmas to start new stories instead of as a climax to many - we might see couples formed or Denise giving birth.

We've got Whitney and Lee's wedding coming up, and it is looking likely that Lee's exit will be dark and gritty (possibly disappearing or suicide). We've also got Ronnie and Roxy's big exit.

It is the calm before the storm, but it'll probably be very different from DTC's storm. I think SOC will actually focus on the aftermath of his stories, instead of just moving on to the next one.
VGKid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 12:45
Paulie Walnuts
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,411
Honey seems ripe for harvesting as well.
Paulie Walnuts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 12:46
The Queen Vic
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,916
I would say its extremely doubtful.

There have been a few interviews recently with different members of the cast and they have all said that the show is heading in a new direction which I think is pretty obvious what we are now seeing on screen. The mention of a low key Christmas I think is a sign of things to come, otherwise, why say it?

SOC has completely misread the soap genre and thinks he can go back to the halcyon days of the 80's and early 90's where the happenings of everyday folk was enough to entertain the public.

However with so many channels now available, if you bore the audience you are in severe danger of a show going into terminal decline.

There is a reason why soaps are more sensational today, its borne out of necessity to keep the audience gripped and coming back for more. Not to say it needs to be sensational every week or even every month but at least a big event 2 or 3 times a year on a big scale is what viewers expect now. You can see from the reactions in the media, on here and social media the knives are already sharpening. You have to give the masses what they want and not what a few people who harp back to the 'olden days' want. TV has changed and is changing all the time, I think the BBC is slowly dying IMO and I think its a matter of time before it ceases to exist in its present format.
I think you make some good points here, Superstar99.

The show seems to work best when there are secrets bubbling away that the viewers are waiting to come out, and there doesn't seem to be any of that at the moment. I have to say I am enjoying EastEnders at the moment - I think the quality of the writing has improved (the best it's been since the the start of the year to be honest). However, the last time I had that thought was when Lorraine Newman was in charge and I'd hate to go backwards. But I agree - there needs to be something to grip us in. Pam and Les's departure last week made me cry my eyes out - not sure why, it just really touched me.

I think they're building to something. I do think it's the calm before the storm. I reckon during Sean O'Connor's tenure we'll see a different style of storytelling.
The Queen Vic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 14:10
J-B
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Winter is coming.
Posts: 13,323
What will the payoff be? The dramatic climax of Bingate? The tragic moment that Kim fails the hazard perception portion of her theory test? Belinda gets a DVD with instructions on how to do Indian head massages?

This producer seems to specialise in the mundane and pedestrian.
J-B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 15:36
Damien_Johnson
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 592
I would say its extremely doubtful.

There have been a few interviews recently with different members of the cast and they have all said that the show is heading in a new direction which I think is pretty obvious what we are now seeing on screen. The mention of a low key Christmas I think is a sign of things to come, otherwise, why say it?

SOC has completely misread the soap genre and thinks he can go back to the halcyon days of the 80's and early 90's where the happenings of everyday folk was enough to entertain the public.

However with so many channels now available, if you bore the audience you are in severe danger of a show going into terminal decline.

There is a reason why soaps are more sensational today, its borne out of necessity to keep the audience gripped and coming back for more. Not to say it needs to be sensational every week or even every month but at least a big event 2 or 3 times a year on a big scale is what viewers expect now. You can see from the reactions in the media, on here and social media the knives are already sharpening. You have to give the masses what they want and not what a few people who harp back to the 'olden days' want. TV has changed and is changing all the time, I think the BBC is slowly dying IMO and I think its a matter of time before it ceases to exist in its present format.
Yet the ratings for EE has gone up recently. So non of that makes sense.

A 'boring' SOC episode rates higher than a 'sensationalist' DTC episode.

EE topped the rating yesterday and beat Emmerdale in what is apparently a big week for them.
Damien_Johnson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 16:04
Tomski12
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 789
Yet the ratings for EE has gone up recently. So non of that makes sense.

A 'boring' SOC episode rates higher than a 'sensationalist' DTC episode.

EE topped the rating yesterday and beat Emmerdale in what is apparently a big week for them.
I'm actually quite surprised at that. Although I know the ratings have gone up, I thought ED and corrie would beat EE this week.

My guess is the bigger stories will start off in November with the Whitney and Lee stuff.
Tomski12 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 16:07
Tomski12
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 789
I do agree with some points on here. Even though the 80s/90s/early 00s were great. The TV audience has changed. Unless SOC can keep a consistent quality of non sensationalist episodes, maybe a 50/50 approach would work best to satisfy sensationalist viewers as well as older ones.
Tomski12 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 16:13
bass55
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: London
Posts: 9,410
He's only been in charge for a month. If it's still like this at Christmas then I'd say there's cause for concern, but at the moment the show is still in a transition phase. Give it time.
bass55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 16:30
Tomski12
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 789
Not normally that keen on this guy's articles but this one is very good about EE's new era.

http://metro.co.uk/2016/10/19/why-ea...-show-6201690/
Tomski12 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 16:31
sorcha_healy27
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 69,007
I'm actually quite surprised at that. Although I know the ratings have gone up, I thought ED and corrie would beat EE this week.

My guess is the bigger stories will start off in November with the Whitney and Lee stuff.
Emmerdale so far has been piss poor this week
sorcha_healy27 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 17:55
Scrabbler
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 31,192
I would say its extremely doubtful.

There have been a few interviews recently with different members of the cast and they have all said that the show is heading in a new direction which I think is pretty obvious what we are now seeing on screen. The mention of a low key Christmas I think is a sign of things to come, otherwise, why say it?

SOC has completely misread the soap genre and thinks he can go back to the halcyon days of the 80's and early 90's where the happenings of everyday folk was enough to entertain the public.

However with so many channels now available, if you bore the audience you are in severe danger of a show going into terminal decline.

There is a reason why soaps are more sensational today, its borne out of necessity to keep the audience gripped and coming back for more. Not to say it needs to be sensational every week or even every month but at least a big event 2 or 3 times a year on a big scale is what viewers expect now. You can see from the reactions in the media, on here and social media the knives are already sharpening. You have to give the masses what they want and not what a few people who harp back to the 'olden days' want. TV has changed and is changing all the time, I think the BBC is slowly dying IMO and I think its a matter of time before it ceases to exist in its present format.
You say the viewers want sensational plots. The TV show that pulls the biggest to ratings in years is about baking. The most exciting thing that happens is someone either takes their bake in the over for too long or takes it out too early. Yet it's extremely popular.

There's an American show which is being brought back on Netflix after ten years of being taken off the air. There is nothing sensational about that program, there's never been any explosions or dramatic stunts but it's popular because of the characterisation and the writing. It's only being brought back because of the huge viewership the original series got on Netflix.

You don't need to have sensationalism to be entertaining. I'm sick to death of seeing people behaving atrociously on telly. I'm seriously loving EE at the moment and I really hope SOC takes no notice of those who claim it's boring. It's really not.

I stand by the fact that there is still a market out there for shows that focus on producing well written storylines without being overly dramatic or sensational.
Scrabbler is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 18:46
bumpandgrind
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London Town
Posts: 8,791
You say the viewers want sensational plots. The TV show that pulls the biggest to ratings in years is about baking. The most exciting thing that happens is someone either takes their bake in the over for too long or takes it out too early. Yet it's extremely popular.

There's an American show which is being brought back on Netflix after ten years of being taken off the air. There is nothing sensational about that program, there's never been any explosions or dramatic stunts but it's popular because of the characterisation and the writing. It's only being brought back because of the huge viewership the original series got on Netflix.

You don't need to have sensationalism to be entertaining. I'm sick to death of seeing people behaving atrociously on telly. I'm seriously loving EE at the moment and I really hope SOC takes no notice of those who claim it's boring. It's really not.

I stand by the fact that there is still a market out there for shows that focus on producing well written storylines without being overly dramatic or sensational.
Totally agree. The biggest drama of the past 12 or so months is arguably Doctor Foster. It was a simple story of infidelity set over 5 episodes, with interesting and realistic twists and turns.

Of course a soap can't quite compete with a single drama like Doctor Foster, but a story told well, is precisely that - a well told story. No need for sensationist explosions and deaths, but instead a strong, every day storyline played out by characters you care about.

This is the sort of thing EE should be doing.

I'm also convinced the lack of announcements and the implied low key Christmas might be a ruse. EastEnders at Christmas is an institution and I was under the impression that producers are expected to deliver drama over the festive period. I suspect 'low key' means drama without explosions and murders.
bumpandgrind is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 19:39
Scrabbler
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 31,192
Totally agree. The biggest drama of the past 12 or so months is arguably Doctor Foster. It was a simple story of infidelity set over 5 episodes, with interesting and realistic twists and turns.

Of course a soap can't quite compete with a single drama like Doctor Foster, but a story told well, is precisely that - a well told story. No need for sensationist explosions and deaths, but instead a strong, every day storyline played out by characters you care about.

This is the sort of thing EE should be doing.

I'm also convinced the lack of announcements and the implied low key Christmas might be a ruse. EastEnders at Christmas is an institution and I was under the impression that producers are expected to deliver drama over the festive period. I suspect 'low key' means drama without explosions and murders.
Good point about Dr Foster, there was huge emphasis on the motivations and emotions of the title character and that's what made the show so compelling.

Yeah I'm keeping an open mind about Christmas, the odd snippet here and there won't give an accurate picture of how the episodes will pan out.
Scrabbler is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 21:10
wallo mr slug
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: North East England
Posts: 8,984
Not normally that keen on this guy's articles but this one is very good about EE's new era.

http://metro.co.uk/2016/10/19/why-ea...-show-6201690/
Thanks, I think
wallo mr slug is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 22:10
Nefersitra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 728
How long has this forum been complaining that characters in EE are changing to facilitate storylines/ EE has plot lead characters not character-lead plots?

A lot of the characters introduced from Santer on have very poorly sketched personalities - for example Jack Branning;s most notable trait was as the "Sperminator" and former cop - so work is required to flesh them out.

To bring in the character-lead plots, SOC and his team need to establish the characters' personalities and relationships which is what is going on now.
Nefersitra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 22:31
lea27
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,701
It's so dull at the moment. Scenes are just going nowhere. I mean, what the hell with the Honey and Billy eating dinner talking about a pair of football boots, then it just cut to another scene. So pointless. I don't care about bins and beavers (again) or Kim's driving test. And Lauren kissing Steven at his place of work and the childish 'oohhh' when someone tells him to actually get back to work.
lea27 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-10-2016, 22:46
lapetitepaumee
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 154
It's so dull at the moment. Scenes are just going nowhere. I mean, what the hell with the Honey and Billy eating dinner talking about a pair of football boots, then it just cut to another scene. So pointless. I don't care about bins and beavers (again) or Kim's driving test. And Lauren kissing Steven at his place of work and the childish 'oohhh' when someone tells him to actually get back to work.
Billy and Honey believe that Will had lost his football boots, whereas the audience knows that it was Dennis that stole them from him. It looks like it's the start of a bullying storyline, so not 'pointless' at all.
lapetitepaumee is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 12:33.