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Lee's Depression Article |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Jul 2005
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Lee's Depression Article
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#2 |
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Join Date: Nov 2009
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Very good and perceptive article.
It, and a lot of reactiona to this and also Steve's story in Corrie do seem to prove my own experience that nobody can truly understand depression until they have personally experienced it. That doesn't mean they aren't caring people, aren't trying but although I understood it in an intellectual way and tried to empathise and be patient with relatives, once I got it myself, I realised I hadn't really had a clue and felt even worse that I had failed people when they needed me. Everybody I know that has had depression really rates the way Lee's story has been told because it hasn't gone away, just been subtle. And he has played it so well, it is all in.his eyes as said there. I just want to give him a cuddle most of the time and also shake Whitney and his parents who keep making things worse with their pep talks and not properly listening to him but it's not their fault as they don't understand and are doing what they think is best, what would help them. The whole thing is heartbreakingly realistic. |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,076
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Quote:
Very good and perceptive article.
It, and a lot of reactiona to this and also Steve's story in Corrie do seem to prove my own experience that nobody can truly understand depression until they have personally experienced it. That doesn't mean they aren't caring people, aren't trying but although I understood it in an intellectual way and tried to empathise and be patient with relatives, once I got it myself, I realised I hadn't really had a clue and felt even worse that I had failed people when they needed me. Everybody I know that has had depression really rates the way Lee's story has been told because it hasn't gone away, just been subtle. And he has played it so well, it is all in.his eyes as said there. I just want to give him a cuddle most of the time and also shake Whitney and his parents who keep making things worse with their pep talks and not properly listening to him but it's not their fault as they don't understand and are doing what they think is best, what would help them. The whole thing is heartbreakingly realistic. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Feb 2014
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A beautifully written article OP which really strikes a chord with me.
I agree with every word. Thanks.
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#5 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 22,260
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That article is spot on and even though I stopped watching EE regularly a while back, I am so glad that they are tackling this subject and seemingly very realistically.
Depression amongst young men is particularly problematic because of the male instinct not to talk about feelings. I don't know the statistics but am aware of a current campaign aimed specifically at young men called CALM - I.e Campaign Against Living Miserably. I know soaps are meant for entertainment but I am glad this serious and at times fatal subject is being dealt with. I think the fact that on the surface Lee doesn't appear to have insurmountable problems is realistic. Depression does not depend on the severity of one's life problems. Indeed it can strike when there is no obvious and apparent reason. Well done EE. I hope it doesn't end the what that I suspect it might but if it gets even one person to seek help or be more aware of someone else suffering then it will be more than worthwhile. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Jan 2016
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Agree about the article. I have a horrible feeling this story will end in suicide, and I have to say that I think writing out Lee must by Sean O'Connor's worst decision, because he is played by a good actor and the character has more potential than, say Del-Boy Billy, the Norman Wisdom of funeral directors.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 403
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Brilliant article.
Agreed with every word written-and then some. Everyone is different but in my case I can be "fine" then "bam!" and it strikes out of nowhere. I do hope anyone who is suffering in silence feels inspired to reach out and talk to someone. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Coventry, Warwickshire
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I absolutely agree with the comments here and the article. I think Eastenders are doing a great job with Lee's depression, it's so hard for me to watch because I just want to tell him that everything will be ok and I understand how he feels.
There's been some speculation on here about
Spoiler
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#9 |
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: London
Posts: 26,708
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Very well written and thought provoking from Duncan Lindsay. There is still a stigma about Mental Health sadly.
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#10 |
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Join Date: Jul 2005
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Quote:
I absolutely agree with the comments here and the article. I think Eastenders are doing a great job with Lee's depression, it's so hard for me to watch because I just want to tell him that everything will be ok and I understand how he feels.
There's been some speculation on here about
Spoiler
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#11 |
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 9,021
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Danny Boy Hatchard and the writers are doing a fantastic job.
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#12 |
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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This article is very good. Thanks for linking it. Quote:
He definitely needs professional help and monitoring. With the best will in the world family and friends cannot 'cure' him any more than they could cure cancer. Sometimes love just isn't enough. It is a serious and debilitating illness, sometimes fatal and there are experts out there who can help.
It would be so, so easy to have him have some massive breakdown and have it be dramatic and OTT. But depression is a silent killer- it thrives on secrecy and shame. They're portraying that aspect of it so well. I imagine someone instrumental to the portrayal has suffered from depression (or several someones, given how unfortunately common it is) because it's being done so realistically and well. And a lot of people seem to think Danny Boy is a weak actor, but I think he's very good, very subtle. I don't know where they're going with it. Suicide is a real possibility. It would be incredibly sad, but realistic and would really highlight the issue surrounding depression in young males. |
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#13 |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 13,706
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Incredible article.
Hope that the writer visits DS and sees this positive feedback. Marvellous. |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,161
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Thanks for the link. Excellent article
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#15 |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 818
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I suffer on/off with anxiety and I think EastEnders are doing a brilliant job with this. At least over the past few weeks anyway. Danny Boy has been brilliant. I wish Lee was staying and Johnny was the one leaving as Ted is an appalling actor.
I see Lee's ending being tragic but I just wish Lee and Whitney could be happy as they work so well together. I don't want him to go. |
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#16 |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
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Quote:
Danny Boy Hatchard and the writers are doing a fantastic job.
He has captured the reticent, monosyllabic nature of someone suffering from depression perfectly. Danny Boy Hatchard gets habitually slated on DS for his 'dire acting', which is described as dull, boring and lifeless (to put it mildly). If viewers attempted to look further than the superficial, they would realise that this is actually Lee's character, which DBH is playing perfectly. It takes real skill to play out the feelings of emptiness and hopelessness that EE are showing. Lee is one of my favourite soap characters of the moment, I find him quite compelling to watch. Frequently trapped in a hyper-masculine world where strength and lack of emotion reign supreme. Feeling the need to "man up" is a daily battle. The money storyline is just a tiny part of this. Lee feels it's his duty to provide for Whitney - a fairly outdated view that is like something from the Victorian era or the 1950s. However, Lee still feels that this is his destiny in life and when he can't fulfil that role, it's damaging to him. Including his army mates in the stag and wedding scenes really brought weight to the elements of masculinity within the story. Moose see)ms quite level-headed but still reinforces masculine stereotypes (the tarring and feathering thing was particularly reminiscent of 'hazing', which is being discussed more and more these days), while their other friend (don't know his name) is a controlling and lecherous brute who treats his wife and child terribly. Lee is existing among these people and trying to piece together his own life and identity based on the behaviour he sees others performing. It's ironic that both his father and brother are much more open with their emotions yet Lee is completely incapable of voicing what's going on in his head. I find it all the more tragic that in spite of knowing that something is wrong, his sensitive and more communicative brother, Johnny, isn't able to get through to Lee. So many men live this day in, day out. It's a really hard-hitting storyline for me to watch but one that must be told. This was the saddest soap wedding I think I've ever seen. No needless melodrama for the bride and groom, a simple and straightforward wedding that ended positively. Everyone having the best day of their life. However, we have Lee floating around like an empty shell, fighting to put on a smile but inevitably failing. There was tension and a bit of melodrama, with Lee's very subtle emotions being offset by Ben's more obvious reckless behaviour. I thought that this was quite a master stroke and evidence of EE constructing things with much more subtlety than soap audiences have become used to. A great dichotomy. |
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#17 |
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Alcohol aisle in Tescos *gulp*
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A very interesting and insightful article and I agree with it, EE are doing a fantastic job with the depression story. It was terrible watching last night's episode and seeing Lee feel no emotion at all at his wedding, particularly when he saw Whitney in her dress and didn't really do anything because he constantly felt as if he wasn't good enough for her. It should have been one of the happiest days of his life yet he was feeling like he doesn't deserve it. Due to SOC making the viewers care for the characters again, watching Lee last night was a horribly realistic depiction of depression and I feel like Lee is actually a real person, and of course when his exit comes round it will be far more emotional, dramatic and hard hitting because the viewers care about Lee again and don't want him to leave/break up with Whitney.
It is a shame last nights episode was being called boring as it was far from it. What did the viewers want, Lee not to show up and smash up the Vic whilst having a breakdown? It was far better to have it how it was, and it wasn't drama free, it just wasn't OTT 'in your face' drama. The wedding was lovely I thought, being family based, I really love the Carters at the minute, Mick and Linda appear to be written like their old selves again and they have some great funny lines. People have wanted a low key wedding in EE for a long time, one that goes without a hitch, and when we got one, it's called boring! But like another poster said, the Facebook/Twitter people are only a small part of the audience and just because they are vocal about their opinions doesn't mean they should be listened and adhered to. That's what made DTC's era so awful in the end. |
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#18 |
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: North East England
Posts: 8,984
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Quote:
Incredible article.
Hope that the writer visits DS and sees this positive feedback. Marvellous. Quote:
Could not agree with you more.
He has captured the reticent, monosyllabic nature of someone suffering from depression perfectly. Danny Boy Hatchard gets habitually slated on DS for his 'dire acting', which is described as dull, boring and lifeless (to put it mildly). If viewers attempted to look further than the superficial, they would realise that this is actually Lee's character, which DBH is playing perfectly. It takes real skill to play out the feelings of emptiness and hopelessness that EE are showing. Lee is one of my favourite soap characters of the moment, I find him quite compelling to watch. Frequently trapped in a hyper-masculine world where strength and lack of emotion reign supreme. Feeling the need to "man up" is a daily battle. The money storyline is just a tiny part of this. Lee feels it's his duty to provide for Whitney - a fairly outdated view that is like something from the Victorian era or the 1950s. However, Lee still feels that this is his destiny in life and when he can't fulfil that role, it's damaging to him. Including his army mates in the stag and wedding scenes really brought weight to the elements of masculinity within the story. Moose see)ms quite level-headed but still reinforces masculine stereotypes (the tarring and feathering thing was particularly reminiscent of 'hazing', which is being discussed more and more these days), while their other friend (don't know his name) is a controlling and lecherous brute who treats his wife and child terribly. Lee is existing among these people and trying to piece together his own life and identity based on the behaviour he sees others performing. It's ironic that both his father and brother are much more open with their emotions yet Lee is completely incapable of voicing what's going on in his head. I find it all the more tragic that in spite of knowing that something is wrong, his sensitive and more communicative brother, Johnny, isn't able to get through to Lee. So many men live this day in, day out. It's a really hard-hitting storyline for me to watch but one that must be told. This was the saddest soap wedding I think I've ever seen. No needless melodrama for the bride and groom, a simple and straightforward wedding that ended positively. Everyone having the best day of their life. However, we have Lee floating around like an empty shell, fighting to put on a smile but inevitably failing. There was tension and a bit of melodrama, with Lee's very subtle emotions being offset by Ben's more obvious reckless behaviour. I thought that this was quite a master stroke and evidence of EE constructing things with much more subtlety than soap audiences have become used to. A great dichotomy. Quote:
A very interesting and insightful article and I agree with it, EE are doing a fantastic job with the depression story. It was terrible watching last night's episode and seeing Lee feel no emotion at all at his wedding, particularly when he saw Whitney in her dress and didn't really do anything because he constantly felt as if he wasn't good enough for her. It should have been one of the happiest days of his life yet he was feeling like he doesn't deserve it. Due to SOC making the viewers care for the characters again, watching Lee last night was a horribly realistic depiction of depression and I feel like Lee is actually a real person, and of course when his exit comes round it will be far more emotional, dramatic and hard hitting because the viewers care about Lee again and don't want him to leave/break up with Whitney.
It is a shame last nights episode was being called boring as it was far from it. What did the viewers want, Lee not to show up and smash up the Vic whilst having a breakdown? It was far better to have it how it was, and it wasn't drama free, it just wasn't OTT 'in your face' drama. The wedding was lovely I thought, being family based, I really love the Carters at the minute, Mick and Linda appear to be written like their old selves again and they have some great funny lines. People have wanted a low key wedding in EE for a long time, one that goes without a hitch, and when we got one, it's called boring! But like another poster said, the Facebook/Twitter people are only a small part of the audience and just because they are vocal about their opinions doesn't mean they should be listened and adhered to. That's what made DTC's era so awful in the end. In fact, in terms of character, a huge amount of things happened and can only echo what KK said about it being the best soap wedding for a LONG time. Proof that crash, bang and wallop isn't soap's only formula to rely on for 'big' episodes. That episode - along with episodes like the miscarriage and Holly's death in Emmerdale - will stay with me far longer than any big explosion. |
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#19 |
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Join Date: Jul 2005
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Some great posts on here. Does anyone on here ,like me, find themselves screaming inside for someone to notice his pain. Of course I know it's not that easy, there are plenty of reasons to put it down to the usual anxieties surroundings new job and a wedding. But still.....
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#20 |
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Join Date: Mar 2004
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Quote:
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#21 |
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 69,009
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What a fantastic article Wallo.
You should tweet the link to the hacks who wrote the episode off as boring.. Danny Boy has his detractors but he has been absolutely outstanding. I believe and feel his agony and his facial expressions really emote the pain he's feeling. |
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#22 |
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Alcohol aisle in Tescos *gulp*
Posts: 12,043
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Quote:
Indeed, I saw a fair few people expressing disappointment that a drunk Ben didn't climb into a car and cause a crash of some kind (not sure why!) and even more people saying that 'nothing happened'
In fact, in terms of character, a huge amount of things happened and can only echo what KK said about it being the best soap wedding for a LONG time. Proof that crash, bang and wallop isn't soap's only formula to rely on for 'big' episodes. That episode - along with episodes like the miscarriage and Holly's death in Emmerdale - will stay with me far longer than any big explosion. I certainly enjoyed that wedding far more than a 'typical' EE wedding. It was nice to see a young couple getting married, even though it was tinged with sadness because we know it's probably going to end in tears. Bigger episodes that are characters based have more of an impact I agree. There was a brilliant Hollyoaks episode just before Point of View week which had some excellently character driven written scenes and I can recall that one easier than a stunt episode. Quote:
Some great posts on here. Does anyone on here ,like me, find themselves screaming inside for someone to notice his pain. Of course I know it's not that easy, there are plenty of reasons to put it down to the usual anxieties surroundings new job and a wedding. But still.....
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#23 |
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 23,466
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Quote:
Some great posts on here. Does anyone on here ,like me, find themselves screaming inside for someone to notice his pain. Of course I know it's not that easy, there are plenty of reasons to put it down to the usual anxieties surroundings new job and a wedding. But still.....
Tuesday was especially frustrating when he tried to talk to Mick, such a hard and brave thing to do in his situation, and Mick just spoke over him and put words into hus mouth re hs feelings, fears, doubts. Many viewers have just been conditioned by recentvyesrs years storylines to assume that any event will have twists, reveals or melodrama. Look at weddings that nany would consider classics such as Peggy and Archies which, by various contrivances, had Psggy turn on Archie, Ronnie learn the truth about Danielle, reject, then accept her and finally die. Just overload. Biancas which ended with Bradleys death and who killed Archie reveal. Janine and Ryans with the fire, Stacey telling Ryan hecwas Lillys father. Tanya and Gregs with Maxs car crash. Ronnie and Charlies with their car crash. Stacey and Martins with Bobby attacking Jane and confessing. The truth about Lucy coming out on Ian and Janes. Dean trying to kill Shirley on NYD. Etc, etc. Give them something, which on the surface is calm, they just see boring. But I found it tenser snd better than all of those because it felt like still waters run deep. It was also believable, I could imagine being at axwedding where.those events happened. |
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#24 |
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 9,021
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Oh don't get me started on the 'EastEnders' most boring wedding ever!!" hyperbole, like it was the show's first wedding to go ahead without some major event occurring to throw the day into jeopardy. A few others have, with less going on under the surface than what this had. Some really were non events like Ian and Jane's in 2007.
This ep was hardly entirely light relief either with poor Lee suffering in silence with his depression and feelings of inadequacy. I'm finding his scenes really difficult to watch which is testament to how well this is being done. Even if there hadn't been that undercurrent, I would still have found it an enjoyable watch because the writing was great. My fave bit was obviously Shirley and Lady Di. ![]() I don't know why online news sites give so much credence to a small number of tweets from people who obviously don't appreciate nuance and character driven drama. Everything with these people is simplified eg. faux outrage over an episode ending with 'a character sitting on a chair/lying on a bed' when often there's much more to the scenes than is implied in such a basic description. But like I said a lot goes over these people's heads. The show will never be universally praised on social media anyway. There were people slating DTC's work too. The ratings are mostly fine and consistent so for all the whining going on the show isn't slipping on that score. Yes, Emmerdale has pulled ahead but it's not like EE was massively out in front a few weeks ago. The two have been close for ages now so it's hardly a surprise that ED's massively hyped stunt week would put it ahead. There's been so many false dawns with Emmerdale becoming 'the no.2 soap' though that I wouldn't hastily rush to declare this a permanent thing. |
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 31,001
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It's so long since I've felt emotionally involved with characters Kat, and now I have Lee, Dot, and to a lesser extent Jay and Ben. I fear for their futures. It is strange to feel so involved after years of indifference.
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