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Emmerdale - special episode dedicated to Ashley's dementia storyline


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Old 07-11-2016, 10:18
Alleycat666
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From Radio Times:

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-...-this-december

I'm glad ED are giving this the serious treatment that it deserves and John Middleton has been brilliant so far.
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Old 07-11-2016, 10:23
James J
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I have to say I think Iain MacLeod is doing wondrous things on Emmerdale - this is a brilliant idea and I'm sure it'll be both innovative and hard-hitting.

John Middleton is going to smash it.

"The crew will recreate Ashley's perspective using specific cinematography techniques. They have been challenged to try and picture the disorientation and confusion the condition creates and how everyday experience can become distressing when seen through the lens of dementia."
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Old 07-11-2016, 10:29
ianradioian
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John Middleton has played the role of Ashley so well over the years and is excelling with the dementia storyline. It'll be a real shame once it's over and he leaves.
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Old 07-11-2016, 11:01
craig_25
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Ashleys dementia storyline has to be the best illness type storyline I have ever seen. I've been in tears so many times over certain scenes and I think that speaks volumes about the actors performance.

I remember when Corrie announced that Hayley would become ill and eventually pass away and hoped that it would provide some highly emotional scenes and show her slow deterioration. Alas it wasn't to be, I found the whole thing incredibly poorly written and her decision to kill herself before she got too sick was just ridiculous. There was no tenderness whatsoever in Hayley's story and it galled me. I'm glad to see if that ED are going to kill off one of their longest running characters, they are doing it with some class. I'll really miss Ashley but this storyline is fantastic.
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Old 07-11-2016, 11:11
Adrian_Ward1
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This is definitely going to be special.
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Old 07-11-2016, 11:20
Dr K Noisewater
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I enjoyed the episode just before the crash which focused on Ashley. Showing time jumping forward during the gaps in his memory was brilliantly done. By seeing things from his perspective it really gave the viewers an insight into what he's going through.

I hope they do that again.
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Old 07-11-2016, 11:24
Danny_Francis
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Gonna be top dollar
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Old 07-11-2016, 11:34
jazzydrury3
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John Middleton is doing the storyline proud, and he will be missed when he leaves the show.

We have known Ashley for so many years, he has been the pillar of the community as the vicar, and we are basically seeing him loose himself.
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Old 07-11-2016, 11:38
Whoopie Doo
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John Middleton is doing the storyline proud, and he will be missed when he leaves the show.

We have known Ashley for so many years, he has been the pillar of the community as the vicar, and we are basically seeing him loose himself.
This is why its been so effective. Ashley has been on the show for something like 20 years. When Corrie did it with Mike Baldwin it should have been the same as it is with Ashley but Corrie totally botched it up. Emmerdale by comparison has been incredible. I think this story alone will seal them the BAFTA next year.
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Old 07-11-2016, 11:45
starry_rune
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I feel like the story started with Ashley's abuse of Sandy. its well known for a slight personality change to be the first sign. Its been a long running slow burner.
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Old 07-11-2016, 11:53
Alleycat666
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I feel like the story started with Ashley's abuse of Sandy. its well known for a slight personality change to be the first sign. Its been a long running slow burner.


It has - and in that way much truer to real life than anything normally portrayed on the soaps.
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Old 07-11-2016, 12:18
samcains90
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I feel like the story started with Ashley's abuse of Sandy. its well known for a slight personality change to be the first sign. Its been a long running slow burner.
Definitely one of Kate Oates' finer moments, tying Ashley's behaviour under Blackburn into his illness more recently.
It's a shame about the Laurel/Harriet stuff that went on. But the story is one of the best things about Emmerdale just now.
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Old 07-11-2016, 12:57
Cheekymonkey09
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Can't wait for this but it'll be hard to watch
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Old 07-11-2016, 13:01
Oldnjaded
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Ashley's decline has already been absolutely heartbreaking, thanks to John Middleton's simply sublime portrayal, and I think I will be totally crushed at this special ep.

Credit where it's due - I didn't expect much from ex-HO McLeod but so far, if nothing else, the writing, direction, cinematography and the way he has inspired both cast and crew to somehow get you inside Ashley's head has been utterly brilliant. For this alone I will cut him a lot of slack in future.
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Old 07-11-2016, 13:49
Joe_H11
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I'm loving it so far.

The episode with Emma was great so was the editing really added to how he must have felt!

I'm excited for this episode and John is a great actress as is Charlotte
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Old 07-11-2016, 14:19
jazzydrury3
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So when Victoria knocked him down, and he started having fits, that was obviously his condition
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Old 07-11-2016, 14:19
HOAddict
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I feel like the story started with Ashley's abuse of Sandy. its well known for a slight personality change to be the first sign. Its been a long running slow burner.
I agree..although I always felt Ashley was unfairly demonised for that. I don't remember anyone trying to understand what caused the behaviour and, as for Sandy, I often felt like giving the selfish old git a slap myself!!

The story has been brilliant, though.
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Old 07-11-2016, 14:40
kitkat1971
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I feel like the story started with Ashley's abuse of Sandy. its well known for a slight personality change to be the first sign. Its been a long running slow burner.
That's a good point actually. My Gran had exactly the same type of Vascular Dementia as Ashley and whilst the illness didn't become obvious until she had a big tmi overnight and almost woke up a different person 3 years before her death, Mums said tbat in hindsight she recognised that there had been blips and out of character happenings sporadically for a couple of years prior to that. This was early 80s when much less was known about it.

I hated how the Sandy abuse plot was handled and wouldn't mind it being explained away by the Dementia but it was actually a good thing to highlight in principle. The pressure that is on Carers of elderly parents, especially if they are difficult (for want of a better description) in attitude and how very good people can commit an evil act in those circimstances.

But they blew it by sensationalising it and using it as an excuse for Laurel to leave Ashley for Marlon without looking like the bad guy.

Re this episode, sounds like it'll be great and Middleton has been knocking it out of the park. Without wanting to be inflammatory, if he gets passed over for younger, prettier actors that they think have a better chance of winning come awards season, I'll be furious.
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Old 07-11-2016, 14:41
samcains90
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So when Victoria knocked him down, and he started having fits, that was obviously his condition
I believe that the accident was the cause of his strokes which accelerated his condition.
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Old 07-11-2016, 15:02
kitkat1971
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I agree..although I always felt Ashley was unfairly demonised for that. I don't remember anyone trying to understand what caused the behaviour and, as for Sandy, I often felt like giving the selfish old git a slap myself!!

The story has been brilliant, though.
Yes, I completely agree.

That scene where he declared to the entire pub that he beat his father was ridiculous.

I'm not exvuding him loding his temper but it was one push one one slap wasn't it? They made it sound like he was giving him a sustained thrashing routinely for his own sadistic pleasure.
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Old 07-11-2016, 16:14
Janet Plank
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I believe that the accident was the cause of his strokes which accelerated his condition.
Are the writers going to give Victoria any sense of shame for her part in Ashley's illness? I look forward to the special episode; John Middleton is playing the role brilliantly.
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Old 07-11-2016, 16:21
Stupid_Head
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Are the writers going to give Victoria any sense of shame for her part in Ashley's illness? I look forward to the special episode; John Middleton is playing the role brilliantly.
Victoria does nothing but squee over Robron or shout at her boring husband.
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Old 07-11-2016, 16:38
craig_25
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Victoria does nothing but squee over Robron or shout at her boring husband.
Agreed, Victoria is utterly wasted. I see that she soon thinks
Spoiler

I'm surprised she and Finn aren't in business together, or shown more having fun, going out etc. The youngsters in ED are all boring tbf, I remember Katie and co back in the day always getting taxis into Leeds etc but you never see that anymore
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Old 07-11-2016, 16:42
Stupid_Head
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Agreed, Victoria is utterly wasted. I see that she soon thinks
Spoiler

I'm surprised she and Finn aren't in business together, or shown more having fun, going out etc. The youngsters in ED are all boring tbf, I remember Katie and co back in the day always getting taxis into Leeds etc but you never see that anymore
I even remember Debbie of all people used to have fun as a youngster on the show, going out clubbing etc That's how crazy it is having the youngsters so boring now.
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Old 07-11-2016, 16:58
Matt35
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As hard as it's been watching Ashley go through this, I can't praise John enough for his portrayal. One thing I don't want is for Emma to be involved in his death. that would just ruin what has been a very well written storyline.
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