Originally Posted by vaslav37:
“Bring back Cora!”
“Bring back Cora!”
What would Cora do to liven up the show? Beehive someone to death?
What Is Going On With Ee
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Originally Posted by SuperSoaper:
“This Bex and Shakil storyline makes me cringe, knowing my parents are watching it at the same time.
It should not be one of the main storylines in the run up to Christmas.”
“This Bex and Shakil storyline makes me cringe, knowing my parents are watching it at the same time.
It should not be one of the main storylines in the run up to Christmas.”
EastEnders are working with the NSPCC to bring the dangers of sexting to a wider public
Originally Posted by marke09:
“EastEnders are working with the NSPCC to bring the dangers of sexting to a wider public”
“EastEnders are working with the NSPCC to bring the dangers of sexting to a wider public”
They should instead be focussing on good writing, production and performance instead of focussing on "issues"
Originally Posted by Aura101:
“I can safely say that was one of the worst episodes I have EVER seen. Absolutely nothing endearing about it and not a single character I really give a monkeys about.
And WTF was that cliffhanger . is this Byker Grove now? Jesus wept.
I am really struggling to watch this up until the Mitchell sisters exit which is what I was going to do before saying goodbye.”
“I can safely say that was one of the worst episodes I have EVER seen. Absolutely nothing endearing about it and not a single character I really give a monkeys about.
And WTF was that cliffhanger . is this Byker Grove now? Jesus wept.
I am really struggling to watch this up until the Mitchell sisters exit which is what I was going to do before saying goodbye.”
But Byker Grove was actually watchable. Eastenders is diabolical at the moment.
Originally Posted by sorcha_healy27:
“What would Cora do to liven up the show? Beehive someone to death?”
“What would Cora do to liven up the show? Beehive someone to death?
”
Lol
Originally Posted by SuperSoaper:
“This Bex and Shakil storyline makes me cringe, knowing my parents are watching it at the same time.
It should not be one of the main storylines in the run up to Christmas.”
“This Bex and Shakil storyline makes me cringe, knowing my parents are watching it at the same time.
It should not be one of the main storylines in the run up to Christmas.”
I watched it with mother, was extremely cringe! Sick to death of that awful shaqil character and bex miserable face.
I am ASTONISHED anybody on this forum can really defend the appalling state of the show.
Its going to sink so fast after New Year.
Whats the record for the quickest axed producer?
Originally Posted by AuntieSoap:
“They should instead be focussing on good writing, production and performance instead of focussing on "issues"”
“They should instead be focussing on good writing, production and performance instead of focussing on "issues"”
I agree. Bored of this public service programming.
Originally Posted by sorcha_healy27:
“I take it you never saw EE during the Lorraine Newman years
”
“I take it you never saw EE during the Lorraine Newman years
”
Now THAT was bad!!
Originally Posted by Adam_Burke1:
“I agree. Bored of this public service programming.”
“I agree. Bored of this public service programming.”
EE are brilliant at Issue led storylines. Think the likes of stories like Whitney's abuse or trevor and little mo before putting these stories as simply public service broadcasting.
Originally Posted by sorcha_healy27:
“EE are brilliant at Issue led storylines. Think the likes of stories like Whitney's abuse or trevor and little mo before putting these stories as simply public service broadcasting.”
“EE are brilliant at Issue led storylines. Think the likes of stories like Whitney's abuse or trevor and little mo before putting these stories as simply public service broadcasting.”
They really are. It's quite odd to think actually that currently, several of the bigger storylines are all issue or health based, with Dot's Macular Degeneration, Phil's Liver Cirrhosis, Lee's Depression and the Bex/Shakhil story. But they are all being realistically shown and tonight's episode was pretty thought provoking for me, like it left me with something to think about and some of the best episodes tend to do that.
Originally Posted by attitude99:
“They really are. It's quite odd to think actually that currently, several of the bigger storylines are all issue or health based, with Dot's Macular Degeneration, Phil's Liver Cirrhosis, Lee's Depression and the Bex/Shakhil story. But they are all being realistically shown and tonight's episode was pretty thought provoking for me, like it left me with something to think about and some of the best episodes tend to do that.”
“They really are. It's quite odd to think actually that currently, several of the bigger storylines are all issue or health based, with Dot's Macular Degeneration, Phil's Liver Cirrhosis, Lee's Depression and the Bex/Shakhil story. But they are all being realistically shown and tonight's episode was pretty thought provoking for me, like it left me with something to think about and some of the best episodes tend to do that.”
I know most posters are of the opinion that the show has become a boring mess. However, I have to say I'm really enjoying it. The issues-led slow pace is a welcome change from the over the top gangster shit of recent years.
Some of the stuff going on is a bit dodgy - ending Jay's story so quickly just to have him back in the Mitchell fold is one. However, I'm glad with the outcome that he is where he is. There would be no point to the character if he was floating around the square sleeping on people's sofas. I also thought the pedo story was shite and Phil's reaction to it was out of character.
Another thing I'm not liking is Happy Stacey but I think that's just because she has been miserable/angry/depressed/manic her entire time in the show. It's jarring to see Lacey Turner do *happy* and actually laughing but it's reality innit? I have bipolar and most of the time I am just fine...
RE the bins - I like the idea. It's not particularly interesting but it was like a definite line under the DTC era, a proper reset of the show to focus on characters and issues.
The Lee Carter story is fantastic, very well written and brilliantly acted. It's good to see Whitney have something to do. She can actually act! Who knew??
Dot's health storyline is just brilliant. Again, not exciting, no bombs or deaths or gansters - just an elderly woman dealing with the realities of aging. Also glad to see they've remembered Patrick's friendship with Dot. Patrick has had little to do for years apart from the stroke storyline.
Redeeming McBeale is going to take some time and that's what they are doing - viewers will need a lot of time to see her as a rounded character with major flaws.
Originally Posted by sorcha_healy27:
“EE are brilliant at Issue led storylines. Think the likes of stories like Whitney's abuse or trevor and little mo before putting these stories as simply public service broadcasting.”
“EE are brilliant at Issue led storylines. Think the likes of stories like Whitney's abuse or trevor and little mo before putting these stories as simply public service broadcasting.”
Yes, EastEnders has always been the 'issues' soap. It dealt with cot death, rape, drug abuse, alcoholism, depression, unemployment at at time when no other mainstream show (except Brookside) was doing so.
I found the references to masturbation cringeworthy.
I'd hate to have been a teenager watching with their parents last night.
I'd hate to have been a teenager watching with their parents last night.
Originally Posted by bass55:
“Yes, EastEnders has always been the 'issues' soap. It dealt with cot death, rape, drug abuse, alcoholism, depression, unemployment at at time when no other mainstream show (except Brookside) was doing so.”
“Yes, EastEnders has always been the 'issues' soap. It dealt with cot death, rape, drug abuse, alcoholism, depression, unemployment at at time when no other mainstream show (except Brookside) was doing so.”
In theory, all soaps can or have the capacity to be issue led. To say it does it better than any other soap is a different discussion.
Originally Posted by lloys-strachan:
“I found the references to masturbation cringeworthy.
I'd hate to have been a teenager watching with their parents last night.”
“I found the references to masturbation cringeworthy.
I'd hate to have been a teenager watching with their parents last night.
”
Haha, yes. I used to hate that as a teen. Used to go bright red
Another duff episode.
Though slightly better last night with the absence of the horny teens
And a cliffhanger ending!
Though slightly better last night with the absence of the horny teens
And a cliffhanger ending!
Originally Posted by Hollo and Gonch:
“Over the last few months, I've praised EE for its new direction. I still think that there is a lot of merit in the low-key, down-to-earth approach to storytelling that we're currently seeing.
However, I now have a few doubts. When SOC first took over, there was a noticeable improvement in the quality of writing. I would say that this has now dropped off, and the writing is pretty bland again. Combined with the low-key storylines, this has made the show feel dull.
I think that EE should be aiming for a mix of these relatable storylines alongside one simmering big storyline that has a narrative thrust. The problem with the relatable stories is that they don't have much momentum. They just kind of plod along, like real life. But they're an important part of the overall mix. They just shouldn't be the ONLY thing on offer.
I know that there are some bigger stories coming up, but the point is that these stories have no momentum at the moment, hence every episode feels a bit laboured.”
“Over the last few months, I've praised EE for its new direction. I still think that there is a lot of merit in the low-key, down-to-earth approach to storytelling that we're currently seeing.
However, I now have a few doubts. When SOC first took over, there was a noticeable improvement in the quality of writing. I would say that this has now dropped off, and the writing is pretty bland again. Combined with the low-key storylines, this has made the show feel dull.
I think that EE should be aiming for a mix of these relatable storylines alongside one simmering big storyline that has a narrative thrust. The problem with the relatable stories is that they don't have much momentum. They just kind of plod along, like real life. But they're an important part of the overall mix. They just shouldn't be the ONLY thing on offer.
I know that there are some bigger stories coming up, but the point is that these stories have no momentum at the moment, hence every episode feels a bit laboured.”
I agree. I think it all comes down to what people expect from a soap. Some appear to enjoy the more dull, mundane storylines that are closer to the reality of life. Others want some escapism, more tension, almost a never ending thriller.
A good writer should be able to satisfy both camps. A big storyline that keeps viewers gripped, along with the everyday issues and (even in EE's) some humorous light relief occasionally.
Personally, I do expect something in a soap that continues to hold my interest. That doesn't have to be murder, rape, drug dealing etc. But it has to be something that makes me look foward to the next episode and keeps me guessing about the outcome. At present EE's isn't doing that for me.
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