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EE - Has the bin plot helped with story blocking?


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Old 06-12-2016, 17:01
Scrabbler
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It's no secret on here that under Doms rule there was clear storyblocking, but that doesn't seem to be a big problem anymore.

I'm wondering if "stories" such as the bins and Eddies stabbing actually help to make the show feel more continuous and real. These issues bubble in the background, several different characters talk about these issues briefly before moving on with the scene. Life just doesn't suddenly stop and start in Walford anymore.

So while some people do seem them as dull, I think they do serve a purpose.
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Old 06-12-2016, 17:03
KornerKabin
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I agree.

While the bins story has come in with lots of derision, it's been a positive 'hook' to give EastEnders a sense of continuity and connections between different characters.
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Old 06-12-2016, 17:07
Scrabbler
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I agree.

While the bins story has come in with lots of derision, it's been a positive 'hook' to give EastEnders a sense of continuity and connections between different characters.
I think it's important to have things that can link several characters, it gives a better community feel and gives unrelated characters something to interact about.
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Old 06-12-2016, 17:08
Ben96
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I agree.

While the bins story has come in with lots of derision, it's been a positive 'hook' to give EastEnders a sense of continuity and connections between different characters.
It makes the show feel more 'real' and provides material for 'filler' scenes, as does the school stabbing.

I agree with both of you.
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Old 06-12-2016, 17:11
KornerKabin
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I think the school stabbing was/is good because it explored individual reactions to murder without the characters being embroiled in the murder story itself. If that makes sense.
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Old 06-12-2016, 17:12
Scrabbler
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It makes the show feel more 'real' and provides material for 'filler' scenes, as does the school stabbing.

I agree with both of you.
I know when we moved from black bags to wheelie bins I had several discussions with various people about it

Most small talk is about mundane things, I think it's good EE has shown an element of that. As you say it makes it more real and also provides a huge contrast to the drama scenes.
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Old 06-12-2016, 17:13
KornerKabin
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I also loved the moment that the bin lorry turned up during Whitney and Lee's wedding.

Someone on here (I think it might have been you Scrabbs!) said that it was a gentle moment of self-parody that was perfectly timed.
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Old 06-12-2016, 17:13
Scrabbler
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I think the school stabbing was/is good because it explored individual reactions to murder without the characters being embroiled in the murder story itself. If that makes sense.
Yeah it does. There's no sensation to it, we have just seen how it's affected the residents in particular Billy, Jay and Dennis.
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Old 06-12-2016, 17:15
Scrabbler
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I also loved the moment that the bin lorry turned up during Whitney and Lee's wedding.

Someone on here (I think it might have been you Scrabbs!) said that it was a gentle moment of self-parody that was perfectly timed.
I don't think it was me but I agree that it was perfectly timed
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Old 06-12-2016, 17:29
vald
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Kim's driving lessons was another one. I loved them all making wagers and lined up ready for their pay out last night.😂
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Old 06-12-2016, 17:40
Harlowe
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There is the mundane then there is excessive, I think personally it has gone on too long, more then two months of talking about bins is too much, I'm all for everyday chit chat/realism but its a soap and there a lot more they can do and talk about.
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Old 06-12-2016, 17:46
_elly001
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Good point, Scrabbler. I think it probably has, yes. I personally don't see what the big deal with the bin 'storyline' is (not that I see it a storyline.) It gives characters the chance to interact about something when previously they might not have had reason to do so.
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Old 06-12-2016, 17:48
Superstar99
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There is the mundane then there is excessive, I think personally it has gone on too long, more then two months of talking about bins is too much, I'm all for everyday chit chat/realism but its a soap and there a lot more they can do and talk about.
I agree with this. A lot of these stories you wonder where they are going with them. They are taking up a big chunk of the screen time so without actually having a purpose other than just to be a hook for other storylines is rather cheap writing IMO.

Its also become damaging too as there is no doubt the ratings are falling. Less than 6m last night and we're 2 weeks from Xmas, audience share a pathetic 27%. People can keep defending the show and saying how much they are enjoying it all they like but the fact is a huge chunk of the audience are not, and like it or not, they are more important!
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Old 06-12-2016, 17:59
Harlowe
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I agree with this. A lot of these stories you wonder where they are going with them. They are taking up a big chunk of the screen time so without actually having a purpose other than just to be a hook for other storylines is rather cheap writing IMO.

Its also become damaging too as there is no doubt the ratings are falling. Less than 6m last night and we're 2 weeks from Xmas, audience share a pathetic 27%. People can keep defending the show and saying how much they are enjoying it all they like but the fact is a huge chunk of the audience are not, and like it or not, they are more important!
I agree, I just think there a lot more everyday issues that could be covered other then bins and recycling. this could of been over and done with in a week or two but to go on for what nearly the 3rd month now seems a bit tedious, it seems to be just bridging and filling the gap for lack of any real story time.
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Old 06-12-2016, 18:02
Scrabbler
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I agree with this. A lot of these stories you wonder where they are going with them. They are taking up a big chunk of the screen time so without actually having a purpose other than just to be a hook for other storylines is rather cheap writing IMO.

Its also become damaging too as there is no doubt the ratings are falling. Less than 6m last night and we're 2 weeks from Xmas, audience share a pathetic 27%. People can keep defending the show and saying how much they are enjoying it all they like but the fact is a huge chunk of the audience are not, and like it or not, they are more important!
Aren't the ratings pretty similar to when DTC was in charge? It's not as if it's the first time it's been under 6m. In the thread someone posted the other day it was getti over 7m for some episodes last week. So I'm not sure it can be said there is a trend for tons of people turning off.
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Old 06-12-2016, 18:04
Scrabbler
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Good point, Scrabbler. I think it probably has, yes. I personally don't see what the big deal with the bin 'storyline' is (not that I see it a storyline.) It gives characters the chance to interact about something when previously they might not have had reason to do so.
Nooe it's not really a storyline, just a topic of conversation which as you say is helping people interact. It's a shame that EastEnders cannot be as topical as it once was, I mean there's been no mention of Brexit or the US Election. It tends to avoid political issues these days.
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Old 06-12-2016, 18:39
sorcha_healy27
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Kim's driving lessons was another one. I loved them all making wagers and lined up ready for their pay out last night.😂
Yeah I laughed at that too

Especially as sexist jack had the smirk wiped off his smug face
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Old 06-12-2016, 19:16
soap-lea
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Nooe it's not really a storyline, just a topic of conversation which as you say is helping people interact. It's a shame that EastEnders cannot be as topical as it once was, I mean there's been no mention of Brexit or the US Election. It tends to avoid political issues these days.
The bbc has to be seen as impartial tho

I wonder what will replace the bins
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Old 06-12-2016, 19:16
soap-lea
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Yeah I laughed at that too

Especially as sexiest jack had the smirk wiped off his smug face
You missed a letter
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Old 06-12-2016, 19:55
sorcha_healy27
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The bbc has to be seen as impartial tho

I wonder what will replace the bins
Schools down south v schools up north
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Old 06-12-2016, 20:08
soap-lea
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Schools down south v schools up north
Obviously schools up north will win
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Old 09-12-2016, 06:20
IWasBored
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Great plot with plenty of twists.
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Old 10-12-2016, 15:29
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Old 10-12-2016, 17:28
SepangBlue
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The bins storyline was so tedious .. surely there can't be such an ongoing situation anywhere in London, where refuse collection/recycling is a major priority. Real residents would have been hammering at the doors of the town hall long ago.

As for the schoolboy knife killing .. if we blinked we'd have missed that one, as the camera homed in only very briefly to a news item in the Walford Gazette that someone was reading in the caff. After that it was left to the residents to talk about it endlessly, in case we'd missed it altogether. I seem to remember that this storyline came out at about the time that there were real news items in the media relating to school stabbings and I can remember thinking that it was both tasteless and untimely to shoehorn such an item into a soap.

As for helping with realism and continuity, I think they need to take greater care with the changing weather patterns during supposedly the same scene. Often we might have just witnessed a conversation between two residents on a drab grey day, then the scene switches - in real time - to people walking through the market, and suddenly and inexplicably, the very next instant, it's become bright and sunny!
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Old 10-12-2016, 18:43
MrsWomble
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I think the school stabbing was/is good because it explored individual reactions to murder without the characters being embroiled in the murder story itself. If that makes sense.
I don't watch EE, just came in for a neb. But I agree with you and it seems from what you've said, the characters in EE paid more attention to that murder than the ones in CS did to Kylie's or indeed to Maria being remanded in custody. Something on their own doorstep.
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