I know! What is this utter nonsense about? The Lee storyline is really bugging me, please let's have a quick closure!

To be honest, I don't watch it live anymore, it's best to watch it recorded and that way you can control your viewing.

Eg today, the only thing that I saw was the Jay clips, as I find him very interesting!

If ratings start to drop the BBC must take action.

Bye Felicia.

People complain, but they don't actually mention what storylines they want to see.

I don't understand how somebody who only watches sections of the show can have a proper opinion on it? Very bizarre!

I expect them to do that and do it well! I have a job and thats plenty!

DTC got the nation talking about Eastenders again...... He made mistakes but he sure saved the show..... The lucy story was gripping

Exactly what I think.

I started watching again in 2014 after a big gap and I stayed for all the drama and conflict. Since SOC took over, it's been like the Archers with all the community goings on and the acting doesn't feel as convincing as it should. It feels more like a comedy than a drama. For the first time ever, no-one is having an illicit affair or plotting anybody's downfall.

I'm still watching (mainly on Catch Up) but my patience is wearing thin.

The usual fan responses - "Bye" and "thanks for letting us know". I wonder how many more are joining you

But what's happening to Lee does happen slowly, many people have secret debt that builds up over time. You just have to Google it and see the amount of posts on the various forums. Depression doesn't just stop. Under the previous ones it would have been over and done with far too quickly.

I tend to wonder how many say they have stopped watching but actually still watch.

Why do people keep saying "it's like the 80's". It's NOT like the 80's. I should know I watched EE back then. This is sorry attempt reliving the past just like DTC but whilst he was over dramatic with ridiculous plots and stupid killing off's with Lucy and Fatboy, SOC is just trying to recreate the past with some of the dullest plots in the history of the soap. I don't mind the odd dull conversation but the ongoing stories with Shakil and the panto is just boring.

Every episode is a 5/10 for me under SOC. It's nice but not much substance.

It's always been clear abbot that you have not enjoyed EE for a long time. All your posts have a negative slant to them. I do have to ask though - why do you feel Lucy's killing was ridiculous? Do you mean the resolution and execution, or the idea itself(Lucy being killed)?

What I'd say about SOC's current output is that there has to be the right "tone". EastEnders is not feel good. It's alright in small doses, but almost a whole episode devoted to a local play going wrong? That's what you'd expect to see in a family oriented comedy or maybe even a "dramedy" or something.

I wouldn't even mind it for the occasional episode, but like I have said before, if it doesn't pick up at some point I will be disappointed.

I don't understand why people are complaining of a lack of festive build up to be honest. We have the Phil build up, but the other big Christmas/New Year storylines - Max's return and the hopefully final demise of the Mitchell sisters (and not forgetting Michelle's dramatic return with her clipboard which is totally, absolutely happening tomorrow) - are supposed to come as a bolt from the blue for the characters. So what build up is everyone expecting to be seeing then?

It seems to me that the build up is for most people to be expecting a happy Christmas for once, ready for it all to go to shit in the end.

In contrast the Mitchells are expecting a rather crap Christmas, which may turn around if Phil finds out he's getting liver instead of turkey.

The play going wrong was incredibly unrealistic because all plays have a prompt sitting in the wings, even school plays have this. Here it would have made sense for Denise to do it instead of sitting in the audience. Martin would never have been allowed to flail, the prompt would have fed him the lines.

I know exactly what you mean about the acting, I don't know what it is but you can sort of tell that they're acting now it doesn't feel natural or real any more.

Also yes it is like the Archers or something, I hate all this community rubbish. Great post

I think some of the actors have delivered some powerhouse performances recently especially Steve, June, Diane, Rudolph to name a few. It's the calm before the storm and we have some major storylines in the pipeline soon. Eg: Ronnie and Roxy's explosive exits, the conclusion of Phil's cirrhosis storyline, Max's revenge, the rumoured return of Michelle, Lee's ongoing struggles etc.

I am surprised that SOC axed Belinda and didnt ask back Ann Mitchell as Cora.

Exactly - this is the whole point of a soap opera, to have stories playing out in real time. It's not a six part drama serial that's all over and done with in half a dozen episodes.


I couldn't disagree more. The acting now is far and away better than it was six months ago. The dialogue is more natural, characters are bantering and doing several things at once like real people do. It's no longer bash, bash, bash to get the words out and the scenes done. There's now context to everything and the subtleties and nuances visible in each scene allow for so much more to be conveyed than just the words being spoken. Perhaps all this just passes some viewers by?

Who is he going to get revenge on? Bobby Beale told the court he hit Lucy and she stumbled out so that Jane and Ian weren't implicated. I don't think Ronnie and Roxy are going to have explosive exits under SOC, just moves to Essex and Ibiza respectively.

After reading this thread, I'm almost persuaded to start watching again after ten years being EE free. I watched from 1989 to 2006, but got sick of the gangster era and the constant misery. Since then I've been horrified at the sensationalist storylines. If it's going back to the eighties, that's fine by mine. You win some, you lose some viewers.

You really should. Last night's episode would be a good starting point for you as it was very funny and poignant.

When people say stuff like this i feel like i have entered some sort of twilight zone
It was just a complete nonsense episode.

At least you've moved on from calling people deluded or trolls simply for having a different opinion to you.

Anyway I get it: you're not enjoying the show right now. You don't need to respond to other people's enthusiasm by trying to constantly drag down their opinions.

I found last night's episode to be laugh-out-loud funny in places, very sweet and poignant in other places, and I'm sure others did too.