I don't normally create threads, but Emmerdale's really getting under my skin lately and I need to vent about it.

I'm catching up with the show and I'm just sat here scratching my head as I have no clue what's happening in some scenes. I'd appreciate if someone could fill me in because clearly some scenes have been cut from ITV Player

- Why is Rebecca so close to Robert? I just watched her stick the knife in and reveal to Aaron that she and Robert kissed. Robert told her how he really felt about her outside the court... a couple of episodes later, she's sat in the pub with him asking for his help on securing a contract and offering him 2%? When did they make up? Did I fall asleep during their make up scene? It wouldn't surprise me given the state of the show at the moment!
- Pierce has been going to therapy for about a week and is a changed man? Every comment had him in a jealous rage - Paddy couldn't even be anywhere near Rhona without him pulling his face - and now Paddy's making jokes about winning/wanting Rhona back right in front of his face, and yet no reaction from him? Someone give me the therapists number, please!
- Vanessa/Tracy/Frank. Wasn't this portrayed as Vanessa being daddy's little girl and Tracy was the child pushed out? The script has changed since his arrival; Vanessa was the one who use to dote on him, now it's the other way round? What happened?

It's scary how fast Kerry went from hero to zero. I know she's always divided opinions but overall she was well liked. Now all I see all over Twitter, Facebook and here at DS are negative comments for the character. They've regressed the character so much and I really have no clue as to why. It was unnecessary.

What was Jermaine's exit all about? Is it final? Why? It just seems so... pointless. Like much of the show right now

Does nobody else find the show a little bit immature? I suddenly feel as though I can't relate to it much at all. I'm not old, nor am I suggesting it should be aimed specifically at the older generation, but it just feels very, well, Hollyoaks. The show seems quite blasé about its inconsistencies, with careless writing for the likes of Kerry for cheap 'laughs', shoving 'Robron' down our throats with all the endless forced angst and drama...

Not only do I feel like we're being told to forget the history of the characters, I feel as though we're being told to forget what happened just a few episodes ago! A lot of the scenes and interactions aren't making sense to me right now. I've genuinely been sitting here, watching the episodes with a confused look on my face, trying to figure out what I missed, questioning if I accidently skipped an episode or something because things aren't adding up to what I watched moments before in a previous episode.

It's a farce, I'm afraid.

You've summed it up perfectly, it has been very inconsistent all year. I'm probably in the minority, but I much preferred Kate Oates as producer.

I'm enjoying it on the whole bar a few characters but I'm not analytical when it comes to soaps, I just watch them at face value and when I stop enjoying them I stop watching them. As regards Pierce, watch it next week!

Those scenes with Nico and Jimmy where he was dressed as Maverick from Top Gun were so cringeworthy. They are really starting to bore me now with their arguements and splitting up get back together storylines

What have they done to Kerry. It is like they turned her into the old Kerry who first appeared in the show. Those scenes where she is pretending to be injured are so bad. I was really surprised the Sharmas eventually paid her compensation when we all know she is faking it

What is the point of Rebecca. Everytime she is in a scene she sucks the life out of it. I would be glad if she was gone to be honest

And dont get me started on Cain and Moira and their Will they get back together storyline and the pointless Zak, Lisa and Joanie love triangle which has been simply ridiculous from start to finish

Glad to hear I'm not going mad.

Kate was great up until she got the Corrie gig. I really enjoyed her time and was always (well, not always, but 85% of the time) so positive about the show on here, but I feel the show fell to pieces in January and it hasn't picked up since.

I'm always willing to give new producers a chance but I've really not been impressed so far and from the interviews he's given, really not keen on his direction for the show. I guess I should just be thankful that it hasn't reached Stuart Blackburn levels just yet...


Part of the charm of soaps for me is the consistency/history of the characters. There's nothing more satisfying than when the writers bring up a past event that's happened in the characters lives with such experiences bringing people together. Watching friendships and relationships grow for years...

But then you have the heartache and frustration when new producers come in and ignore friendships, blow strong relationships up with affairs and refuse to acknowledge characters pasts. It's deflating, but I understand that's just part of soap (unfortunately).

However, I don't think asking for episodes to align is asking too much. I sat here for five minutes rattling my brain when I saw the scene of Rebecca with Robert and Aaron. "When did they make up? Why is she asking Robert for help? Why's he being so nice to her when she just tried to break them up? Why is she being so nice to him when he just humiliated her in front of the entire pub?". There's being a soap, and then there's that. Completely ridiculous.

I can forgive ignorance to some extent, but asking us to overlook that is beyond a joke. Some people behind the scenes clearly aren't capable of running the show and a few of them need to be replaced pronto.

I'm in the minority. Hollyoaks is the best soap. Emmerdale, Corrie and Home and Away are my next favourites.

What about David's shop having a total makeover and becoming a shop/cafe? When did that happen? And then there was the big house being converted into flat that were then found to be full of damp and the insurance didn't pay out? That story has just fizzled out. How is the taxi firm and junkyard being run when there is never anyone there? What happened to the quarry and holiday caravans?

As Ross is barely in the scenes with his family these days, I'm assuming that hes the one meant to be working. As for the rest, I have no idea.

BIB i agree i find her annoying, and she doesn't fit in or have any purpose.

Nicola and Jimmy have gone the same way as Kerry. Desperately trying to get a cheap laugh out of us, yet completely destroying them in the process to the point people stop caring about them.

To see such popular characters lose their status just proves how incompetent and dangerous the current writers are. Chrissie was starting to settle in and become likeable and quite a character, and then the new producer came in and changed the direction for her. Even the writing for Charity has had me roll my eyes a few times. Charity is my favourite character and can't do anything wrong in my eyes, but she's come close a few times of irritating me since her return... which trust me, is a big deal.

The on/off relationships are always a bore. It does nothing for anyone. Characters end up being annoying, viewers end up being annoyed. Lazy, lazy writing is all it is. Must be good being paid to write the same nonsense over and over again.

I disagree about Rebecca, though. I actually think she brings life to the scenes. The writing is pretty horrible for her (very inconsistent, not sure if she's meant to be unpredictable to keep viewers guessing or whether it's just horrible writing), but I do like her.

Im definitely finding it inconsistent recently

It's s very inconsistent. The stuff with Cain, Moira and Emma ( and potentially Leyla) is good as is the Ashley story. The rest, I frankly don't t care about at the moment. Apart from Ronnie and Lawrence the Home Farm lot and their romantic interests and scheming are just boring. As for Kerry...

Every bit of your post is spot on.

Regarding the BIB, yes, it feels like it's being daubed in crayon for idiot children. And yes, that's because that's what Hollyoaks is as well. They've turned treating your audience with contempt into a business model.

I was really pleasantly surprised by the Holly's death story, and by some of the Ashley and Emma stuff, and thought I'd misjudged Ian McLeod. But I'm afraid I've realised over Christmas that Emmerdale is just utter crap. There's no point trying to make any sense of any of the stories, because they don't make any sense.

Rebecca? No idea, think she was just brought in to make Robron look super good again, or something. Every stereotypical posh bird needs a Gay Bessie Mate, maybe. Maybe she'll have their surrogate baybeeeee for them. Edgy.

Pierce? Yeah, they seem to have changed their mind with the whole Pierce story.

Vanessa/Frank/Tracy - makes no sense, isn't going anywhere, just seems to be an excuse to have the Star of the Moment Tracy in every scene.

Kerry? Stereotyped offensive bollocks which has actually pissed me right off, as detailed in other threads.

Jermaine? Yes, again pointless. Went nowhere. Stopped. The end.

Usually when a soap goes down the tubes like this, it's because of a real lack of talent in the storylining department. They still have a few decent writers, so that's all i can think of really.

It's definitely the most inconsistent soap at the moment. One episode can be good, the next drivel. It feels like I'm watching two different programmes sometimes.

For example, last week we had the poignancy of the Ashley story, combined with the soapy, trashiness that was the Moira/Pete liaison. Talk about going from the sublime to the ridiculous.

The Ashley dementia storyline is quite upsetting and serious, so I suspect the other parts are lighter to counterbalance that at the moment?

Inconsistent maybe, but at least it isn't consistently dreary.

They seem to have pushed lesser characters to the fore of late; and its not coming over well. Theres too much emphasis on the kids, and the lesser chracters. Theres a reason they are lesser characters and the programmes compromised by it.

ED also seems to have an ethos of smugly emasculating the men and showing violence towards them from the women, as if its something to root for, or accepted. It isnt.
If it was the other way round there would be uproar.

Theres lots right with ED at the moment, but theres lots wrong with it too- not least pushing bad characters like kerry & tracy etc to the fore.

This storyline has been outstanding and easily the best of any soap in my opinion. The Ashley dementia episode really brought home the horrors of suffering from it, and that, from a soap, is something well out of the ordinary.
Nothing else has ever come close.

I can't say I'm enjoying it that much, hope it picks up again in the new year

Yeah I'm the same. The 2 best storylines this year have easily been Ashley's dementia and Holly's death.

There is not one redeeming feature left.

I actually find the "lighter" moments consistently dreary!

Re Pierce:

I think that's the problem right there. The Ashley story and Holly's death and its aftermath have been fantastic but, because they are very serious stories, TPTB are trying too hard to counterbalance it with lightweight stuff, which is in fact just rubbish.

That's because it's lightweight and not lighthearted - there is a difference.

They've had some hard-hitting, great TV moments this year and I think, for the most part, that it is still in a good place. There are the little things that bring it down so. yes, it's definitely inconsistent.
I still find it very watchable though which is a far cry from earlier in the year when I was about ready to switch off.

Yes, if it was light-hearted and well done, that would be fine.

The good stuff is very good, good enough to make me want to keep watching.