Spot on. It's stupid.

In recent years, decisions have been made on Eastenders that seem to have little care for the future of the show. Everything that is happening seem's to be short sighted and an attempt to give the ratings a little boost for a week or two.

There is a reason why Emmerdale has been so well liked and received so much praise in the last few years, it's because it's a more balanced soap.

and pay cheque

This was the right decision in my opinion and I agree with what has happened.

Ronnie's position on the show was untenable. A double-murderess and baby-swapper among many other tragedies, in one single character Ronnie epitomised the preposterousness of what EE has turned into over the last decade. Sensational plot after sensational plot, usually with Ronnie at the centre. She was a spent force.

SOC, in my view, wants to bring the show back to basics, to focus on more domestic and character driven drama rather than OTT sensationalism. Having Ronnie walking around the Square was never going to sit well with that vision for the show. She had to go and I applaud SOC for his bravery.

Roxy was collateral damage when solving the Ronnie problem, but I think it was far better that they both went rather than one surviving.

I can't say I blame her, to be honest, because she has an emotional attachment to Ronnie and it's understandable she is a bit upset that her alter-ego is dead now. It means the door is permanently closed for her in EastEnders and she made some great friends in the BBC studios. She played her on and off for 9 years and it must be a little upsetting to see Ronnie and Roxy die on TV. I was always under the impression that she was never sticking around long-term but I think she wanted Ronnie to leave alive so she can come back one day for Ronnie Act III.

On the contrary, I think the axing of Ronnie and Roxy was taken with a very clear idea of which direction the show is heading in the future. Ronnie Mitchell is the embodiment of the short-term "shock and lolz" approach that EastEnders producers have taken in the last decade. The character herself is a double murderer and baby thief; a manufactured 'tragic heroine'. EastEnders is ditching the sensationalism of 2006-16 and going back to character-driven drama. Killing Ronnie is hugely symbolic.

DTC screwed the character of Ronnie over by having her involved in Fatboy's death and order Charlie's. Before that I think the show just about got away with the Carl thing.

There wasn't a lot of fluidity to Ronnie's characterisation in 2015.

Sam also for a time wasn't that committed to the show, always popping off to do other things.

Love every word of this post bass55!

"shock and lolz" made me ... er ... lol

O'Connor has made some very bold decisions since joining EastEnders but the deaths of Ronnie and Roxy is one of the most controversial storylines ever because they're hugely popular and they were part of the Mitchell family. However, nobody is bigger than EastEnders and that includes Ian, Phil, Dot, Sharon, Max, Grant, Kathy and Shirley to name a few. But I wish Sam and Rita all the best for the future and I have no doubt they'll be successful.

As great as the episode was, I just don't justify killing them both off. I really will miss the Mitchell sisters!

Thanks KK

I don't think I have this disappointed with a story for a long time.

I think it should become official soap terminology.

shock and lolz
/ʃɒk ænd lɒlz/
representing a phase or period in which short-term sensationalism is favoured over character-led drama.
"Ronnie Mitchell is the embodiment of the short-term 'shock and lolz' approach"

I can see why she is upset. I get the feeling that her and Rita didn't want to leave so its worse for them to be killed off. They were killed off in a way that left the audience with no doubt that they are dead so they can't be brought back under another producer.

Yes I think that is what ultimately seal their fate.

She really had no direction throughout most of 2015-16, the months she was off didn't help as we had a gap from when she killed Carl to when she disappeared off screen, reappeared and then disappeared, same for Roxy.

Having her become this complete nutjob of a murderer just killed any potential stone dead.

Killing them off was right, but they deserved bigger fanfare, the character of Ronnie especially has been through so much it felt unjust to just end on that.

I've been told many times that I'm too soft and sentimental. However when I got made redundant from my last job after 15 years I just got on with it and got another job - sentiment doesn't pay the bills, money does. I also 'made bonds in real life' in my last job but again it was just tough luck. Shit happens.