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Old 03-01-2017, 13:30
Zarla
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I don't think Michelle would have completely lost her Cockney accent. Sharon hasn't. Jenna Russell's voice is too neutral and careful.
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Old 03-01-2017, 13:34
davejc64
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I still think the use of the word 'betrayal' is hilarious and somewhat OTT.
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Old 03-01-2017, 13:45
nattoyaki
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I started a thread about the new Michelle a few days ago http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2196291

In addition to the points I made previously, it annoys me that a new character swans into a series and seems to try to take over. Currently she's a guest in Stacey & Martin's home, Stacey is the queen of her kitchen, so what right has Michelle to bulldozer proceedings and start cooking, without so much as a by your leave.

I've been advised by other posters to 'give it time - you'll soon forget she's not an older Susan Tully'. Frankly I've a gut feeling that this will be a very long wait indeed!
I'm still not 'over' the recast of Sam even though I no longer watch, how long ago is that now, ten years?
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Old 03-01-2017, 13:52
Oliver_Tomlinso
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I'm still not 'over' the recast of Sam even though I no longer watch, how long ago is that now, ten years?
If you're talking about Kim medcalf taking over Danniella Westbrook that was 14 years ago...
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Old 03-01-2017, 14:26
Ten_Ben
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They should not be separate and that's the problem. They are intrinsically linked. If Tully was not interested why not just create a new character for Jenna Russell? Because they wanted to plunder the history, but it's not transferable.
We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. They're only intrinsically linked in people's minds and that can be overcome, providing one is prepared to move on and go with the flow.

Yes that is something to look forward to.

I can't understand why she has returned now, yet stayed away from her own parents funerals, and her brother's funeral. Yet she's back now when nothing (to do with her family) has happened. Guess we'll find out in due course.
I'm sure I read something that said why Michelle is back but as no-one else seems to have the foggiest, I'm starting to think that I must have had a dream (or nightmare!)! I just wish I could recall where I saw it. It's bold but not something that would be easily guessed as
Spoiler
- but as i say, perhaps I did dream it?
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Old 03-01-2017, 14:28
J-B
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Never saw Old Michelle but really loathing this new one. I'm hoping Stacey gives her a good kneecapping and throws her out.

Thanks.
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Old 03-01-2017, 14:39
ilovenicnacs
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I don't think it helps that the original "Sharon", "Ian", "phil" and "kathy" are in it and we had Grant and Sam back a little while ago...although they have all aged they are the same as we older viewers remember them, and that's the problem, they are still recognisable as in the days when Michelle hung round with or knew them and we WANT Michelle to be recognisable as Michelle, but she is not, the feistyness, the arseyness, the cockney accent, all gone and this genteel cheerful Michelle with the semi posh accent in her place, that's why we can't warm to her.
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Old 03-01-2017, 14:59
Edward Skylover
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I wish Susan Tully had never been cast in the role of Michelle in the first place. Most actresses would be extremely grateful to have the opportunity to return to EastEnders, and she was never even good in the first place.

Hopefully Jenna can give the character a more appealing personality. Her acting has been nervous so far but she's better than Tully already and I can see her as Pauline's daughter.

The character is more important than the actor, in this case.
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Old 03-01-2017, 15:00
Ten_Ben
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I don't think it helps that the original "Sharon", "Ian", "phil" and "kathy" are in it and we had Grant and Sam back a little while ago...although they have all aged they are the same as we older viewers remember them, and that's the problem, they are still recognisable as in the days when Michelle hung round with or knew them and we WANT Michelle to be recognisable as Michelle, but she is not, the feistyness, the arseyness, the cockney accent, all gone and this genteel cheerful Michelle with the semi posh accent in her place, that's why we can't warm to her.
I agree that we want new-Michelle to be recognisable but as her secret hasn't yet been revealed, is it not reasonable that the genteel, cheerful, nicey-nicey Michelle is just an act?

She's a fish out of water, feeling out of place in a location that she knows but which has changed and needing her brother and sister-in-law's acceptance and hospitality. Once everything's out in the open, she may very well revert to type (hopefully) but for now she's likely to be biting her tongue, trying to make a good impression and attempting to take her mind off the things that drove her away from her family and her work in the States.
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Old 03-01-2017, 15:10
Hobbes1966
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I'm still desperately trying to like her and warm to her but she's flippin annoying the hell out of me. Don't like her one bit I'm sorry, all that 'mum did this' and ' mum did that' twaddle made me want to kick her. Uurgh
Same here.
I'm still at a loss as to why they brought her back.
I never really liked the original Michelle, far too whiney and miserable for my liking but Sue Tully is Michelle and because she'd never come back they should have left her character in the US.
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Old 03-01-2017, 15:32
vaslav37
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Sharon & Kathy's comebacks were heavily criticsed, it took DTC to sort out Sharon's character and SOC to sort out Kathy. SOC is stronger than Kirkwood, Newman & DTC plus Jenna Russell is a fine Actress so i think Michelle will be fine in the long run but i would like her children to join her in Walford too.
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Old 03-01-2017, 15:40
AuntieSoap
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I wish Susan Tully had never been cast in the role of Michelle in the first place. Most actresses would be extremely grateful to have the opportunity to return to EastEnders, and she was never even good in the first place.

Hopefully Jenna can give the character a more appealing personality. Her acting has been nervous so far but she's better than Tully already and I can see her as Pauline's daughter.

The character is more important than the actor, in this case.
Come on! That's complete rubbish. Susan Tully did a job for 10 years, resigned from that job and moved on in her career to directing as she is perfectly entitled to do. If she is not interested in a return she is under no obligation...
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Old 03-01-2017, 15:42
AuntieSoap
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Sharon & Kathy's comebacks were heavily criticsed, it took DTC to sort out Sharon's character and SOC to sort out Kathy. SOC is stronger than Kirkwood, Newman & DTC plus Jenna Russell is a fine Actress so i think Michelle will be fine in the long run but i would like her children to join her in Walford too.
Kathy hasn't been sorted out. She's dead. It has never been truthfully resolved... her return should never have happened. It's even worse than the Michelle recast.
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Old 03-01-2017, 15:44
AuntieSoap
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Same here.
I'm still at a loss as to why they brought her back.
I never really liked the original Michelle, far too whiney and miserable for my liking but Sue Tully is Michelle and because she'd never come back they should have left her character in the US.
Exactly. They are just plundering the past by doing this... literally a shakedown. Is the show so creatively dead that they cant create new characters and stories with their own viable backstory and integrate it into the show?
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Old 03-01-2017, 15:47
sqwidge1978
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I don't think Michelle would have completely lost her Cockney accent. Sharon hasn't. Jenna Russell's voice is too neutral and careful.
Sharon hasn't been in America for 21 years.
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Old 03-01-2017, 15:48
sqwidge1978
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I'm still not 'over' the recast of Sam even though I no longer watch, how long ago is that now, ten years?
Whigh te cast of Sam Danielle to Kim or Kim to Danielle
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Old 03-01-2017, 15:53
AuntieSoap
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I still think the use of the word 'betrayal' is hilarious and somewhat OTT.
Then you don't understand the meaning of the word. I think you should focus on that before being snide
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Old 03-01-2017, 15:57
Edward Skylover
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Come on! That's complete rubbish. Susan Tully did a job for 10 years, resigned from that job and moved on in her career to directing as she is perfectly entitled to do. If she is not interested in a return she is under no obligation...
And I'm glad she's not returning because she was an unappealing actress.

Jenna Russell is far superior in every way and she is Michelle now, good job. Re-casting Michelle is the best thing the show has done for ages.
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Old 03-01-2017, 16:02
Adrian_Ward1
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Yes that is something to look forward to.

I can't understand why she has returned now, yet stayed away from her own parents funerals, and her brother's funeral. Yet she's back now when nothing (to do with her family) has happened. Guess we'll find out in due course.

Exactly we need to know
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Old 03-01-2017, 16:05
AuntieSoap
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And I'm glad she's not returning because she was an unappealing actress.

Jenna Russell is far superior in every way and she is Michelle now, good job. Re-casting Michelle is the best thing the show has done for ages.
You clearly didn't get the character or the nuance of Tully's fine and acclaimed performance. She was part of the backbone of EastEnders first 10 years and was a huge loss to the show when she quit.

To say Jenna Russell is "far superior in every way" is just a nonsense... she is their second choice for a start and always will be. They went to Tully, who has a new career and she said no... then Russell was cast. She will always be the alternative.

First Tully should have been grateful... now she was no good in the first place?
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Old 03-01-2017, 16:19
vaslav37
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Kathy hasn't been sorted out. She's dead. It has never been truthfully resolved... her return should never have happened. It's even worse than the Michelle recast.
under DTC Kathy was a mess but SOC has redeemed her.
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Old 03-01-2017, 16:28
DUNDEEBOY
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Susan tully Michelle was never as memorable a character or actress as people on here state she was.

It was a different world and no Internet forum hype on anything , in fact no internet at all.

So it's easy in this era to overpraising a character who wasn't great and is certainly not iconic .

The new lady time will tell but most recastings have done ok Lauren, Martin sam first time round.

Just not sure what the point of her is
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Old 03-01-2017, 16:41
AuntieSoap
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under DTC Kathy was a mess but SOC has redeemed her.
But she is dead. They jumped the shark by bringing her back. They have never given sufficient explanation as to why she did what she did... Kathy would never have abandoned her infant son in South Africa... she would never have left Ian thinking she was dead for over a decade.

She is irredeemable and all so she can be in the Christmas play? Joke
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Old 03-01-2017, 16:45
AuntieSoap
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Susan tully Michelle was never as memorable a character or actress as people on here state she was.

It was a different world and no Internet forum hype on anything , in fact no internet at all.

So it's easy in this era to overpraising a character who wasn't great and is certainly not iconic .

The new lady time will tell but most recastings have done ok Lauren, Martin sam first time round.

Just not sure what the point of her is
I don't agree. You are right that there wasn't the hype then that there is now, but remember the viewing figures were so much higher then that EastEnders and Corrie had an impact on the national consciousness in a way they don't anymore.

Michelle was never an extrovert character, but she was part of seminal storylines. A teenage pregnancy would not have any impact nowadays but in the mid 1980s it was quite a taboo, especially when Den was revealed as the Daddy. Don't underestimate the impact those stories had in a time before internet, social media and reality television.

Michelle was synonymous with EastEnders at it's influential peak. As, of course, were many other characters.
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Old 03-01-2017, 17:02
Ten_Ben
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under DTC Kathy was a mess but SOC has redeemed her.
Absolutely. She's going to be a key member of the cast going forward and quite rightly now that SOC has given her back her personality and found a niche for her back in the cafe. DTC only wanted the kudos and publicity for bringing her back. Beyond that he had no idea what to do with her.

But she is dead. They jumped the shark by bringing her back. They have never given sufficient explanation as to why she did what she did... Kathy would never have abandoned her infant son in South Africa... she would never have left Ian thinking she was dead for over a decade.

She is irredeemable and all so she can be in the Christmas play? Joke
Of course she's not dead. You really need to alter your expectations where stories don't play out to your exact liking. They've given the explanations. It was an insurance scam orchestrated by mad-Gavin, whom Kathy was terrified of. He had a hold over her and she had no choice but to go along with it. It took all her effort to get in touch with Phil and to eventually get away from Gavin.

I'm not saying it was the most clever of explanations but it was plainly plausible. It's history now and is probably best left as water under the bridge for the time being. It can be revisited if there's a need to in the future.
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