IMO EastEnders is ok at the moment. It's not fantastic, but its bearable. The Max/Stacy affair i've enjoyed - i'm now wanting Tanya to find out and let them two have a big showdown.
But look on the bright side, if this was Home and Away - Johnny Allen never died and went into witness protection because he grassed up himself and his associates. Stella would have drugged Ben as punishment for disrespecting her. After finally getting back with Martin, Sonia was stabbed in the Square. She died, and Martin and Rebecca left. Mickey tells Li he wants Preeti, but Mickey confesses he can't have sex as he is impotent. Chrissie escapes from prison and takes residents hostage in the Queen Vic during Phil and Stellas wedding reception.
Actually - that does not sound so bad
Oh come on, even EastEnders isn't that bad!
Infact, the only reason I watch Home and Away is to laugh at it's ridiculous, over the top, daft storylines!
I agree with Onetrickpony EastEnders isn't at all bad at the moment
I agree! Oh how exciting! Bert's put up a shelf. A guinea pig died. Gripping!
EastEnders is horrifically bad I'm afraid.
Exactly. But it hasn't always been like this. Let me split the show into eras (if you don't agree then that's fine):
1985-1989
: Absolutely brilliant era. With Den and Angie at the helm, the Fowlers, the Beales, the Osmans, the Cottons and punk Mary, EastEnders was hard to beat. The setting was realistic of the 1980s Thatcher Britain, the acting couldn't have been better, and storylines were supersonical. Den/Angie divorce, the rape of Kathy, Arthur's breakdown, Den's death, Michelle pregnancy. These were the sort of things that kept EastEnders right at the top in the '80s.
1990-1995
Again, good era, but a very slight downturn in quality I thought. Overall these years were pretty well thought out, but it did have weaknesses. Weaknesses such as Arthur's affair, and the show going to 3 nights a week, which I didn't like at first, but got used to. But these weaknesses were overlooked by the number of strengths. The arrival of the Mitchells, Sharongate, Mandy Salter, Pat running over the girl, and many more. Like I've said, a good era, but going to three nights a week in May 1994 did signal a bit of a downturn for me.
1996-1999
Not brilliant, but certainly not the worst. Saskia's death, Carol/Bianca/Dan, Tiffany's death, Joe Wicks going mental, Phil/Grant plunge into the Thames. All good storylines, but it did have bad points. Terry and Irene were two characters I didn't like much. Sarah Hills was another one I couldn't take to. Overall good, but compared to the 80s, not brilliant.
2000-2003
Into the new millennium, and we have the arrival of the Slaters. Good family at first, but too much screen time during their first two years got the better of them. Aside from the Slaters though, and in 2000/01 we had some pretty good action. Ethel's death, Kat/Zoe mother/daughter story, Trevor/Little Mo, Who Shot Phil?, Nick Cotton getting pushed by Mark Fowler, Sharon's return. But 2002 saw the arrival of the witch Louise Berridge, where quality REALLY went downhill. Storylines were dragged out, acting went toshy, writing went AWOL, and directing became atrocious. It really did prove that going four nights a week in 2001 was just too much for the soap. 2003 wasn't such a great year either, with the arrival of the God damn Ferreiras, Den's stupid return, the long drawn out saga of Kat and Alfie, and Lisa attempting to shoot Phil again. This era, overall, was not so good, especially in 2002 and 2003.
2004-2007
Worst era ever. Let's start with 2004, the year that the rot was well and truly established. We had the longest drawn out storyline ever with Ronny's kidney, the fairground disaster (surprised I can remember it), Kat/Alfie/Andy, Shannis etc. Writing was poor beyond belief. Acting was gruesome. 2005 wasn't much better, despite Louise Berridge leaving in the September of 2004. Den's pathetic death, Kat/Alfie/Little Mo, Johnny Allen. Infact the only high point was the Mitchells' return. Also, two executive producers in one year was shown in the episodes, in terms of writing and direction. 2006 was just an embarrassment. 20 odd characters introduced in total, DIRE plotlines, and poor scripts. Nothing memorable happened, apart from Pauline's death, because it was so daft. And 2007 is shaping up so far to just be like 2006. And, oh yeah, we have the third executive producer in three years (Diederick Santer). So overall, a terrible era, which will go down in EastEnders history as the worst.
IMO EastEnders is ok at the moment. It's not fantastic, but its bearable. The Max/Stacy affair i've enjoyed - i'm now wanting Tanya to find out and let them two have a big showdown.
But look on the bright side, if this was Home and Away - Johnny Allen never died and went into witness protection because he grassed up himself and his associates. Stella would have drugged Ben as punishment for disrespecting her. After finally getting back with Martin, Sonia was stabbed in the Square. She died, and Martin and Rebecca left. Mickey tells Li he wants Preeti, but Mickey confesses he can't have sex as he is impotent. Chrissie escapes from prison and takes residents hostage in the Queen Vic during Phil and Stellas wedding reception.
Actually - that does not sound so bad
Oh come on, even EastEnders isn't that bad!
Infact, the only reason I watch Home and Away is to laugh at it's ridiculous, over the top, daft storylines!
In last night's masterpiece, Stella took Ben out for the day, Bert went for an eye test, and found out he
might
go blind, and Abi's pet rat died (a character viewers had grown to know so fondly, and could connect with even in times of hardship).
But seriously though, I think saying this show has gone to the dogs is too nice. In 2006,
19
characters were introduced. Plots including Dawn/Rob/May, Kevin Bricks going missing, cocaine addict lookalike Jay and his Frank Gallagher wannabe grandad Bert storyline, and the Max/Stacey gruesome affair saga haven't exactly set the world on fire.
If this soap goes to five nights a week (like Ally Ross said, just two and a half hours of people shouting at each other without a comedy break), I will have to do the inevitable and stop watching
It says in today's Mirror that Ian is to move into Pauline's old house.
I'm sorry, but what is the point in Ian moving to an house that is only 12 metres away from the house he already lives in? Why the hell can't they just bring in a new family??
Tanya knocks on the door of the cubicle where Max and Stacey are having it off, because the other toilet is being used. Well from what I saw darling, the door was open I must say though, I am enjoying this highly original, well written, Oscar award winning acted storyline
Phil says sorry to Ben for shouting at him. What did I say in last night's post? I did say I'd switch off if it happened, but for some strange reason, I can't draw myself away from this crap. And Stella coming back right at the end makes herself look an even bigger fool
Denise/Chelsea/Libby - oh how I so wanted to throw my slipper at the telly when I realised they were staying
Pancake day - Last Tuesday Valentines Day, this Tuesday Shrove Tuesday. Next Tuesday, 27th February. Ben/Ian/Phil (when did they become friends) have a pancake tossing competition. Ian and Phil drop their pancake, but you'll never guess what - Ben catches his!
Sean made his first appearance in about 9 weeks. Who's gonna crawl out of that black hole next eh - Gus??!!
And finally - Jay and Ian's son break into Pauline's old place. Ian finds his son (such a great character I can't even remember his name), and pulls a 'shocked' face when he sees him.
Just one question though - why do EastEnders like to portray their men as gormless, feckless morons? Just asking
Phil told Ben off. And if tomorrow's episode opens with Phil apologising to Ben, I vow never to watch this show again. Denise tells Chelsea and Squiggle they're leaving Walford (can only be a good thing). Pat told Phil they didn't have any money, then went celebrating down the Vic. Yolande reminded the viewers that Jay and Bert will be leaving her home. And, er, that's it....
Yes 22 years! Here are just some of my good memories (and bad ones):
GOOD:
- Everything about Den and Angie (especially divorce papers)
- Sharongate
- Kat/Zoe mother/daughter storyline
- Trevor/Little Mo abuse storyline
- Phil/Grant plunge into the Thames
- Saskia Duncan's death
BAD:
- Practically everything from 2004-2007 so far (except for Den's death)
- Den Watts return (brilliant character, but poor writing let him down)
- Little Mo raped again
- Ian/Garry/Laura baby thing
This is all very well but anyone remember the absolutely diabolical fairground collapse from 2004? I was literally holding the TV out the window!
I must admit, EastEnders has SLIGHTLY improved since the 2004 adventure. But only SLIGHTLY.
While we're on the subject though, let's take a trip down memory lane of that fantastic ( ) year:
- Martin/Sonia getting married
- The Ferreiras and their thrilling 'Kidneygate' storyline
- Kat/Alfie/Andy
- Fairground disaster in which that memorable war hero Jack wotsitface died
- Nana Moon getting engaged to someone she'd only known for two days
- Den/Kate/Chrissie love affair (3 of the 59 characters who have since left the show)
- Patrick/Yolande adoption storyline
EastEnders. That badly acted, badly written, badly produced, poorly directed trash. Living off past glories. Characters no-one could give a crap about. Rubbish, pointless plots.
Characters like Ian/Peggy/Phil aren't what they used to be. Especially Phil, who used to be the local hardman, now fancies a backboneless thing like Stella. Dot and Jim are used FAR too much. About two thirds of the cast need to be killed off in a plane crash, including May, Rob, Dawn, Chelsea, Squiggle, Denise, Kevin, Carly, Deano, Preeti, Stella, Ben, Charlie and Mo.
It also needs new writers. Not MORE writers, BETTER writers. And I don't just mean a bunch of writers who have written something else that was good. I mean writers who have maybe just left university, those who were brought up in East London, those who know what the place is REALLY like.
Otherwise, this time next year it will be called EastEnded
Have to say, one of the best posts in this thread, you summed it up quite nicely.
I don't agree with the plane crash idea. Let's say the following:
Quote:
May, Rob, Dawn, Chelsea, Squiggle, Denise, Kevin, Carly, Deano, Preeti, Stella, Ben, Charlie and Mo.
They decide to have a grunge-themed party under the bridge on ''Trupin Road'' and suddenly (and for this they can really go crazy with the sound effects) a train careers off the viaduct, spinning out of control, mowing down the mentioned characters, squashing Squiggle and Stella and finally coming to a halt outside the Post Office, where Denise tries to salvage the wreckage, only to cut her throat ''accidentally'' on a charred piece of metal.
Now THAT would save the show.
Beautiful idea there Jonathan, just such a shame that the numpties who run it would probably say something like 'We musn't upset younger viewers who watch this show, because it might give them bad dreams'.
Also, someone else I forgot to mention on my list, is Sean, but at the moment he's in that black EastEnders hole, where characters go to for a few months, and then appear again. The black EastEnders hole's biggest contributor is Gus Smith
EastEnders. That badly acted, badly written, badly produced, poorly directed trash. Living off past glories. Characters no-one could give a crap about. Rubbish, pointless plots.
Characters like Ian/Peggy/Phil aren't what they used to be. Especially Phil, who used to be the local hardman, now fancies a backboneless thing like Stella. Dot and Jim are used FAR too much. About two thirds of the cast need to be killed off in a plane crash, including May, Rob, Dawn, Chelsea, Squiggle, Denise, Kevin, Carly, Deano, Preeti, Stella, Ben, Charlie and Mo.
It also needs new writers. Not MORE writers, BETTER writers. And I don't just mean a bunch of writers who have written something else that was good. I mean writers who have maybe just left university, those who were brought up in East London, those who know what the place is REALLY like.
Otherwise, this time next year it will be called EastEnded
Why the hell can't they just bring in a new family??
