:-(
A former member
The Good
Getting rid of dead wood characters, despite their ties to the history of FA. Axing The Webbs, Fern, Vince, Roy, Nikki, etc. was a great move by Paul Marquess. Bringing in fresh new characters such as the Costello Family, Sean and Tanya, Mike, the Mackenzies worked and brought new life into the ailing soap. The new opening sequence was perhaps the best one Family Affairs has ever had, and easily outdoes many other UK soaps. The storylines have improved vastly and the show has moved on from the year that consisted of tired, repetitive love triangles (Matt/Karen/Kelly, Anna/Matt/Karen, Pete/Eileen/Lucy), endless newbies who brought nothing to the show (Chris, Ben, Lee, Rachel (who, i hear you ask), Charlotte, Amir, Anna, the list is endless...) and just nothingness. Now the storylines have picked up and I would easily say that if this soap were on a bigger channel and was available across the whole of the UK, it would be getting 7-8million viewers minimum.
The Bad
The Boulter family: boring, wooden, nothing endearing at all, disposable...shame they're moving onto the street...now we'll never get rid of them. I have a feeling PM just wanted a black family and they weren't created with the same history as the Costellos. Not bringing back Claire: she was the fan fave and the soap's biggest bitch. Tina Hall said in interviews about the fifth birthday how she hopes she'll be there when it turns ten, but they foolishly got rid of her. Not bringing back Sara: another fan fave. She may be on The Bill now, but Sara is a well better character than boring Kerry.
What's Missing?
I think FA is now missing a key meeting point that isnt a pub, since the Cybercafe was set on fire, and the Sandwhich Shop is now going to be Yasmin's salon. There needs to be an alternative place for the characters to meet.
I also think that the show needs a real bitch. We have Eileen, but she's not believable as a megabitch. We have Melanie, but she wouldn't hurt a fly.
So has it worked?
The show is now averaging 1.6-1.7 million viewers, and with some more promotion I think it could get up to 2-2.2million at least.
Overall, I'd say it has worked.
What are everyone else's thoughts?
ALLAN
Getting rid of dead wood characters, despite their ties to the history of FA. Axing The Webbs, Fern, Vince, Roy, Nikki, etc. was a great move by Paul Marquess. Bringing in fresh new characters such as the Costello Family, Sean and Tanya, Mike, the Mackenzies worked and brought new life into the ailing soap. The new opening sequence was perhaps the best one Family Affairs has ever had, and easily outdoes many other UK soaps. The storylines have improved vastly and the show has moved on from the year that consisted of tired, repetitive love triangles (Matt/Karen/Kelly, Anna/Matt/Karen, Pete/Eileen/Lucy), endless newbies who brought nothing to the show (Chris, Ben, Lee, Rachel (who, i hear you ask), Charlotte, Amir, Anna, the list is endless...) and just nothingness. Now the storylines have picked up and I would easily say that if this soap were on a bigger channel and was available across the whole of the UK, it would be getting 7-8million viewers minimum.
The Bad
The Boulter family: boring, wooden, nothing endearing at all, disposable...shame they're moving onto the street...now we'll never get rid of them. I have a feeling PM just wanted a black family and they weren't created with the same history as the Costellos. Not bringing back Claire: she was the fan fave and the soap's biggest bitch. Tina Hall said in interviews about the fifth birthday how she hopes she'll be there when it turns ten, but they foolishly got rid of her. Not bringing back Sara: another fan fave. She may be on The Bill now, but Sara is a well better character than boring Kerry.
What's Missing?
I think FA is now missing a key meeting point that isnt a pub, since the Cybercafe was set on fire, and the Sandwhich Shop is now going to be Yasmin's salon. There needs to be an alternative place for the characters to meet.
I also think that the show needs a real bitch. We have Eileen, but she's not believable as a megabitch. We have Melanie, but she wouldn't hurt a fly.
So has it worked?
The show is now averaging 1.6-1.7 million viewers, and with some more promotion I think it could get up to 2-2.2million at least.
Overall, I'd say it has worked.
What are everyone else's thoughts?
ALLAN