Bright Eyes

With that brief scene of Chas coming out of Katie's house with Leyla and Vanessa, I really hope we'll get to see her hang out with them now. She desperately needs those two to bring her back to life.

Even in the midst of his living hell, David still managed to get the best line of the night by telling Nick to run over Gail when she stopped them from leaving to confront Callum. The way he said it, killed me. Jack P. Shepherd spits out those dark, sarcastic lines brilliantly time and time again. Jenny's return is off to a good start. Did Jenny really have a crush on Kevin back in the day or was that just something they made up tonight? They do have chemistry, [Annie Sugden] any road [/Annie Sugden]. Monday's episodes were in fine form. Sally was fantastic as usual these days. It was a great idea to get her involved in the Platt story, fearing she was going to prison. Surprisingly Sophie was pretty hilarious, too. "Why is there a stick on the table?"

I have always liked Abi, so getting to see her/Lorna Fitzgerald take up the bulk of the live scenes tonight was a pleasure. Those extra long pauses Jane had made me think Laurie forgot a line or two. I was waiting to see who would be involved with the recreation of the very first scene tomorrow. Nice to see a Fowler (Martin) will be. As soon as Adam left Joyner's mouth, I cringed for her. It didn't help that it was followed by one of the extra long pauses for Jane.

The part that confused me is when Peggy told Phil to leave the past in the past. Why would she say that if Kathy were alive? It made me think it had to do with Michelle (possibly about Mark Jr. being Grant's), but then, I can't see why Ian would need to be told right away.

Nicola Wheeler will be going on maternity leave. http://www.digitalspy.ca/celebrity/s12/emmerdale/news/a629429/emmerdales-nicola-wheeler-pregnant-with-her-first-child.html#~p4Fu9x8f4ftiOD

In random as hell news - http://www.digitalspy.ca/celebrity/s3/coronation-street/news/a629632/hayley-tamaddon-joe-tracini-go-public-at-georgia-may-footes-leaving-do.html#~p4Fsk8iJWbWMT0

He told that story (not the Peggy part) on the Back to Ours special as well. Maybe someone told him otherwise?

Carl, on the Graham Norton special tonight, Mary gets some love with Linda Davidson in the audience where he speaks to her for a bit.

This just saddens me. Kate Oates has done so well, so it hurts more deeply.

I think it could be Cindy because, like Steven (a pseudo child of Ian's), DTC probably finds her dispensable. But I also strongly think it could be Peter because 1) Ben Hardy is leaving and 2) in the promo picture with the main suspects, he's in the middle. That was a good assessment of the young women on the show. What bothers me most is that the caliber of actresses are there. Danielle Harold is a powerhouse actress. Lola was one of the best things about Kirkwood's tenure and actually made Billy relevant again, too. Mimi Keene, with the small amount she's been given, has shown she could be a strong character if they actually wrote for her. And when she's interested and given good material, Shona McGarty can knock it out of the park. My bias says Abi/Lorna Fitzgerald is viable as well, but from what I've read, a lot of never cared for her. Still, it proves to me that, though you are correct in your assertions on the characters, it's purely because of the less than favourable writing that these women seem less than flavourful. With that said, I do agree that it was a mistake to kill Lucy. I'll never understand why these first families on the soaps (Beale/Sugden/Cunningham) are so filled up with death.

I didn't sense that at all, about Windsor. Her and Pam were adorable having lunch together, reminiscing.

I think it's one of those three as well. I would be most devastated if it were Peter, and this show desperately needs Cindy on the canvas. I want it to be Abi or Jane. I just hope whoever it is isn't killed off.

I really hope they can salvage Anna with her dreck of a husband finally going away. That story was a zenith of horrible nonsense. I'm hoping Faye's story will be better since Owen will be gone sooner rather than later.

Great review of the episode, Carl. I think what hit me the most, other than my poor Andy being in distress, is how seamlessly the real Chas "returned" in this episode. I can't remember the last time I felt glued to my screen watching her. I was happily surprised when Vanessa popped into the Woolpack. That one small inclusion made Katie's death seem all the more real and painful. My only complaint, which has to do with this whole story really, is that they focused way too much on Aaron. That last scene with him comforting Chas, it felt like the camera was frozen on his crocodile teared face. It made me sick.

If there was OLTL after PP, I would have killed off Clint in a hopeless rescue mission, after which we never see Alison ever again one way or another, and given the right amount of time have a slow burn romance for Viki with Hank Gannon. I think that could really work if done right.

What? Did you ever watch Fashion Police? She's much more hit than miss, and this is coming from someone who doesn't care about popular music at all.

I've screeched a few times before about Debbie being brought to Emmerdale. Having watched the first few months to a year of Brookside, Damon's death was a true tragedy. He was one of the sweetest characters in my time of watching and to know he died in such a thankless way is heartbreaking. I consider Brookside one of 'my' soaps. I wonder if Channel ever did bring it back, if they would continue with it being in the same universe of Hollyoaks? In fact, that could be a good way to re-start the show. Someone leaving Hollyoaks and ending up at the close. Not Diane, of course. That would be hard to explain. LoL

I didn't mind them at first, but now whenever there is a Carter centric episode it's alwasy one that I struggle to get through. It's pretty sad that the only one I actually care about is Dean.

At least the pole on that website was 82% for having a diverse cast. Positive thinking.

Damn it! I was watching and really enjoying those Peyton Place episodes.

I saw a fall coming for Nicole but I didn't think it would be her actually dropping the baby on the floor. Damn this show.

Paddy isn't related to him. Paddy used to be with Chas where he ended up becoming a father figure to Aaron.

I never knew Tracy had to take those pills. Did Deirdre end up lying for Tracy?

Thank you EastEnders for giving us one very lasting look at Ben Hardy. Immaculate perfection.