DRW50

This wasn't a great episode but I enjoyed some of it more than most of the "event" episodes of the past year. It was one or two episodes before Christmas, when the Mitchells were trying to host a Christmas dinner elsewhere to make extra money and Peggy's sister Sal, who was visiting, helped lead the diners in a chant of "We Shall Not Be Moved" until she realized how cash-strapped the Mitchells were. Then she decided to help them by acting as the entertainment, and practicing fire-eating for the shocked crowd.

Thanks Sean, for all that info. I really appreciate it. I haven't quite gotten the, for lack of a better word, courage to watch most of the post-1982 episodes yet. I know I should, but I was already becoming so annoyed by the changes in the show in 1980 and 1981, I can't imagine what would have happened later on. Was Marisa Pavan someone famous to get such special billing? Odd. I don't think Teri Keane played Norma in Norma's original run, did she? Was Lem's still around later on? Pilon and Joel Fabiani are two of those actors who just seem so dull all the time.

The show had to move from that location in 1975 or 1976 because they weren't allowed to film there anymore or something.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/scoop/a245122/enders-attack-corrie-scam-and-oaks-proposal.html I wonder if this leads to Phil's drug problem.

http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s14/neighbours/news/a245700/network-boss-neighbours-needs-work.html

I see more similarities to a young Janine than a young Kat, but the gobbiness is definitely there. I think the main difference was that even though Kat felt alone and felt ashamed, she did have a loving family who were there for her. Stacey never had much of anyone and was generally an isolated character.

Did you ever see that Slaters in Detention DVD? They had the other ending, the one if Little Mo had been found not guilty. I think the most entertaining part of that DVD for me was the ending There was such a special chemistry between the Slater family back then which was never really equaled. In the family itself I think only Jean and Stacey have that chemistry now. Before the channel was taken down I was watching some of the clips of when Charlie was sent to prison, and while I don't know the wisdom of having so many members of the same family sent to prison within a few years (wasn't Big Mo behind bars not too long after this), there was a really good scene with Lynne and Charlie where she said she always had to be the strong one, but she wasn't strong, and she needed him to be there for her like he always was for his other girls.

I had seen the 1997-era episodes on PBS and then kind of lost interest, but started back with BBC America, around the time the SLaters showed up. I kept up with it for a while, in spite of being repulsed by the constant focus on Phil, because I enjoyed Steve Owen and the Slaters and Dot and Jim, among others. I think what made me lose interest was when BBC America took off the Classic reruns, which I loved.

I didn't mind Kareena that much, at least once she stopped pining over Tariq. I thought she had some potential, she had a nice smile and was better when she wasn't distraught. To me she and the brother with the glasses, blanking on his name right now, were the two with potential. Ady was passable, he might have been more interesting if he had been able to have the coming out story. The one that I really disliked was Ronnie, and Tariq wasn't much better. The pregnancy story was probably an example of some of Berridge's weaker tendencies, which was going back to history whether it was needed or not. There was no real reason for Vicky to be pregnancy other than her being Michelle's daughter. I especially disliked the choice to try to surprise us over the identity of her father, again, just because the same had happened with Michelle. With Michelle this had been built up where she was close to all the potential fathers, but Vicky was suddenly wandering around and they were trying to make us think Gary, or Gus, had knocked her up? I hope the reaction that Heather's WTD story got (let's just say I don't think it was what the show expected) has ended this particular plot twist for a long time.

I hope she comes back. I don't want to overuse the roll eye icon but that annoyed me when Santer said she couldn't come back because she was too much like Ronnie. Come on. "Storyboarding" was the word I couldn't remember...

Sometimes I wish they could just say Dennis was faking his death.

I think someone once said that, I don't know how this works, but that Yorke's era on the show went through a lot of the storylines the writers had come up with, and by the time Berridge took over, they had much less to work with. And Berridge was also working with a production model that still suited 3 episodes a week, not 4. The press was pretty awful at that time, they definitely seemed to want to show Eastenders who was boss, or whatever. The columnists were sick of the show(although soap columnists generally annoy me more often than not -- I'm still over Grace Dent saying that Fatboy was so wonderful and older people just didn't get him...yes, nothing like a man who looks 30 saying a middle-aged writer's idea of "hip" slang to reach the "yoof"), but even beyond that there was a lot of anger, like what happened with the sting against Leslie Grantham. That doesn't take away from Berridge's mistakes, like Little Mo's second rape, the poor story they came up with for the Ferrieras after the father was deported, putting Sonia and Martin together as a genuine couple, the poor Vicki casting, Den sleeping with Kate, etc. but she did have a tough time. I have more sympathy for her run than I do for someone like Kate Harwood, who pretty much just took a big crap on the show and did horrible long term damage by killing off Kathy. I don't care how much some say Den's return was a mistake, it worked out far better than killing off Kathy ever would.

Berridge made a lot of mistakes, most of which are well-documented, but she did help create some classic characters (Stacey, Jane, Nana, Chrissie, Alfie, Dennis, Kate) -- more than any other producer since combined. She also knew how to handle difficult characters like Janine and Pauline. Dennis was also the last younger leading man the show successfully created, unless you count Bradley, who was basically backburnered and written as a patsy for Santer's entire run.

Last month Ian caught Lucy on CCTV after she stole money from the cafe. She told him it was to help cheat on her exams (she didn't mention Adam). He told her fine, but tell him first. I don't have a ton of sympathy for Jane in other areas like the baby rabies but I do feel sorry for her at moments like this because her family now, by default, keeps her in the dark about more and more stuff.

After watching the whole episode, I couldn't help wondering if the show is just not that interested in "Chryed" -- compared to the rest of the episode the scenes had a real hurry up and go away nature to them. Their reunion was very abrupt and there was no indication as to why Syed should be in this very volatile relationship just because he has decided to accept being gay. If anything this type of relationship drives gays and lesbians back into questioning themselves, because it's so toxic. If Christian is opening a gym, why did he use a photo of himself in a heavy shirt that he wore when he was less muscular? Everything with Phil quietly melting down (which is much more frightening than more comic relief boozing) and especially his rampage at the car and his near-fight with Ian was just great drama all around. Wonderful acting from everyone. I'm glad they are letting us see the effect on everyone. I also like the way they are building up to Ronnie's abuse haunting her. The scene with Stacey and the scene where she snapped at Peggy both summed this up so well. My favorite scene in the episode was when Jane was so proud of Lucy for her popularity and for her grades, and once again, EVERYONE in the family BUT Jane knew the truth. They didn't mention the abortion lie, but they didn't have to. It was just such a sad little moment.

To be honest I kind of feel like Peggy's been slightly out of place on the show for a number of years now, probably ever since Frank left, and they've struggled with what to do with her (although the Archie stuff generally worked), but I will miss her. Barbara Windsor has such strong presence, when she's given the chance, she can stop a scene dead. I've also enjoyed seeing her more involved in Ben's story and moved away from the comedy with Pat and the "am I going to lose the Vic...again" stories. I wish Kirkwood had had more of a chance to come up with something for Peggy. Lately she seems more like the Peggy I remember from when I was watching in the mid 90s.

Too bad he wasn't actually worried about developing more of their relationship in the first place...Romeo and Romeo indeed. There seems to be some criticism of the decision to use Julia's Theme. It doesn't bother me, IF this means they will stay together for a while, as it's a nice way to wrap up the story. I do think that it's kind of like putting a nice shiny bow on a third rate present, and Julia's Theme shouldn't be used that way or people will become cynical about it, but I do see that this is a big moment for some fans and they probably deserved that moment. I just wish they could go back and redo the Bradley funeral one that came out of nowhere and then burst my eardrum. We said that at the same time. I guess at least there was no burying Christian alive as a sign of "Greek tragedy".

Thanks. I thought she said she was waiting to go be with her husband in Australia. Anita is such a dreary character. I guess if Tricia Dingle can't brighten you up then who can.

I don't think a final date has been announced. I'm guessing September or October.

Don't forget about those tree trunk thighs and the muscular backside. The show's recent decision to put Ravi in tight trousers in every scene he has was the best Ravi-related decision they ever made. I can't say I will miss him, he was never very interesting and they seemed to pretty much give up after the story that they pushed on him (which he, and probably a lot of other actors, would struggle to carry off), with the bisexuality and Kris/Nancy stuff flopped. I guess this means Charlotte will be the only GLBT character left, Is anyone else surprised that people still keep leaving? Every time I think that it's done, someone else goes. Is this like a combination of Marquess firing people and other people deciding to leave a sinking ship? I hope this isn't caused by some bad backstage atmosphere, as that already seems to have lost us Hollie Jay Bowes. I just don't want one of the real talents who are left to suddenly go. I wonder what they will do with Relish -- Anita can't run it herself. I don't even know what they will do with Anita. Sheree Murphy is only around short term isn't she? Perhaps Anita can go with her.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/scoop/a245172/extra-lucas-scenes-to-air-on-red-button.html

Pretty good episode with Calvin's funeral. Very happy they didn't try to deify him. He was scum. From that bizarre funeral photo where he looked half-drunk to having his own sister run through the church defaming him, that was a funeral to remember. Dominique Jackson did a good job. She's better when she doesn't have a lot of dialogue, when she can just show her emotions. This was a nice showcase for some of her better moments. And it was great soap, especially when she tried to rage at the coffin and it, along with Lauren, collapsed. Smart choice to have the comedy elements, not the HA HA LAUGH NOW stuff, but more situational. I loved when Michaela and Myra had their mutual smirk, and when Myra reminded Mercedes that some of Carmel's eulogy had been used at Mercy's wedding...her FIRST wedding. Michaela seems to have so little connection to most of the family now, or most of the characters. I keep forgetting she and Zak are even still on the show. She was such good light relief today...it's not going to be the same without her I love when they actually use Myra. Having Myra tail Theresa and call the cops on Kyle, then unknowingly brings the whole force in. She basically ended up saving Theresa's bacon, without meaning to. Yet now Carmel knows the truth, in that quiet and beautifully acted moment where Theresa's guilty look at the DI's claims told Carmel all she needed to know. The only downside was Duncan Pugsleying his way back to the show, but at least they finally found a shirt that fit him, so we're moving forward.

Where do you want to hold him? No, seriously, he's adorable, and Adam Thomas is a great actor. He plays emotion so well with his eyes and his voice and facial expressions. And he's so believable with Aaron and his family, even with Scarlett. I hope they keep him for a long time. I haven't seen Thursday's episodes yet, but I wish they'd framed Ryan instead of Faye, I think that would be a better story. What do you think? I keep hearing some say that Cain should have been framed but I don't think there's a lot of story in that. I do agree that he might need some comeuppance but that probably wouldn't have worked, as he likely had an alibi and he had little reason to kill Mark.

They were very good at getting PR for the show and most of the time their events did get big numbers. For all I know when their time with the show is definitely over, the ratings will trend down, because they definitely knew how to get the public interest. I'm hoping that those people might stay, especially since Eastenders is and has been a brand for a long time and although I know they've had rough ratings patches in the 90s and such it was probably just the huge huge backstage problems, inept producers, and the tabloid fury from 2003-2006 that really knocked the show down so heavily. I have to admit I thought the ratings might dip after the live episode attention was gone and the weather got better but they're still doing well. I think they're up 15% from last year. Hopefully that might also keep the soap genre alive...

Yeah I do think the show has been getting better and better. I don't want to take away from what Santer and Treadwell-Collins did in increasing viewership because they rescued the show from some rough ratings times but I don't know how much longer that would have lasted if the stories had stayed where they were in the winter and spring. The show has become much more consistent and has more depth and hopefully that will continue and viewers will be pleased.