DRW50

Of all the people to introduce a new family I wouldn't have chosen weird and interfering Jem. Carley is doing such an incredible job with this story, and poor little Tom was heartbreaking when he learned she had cancer. The whole family is doing a great job. I do wish Darren could be involved. Gemma Merna has also been doing wonderful work lately. I felt so awful for Carmel when she realized she wasn't pregnant. Y&RWT thanks for the update. I never can remember who the originals are, as I thought there were a few others, like some girl who had psychic powers, and also Finn. It's interesting that even then the show was kind of sort of trying to include black characters but none of them have ever really broken through (unless you count Calvin, which I'd rather not as he annoyed me...). You've probably all seen these already but these are some old clips with Tony and one of his first loves, Julie: http://www.youtube.com/user/CaptMcSurfie

This is a really good interview and preview clip with Danny Miller on what will be coming up with Aaron. It looks great, I just hope it isn't one of those where the best stuff is in the preview.

For dramatic purpose I thought they would have Gail convicted and later released when the truth was revealed. Otherwise, a lot of the stuff done to cast doubt on her chances, like Tracy, or the witness David and Nick paid to lie, didn't have as much purpose. I'm not sorry to see the Gail prison story over with but I was hoping she might let herself be happy for a moment or two before she became so miserable over Tina. At least, in that very good scene on that boat which the cops apparently had the time and money to drag back to the Street, Tina finally seemed to be close to making peace with Gail. That beatdown Tracy got (which seemed very mild...) was kind of hilarious. So was her trying to throw a chair, she even did that in a wooden manner. She's just so one-note. And Deirdre saying she was afraid Tracy's beautiful face might be damaged. Would a mother say that? The whole thing is hard to invest in. And I guess this tension with Peter and loathsome Nick is a way to degrade poor Leanne by shackling Nick to her. Natasha's unease around Gail was amusing, yet also sad. I really wish they were keeping Natasha. There's so much else to get rid of with dead wood. Izzy's father seems a little dull so far. He's OK I guess. I hope they will try to pair Izzy and Gary, I think they could have potential. Poor Carla. I'm starting to like her a little more with Trevor, just because he's been such a rock for her. I wonder what she will do when he's gone.

Harry's leaving, right? The actor is so lifeless, it's painful to watch. I don't think the kids on the show are too bad. Callum is too fake but he has his moments. Sophie is the type of kid you don't see on TV very often now, the sort of tomboy young girl. I liked the mini-story where Lucas convinced Callum to accept babies. Lucas is a good character, don't you think? Ringo's song for Bridget was not good at all, and did you notice the people in the background not caring? He seems very thin now, although he looks good in the right places, I wonder if they have forgotten his eating disorder story. The paramedic story with the dramatic music kind of cracked me up. So he saves a girl's life and she's a stalker? Isn't that like telling people not to try to save lives? I liked the moment where Libby teased Karl about his face pack. She's better this way than as the tortured heroine.

The Janine/Ryan scam stuff was a bit silly, although at least it meant most of the characters weren't segregated into their own stories. Her games with Lucas continue to be odd -- I really wish they would have her learn everything about Lucas and have him throttle her. I think that would be a big story for Janine. That last scene with Denise and Lucas was very gripping. Diane and Don are both turning in such great work, these emotional, intense scenes are what the story should have been about all along. Darren's disastrous phone message to Jodie (who still seems to not be written as a moron, which is good), and his awkward meeting with Libby were both very believable little everyday moments. The banter between Darren and Max is still great, and there were some great shots of Max's superior posterior. I get so confused with Roxy's plans for the Vic because she said she wanted to make changes, then there were no changes at all for months, and now they're back to her wanting changes. Either way, I'm glad Danny is almost gone, the faces he makes are so awful to sit through.

So apparently these are the ads for Emmerdale's sponsor, Tombola. Huh. http://www.youtube.com/user/tombolabingo

This wedding stuff with Nicola and Jimmy is dull, although Nick Miles and Nicola Wheeler are doing a great job. The look on Jimmy's face after Viv refused to help Nicola was so heartbreaking. It's nice to see Paul back, briefly, and to see him with Nicola and Val again, he had such interesting relationships with them. The scene with Aaron was a little contrived but it worked better than I thought it might. Jackson and Declan wearing tight jeans is distracting... I wish they wouldn't have to have Eve with one attached guy after another, it just makes her seem like a plot device.

Carley Stenson is breaking my heart in this cancer story. ANITA IS DULL. ANITA IS DULL. I enjoy the Newt/Darren relationship, they work so well together, especially when they rib each other. I will miss that. I just love when Darren gets family moments. How is it that so many regimes have gotten Darren (basically) right while others fall to pieces?

Roy and Hayley's involvement in this story has been jarring from the start, back with Tony confessing to Roy. The actors have done a good job but it does feel like giving them something to do. Didn't Hayley sit on the backburner for almost a year before Tony's confession? I did love that their involvement meant Becky finally got a strong scene and no baby bull. I am tired of the baby stories. The factory as a casualty is a copout because even if it's not the same building, the factory has been a part of the show for many decades. It will probably just be rebuilt yet again. Who cares? Nick is a sociopath, he treats people like garbage over and over. Watching him makes me uncomfortable. The Carla/Maria stuff was good, yeah. I actually wish the show would just go nuts and have them become lovers. Then again look at how much airtime Sophie and Sian get.

Yeah I wonder what they will do with Glenda. I know some have said she's too campy but she hasn't had much of a chance. Those first episodes I thought she was good, before she became cartoonish. I also loved her rivalry with Peggy. I want to see more of her with Ronnie, I thought they worked well together. Roxy too, if they get the material. I don't mind when the show deals with these issues as long as they actually deal with them. The stuff with Ronnie's rape, it can be very powerful material. I would say the same about Phil's drug addiction but I think that will be cut short because of Steve McFadden's panto break. I'm surprised at how much I've heard, "He can't be hooked on that, he's too old and he's been an alcoholic." I don't think that's how it works. People switch from one addiction to another and people can get hooked on serious drugs later in life. They should have him do a crossover with Ellen Burstyn from Requiem for a Dream. I also see some, "This will spoil his relationship with Shirley," which makes me LOL. Not to be rude, but what relationship is that, is it the one where she has enabled him as he's treated her like crap? They don't have a relationship.

Finally! I was afraid this had been dropped. I'm glad Rita realized how important this scene is. It is crucial to both Ronnie and Roxy as long term characters.

You're right about how Ashley shouldn't leave. I also thought Kirk was more likeable. He's become more likeable lately, or less pointless anyway. I liked the scene in last night's episode where he wanted to get his "wagon wheels" cake he'd left in the factory. Then he saw a cop eating a wagon wheel cake. It made me laugh. I do hope they go with Gary/Izzy over Kirk/Izzy, I think the former has more potential, not to mention seeing her interact with Eddie Windass. The first episode was great, the performances from Julie Hesmondlagh, Allison King, Gray O'Brien were unbelievable, and the tension was palpable. I also loved seeing Becky start trying to break into the factory while all the men were standing around looking confused. That was the best Becky scene in years! The last scene between Carla and Tony went on a bit too long, and the smoke coming out of the factory didn't seem like that much, and then when Tony was walking towards the entrance he looked constipated, but otherwise it was great. The second episode was OK, mostly thanks to the great scene with Maria and Carla. The trial stuff, outside of Norris and Mary, isn't that interesting. I have to admit I was annoyed because of all the hype over someone dying who had been on the show for 10 years. This was even sort of confirmed in the soap press. It didn't happen. The factory does not count! I was also slightly annoyed by Fiz, Julie, Janice, and Sean sitting in the Rovers and not paying any attention to Maria running in or to Becky yelling about what was going on. I know the factory girls don't care about what happens there but this is taking it to a new level.

That sounds very dramatic, and sounds like a Kirkwood story. I hope it is because if it's like Santer's story for Chelsea, Phil will be cured within two weeks...

Where are they now interview with Louise Shaffer, Rae Cummings...er...Woodard. http://www.welovesoaps.net/2010/06/nelson-aspens-where-are-they-now-tour.html

Ricky discovers he's lost most of his hearing...

I thought today's show was, overall, decent. The question going around and around my head is still whether or not we're supposed to be happy for Phil and Shirley over getting Ben back in their lives or whether we are supposed to see Ben as disturbed. Were we supposed to be sad or a bit creeped out about Ben needing to know Phil was proud of him for nearly killing Jordan? The lines about Louise mean the show hasn't forgotten Ben abusing Louise, right? Anyway, I felt very sorry for Ben in those last few scenes. He has some major issues. Beyond that, I liked that they had a small moment of comedy in those tense scenes at the station, when Shirley farted. I liked the character integration throughout the episode, mostly what was done with Shirley/Denise/Heather/Liz, especially the scenes at the Vic when Lucas grabbed Denise for a kiss. Aside from the odious Phil-propping, Heather is much more tolerable these days. I liked when she said her mother told her lipstick was for hussies, then said she was thinking of wearing some. I loved the scene where Heather thought Liz had a thing for Max. The scenes of Lucas killing the woman from the club were somewhat choppy, due to the reshoot, but I actually prefer this idea to the idea of Lucas killing a prostitute. While I can understand why people might think this is out of character for Lucas, as Lucas would probably be more likely to kill if he thought he had some noble reason, I think it was important to make sure viewers knew that nothing this woman did warranted her being killed. There are still a lot of people out there who shrug at the idea of prostitutes being murdered. While I'm sure some might say this woman was stupid to follow Lucas out into the middle of nowhere, she didn't deserve to die, and the show put that across. Don Gilet did a good job with the scenes and that last shot of the claw marks on his neck was chilling. While I'm not sure what story is left for Jodie and Darren now that most of the lies are gone, I'm glad she quickly realized he wasn't running the car lot and she said she was fine with it. She's really not very stupid, even if she has a dippy personality. The Darren/Max banter can sometimes be a little bit much, thanks to Darren, but generally I like their scenes together. I also liked the scene where Vanessa basically told Max she didn't see what was wrong with having him as a bit of rough on the side. It's an interesting switch of gender roles. Do you notice how the Jacksons seem increasingly cut off from the rest of the Square? Most of the scenes with Bianca and Carol at war over Liam were isolated from everything and the same was true for Carol and Whitney saying goodbye to smug Billie. Considering this family being related to so many people, the lack of integration is surprising. The tension between Carol and Whitney isn't much fun to watch. I just wish Carol could have another story.

I second Max's comments about thanking Sandra for her work at AW and in daytime. 1. Do you know what storyline Amanda may have next had if Another World hadn't been canceled? 2. What were your thoughts on the Lumina storyline, Jordan Stark, playing a dual role Amelie, etc.? Did the story change as it went along? 3. Did you feel that the character of Amanda had changed in the 5 years you'd been away from the role? Did you change the way you played her? 4. What did you think of Amanda's relationship with Evan Frame? Did you wish that had been further explored? Were you surprised to learn Evan had briefly returned during your absence from the role? 5. So many actors played Sam Fowler in such a short period of time. Was that stressful? 6. Were there ever any romantic pairings or storylines you wanted for Amanda but the show never went for?

I don't care for Masood/Jane but I also feel like it's already been building and can't be dropped now. I'd rather it be written for what it is, which is sanctimonious and somewhat adulterous. And if Kathy came back I could see that story as being interesting because Kathy herself had some quasi-adulterous relationships while married (like the one with the boring vicar, which I guess eventually became a full on affair). Seeing Kathy's reaction, if she would be angry or if she would sympathize with Jane, would be good drama. I do like Jane still but Masood's growing hypocrisy and double standards have caused me to feel increasing dislike for this character. The Syed story and the need to prop him has really wrecked that family I think they can still have potential for the Foxes with Libby and Chelsea gone. The show has done very little with either of Denise's daughters. There's still Jordan, and also Kim, and the relationship between Kim and Denise, and possibly other members of Denise's family. I think Becca had a LOT of potential at the start but they never have written her as anything beyond a plot device for Stacey's story. It's almost embarrassing how little they have bothered with her outside of that area. There's still a possibility but I'm not sure if the show cares. New photos of Kim. http://www.walfordweb.co.uk/item.php?id=2476

Thanks for all your answers. Do you think Bower destroys these characters out of spite, because fans don't like who she wants them to like? Is that why the Bridget tributes kept on, songs and all that ages after she died, because Bower kept pushing for her to be popular, at least in death? Is that why Sonny, who seemed very unpopular, got more of a sendoff than Elle?

I think that there was much more of a commitment to social justice and diversity in the 80s. There was an ugly backlash against this in the 90s, at least in the States. I think the other thing is that Eastenders was introduced as an attempt to show real life in the East End, which meant many faces of many colors. Julia Smith and Tony Holland were committed to talking about issues which no one else on soaps had talked about, like arranged marriages. There was other stuff which might get an eye-roll now but at the time must have been so startling, and still goes on today, like the scenes where Lou Beale mistook Kelvin Carpenter for a burglar and even after she realized who he was and tried to be nicer to him, said things like, "You can't blame me, you all look alike." Or when Kelvin's mother said that he has to work twice as hard as any white boy. Now you have someone like Chelsea, who is only there just to fill a slot, and who has often been treated in a shockingly degrading manner, from being used and discarded by various men to her stories about being sent to prison and being hooked on drugs, which went nowhere. I think another thing is Eastenders became so enormously successful and the BBC probably thought the show was successful for Den and Angie, for the loud, flashy American style soap characters. When Den and Angie were on the way out, didn't the BBC bring in a lot of safe, white characters, mainly comedy characters, like the woman who was in charge of the Brownies? Then they flopped, and you got the Mitchell brothers, and the Mitchells dominated the show ever since. It became a show with the Mitchells...and other people. It doesn't help that for so many years any attempt to bring in a new minority family was very blatant in them only being brought in because of their skin color, and that was supposed to be enough. The di Marcos, the Ferrieras, even the Truemans, where the woman who played the Trueman mother complained about stereotypes and was fired. I guess the Taverniers were the last family to sort of be integrated into the Square, although even that had its limits. The Masoods, at least what they were before the Syed story hurt them, and potentially the Foxes, or Mercy's family, perhaps they will take the show back to its roots, where you see a rainbow of very fascinating, complex people. So did you see my Kathy comeback story idea?

Apparently Stephanie Waring (Cindy) is saying that Kevin will NOT be an alien. Some are saying that Holly Bowes quit because she was upset that Kent Riley was fired. I already thought Zak being written out was a mistake and now it upsets me even more.

I can't wait until Zsa Zsa is gone. It's ridiculous seeing this giant person towering the hallway. She looked like she was going to start munching on the brains of the students. The Adam/Lucy stuff -- I guess this is setting up Adam's exit? He's so unbearable. Poor Jane had such a low-key return. I felt bad for her when she realized Lucy wasn't all that interested in her vacation. I really liked the stuff with Denise, especially when she realized Lucas was about to hit her. I think centering this story on Denise works much better than all the stuff with Lucas quoting Bible verses. Phil and his drinking and Shirley and her strongarm tactics contrasted with Denise convincing Jordan to do the right thing -- we're supposed to see Phil and Shirley as being in the wrong...I hope? Jodie was way too cutesy but she didn't bother me too much. I can see why she believed George was a dog, not a baby, with the way Heather described him. I've never been a big fan of Darren's but I think he's come along well recently. He has an entertaining relationship with Max. He's probably the son Max would have had if he hadn't abandoned Bradley Good call on Shirley's outfit. I think she'd probably get along with Kat. It's interesting that Phil was startled at how easily Shirley sees Ben as being a criminal like Phil is. Natalie Cassidy says she might return to Eastenders, but it doesn't sound like she's had an offer: http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a224214/cassidy-i-might-return-to-eastenders.html

I haven't watched the show that much lately, but I saw a recent episode, UK pace I guess. When did they start the horrible dated freeze frame thing for the previews and the coming attractions? It's about as fresh as Ringo's hipster outfit... Who is this Sonia woman? Is she a drug addict? Is she anemic? Is the handsome doctor Libby is interested in a permanent character or just filler?

When I began watching Eastenders the only black characters were Alan (Carol's husband), a comic relief character named Lenny, and a man-eater named Frankie who was on the way out. Then there was Sanjay and Gita for Asian characters. They mostly had limited roles. I was shocked a few years later when I got to see the early episodes, 1985, 1986, 1987. The canvas was so racially diverse, but more than that, everyone mingled. There was no quota system, as the woman who played Yolande so succintly slammed after she was fired. They tackled serious racial issues back then without being heavy-handed about it, and they also had a lot of color-blind stories. In more recent years the token status has been glaring. Things improved starting in 2009 but the sometimes insulting stories for the Fox women were not a good moment. Something feels different now -- Denise is becoming a much more complicated character and we're seeing her point of view. Then there's Fatboy and Mercy, and Kim. Hopefully with the Masoods also being popular, or at least they were before the Syed story damaged them, the show will become more and more committed to presenting minorities in a way which isn't tokenism.

Yeah. They first showed her at school with Amy, she kept trying to convince Amy to lose her virginity (you see how that turned out).