Skylover

Right, gonna reply to your post now, Ben. I am enjoying parts of the show at the moment but for me, the latter half of the year has really suffered in comparison to the frst half of the year. There's no doubt in my mind that Sonya being forefront of the show is probably what made those early months so rivetting, but since then there have been on and off moments. I think, as you say, what is lacking is a decent story to get people talking, a big story. The K story was good to begin with, very good actually, but then was quickly ruined and left Susan looking like a total b*tch. I was extremely unhappy with the Ks splitting up off-screen; we didn't get any decent scenes with them actually talking about what had happened. The audience deserved to see the characters resolve things and reflect on what had happened with Jim but we were cheated. What we were left with was Susan Bower's poor planning; Karl moping about the house for episodes, trying to call Susan etc etc, then going to vsit her and they come back, having decided to split. Now at this point in the characters' journey I don't think it is realistic that they would split up, nor do I think it is a good idea by the writers. The scenes which actually aired yesterday with Karl and Susan explaining to Malcolm why they had decided to split, were very poorly-written. I would go as far as to say that they were offensive to viewers, as well as an insult to what talented actors Alan and Jackie are. After everything they've been through, Karl's dying patient, Sarah, Izzy, Alex, the kids etc they decide to split over this. I don't think it would happen. A break would be feasible but not this. I'm not entirely sure why this route was decided for the characters. Part of me thinks it was because the makers know how popular Karl and Susan's story with Izzy was, and they're trying to emulate that success, but part of me thinks they just don't have a clue. I think it's a combination of both. But yes, we have been cheated by this story. We need to have some decent dialogue between Karl and Susan just to know what they're both thinking. As for Malcolm's comment "After 30 years of marriage" I am a fan of Jade and Malcolm. I think they've got good chemistry although I do find Benji's acting quite stiff and unnatural a lot of the time. I think he's doing a good job in Libby's absence and I wouldn't mind seeing him stick around long-term. I think he's got really great chemistry with Alan and they make a fantastic father/son, but I really want Libby to come back. I am missing her badly, I think Kym is an amazing actress and I don't think the show can afford to lose her. I wish Kym all the best but I'm going to be devastated if she doesn't return. On the other hand, is it a good thing as perhaps it will avoid the writers ruining her? Jade is a highlight of the show for me. To me Sonya and Jade are easily the best characters and actors by far. Both of them are natural with whichever characters they're paired up with and they are srong characters in their own right with clearly defined personalities. I find it a shame that Toadie has changed a lot as a character. I no longer enjoy watching his scenes and he was a favourite for a long time. I accept that it is natural for the character to evolve as he ages, but he's lost that spark. I have nothing against him maturing but I think he seems lost at the moment and the development story is dragging him down a lot. Sonya is his only salvation. Callum is also a damaged character, he serves little purpose other than to prop up Sonya and Toadie, plus I find his characterization quite poor these days. He was a wonderful quirky character but that has been sacrificed for his constant quips about technology and computers, phones, how much of a new-age contemporary kid he is shoved in our faces all day long. There was a scene where Susan, Sonya and Kate started a book club, and Callum said something along the lines of 'why don't you just get a computer, you can get e-books', Susan's reply was that she liked the feel of turning the pages etc and that she was old-fashioned. Are there no other ways of illustrating the differences between generations other than shoving technology in our faces all the time? Actually, it makes me quite irate and while typing this post I can feel my frustration towards the writers surfacing. Obviously it's Bower's continued obsession with the show being contemporary that continues to stifle it. I can't bear the text appearing on the screen, it makes the show look tacky and I think it is alienating for the older viewers. I'm hoping that once Hardy and Jasek take over, these will be gone. Going back to Jade, I find her completely fascinating. The writers have really done well there. She is very relatable, her fear of relationships is great, and I love how she sleeps around as you don't get many girls like that on Neighbours. She clearly can't deal with her emotions and puts on this hard exterior but is very vulnerable underneath. I think Gemma is amazing when Jade lashes out, and the relationship/frenemy thing she's got going with Rhys is wonderful. I hope Jade isn't ruined when she inevitably is paired off with Kyle. And I have to admit, I haven't particularly missed Kyle while he's been gone. I love Dane, and hope the producers decide to keep him on. He's a great comedic character played by an awesome actor though I didn't take to him in his first few eppies (I'm a harsh critic ) Plus he's good looking at N is seriously lacking in eye candy department of late. A big problem for me now is, that while many characters/actors are extremely strong, there are others who really fall flat. I've got a new-found love for Summer, I think Jordy is great in the dramatic scenes, she's a wonderful young actress. And Sonya/Jade, I really want to see Jade cry, something we have yet to experience! I think Andrew, Michael and Natasha are in dire straits at the moment. I was loving Tash a few months ago but recently I've begun to notice how patchy the actress can be, and Michael's been annoying me a hell of a lot. The stock shots of Miachel surfing/looking out to sea, fill me with rage. Emilia is a good character/actress but for me she's highlighted how poor Michael/Tash are. Natasha is a good character, but Valentina falls flat in the dramatic scenes. She just found out at Aus pace that her mother drowned (she got the death certificate via email ) and I wasn't impressed by those emotional scenes. I didn't feel touched by the revelation, it was an anti-climax and just left me feeling underwhelmed. Meanwhile, although Kate has a tendency to annoy the audience, which I'm beginning to understand as she is written with self-importance, I think Ashleigh is a wonderful actress. I do wonder whether Ashleigh dslikes the way Kate is written. I could have done without the Noah/Sophie playing guitar stuff, and Orpheus is a terrible actor, but Kate's breakdown is inetresting to watch. As for Andrew, I don't know what they can do to improve him. I find it incredibly annoying that the actor's accent comes through so much, I know Andrew supposedly spent part of his childhood in Scotland but it just highlights what a poor actor Jordan is, basically playing himself. I know they won't get rid of him because he's a Robinson. They need to build up his relationship with Paul. In comparison to Elle and Paul, Andrew really lacks that connection. I don't think it would be a bad idea to bring in Amy at this point to build up a bit of family in the household. I also pitched the idea that Hilary could return to bolster that household. I really hope the show improves under the new producers as I do think it's suffering. More characters are needed because at the moment the cast is so small that so many characters are having scenes alone just looking at their phones etc. Another thing I have noticed is that interaction between the cast has become a lot more forced this year. They have no idea what to do with Paul or Lou; Paul just seems to annoy people in Charlie's or Harold's for no particular reason, while Lou just seems to be nosey and interfering so that he can get a few lines in. Karl and Susan have also become victims of this and I hate it. Perhaps they think it makes the show feel like a community but to me it just seems like a shambles. I am just getting bored of the show these days. I'm annoyed at the attempts to make it contemporary. I don't mind the slow-pacing but they have to make the downtime interesting. The development story is awful. They've only gone with it because it's the only way they can involve the cast as a whole, but it's not going to draw any viewers in or keep the current viewers entertained. And that's forgetting the fact that it was all done...5 years ago!

I'm really enjoying the Ben story, and all the stuff with Amira/Syed/Christian. I thought Ben'c oming out scene to Phil was extremely powerful and I can't wait to see wht happens when Phil returns. I think Josh has been doing a good job and I'm glad that the writers decided to focus on Ben's sexuality rather than trying to create another gay love story. The only thing that has let it down is Ben having feelings for Christian. I think that's wrong and I don't like how it portrays young gay people as needing a father figure. However, I was glad that in no uncertain terms Christian told Ben how inappropriate it all was. I HATED Christian's ultimatum of 'it's me or the baby' - it's so wrong. Syed is the father and does have rights. Therefore I see no reason why Christian should have no access to the child at all considering his and Syed's relationship. I still findte Yusefplot totally unbelievable. Why can't anybody see how evl Yusef is? Everyone is blind too it, it's like they're all stupid. Even Christian.

Thanks for all the info, Huntress. Very interesting to read. Do you know how Marienhof rated for its final week of episodes. I wonder what Simon-Paul Wagner is up to these days, he was the hottest eye candy known to German soap, although I have to admit, the Germans do like to cast people on their looks. Some really attractive actors in those soaps. I'm going to start watching GZSZ. It's the only one I can get access to, and I really need to improve my German. Although I would prefer to watch either Unter Uns or Alles Was Zaehlt. I sent you a private message by the way, Huntress!

Thanks for all the info, Huntress. It sounds like Unter Uns is the soap to watch in Germany. Are the soaps there experiencing a massive decline, Huntress? What kins of ratings do they get? I've noticed that GZSZ seems to be the only one doing well at the moment or am I wrong there? I miss Marienhof

Ben, no worries that you took a long time to reply, I totally understand. I'm just glad you're ok! I will reply to your post soon. In the meantime, I just have to say I can't believe that Susan's leaving. Agog would be an understatement. I never thought I'd see the day. However, I am cautiously optimistic. Mainly because I enjoy the show these days even though there are major improvements to be made, but you just never know what the new guys are going to be like. Previous experience (although Jasek who has been appointed mainly has experience in directing so it seems strange that he would be appointed boss) suggests they will do well. But if Bryan Kirkwood has taught me anything, it's not to judge people on past experience. I think I'll have to wait for an interview with Jasek and/or Hardy before I make my judgement. As I said on NFans, however, Alan Hardy who is th new producer, is th father of Marieke Hardy, and she has been one of the strongest writers for the show over the years, particularly in regard to humour and comedy. So I hope Marieke helps Alan shape the direction of the show.

Hi there, was just wondering if someone could help me... I'm studying German and have decided to write my dissertation on the differences between the way soap operas in Germany and England portray social issues. I was wondering if someone could tell me whether there are many academic sources on this topic, or which soaps would be best to watch in Germany to evalaute? Thanks an advance

I know what you mean, AMS. I've just had an argument with someone on DS for saying that Neighbours should be axed, while EE has complex characters like Yusef and Michael What did people think of the Millers? I just watched a clip of Darren on YouTube, they were introduced when the show was going through a rough time, did they deserve the stick they got? I seem to remember Rosie and Demi having some pretty great scenes

If you want to have a look at my fan cards/letters/frames, I think I've managed to arrange the album and use a public URL. The site with my pictures can be found here: www.photobucket.com/EdwardHomeandAwayAutographs

I haven't seen any of this week's episodes, and was about to watch on iPlayer, but was immediately put off when I read in the description for Monday's episode that Michael was concocting a plan. I can't stand his character. I'm just sick of all these stupid villains twirling their moustaches, I know he's meant to have more deapth than that but I have no interest in any of the Moons, bar Anthony. So I just don't give a dam. Would you reccommend I watch this week's episodes? I know many dislike Heather, but given a bit of a effort I think she could have stayed. The writers just ruined her. I feel bad for Cheryl Ferguson as she is a good interest. I think Kirkwood is ruining the show. He makes rash decisions with little thought to the long-term.

Thanks, Ben. I am really proud of my Home and Away replies and the actors do seem very nice. The Home and Away cast are much more reliable with their fan mail in contrast to the Neighbours cast, who don't seem to reply anywhere near as much. I have personalised fan cards from Ray Meagher (Alf), Lyn Collingwood (Colleen), Emily Symons (Marilyn), Lynne McGranger (Irene), Amy Mathews (Rachel), Esther Anderson (Charlie), Rebecca Breeds (Ruby), David Jones-Roberts (Xavier), Axle Whitehead (Liam), Luke Mitchell (Romeo), Robert Mammone (Sid), Samara Weaving (Indigo), Charles Cottier (Dexter), Lisa Gormley (Bianca), Rhiannon Fish (April), Steven Peacocke (Brax), Dan Ewing (Heath), Lincoln Younes (Casey). From what I know, Rebecca and David are difficult to get but I've got them, I've seen a few replies from Sonia (Gina) but I know she's also hard to get. I have never seen a reply from Josh Quong-Tart (Miles), I don't think he replies to fan mail at all. Ada is also difficult to get these days, I guess that's a result of her being such a long-term cast member. I've also written to Shane Withington but never seen a reply from him before so I doubt I'll get one. Dan Ewing has mentioned in interviews that he will be upgraded to regular status in due course so it seems they have changed their minds. I'm glad too, I can't see the Braxtons working without Heath, he's an essential part of the family. I know what you mean about the show. I always enjoy the show when I watch it, but for some reason I don't expect to. H&A has an odd relationship with its viewers. I do think it lacks something. It doesn't have something which pulls you in. I think it lacks the emotional attachment that other soaps have. What I find strange is that, particularly in Oz, Home and Away is seen as superior to Neighbours when I would always choose Neighbours over H&A. I instictively choose to watch Neighbours first on my laptop, and I think that shows that Neighbours is doing something which H&A isn't. I think the rot set in much earlier than 2009. When I tuned back into H&A in 2006, after not having watched it since the late 90s, I didn't think it seemed like the same show. Many people complain that Neighbours is nothing like it was in its first couple of years, but I would argue that H&A has changed beyond all recognition. It has a few familiar faces around now but that is all. I think apart from 2008 and 2011, it hasn't had a great season since the early noughties. Even then I don't think the Sutherlands were all that rivetting (bar Kirsty in her 2008-2009 stint) so I would go as far as saying the late 90s was when it was last truly good. I know many people regard 2005-2008 as a great era for the show but I don't agree. People say there were great characters like Hayley, the Hunters, Kim etc but looking back, there is absolutely nothing that draws me to these characters and I wouldn't want them back. Strangely, there are far fewer characters in H&A that I'd like to see return than in Neighbours. I think the noughties was a terrible era for the show overall, I think most of the characters lacked the warmth that they should. Oddly enough, I'm way more interested in the current cast than any cast from 2000-2007. I think the cast we have now are all very likeable in comparison. I think they're heading in the right direction but they need to bring more warmth to the show again. In regard to Colleen, I haveloved her character at points, but the writing sucks for her these days. She's just treated as a joke or a nuissance by the residents. I think you're right about their long-term characters. Lea does seem like she goes round in circles, but I'm hoping now that she's with Miles we might see some development for the character. Sorry for the long post once again!

Of course I don't mind you asking. He basically said that he had been in many theatre productions written by British playwrights and always enjoyed them, adding that I have surely been inspired by many along the way. Then he just wished me luck. He is very lovely and you're right, the actors playing the 'River Boys' come across as very down-to-earth guys. I was surprised when I read the letter how intelligent Steve came across. That may sound harsh but I guess I expected him to be like Darryl to a certain extent! As for that being a long reply; I have had many letters from the Home and Away cast in the last two years. I'm trying to get the entire cast but some are very hard to get. I tend to frame my cards which come with letters, and am saving all the ones with notes on the actual cards to put in a big frame. Here are some links to my letters if you're interested: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/Edskylover/Home%20and%20Away%20Fan%20Cards/LukeMitchellletter.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/Edskylover/Home%20and%20Away%20Fan%20Cards/LisaGormleyletter.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/Edskylover/Home%20and%20Away%20Fan%20Cards/RayMeagherletter.jpg And my frames: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/Edskylover/Home%20and%20Away%20Fan%20Cards/DSCF0750.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/Edskylover/Home%20and%20Away%20Fan%20Cards/DSCF1012.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/Edskylover/DSCF0911.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/Edskylover/DSCF0917-1.jpg As for the current show, yeah, I am still watching. I never give up on Neighbours or Home and Away. I am struggling to keep up with EastEnders though because t is so diabolical at the moment. The Storm wasn't great. There were no long-term repurcussions. Heath's ex died which has left him to raise his daughter which is clearly a plot device to bring out the nicer side to him, but it is pretty clear the girl won't be permanent so I'm not sure what they're trying to achieve. The storyline was pretty much a ratings-grabber, and considering it was publicised to death as the 'biggest disaster to ever hit Summer Bay' it was a bit of a let-down. I think they rely to heavily on these sorts of plots and after a while they just fall flat. What annoyed me the most was Colleen's involvement in it all. The character is a constant irritation as far as I'm concerned and I dn't see why they haven't axed her and brought back Celia to fill the void. Colleen is always and always has been treated like a joke and I just don't think the character brings anything to the show. Celia was the heart of the community between 88 and 90 and I think she was more well-rounded. During The Storm, they used Colleen to bring some humour to the episodes but it sort of undermined the whole thing. Those episodes aren't meant to be comedic and I don't think she should have featured in the episodes. As for other storylines, it seems to just be going through the motions. The Braxtons have clearly been popular and while I think they have a place, they have come to dominate most of the screen time and not in a good way. I don't think they're being used to their full potential. They definitely are decent characters and actors, but they're milking the drama so much that they seem to be going round in circles. It's one drama after the next with little thought to character development. I think once the characters get out of the gang storylines they will serve more of a purpose. The thing is they're being portrayed as the protagonists and the show is glamourising that lifestyle. I am far more interested in other characters though I do see the potential in a forbidden romance between Brax and Charlie. I think they would have worked but they've featured far too heavily and therefore the characters have run out of steam. As far as I'm concerned it didn't help that nerly all their scenes to begin with were the pair of them getting out of bed hardly dressed, and eating each other's faces off the whole time. We never got to see the character's develop a connection. There is chemistry, but it all falls flat because we don't know they they love each other so much. Xavier continues to be a victim of the writers not having a clue what to do with him but against all odds his relationship with Kelly has been one of the highlights of the 2011 season. I wasn't a fan of Xavier to begin with but I have grown to love his character as I think he is one of the most believable and I think he, Sonia and Shane who play the Palmer/Austin family have good chemistry. I hope they bring back Kelly because they were so suited and I would like to see her as a regular. Irene's story seems to have been a bit of a car crash at the moment, with Gypsy returning to 'support' her but barely giving a dam and just going out drinking with Bianca, yelling at Lily or causing tension with April. I don't see the point in her return other than the producer is bringing back all his mates for a guest run. Simply pointless considering that they senwt Will to prison a few months earlier. If they'd just held on a few more months the story could have been great. However it is lovely to see Gypsy back, as she always was one of the best characters. A highlight recently has been the arrival of Sid's daughter Sasha, who was the result of an affair. She is one of the best new characters for a long time with some decent writing and a great actress. Her actions could have easily made her disliekable but the actress has persevered and made her a great character. I hope she's hear to stay, except her half-brother, despite only being ten years old (yes I'm cruel), is a terrible actor. What are your thoughts, Ben? Sorry for the long post! I'm pretty sure you can go through my Photbucket album and look at all my fan cards but I'm not really sure how it works, I'm rubbish with computers!

This week I have received fan cards from both Steve Peacocke and David Jones-Roberts who play 'Darryl Braxton' and 'Xavier Austin'. I'm absolutely thrilled with these responses. Steve seems like a very humble guy, and is very encouraging about writing for TV. I was surprised to hear from David at all, as I wrote to him in September 2009 Hope you like my picture

I don't know if anyone has seen but some great news about Neighbours has just been announced: It has been posted on NFans that the first 60 episodes are being released on DVD in Germany This is great news, hopefully it means further releases will happen! We are yet to find out if the DVDs will come with English audio as well as German but I think it's likely, I mean it is 2011. http://www.fernsehju...endigungen.html 1 - 20: Box 1 21-40: Box 2 41-60: Box 3 ETA: They do come with English audio, and further episodes are to be released in the future

http://www.fernsehjuwelen.de/neuankuendigungen.html

Interesting theory regarding Michael and Tash. So you basically think the actors are why they haven’t been received as well as they could? And you also think that Natasha is a stronger character away from Michael? Reading what you’ve written, I do find myself agreeing. But I don’t think the Williams family unit is anywhere near as bad as some of the families that have been introduced over the years. I wouldn’t like to see the characters be axed, though if they were to axe one I would rather it was Michael. How would you feel if they axed both characters? Do you think the show would miss them? I think Natasha could work away from Michael. If her aunt is successful they may get rid of Michael and a new dynamic could appear. Having said that bringing in Emilia could bring Michael’s character to life... What do you think they should do with Michael to make him function well as his own character? Do you think it’s a mixture of bad writing and poor acting that has led to the character ending up like this? Sorry for all the questions! I think the writers have spent too much time on Michael worrying about Tash. Almost all of his scenes either involve Tash, or just Michael sitting in either Charlie’s or Harold’s Store being advised by whichever regular they’ve chosen for that day. I think they need to play up the bond between Lucas and Michael, as well as the friendship (and I hope it remains that) between him and Libby when she returns. Michael is very insular and perhaps that is part of the problem. You also make an excellent point about the relationships between the parents/teens. Many actors of the past have praised their on screen parents and that is missing. I personally believe this is one of the consequences of the show focusing so heavily on the younger cast members. I think the younger cast see their roles as just a job until they move onto something bigger and better. I think they see it as a stepping stone and I don’t think they see it as a serious show. They probably don’t realise what a beast the show was in the past and the inter-generational element has been lost. There’s definitely a divide between older and younger cast members. What I’ve also found interesting recently is that the younger members seem to mention in interviews that they hang out with the other teens/twenty-somethings in the cast but James Mason never seems to be mentioned. Is he maybe not as involved as the others? Yes, I love Jade. I also think she is very relatable having been through an experience of unrequited love myself recently It’s very true that she is jealous of Kate and I can see why. All the guys seem to fall for Kate for some reason. I definitely think Jade has had a bad experience in the past. I’m really intrigued about what her secret will be. I really hope it’s not something lame. I love Michelle Tran. I think she’s a pretty funny character and a bit off her rocker. However I think Kyle and Jade come out of the story looking pretty bad in the end. Michelle may be annoying but they practically force her to leave and they come across as incredibly mean. Rhys isn’t clicking for me. I think the entrances of characters has been a bit all over the place this year. I mean, Rhys has been in the show for what must be a few months now (I’m talking Aus pace) and he’s barely done anything. His scenes were so sporadic at the hospital until he started speaking to the locals and I think he just comes across as smarmy and annoying. Quite wooden too. Characters don’t seem to make an impact when they arrive anywhere. Normally I write in brackets that a certain episode is the arrival of a certain character but I haven’t done that this year because the entrances have been so gradual. I don’t know if this is down to Susan Bower’s obsession with the audience supposedly not liking new characters but I think if they’re going to have a new character at all, they might as well make an impact from the off. The new doctor and the gay nurse both appeared but that was last week and they haven’t been seen since...?! My Erasmus year was part of my degree, yes. It is for language students. You have to go to the target country and get to either study at a university, work as language assistant in a school or apply for a job. I guess I studied German because I was good at languages at school. It’s the only thing I really excelled at so by default I went down that route. To be honest I’m kind of regretting it now as I don’t know where I’m heading career-wise but I wouldn’t trade my experience in Frankfurt for anything. For one thing I lived in the red light district for the entire year which was interesting to say the least (just so you don’t think I’m nuts I was only ever meant to live there temporarily but I found it so hard to find a new flat I ended up staying there) I would definitely like to invest in software. I just haven’t as yet because I haven’t had the time as well as thinking that it probably wouldn’t lead anywhere. But if I want it to lead somewhere that would surely make my work look a lot more professional. Now that I’m heading into my final year I am going to put aside some time to focus on my writing work. I might not be the best writer, but I do think I know the characters intimately and to me that is what matters the most. I love Steph as a character but I do think at times she suffered from being in the show so long. Ultimately that is what could have driven the writers, but it seemed like they didn’t know where they were taking the character when the direction should have been obvious. I hated the storyline with Jay. But I hated that period of Neighbours because every few months they had a ‘disaster’ in one form or another and I was sick of seeing drama for drama’s sake. Everybody knew that nothing would come from it and therefore it lacked any purpose. However, I do remember Carla putting in some outstanding performances when Jay locked her in the barn house. For Neighbours it was very out there, but I still didn’t enjoy it that much. I don’t think they’ve confirmed who the father of Sky’s second baby is. I would like it to be Dylan’s. Maybe we’ll find out one day if she ever returns! I’m not sure you’re going to like the end of the K/S/J story, Ben. Unfortuntely it has trashed Susan’s character somewhat. In the end she comes across as very selfish and quite venomous towards Karl. While Jackie is on a break, Karl seems to be aimlessly going from scene to scene feeling sorry for himself or calling Susan with no success. There was a touching moment last week when Summer gave Karl a hug. I wish Summer was more likeable as Jordy is a great actress and she has potential to be great. That survey on the official site represents everything that is wrong with Neighbours at the moment. Although I have enjoyed the 2011 season, I don’t feel that enough is being done to save Neighbours and make it the best product it can be. The gap in the 60+ age range as well as the lack of a nuclear family is driving me to despair and I feel very bitter towards Susan for her image of the show. I don’t know how she’s managed to stay for so long, and I don’t know how FME or Ten have allowed her to stay so long. And I don’t know how she’s managed to face so much criticism and still go on with the show. I would like Pete McTighe to become EP as he seems to have a much tighter grasp on the show’s history and roots. To think that importance is being placed on the characters’ clothes and decor in that survey disgusts me.

Yeah, I liked Lance. I think he was perhaps a bit before my time. I was quite young when he was on, but I do remember being a hug fan of him and Amy together. They were wonderful together and totally contrasted. Ben has said before that he likes Lance. I don't know if he may give a better view of the character. I don't think he would have been axed as he was quite popular, but then I guess you never know, they have made stranger decisions!

Forget the link, I've found something way more interesting: http://www.youtube.c...h?v=CIfj5_B_j80 I don't remember Damien being that hot How can I not remember this?!!?!! Attention: 00:36 and 00:53 Anyway, the girl is Sky, and that clip is from 2005. Is she the girl you meant?

Sky who we're suggesting it could be had colours in her hair! This could be the girl, second character down in this list.

I certainly would not describe Sky as the chubby, sullen girl. She was absolutely beautiful. I loved her so much... The only girl who could ever turn me

Ok, my thoughts on what you posted... You chose a good era of episodes to watch. When I compare that era (late 2003-late 2005) to the current era (2011-) I don’t know which I prefer. During the era you’re currently watching many characters had a tendency to be OTT. I do think many of the characters from that time were very well-defined but it was almost as if you didn’t fit in if you weren’t theatrical. From the current era, the cast is much smaller and more intimate. I think you could currently describe the relationship between any of the characters, and that is working in the show’s favour. It feels more like a community. In 2005 though, it was very focused on families which the current show lacks. There were many big families around that time such as the Timmins and Bishops, and that’s where the show really excels IMO. I also will never understand the decision to get rid of David. He wasn’t excellent to start with, but they had basically created a mini-Harold and Harold’s spirit could have lived in on David long after he’d left the show. I think TPTB really shot themselves in the foot. I think I mentioned earlier in this thread, Home and Away was getting massive ratings at the time on Seven in Australia, and even though there was nothing wrong with the ratings for Neighbours, the execs weren’t happy that H&A was doing so much better. Realistically Ten was/is a much lesser channel in terms of ratings overall but Ten got greedy and I think the producers felt pressure to bring about radical change and in the process they made some stupid decisions, like getting rid of David and the Bishops. They were fairly normal characters but they were very relatable because they were a normal family. There was no reason to get rid of them. Janelle Timmins is one of the greatest characters of the last decade. Shouting was part of the character. She was very much common as much, and liked her own voice to be heard. She ultimately was a failure as a mother but as her story progressed we got to see her learn how to be a mother and it was clear she cared deeply for her kids. I think this was shown when it was found out that Bree was swapped at birth. On a show like Neighbours it’s very uncommon to have a mother who isn’t nurturing and a matriarch of the show. But Janelle became a legend in the end. She was great in the comedic plots, and calling Sindi ‘Wendy’ I agree that Darcy and Izzy were great characters. I loved it when Darcy fell/was pushed down the stairs by Izzy and she framed him. At that time the show really pushed the boat out and had a lot of courage to tackle more gritty and dark stories. But the comedy and humour were still there so it really had the perfect balance. If you like Izzy, you would like Natasha Williams, the current resident bitch of Ramsay Street, who is basically a teenage Izzy. By the character at the bikini shop, you mean Connor. He was a great character IMO but I know Ben disliked him. Perhaps he was rather two-dimensional as he seemed to only ever be involved in comedic plots but I loved his silliness. I didn’t like the story with Boyd/Steph/Max/Kayla. As you say it was very obvious. Everybody knew that Max and Steph would get a baby eventually, but they just dragged it out for so long. As for what happened to Kayla and her son – Boyd said at first (don’t know if you’ve watched up to this point) that he wanted to be with Kayla and would be there for the baby, but eventually Kayla got back with its father (played for one episode by the guy who went on to play psycho Robert Robinson/Cam) and Boyd never heard from her again. Oh, how I miss Boyd. Sorry, I know you only wrote a few points, but I knew once I started I wouldn't be able to stop so that's why I left it till this morning.

Yep, I'm now going to bed, but will post my thoughts tomorrow. It's like climbing a mountain replying to the posts in this thread Nice to see some more interest in the thread though!

I don't think you'd be as disappointed if you tuned back into Neighbours. It's got a real positive vibe at the moment and the storylines do seem like traditional Neighbours storylines. I know what you mean about the British soaps. The show has definitely recovered from that dark patch in 2009 revolving around the surrogacy too. Let us know if you have any questions about the current show. Do you ever watch Home and Away these days?

Sorry for this ridiculously late reply. I've been catching up on a backlog of Home and Away - The Early Years and summarizing some characters from that for BTTB as well as writing my essay for German so I've been very busy! Still, I should have replied earlier bu I guess you've got to be in a Neighbours mood. And after the great run of episodeswe've had, I'm definitely in the mood to talk about the show. What have you thought of recent episodes, Ben? Nice to see you've been watching some episodes, Carl, are you not watching any from the current series? I love the direction they're taking Michael/Tash and Jade/Kyle. I think they're bringing in Emilia at the right time. They've milked Natasha's recklessness for all its worth so I think it will be good to see another dynamic to the family. You really do feel sorry for both M/N so the writers are obviously doing a good job. I do think Michael often lacks character but I think his relationship with Tash is what makes his character. Many people are calling him bland and saying they'd like to see him leave. Do you agree with this, Ben? What do you think could be done with the character to make him more likeable, or do you think it's a fault of the actor? Personally, I've seen nothing so far that makes me dislike him. I think the character is really relatable, and I love his friendship with Lucas. As for Jade, Neighbours They've done a fantastic job with this story. I love that Jade doesn't get relationships and has always been into 'casual' but is falling for Kyle and doesn't know what to do about it. What's a sort course if you don't mind me asking? And thanks for the explanation on what a Script Reader is. I don't use any particular software; up until this point I've just treated it as a hobby and nothing major, so I've seen no reason to get really serious about it. Especially as I'm mainly interested in writing for Neighbours, which of course without experience would be near imporssible living this far away from production. I've started watching Doctors (BBC Daytime - in case you didn't know) and I love the format of that show, though EE would be another option. Basically, I'm doing a Degree in German at Aston University, and have just finished my Erasmus Year working in a school in Frankfurt, but will be heading back to Birmingham next year to to my final year. Doctors is actually set and filmed near Birmingham so that would be an excellent starting point. When I finish my course I will be moving back to Norwich I expect, which is where I come from. I loved Chloe Lambert too. She was written so well; Steph expected her to be a bit of a bitch when Marc was going to introduce her, but it turned out to be the total opposite. Chloe warned Steph off Marc because she thought he'd only hurt her. And she was right. It was also great how even after Marc and Steph's relationship had ended and Marc barely featured, Chloe still appeared and went on to have quite a big story with Darcy. That was lovly to watch, especially because it was such a grey area. I don't really agree that Max crushed a lot of Steph's spirit. I get why they had such a large fanbase. I think after everything Steph had been through with previour boyfriends and just the hassle she'd managed to cause herself in general, she was attracted to the idea of being part of a 'normal' family and ultimately a loving environment. Max was clearly a very devoted dad and perhaps the security he was offering she took at the expense of her more wild side. I think it was quite natural for the character. Steph's actions and the reason behind her behaviour since the breakdown of her relationship with Max is something that had SO much scope and was barely touched upon. All of her actions made sense; she was with Toadie as it was the easy option but I don't think she ever truly loved him whereas I do think she loved Max. Then it kind of all went downhill from there. She was obviously a very lonely and desperate woman. Heading towards 40 and not in a stable relationship but also with a young child. I think that's why she slept with Dan; seeing Libby kissing Lucas for that split second pushed her over the edge and she did something selfish, feeling that she was never going to find true happiness. They should have played on Steph's loneliness more, the complexity of her actions was there but they never really delved into it but they could have done so much with it. I was not happy about Boyd cheating on Janae. There were lots of scenes of Kyal Marsh topless which saved the storyline for me But it was kind of bizarre. In 2005 it would have seemed more likely that Jane would cheat on Boyd. Ben looking back, it's not like there was a shortage of storylines that didn't make sense around that time. Everything was out of character and OTT so hey, what's wrong with throwing in an affair? Janae was a great character, and at times she even made Ned bearable. Eliza Taylor-Cotter deserves a Logie for that alone! TPTB and Ten just shot themselves in the foot in so many ways though when they got rid of the Timmins. I read an interview with Eliza in which she said the reason for leaving was that it didn't seem like the same family at Neighbours as when she started. I'm sure that we would have had at least another year or two, who knows, maybe even more, if Ten hadn't axed Janelle and Bree. Even Steiger was a popular character and I think he could have worked as a regular. I think I associate a certain amount of sentimental value to the character of Sky. I don't know if I've mentioned this before in one of the many posts I've made in this thread, but she is the sole and only reason I got back into watching Neighbours in 2004. Well, I suppose you could say Lana was too, but Sky's spirit was something which I truly admired and her support of Lana through the gay plot was really inspirational and it really helped me at the time too coming to terms with my own sexuality. The writing was flawless and I think Sky was a character who was a really wonderful role model. I liked her with Boyd, and I think it's silly that they wrecked that relationship when the Timmins moved in just so they could hook up more characters but hey, I guess it worked out quite well in the end as Sky and Dylan were another great couple. It's a shame they were totally trashed. I like to think of Sky's second child, whose name, gender and father are unknown, to be Dylan's, and that they're a happy family out there somewhere. Speaking of which, I wonder what happened to Boyd after he left. Did he go and stay with Sky and Dylan, or did he continue travelling like he planned? What are your thoughts on Max and/or Boyd returning to the current show, either in a permanent or guest capacity, Ben? I personally think Boyd would be better, he's still got links there, is a bit of eye candy, and could bring back some substance to the role of Summer who is feeling a bit hollow at the moment with no family around. A few months ago at a Neighbours Night fundraiser for the earthquakes, Jordy and Kyal met for the first time. I don't think it's entirely out of the question. Someone mentioned that the character of Boyd got a few cheers that night so I think he's probably still quite popular. He's not the best actor I guess, but as a guest it wouldn't be a problem. I'm loving the K/S/J story. I'm not sure if some K fans are annoyed by it, but I love how it's Susan who is the driving force behind the problems now. It is in many ways quite predictable, but with the Ks they've reahed a stage IMO where there's not many places they can go but the strength and popularity of the characters are things which will drive the story and keep viewers interested. Mal's comeback is where it's lacked for me. I don't think his return has worked so far. I'm pretty sure he's been back on Oz screens for over a month (I watch at Aus pace) and he hasn't really done much at all. I think he's had two great scenes with his parents, which is nice, but we need more. If they're not going to develop the character (i.e. not JUST have him in scenes with his parents) then there doesn't seem any point to him. I get that Susan Bower likes returning characters to return based on the fact that they're involved in a storyline, but that doesn't mean they stop being a character and everything has to revolve around that sole storyline. He's had I think one scene with Toadie, I'm not sure if he even shared a scene with Lou, and he told Summer that she should be careful getting involved with Andrew's schemes to set up No.22 as a hostel. I would have liked him and Toadie to have a night out at Charlie's catching up. Just character building stuff, a few laughs. Actually, Mal had a scene with Lucas taking Karl's car to the garage and the acting from Benjie seemed quite stiff, which was picked up by members on NFans. But to be honest I don't really blame the actor, he must wonder what the purpose of his return is and it must be quite hard to act natural when you don't know where you fit in. It's almost like Susan Bower's arm was twisted and she's brought back the character gritting her teeth, determined to ruin him so that viewers think it's best for characters to remain in the past and don't ask for them to return in the future. I was less than happy with Harold's return, and Oliver and Carm's didn't work out either. Right, rant over. Phew...sorry about that I haven't really missed Libby that much, but that's not to say that I don't want her back. I felt the same about Alf from Home and Away...I didn't really miss him when Ray Meagher was doing Priscilla in London, but it was nice to have him back when he returned. I think they've lost their way with Libby's character a bit. I do wonder what they'll have planned for her when she does eventually return. I think the show has hit a creative stride with its current cast and I worry that when Libby returns, they're going to struggle to find things for her to do again. As for bringing back past characters and what I'd do with Sky...well if I was EP, I think I'd want to leave it another few years before I brought back Sky as I think it would be difficult to write for her now with two such young children, but...I would find it difficult not to sign Steph McIntosh up to a ten year deal as I love Sky so much and would love to see her back at any time. I think if I were to bring her back now, I'd bring her back with a half-sister she's met since leaving Erinsborough, who is the result of an affair between her natural father and an unknown mother. I would cast the girl who is currently playing Tegan in Home and Away, as I think her and Steph share a physical resemblance. I'd bring Sky and Dylan back and simply say they've missed their time away and wanted Kerry (and unnamed neutral-gender child) to grow up in a nice neighbourhood and be schooled at EH. To be fair instead of casting anyone new to bring back with Sky and Dylan, they could bring back any number of characters including any of the Timmins. Once they've settled down I would bring back Sky's dad trying to mend bridges with the pair of his daughters who he fell out with off-screen. Right, I'm getting tired now and drifting, so perhaps I should leave it at that. God, this ended up being a long post. Sorry I took so long to reply!

I have to agree, Amello. Thursday and Friday in particular were excruciating. I kept looking at my watch wondering when it would finish. I'm happy to give the Moons a chance, but I just don't think they're going to work. Michael doesn't work as a complex character, Tyler just seems like an immature moron and Eddie is as wooden as Ned from Neighbours. I agree that Anthony could be the only one with potential, but have to agree too that I could just be thinking that because the others are bad. What was with Angry Julie as well storming all around the place..?

Thanks for the info on Donna, Carl. She sounds like a fascinating character. I'll have to somehow find episodes from that era to watch. I've got a fair few eps stored from when UK Gold did those 'specials' weekends. In fact I'm going to go and dig them out, maybe I'll post in here what eps I've saved to DVD. I think I'm going to watch the eps where Phil tells Kate what happened with Lisa in Spain(?). I don't think Lisa was an amazing character, but Lucy Benjamin has done some of the most brilliant performances in the history of the show IMO. I just read that Louisa Berridge axed her in 2002 which surprises me. What do you think of Lisa, Carl? Who do you rate out of the current cast? I think it's a shame that Zoe Slater has been totally forgotte about. I know hey mention her every so often, but have they actually confirmed what happened to her? I woudn't want the original actress to return in the role as I don't think she was a good actress but I wouldn't be against a recast. In fact, I think it would give Kat's character some much needed purpose in the show, it somehow doesn't feel right her being surrounded totally by Moons and Mo and Jean don't seem to work as her only relatives. I think it was a mistake to get rid of Charlie, as I'd much prefer him in a patriarchal role than the wooden Eddie. I really think Chrissie should return at some point in the future. I know shewas in it during one of its slump periods, but many have mentioned thst she was EastEnders in 2005 and I tend to agree. The only problem being she has no connections in Albert Square anymore. If they eve bringback Sharon on a permanent basis, Chrissie should return too. I think it would be good to see her out of jail and trying to redeem herself. Going to see Kat/Sharon/Zoe/Sam to make amends. Tracy Ann Oberman is fantastic though one of the less likely candidates for a return.