BetterForgotten

David's first exit: The 1992-1996 era is probably my favourite years of the 90's. 1997 seemed like a big lull, and then Matthew Robinson's big revamp happened in 1998-1999 and the show definitely became a bit more glossy with that and for years to come.

Probably Martine McCutcheon, who was in her early 20's and apparently growing quite the ego during this time. If so, at least Collins and her have the distinction of getting on Matthew Robinson and Mal Young's bad side, hence why their characters were killed off. Speaking of McCutcheon, I was watching some old Tiffany scenes a few weeks ago, and even thought I know Tony Jordan created the character, it was easy to spot that the character was an early prototype for what would become the Slater girls. There were elements of Kat, Little Mo, and of course Stacey that were so prevalent in that character, though she was obviously weaker due to her association with Grant. I think the only person Patsy has some early conflict with was Barbara Windsor, but they got over that.

He was very good with Janine, which was great as he never got the chance until this stint to interact with Charlie's version of the character (I don't count Pat's death). Yeah, I know there was the whole blackmail thing, but he was the only person on the show that saw her as a human and didn't judge her for being the way she is. They're actually quite similar in many ways, which David told her in her last episode. I love that he acknowledge her as his sister and she acknowledged him as an older brother. Both Carol and Bianca have never once shown proper gratitude for what Janine did for them. They were often late with the rent, never had a good word to say to her and were overtly rude. Bianca knew Janine as a child and a young adolescent. When Janine returned to Walford in 2000, Bianca was gone and she didn't see Janine again until 2008; from then on, she did everything in her power to turn Ricky against his sister. Both are on my [!@#$%^&*] list for the way they treated her in her last episode to support that airhead Alice - who let me remind you, conspired to kill Janine. At least Bianca's kids loved Aunty Janine and showed that at in her last episode.

Christopher Reason wrote this episode too, I really wish he got more attention for his work. I always thought he was better than Simon Ashdown, who got all the praise for the same old bag of tricks. I'm glad he's no longer with the show as I thought it suffered a great deal from his influence.

I wish Bianca would remember Alan, you know, the man who helped raise her and who was the only consistent father figure in her life. In fact he was the only father figure in all of Carol's kids lives.

Aw, today's episode uses Julia's Theme. I'll never get sick of hearing it and the contrived emotions its meant to stir up. Carol is still an ungrateful, vile, and self-centered woman. If played be a lesser actress, I would hate her completely. But Lindsey Coulson is just too good to overlook. I will miss Michael French/David, but at least the door is open for him to come back. He just fit back in seamlessly - he had a great rapport with everyone, especially Carol, Janine, Bianca, Ian, and that brief scene he had with Sharon earlier this week.I really wish French would commit long-term to the show, but alas, that's probably never going to happen. This episode really should have been a Carol/David two-hander as they took up 80% of it, the Sonia/Bianca stuff was a waste.

Christopher Reason wrote this episode, and he's one of the show's longest running writers. He's usually the only one that's able to get Sharon right and bring in a semblance of what made the character popular in the first place.

It's not exactly out of character for David to just up and leave everyone behind. Predictable yes, but not out of character as he's never been able to commit to anyone for too long.

I miss Tony Jordan, no one wrote better for a great deal of these characters more than he did. I wonder how much better characters like Sharon, Phil, Kat, Alfie, Stacey, Dot, Bianca, Carol, and David would be written if he was still there. As for Carol and David, there seems to be a hell of a lot retconning going on with their relationship. Those two have always been toxic together and apart, and judging by the backstory that was told in the 90's, they were mere kids fooling around when Carol got knocked up with Bianca. I think Pat even said something to the effect that Carol was pretty loose with her sexuality as a teen at one point (Pat of all people would know). I don't understand this Romeo & Juliet-esque story we're now led to believe. The only man I've ever bought Carol with was Alan, actually. Speaking of Pat, I did enjoy Ian and David talking about her yesterday, and how Ian said Pat would know what to say in a situation like his. She would, and I miss her. Janine still owns Pat's house right? I wonder if she's charging Bianca and Carol rent, given that she couldn't give two [!@#$%^&*] about them. I miss her too, and I hope she returns soon. Also, Sharon was shown at her best on Tuesday's episode with both Ian and David. I liked them remembering Pat again, and Sharon's definite through about Dennis and not getting a second chance.

I'm watching in reverse, but I'm surprised they remembered that Stacey and Sharon know one another during that quick scene when Kat and Stacey were walking around the square. In fact, it's hard to believe now, but Stacey was one of the most unpopular characters on the show when she first arrived. I remember how much the forums hated her and how she was labeled as both a Janine and Kat rip-off/younger interpretation. It was her unique, almost brother/sister relationship/friendship with Dennis Rickman that got people to start liking her, and this was propelled by the time they first introduced Jean to make her a more sympathetic character and explain why she was the way she was. Sarah Phelps, who was one of the show's best writers deserves a lot of the credit for making Stacey as a character work after the rather brisk reception she initially got. In fact, it was Phelps who coined the now catchy "Stacey Slater, ice skater" line of dialogue...

They don't seem to make much of a difference on the UK soaps anymore anyway, the continuity has been quite dire on them in recent years.

It just feels like a terrible attempt to humanize Shirley and to make her more sympathetic. At least the Zoe stuff was built in and hinted at during Kat's introduction, this was just made up because DTC has some sort of weird agenda to push with Shirley and the Carter's. The unfortunate thing is that Shirley doesn't need this type of push, those who liked the character liked her for the messed up and unapologetic mess she was/is. The fact that it feels like she's on every f.ucking episode and seems to be part of every storyline is turning me off her character and the whole Carter family to be honest. I know they want us to believe Shirley is some modern-day version of Pat, but she'll never be that IMO. Pat's evolution on the show was done in a very organic and diligent way.

Are you referring to the clear rip-off of the iconic Kat/Zoe story tonight? As I mentioned above, that's probably the show's definitive moment of the 00's, so strange to do a retread as it's now going to be compared.

George Micheal's final US top 10 hit from 1996:

I don't have any sort of opinion of the Carter's, they're just there, I'm really ambivalent about them as a whole (I really don't care for Kellie Bright and Danny Dyer though). But overall, I don't hate them, but I don't have a strong care for them either from what I've seen. The Masoods initially (before they were trashed) worked because they show learnt from their mistakes with the Ferreira's on how not to write a South Asian family. The Slater's are a different situation altogether, as they were introduced on what was probably the show's last real golden era. They dominated almost the entire show from 2001-2005, but strangely, I didn't mind as I fell in love with them from almost the beginning, and that was when BBC America aired the show just a few months behind the UK transition, so it almost felt like I was experiencing everything in real-time, as PBS was quite a few years behind by that point. It's strange how popular the show was during that time when a new family dominated so much airtime, I don't know if they would be as warmly received today. They did have their detractors though, as many of the cast weren't happy with them being given such high priority at the time, and it did feel like they didn't interact with the entire Sqaure as a whole, but moreso with each other for most of the time. But at the end of the day, their storylines are probably EastEnders most definitive stories of the 00's. The Kat/Zoe reveal is EastEnders signature pop culture moment of the 00's (with Who Show Phil? which happened around the same time a close second), and most definitely that of British soaps in the 00's, nothing else comes close from a pop culture and definitive perspective from that otherwise uneven decade. It gets me thinking that they have absolutely no idea what to do with Sharon anymore, which is sad. From what I've seen, she doesn't even feel like a supporting player, but more like a dayplayer. I can't believe this is the same Sharon who was once a very vital character. I know DTC once said she was his favourite character, but I haven't seen that. He'll be more interested in pushing Stacey again, and moving Ronnie into her new villainous direction.

Great stories TimWill! I think I've seen you post for years at Walford Web (an EastEnders site/forum that no longer exists, but there is a splinter forum for members who used to post there in existence now). Nice to see you posting here, through strange seeing you post about something other than EastEnders!

I think the ongoing story was French had a strange infatuation with Coulson's first husband, and seduced her to get back at him when he wouldn't return French's sexual advances. This old archived article speaks about it: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Who+shall+I+bed+first+..you+or+your+wife%3F%3B+WHAT+GAY+EASTENDER+TOLD...-a061180285

Honestly though, I always expected French to be short-term. His original stint was only 3 years, and it took him a long time to even consider coming back. I know he and Lindsey Coulson had some strange falling out in the 90's. It looks like that's gotten better with time, but probably still awkward on an ongoing basis for both.

In other news, Gillian Wright is back as Jean for a short stint. I'm glad it's only a short stint and won't spoil Jean's happy ending exit. I honestly don't know why Stacey had to come back this year. This character needed a good 5-6 years of resting, I still think it's way too soon for her. They also seem intent on making Lauren the nuStacey Slater, which is jarring with the real thing on at the same time. http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/55796-ee/

I never expected Carol and David to be anything serious anyway. Those two are too dysfunctional together and apart to ever make it work between them, that's how its always been. I'v also heard that when Bianca leaves (possibly with her annoying ass kids), it will be the first time someone with links to the Butcher family (by marriage, divorce, or just blood related) hasn't been on the show since 1988. Thank goodness Janine functions independently as a character and can return without family - I need her back somehow over the next 3-5 years (sooner, but not likely).

Terrible news, Michael French is leaving again. I wonder how soon before it's announced that Lyndsey Coulson is leaving again too. With Bianca leaving soon too, who does Carol have now? I guess you can say the Branning extension, but I've never really looped Carol in with them too strongly, as she's forever Carol JACKSON in my mind. I guess Sonia too, but Sonia also functions independently of the Jackson clan in my mind given that her peak years on the show were without them. http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s2/eastenders/scoop/a571701/eastenders-michael-french-leaving-david-wicks-role.html?utm_source=twt&utm_medium=snets&utm_campaign=twitter#~oEyPVmnULA8pCJ

He assaulted her before he left the last time, so same old.

Some are now saying it was Solange confronting Jay Z about cheating on Beyonce (repeatedly). If so, she needs to let her sister fight her own damn fights - Beyonce looks so emotionless and stone cold, she must be hiding her hurt well if this is true.

More like ever.

For a successful career maybe?