Y&RWorldTurner

Today's episode: I really like Julie so far, and I think she and Billy have a nice/natural chemistry. They're believable as old pals, and I could buy her as a love interest for him. Their conversations throughout the episode was nice and helped to give a good insight into Billy's past. At least she was honest with him towards the end of the episode about him having an adult son. I'm really interested in seeing where they go with Billy and Julie in the future. Those were great scenes between Carol and Conner as well. Carol can be a nasty old cow, but this is how she deals with everything, by taking it out on other people. She's a broken woman and each day she's crumbling to pieces little by little. I had to laugh at how everyone hated Kim's food and how Bianca had to lie to her over the phone about how they all loved it. I thought it was a great character-based episode for the characters featured in it, especially Billy Mitchell.

Those interviewers were lame as f.uck. They asked him more about Corrie than EastEnders. Then again, This Morning is an ITV show... So, looks like Stacey is in fact getting the Christmas storyline, so I guess she'll exit during that time...

Thanks for posting, dannigold. Here's the video in YouTube format. <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv6g7FweCBI?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv6g7FweCBI?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv6g7FweCBI?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

Oh, I wonder what Dot will say when she hears that Carol doesn't want to see the Vicar or have a religious funeral.

Aren't Ben and Abi supposed to be the same age? I think they've made him slightly older than her with this recast. The Branning's were often in their own little orbits before and their stories didn't allow for much crossover at the time. In a way, when the shock of Billie's death is over, Max, Carol, Bianca, and Jack will all probably go back to their respective orbits. I did hear there was supposed to be a big story with Jim, Max, and Jack, but they couldn't do it when Jim Bardon had his stoke, and they can barely use him now as it is.

Carl, what do you think of the Ben recast? Are you surprised they kept the character's looks the same with the recast? I kind of thought he'd automatically get a new personality with the recast, I'm glad that wasn't the case.

This was the same Liam who a few days ago guessed that Billie was dead when no one wanted to say anything. I don't buy it. I don't like soap kids anyway, so whatever...

I think he's 12 or 13.

I don't think Liam is as annoying to the extent as Tiffany is. At least they don't constantly try to force this tacky cute shtick on him like they do with Tiffany. He was just stupid to interpret drunk off her ass Kim kissing Ricky as anything serious and consenting. Any kid that that saw that would know it's nothing meaningful, IMO.

I don't have much use for Bianca's annoying ass kids. But I'm glad Pat is no longer a merely a prop for such rubbish children.

Today's episode: Tiffany annoys the piss out of me. I do not find her cute and precocious at all. It's like they always have to try so hard to make her seem "cute." Enjoyed the Max and Carol scenes, even if I don't think Max owes her any apology. That fight scenes between Bianca and Kim and then Bianca breaking down in Kim's arms was nice too. It was unexpected, but it made it better. That video was reality hitting Carol in the face. I don't think Billie hated her, but she was a smothering presence in his life and they didn't have a perfect relationship. Looks like Billy Mitchell's story is going to start to heat up with this new woman. I think she had a nice presence in her first episode (though the actress has been on the show before). Kat hasn't been on since last Friday until today, and Alfie hasn't been on since Monday. They've been in nothing by throwaway scenes this week. Liam is dumb as hell. He saw Kim being drunk and her being the one that instigated the kiss with Ricky. He's acting like Ricky intentionally kissed Kim and they were both in a consenting state.

I'm sorry, I do not have any sympathy for Carol over what Max told her, in everything else yes, I do feel sorry for her. She was worse with the way she often came down on him when Bradley died. The man was grieving for his son, and all she could tell him what a bad father he was and how he's to blame for a lot of what happened. At least Max gave her back a taste of that. At least Max freely admits that he has some blame for screwing up Bradley's life, instead of Carol who is in denial about her smothering of Billie, which led to him having a bad opinion of her.

New Ben has been cast: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a282221/eastenders-new-ben-mitchell-revealed.html He looks like a slightly older Charlie Jones, at least looks-wise, it's consistent recasting.

Carol, however, isn't. I don't see her as the type other women would be fond of or confide in. Bianca can barely tolerate her most of the time. She has a bitter side that really isn't adaptable in most friendships.

Lacey and Kirkwood said that Stacey will go back to her roots and reclaim some of her old spirit again. Lacey is happy to be more "bubbly" again since Kat's returned: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a282104/turner-praises-enders-stacey-change.html Lindsey Coulson thinks Carol should be close friends with Shirley and Denise: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a282114/enders-star-wants-friends-for-carol.html

Did you see the spoilers about

From the spoilers, there appears to be a fun episode next week with Pat, Janine, Stacey, and Kat. Apparently, after a fight erupts at R&R, the four of them find themselves in prison and under one cell. It should be fun to see the four of them together in a confined space. Pictures from next week's episodes: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eastenders/2010/10/picture-gallery-wc-18-october.shtml#more A vague spoiler for Friday October 29th says, "Elsewhere, Pat offers gentle words of wisdom to a fragile Carol." I wonder what that one is about. It should be interesting, because from their history, Pat and Carol do not like each other and owe each other absolutely nothing. So, Pat being a voice of reason for Carol in her time of needs sounds interesting. Do you feel there's been a conscious effort lately to infuse more heart into the show? If things keep up, this might be the first time since the John Yorke era that you can feel the emotional core and heart of a lot of the content playing out.

I forgot to mention something, I'm glad we're seeing Pat consistently on the show again. She's just supporting Janine and the Jackson's, but a year or so ago, I think they would have had Bianca say some throwaway line about Pat taking the kids out or something. I think by next year, Pat deserves her own story.

Arthur's family hasn't really been explored I think. I wonder if the show would even bother to explore it. I don't really want Martin and Sonia back either, but they're still fresh in people's minds, and with Carol and Bianca back, Sonia has more family. I guess Rebbecca could pop up on her own in a decade or so when she's 18 or 20...

When Bradley died, Carol was on about how Max needed to face how much he destroyed his life. Max isn't doing anything to her that Carol didn't do to him in his state of grief, plus it didn't help that she was pulling his daughter by the hair and pouring alcohol all over.

Looks like Carol will be going more out of control next week, and I wonder how Bianca will react to the situation with Liam. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/spoilers/a281513/carol-brands-jim-a-racist.html http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/spoilers/a281514/carol-bans-her-family-from-the-funeral.html

Today's episode: That was such a beautiful scene between Carol and Jim in the kitchen. Again, there was no dialogue, but the looks and embrace said it all. Billie's death seems to have had an effect on all those around him, the way it was played in the episode. There was Max and Jack's reactions, and even Tiffany's reactions. They didn't need to do all that, but I'm glad they did. Oh Whitney, it was a drunk text, if he couldn't be straight up with you when he wasn't drunk, then he's not worth it... I can see why Jay can identify more with Phil than with Billy. I'm enjoying the nice guy Phil of these days, I'm sure it won't last for long, but Phil is reminding me of his earlier years these days. Abi was like a little psycho today with her crush on Darren. I think it's interesting that they have Vanessa and Tanya getting along so well. There wasn't much of Alan in this episode, and Carol couldn't face him, but I guess there is more to come between Carol and Alan later. Carol was really out of control at the end of the episode when she pulled Lauren by the hair and dragged her into Max's house, and then poured alcohol all over her. I can totally understand why Max snapped and told her that Billie went into the army and died as a result of some of her actions. Lauren didn't force Billie to do anything that he didn't want to do, even though she looks like she's headed for a dark path herself. I think Lauren seems to be coming into her as a character with the recast, and it was needed, I can't picture Maddie in most of these scenes.

I think what's even more sad is that the Fowler extension has all but died out. Probably the only reasons I'd advocate bringing Martin, Sonia, and Rebecca back is for the Fowler name to be reincorporated into the show. There's also bringing Michelle, Vicky, and Mark, Jr back, but I don't think that is as likely to happen. Possibly Vicky could return with a recast if Sharon ever pops back up.

Yes, he tried to kill Pat after I think she found out about his plan to harm/kill Lucy, who he was jealous of and thought Ian loved more and gave more attention to than the other children. Though, as far back as 2002, some were saying in the press that Steven had to potential to be the next Nick Cotton. I wish they could bring Kathy from the dead too. Ian, Phil, Ben, and the rest of the Beale's could use her.

Does Ian even know what happened to Steven? I know he disowned him towards the end. Santer killed whatever potential that character had, and I'm not sure if he can ever recover.