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jfung79

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Posts posted by jfung79

  1. I like the new characters, but agree Miles and Zoe are too rich. My favorite Winston line so far is "I'm pretty sure public humiliation is illegal" -- think he will stick around and have more story than previous East Asian characters like poor Leia or Kendra, although still a sidekick. I love Leo and hope he is not going to be an abuser. Him with his grandparents was the best.

    The big shock of Adam dying -- was that necessary? They just had Cam die last season.

    So glad Eli was there supporting Clare through the cancer. Eclare are still awesome. Funny that just because he graduated, Jake didn't show up ever to support his stepsister though, nor Jake's dad. And of course, no mention of Darcy whatsoever.

    The stuff with the little kids was kind of random. The transformation of Mike Dallas into upstanding citizen and good guy, never mind his previous history, is pretty much complete now, but I don't mind because I want to root for all these characters.

    I forgot to remind Mr. Vixen to watch before the season started! Eric83, did you remember?

    Now there's just another week or so until the show is back again! Excited.

  2. I love Dennis. Dennis and Rita are a wonderful couple to turn to for advice and support. There is no other warm, unjudging, and not too "weird" older couple like that on the show. It doesn't really matter to me what he was up to in the 60s, how he was a bit of a bad boy or whatever. That was eons ago and people certainly will change over all that time. He's a great unit with Rita now and that's what matters. If they wanted to bring on someone for Rita, why invent a new character when it could be him, someone she interacted with way back when?

    Elsie's maiden name was Grimshaw so I think it's just a fun and harmless tip of the hat that he's related to Eileen -- can mean more later if they want it to.

  3. Yes, I believe CBC in Canada is just a couple weeks behind the UK, EricMontreal, about the same as Hulu. Glad you are watching again! One more soap I can discuss with you and read your thoughts about.

    Don't really care for Gloria so I don't mind that she's leaving. Glad they aren't killing her off though.

  4. Now up to and past where soapgirluk was when she posted May 30th. I just finished the Friday May 31st episodes.

    Love Tina laying down the law keeping Gary and Izzy from their baby until they communicate and put their baby first. In the comments underneath the Hulu episodes, people are raving that they love Tina, and I can see why. I now believe she will be a great loss to the show when she leaves next year. I like how solid Tommy has been in support of her as a friend and I'm glad that Tina now wants to be more than a friend with him again. Thought it was a good touch that Tyrone sided with Gary about not being kept from seeing his kid, because of what happened with Ruby. I'm starting to like Fiz again; she's been more tolerable lately.

    I think Izzy is overreacting to Gary's confused almost-kissing of Tina and she should forgive him.

    Nice to see Sally, Sophie, and Jenna more, but this thing with Sally dating someone from the Internet seems like filler so far.

    Rob, Tracy, and Carla - wow! I loved Deirdre tearing into Tracy and Rob, and Rob shouting at Carla that she washed her hands of him long ago -- actually making his robbing her seem like her fault! Now Rob and Tracy are determined to make a new business work to stick it to Carla. I'm glad Carla didn't turn Rob in, but I wouldn't have blamed her if she had.

    Missing Jason Grimshaw ...

  5. What, no telenovela style? I watch too much TV as is, but still, less Degrassi. Sadness!

    Eli is still there? Yay! I'm excited. Excited too that there is a new East Asian male character, although he seems kind of stereotypical/sidelined from the brief description.

  6. Thanks DRW50!

    Watching the next episode now and GH's relish has invaded Corrie ... Tina just asked Tommy to get her a ham sarnie with "piccalilli -- no no, extra piccalilli, yeah?" Haha!

    Edit:

    Finished the episode ... Yay the Rovers has opened, and yay Jason's back. Love Jason's eye-rolls as Stella praises Owen and Karl. And Gary has had to confess to Izzy. Loving the drama and the emotions! Also, nice touch with Betty Turpin's picture and LOL at Sean's WWBS to Norris.

  7. And the instability cycle begins anew ... I like this person's comment at the bottom of the article:

    "union_jak
    I always feel somewhat sorry for the actors when they lose their jobs because of the failures of the writers. Honestly, every character has potential for a story in some shape or form; it's hardly realistic to say there "wasn't much else they could do with Tyler". Are they saying in real life people just stop doing stuff and nothing ever happens to them again? If they ran out of ideas for a young guy then they seriously need fresh new writers on the show. I mean, straight away I could suggest he got involved with an older lady - he seems like the type of guy to be into MILFs - and Glynis Barber wants to return as Glenda Mitchell so..."

    On another note, from recent synopses, I like the humor of the snake escaping and a prostitute being revealed to be living at the B&B when Dot was trying to impress Reverend Stevens to get a job with the church.

    I'm confused why Alice is stealing things.

    Not a fan of this macho Branning brother brawl with Kirsty's brother over her scary ex Carl.

  8. Up to Friday May 24th now.

    I like that Fiz was trying to tell Chesney that working out is overrated and unnecessary, and there is too much focus on hot bodies today.

    I also love the latest twist in the Tracy, Rob, Michelle, Carla, and Peter story -- the interplay between Carla's guilt at having abandoned Rob when they were younger, and her fear that Rob and Tracy have ripped her off, faked the robbery, and stolen the silk.

    I like Rob asking Tracy about her murdering Charlie Stubbs too, and Tracy's answer, "I have never murdered anybody I actually like." I've still only read about that whole story.

    Great scenes with Dev as he and family continue to deal with their grief, as well.

  9. Glad you're liking the show again, soapgirluk! Hulu is still on May 20th so I can't comment directly in response to where you were as of that post, but I'm still enjoying the show too.

    Poor Roy has just found out his dad is dead and is lashing out at Hayley. I feel bad for Hayley. Gloria is paying for the Rovers work to start again and it will be opening in less than a week. Eileen and Paul are back from visiting Todd in London, but no sign of Jason yet -- I'm missing him. Sylvia had some great lines this episode -- one about tomato sauce (ketchup) not counting in your 5 a day and made a little dig at American counseling sites too, LOL (but boooo).

    Gary tried to kiss Tina a few episodes ago after meeting with his Army friends and thinking about his dead friend Quinny. I actually do believe him that he was just confused and I do believe he loves Izzy. I like how Tommy has been with Tina for the most part in trying to be her friend, although too much machismo for my taste in his interaction with Gary. BTW I think it's funny how Tommy is always wearing T-shirts with big slogans or pictures, but neat that the show gives him a style.

    Owen is getting on my nerves, always mad at people -- was mad about Stella and Karl celebrating their engagement (although that was understandable), then pissed at Anna for enabling Tim (can see his logic, but it hurts Faye), and now pissed at Katy/Ryan. What does he expect Katy to do? Katy does need to be around more for Joseph but she also is going to date someone else too. Chesney is just bitter and there's no hope there for Katy. I'm not sure though that Ryan is really cut out for helping with the baby. I haven't seen him do it yet. It's interesting to me how Michelle was all defending Ryan in front of Owen but then laying into Ryan at home. I never see Michelle saying positive things about Ryan to him; she seems to just criticize him and put him down.

    I think Tracy is right about Carla and Michelle not having much in the way of people management skills. Also, poor Rob is being maltreated by Peter -- but Rob going off with Tracy to the back room to have some sexy time doesn't help his case either!

  10. I don't agree they have too much dead weight ... Mind you, I don't watch so this is just based on the synposes ... But I think one of the problems with EastEnders is an attitude of "dead weight" needing to be trimmed so they turn over half the cast every few years. There is no stability and longevity. So then the ratings sag when they've purged half the cast, and they desperately need to bring someone back again as a stunt to get the ratings back up. Then that person or tons of other people leave, and the cycle starts anew.

    Also, sometimes new characters get introduced for a mere few weeks or months, then are ushered out abruptly.

    The show needs to have characters stick along enough so they can be the new stars that keep people watching. Right now, they are still harking back to returns for characters from the 80s, 90s, and early 00s, to get lapsed viewers to come back. The instability of the show has prevented their being many newer popular characters. EastEnders also doesn't have the kids who grew up on the show who stuck around. Lots of recasts of characters like Ben, Peter, Lucy, etc, and Ian and Sharon grew up on the show way back when, but in recent years I can't think of actor/characters on EastEnders analogous to Coronation Street's Chesney Brown, David Platt, Steve McDonald, Fiz Brown, Jason Grimshaw, and Tyrone Dobbs who have actually grown up on the show, were not recast, and are still around as adults. (It's also in part, I think, why Liz is popular on GH although I don't care about Liz much.) I guess there is Jay, kind of, but even he has only been there for six years. Darren would have been if the actor hadn't left. Bianca disappeared for too long to be considered to have grown up on the show, and Ricky is now gone.

    In the hands of good writers, there is always story for a cast. Whoever seems like "dead weight" may just not be given suitable stories. In particular, I think the Masoods, even without Zainab and Syed, need to stick around because given the demographics of the UK, I think there definitely needs to be a strong Asian family presence on EastEnders that doesn't just disappear every few years. It's about time an Asian family had as much staying power as the Mitchells or the Brannings. If anything, more characters should be added to it. You can reinvent that family by adding a whole new branch to it, as was done with the Brannings, Slaters, Moons, and Mitchells.

    Still, though I disagree with your thrust, I think you have good points and I can see where you're coming from. I think it's an especially good point that Joey seems to be playing a role Tyler could have played!

  11. OMG just read about David Wicks (although it is apparently still unconfirmed officially, it seems to be unofficially confirmed)! Excited, even his brief return last year made a huge positive impact.

    I have to say though, having discovered Coronation Street, EastEnders seems much more stunt-driven, over the top, and unstable in its handling of characters and stories. I'm no longer regretting that I don't watch EE anymore (but still keep up on synposes).

  12. Tyrone is abused by Kirsty, but she lies and says he hit her, so everyone turns on him; Sunita dies and is framed for arson, so everyone turns on her;

    I can't speak to the other examples, but I think to say everyone turned on Tyrone and Sunita is definitely an exaggeration. Tommy, Tina, Fiz, and Chesney did not turn on Tyrone. I think I also saw Hayley there showing up at his trial to support him. People who knew Tyrone were understandably split, as they would be in real life, with Deirdre just telling what she heard. I do think they should have had Deirdre apologize like Julie and Eileen did, though.

    Sophie did not turn on Sunita. Even Stella refused to the end to say with certainty that Sunita started the fire. Jason doesn't completely believe she did it either. Tina, Lloyd, and Steve attended her funeral; I believe Roy and Hayley commented they would have closed the cafe and gone if they had known about the date.

  13. They did talk about big chains a little bit ... Also, having a saturation of betting shops may mean more people total are gambling, but that doesn't mean the individual betting shop which now has more competition will have more profit. In a free market, new competitors enter until profits become zero. Also, this 2012 study shows how over-the-counter revenue for gambling has declined in the UK; revenue increases have been to machine betting with fixed odds, not the kind of low-tech over-the-counter operation that Peter has been running and that Rob thinks needs modernization: http://www.gamblingdata.com/files/UKBettingShopsNov2012V_1Final.pdf

    Thanks for the info on Tina's becoming a surrogate being rushed and the info that it's illegal to pay for a surrogate mother in the UK, as well as about Gary and Izzy's previous attitudes. I still like how the story is playing out now though in terms of the impact on the characters.

    Soaplovers, I don't like Fiz either! Half the time she's nice but the other half, she's really self-righteous. I do like Tyrone a lot, but I see your point about the affair. By the way, how do you want people to respond to your posts? Should I be leaving spoiler space between when I'm responding to you and when I'm responding to other people who are not catching up on the past few months? I'm sorry if I've spoiled anything you didn't want to know. That sounds really plausible your description of Leanne. I still like Leanne though, the only one in her family who can see sense about Karl. Eva and Gloria are if anything more obnoxious overall! I also still like Stella. I think on soaps and other TV shows, characters who newly discover they are mother-child generally bond pretty solidly within a year or two to get on with the story, and I have no problems with that dramatic license.

    I don't know much about Sally or Kylie. Re: Peter and Carla, I don't know the story of how she fell for him but I don't think Peter is sleazy. He seems like a good guy, just flawed.

    The Bookies being in a financial ruin doesn't make sense to me. Due to the recession, in the last couple of years more and more betting shops have appeared all over the place, sometimes door-to-door! More people are gambling and getting into debt to repay existing debt. So, Peter should be pulling in a trade. No-one cares if the décor is dated and tired, or if they'll get free tea - all they care about is winning money. If they wanted to be somewhat plausible then maybe they should have focused on the big chain stores that have taken over the betting scene.
  14. "Nightmare in Silver" and "The Name of the Doctor" ended the season well! I'm satisfied with the mystery of Clara having been solved. "The Crimson Horror" wasn't bad either. I think the Cybermen were used well and I liked the Emperor who didn't want the responsibility. I also like that Angie and Artie were in the last three stories -- grounds Clara -- and that they even got to take a trip in the TARDIS. It was kind of irresponsible of Clara to take them into danger like that though without really warning them.

  15. - endless trials

    - pointless explosions and fires

    - pointless whodunits and serial killer stories

    None of those appear to be on the horizon.

    Peter seems like he would be too proud and stubborn to have ever said his business was in trouble until he was really underwater, so just because the bookies was off screen, that's neither here nor there in terms of the realism of technological change and the recession affecting his business.

    People change in their attitudes toward kids as they grow older so on the face of it, that doesn't sound unrealistic to me regarding Gary. Gary is 26 or 27 according to Wikipedia; that's not that young to me.

  16. Thanks for the very informative post about Leanne, Ben! It sure does seem like she is being hypocritical. She does come across as acting like the only wronged party with Peter; I had no idea she had already cheated on him previously.

    You're right that it would be better if she were going after Karl because of suspicions about his involvement in the fire, but I can't help rooting for her taking him on anyway. Also though, I do think characters who have done the "sinning" can sometimes be the most angry at seeing it in other people ... Kind of a self-hatred and/or "it takes one to know one" kind of thing. I don't think that kind of layer is coming across in what I'm seeing right now though, just saying it could be an explanation for her behavior if I wanted to give it one.

    In general, I still think Corrie does seem to portray characters three-dimensionally in a layered manner though.

  17. I'm trying my hardest to get into Corrie, but it's not happening so far. I've watched the first two weeks and I find most people annoying so far. This has always been the hardest British soap for me to get into, but since it's available on Hulu I want to make this relationship work LOL. Out of all the UK soaps I can't believe they decided to pick this one up. Hollyoaks would've paired much better with their US soaps. Emmerdale would go well with AMC as well.

    Try starting from early March, Chris B, a week before the Rovers fire, that's when I started. It's a very accessible entry point. Dev and Sunita trying to reconcile ... Tension between Karl, Stella, Jason, Gloria ... Chesney and Katy headed towards trouble with Ryan in the mix ... Specifically my first episode was Monday, March 11th.

    Soaplovers, hope you continue enjoying the show. Who are your favorite characters so far, as another newbie to the show? I like the way they rotate characters too, although I love that my Grimshaws have been featured pretty much the whole two months I've been watching. I don't think they need to write anyone out, although some already are leaving.

    I think Coronation Street has a lot of heart, a lot of older characters (including new old characters like Sylvia, not just characters who have aged on the show -- no ageism here), a great younger generation, some grit and realistic issues, but with warmth and humor and decency as well from characters like Dennis and Rita, or Roy and Hayley. I love it so much. Carl and All My Shadows are comparing it to its past, which I can't speak to, but I'm not someone who was spoiled by its past and with my (new) eyes I still see a lot of good there.

    Carl, when you say there is no realism, I compare what seem to me to be very real stories such as

    - disabled character Izzy feeling left out as Gary and Tina bond over Tina being a surrogate;

    - Tommy trying to navigate between friendship and asserting romantic interest with his ex-girlfriend Tina;

    - Chesney being sabotaged by his paranoia, both Chesney and Katy overwhelmed at the responsibilities of being young parents; and

    - Peter, Carla, and Rob being at odds about how to revive a struggling neighborhood horce racing bookies, affecting their personal relationships

    with the mob wars of EastEnders and the people-work-when-they-feel-like-it-and-everyone-is-rich world of modern American soap. You have the past of Coronation Street as your frame of reference, but that frame of reference is different from mine.

    Ben, love your analysis. You're right, the Anna/Faye/Tim story does seem stuck in a rut. I do like the more subtle stuff I've seen of Tim letting Faye stay up too late or not feeding her properly, and leaving her home alone too much, though. I also find it interesting what you are saying about how there's stability with Peter and Carla trying to work things through as a more "cemented" couple. What do you mean by Leanne's hypocrisy, since I wasn't watching before? How was she before and how has she changed? I've been cheering Leanne on because she's taking on Karl. Glad you're liking Mary's unexpected friendship with Dev and competence with the kids too.

    I'm up to May 1st now. I'm glad Paul came back -- it was so sad and a bit anticlimactic (and funny too! - that Corrie humor) when I thought his last scene would be Eileen running after him at the train station and Paul looking back in shock. Jason has been so good with his mum lately. Just saw Jason taunting Karl too about Stella not accepting Karl's proposal -- another side to Jason, and I think Ryan Thomas would make a good villain on Doctor Who with the maniacal laughter in that scene! I also love that Deirdre has been there for Eileen, as well as hilarious Steve and Lloyd. The awkward Barlow family meals with Deirdre taking a liking to Rob but Peter and Ken resentful have also been a delight -- though with the real-life allegations against Bill Roache, I guess that is all coming to an end.

    Also, finally saw David. He hadn't been on at all since I started watching. The only character listed on the official show website as being part of the cast who I think I still haven't seen is Audrey.

    soapgirluk, I agree that Coronation Street is easier to get into in a way than an American soap ... I think it's not necessarily that the history isn't as complicated but that the show sets up its storylines in a way that some are shorter-term and some longer-term, with things that people can latch on to. Kieran Roberts explained it well in the interview I posted. Also when they list the characters in appearance order in an episode, that helps with research. I do agree you need to do research (Corriepedia and Wikipedia for me) and can't just rely on the show.

  18. I absolutely enjoyed Debbie Rash's work this past week. She's one of the few that gives me goosebumps every time she cries/is emotional.

    Finally saw that week ...I thought she was okay but she doesn't do much for me. I didn't really feel much for Anna, even when Faye had lied about Anna hitting Faye.

    Enjoying Mary being unexpectedly good with Dev's kids. Love love all the humor of Eileen wanting to forget about Paul relaxing in Egypt, Jason throwing in his comments, and Julie wanting to plan excursions to the pyramids. Loving the layers of the surrogacy story and Izzy feeling left out despite Gary and Tina not intending that.

    Chesney's paranoia has killed his relationship with Katy for good, it seems, and he deserved it. They were almost going to be happy again, so sad! I liked that Sinead girl, Beth's niece, that was on for an episode.

    (I'm up to first ep of April 22nd now on Hulu.)

  19. Thanks for the info, Carl.

    Just saw another episode so up to April 10th now ...

    Karl was having one of his guilty moments and told Asha that Sunita was a good person when she was crying because of things Simon said.

    Wow, is the kid playing Simon a good actor or what? Delivering witty lines that would be hard to pull off even for grownups! Simon doesn't believe in heaven because how can everyone who's dead be there, and how do they find each other, do they use satnav? LOL! This kid is probably even younger than Jonathan Jackson was as Lucky in the mid-90s, the only other young actor I've ever seen be *this* good.

    I also love how the show had Simon deny that he'd done anything, and of course Leanne believed him. Real window into how kids, or people in general, can be. And it didn't come across exaggerated at all. Instead, layered, complex. He wasn't pure brat either. He did try to be nice a bit about how his own mom had also died.

  20. "Hide" was indeed much better! Scary, good ideas, good characters, and at its heart, a love story. We also found out a little more about Clara (or found out there may not be more to find out), and we saw the TARDIS throwing a tantrum LOL.

    Niggling issue though -- Matt Smith does NOT know how to pronounce Metebelis 3.

    Next week -- "Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS"

  21. Up through episodes that aired in the UK April 8th now, so can't respond to your post yet, YRBB.

    I've liked Tina fine in what I've seen of her, but don't mind the casting news. I'm more sad about other departures that were already known that I read about recently. Tina did come off a bit mean to Julie and Eileen a few days ago, but less so than Fiz, who is the epitome of self-righteous indignation to me right now. I like that Tina wasn't that scared after the break-in at her place. I think I like her with Tommy, and I like what I've seen with the surrogate storyline too. I like that UK soaps plan so far ahead so she will be given a proper exit story next year instead of rushed out.

    Really loving the complexity and layers of Eileen's reaction to Paul going back to work as a fireman. She knows she's being selfish and it's her problem, but she's scared for him. She has nightmares about him being burnt up -- that's her reality. He is mad at her interfering but understands too and they want to try to work through it.

    I'm surprised there are fans who hate Eileen. Is it because she didn't believe Tyrone, Carl? Phil Collinson's name has been replaced with Stuart Blackburn's in the credits as of a few days ago. So I didn't see much of Collinson's work at Coronation Street, but as a Doctor Who fan, I am biased and I would like to credit Collinson's work as helping to hook me on Coronation Street .

    I recently read an interview with Blackburn from January where he said Coronation Street needs to have "wit, warmth, and optimism," so Carl, this people being nasty thing you seem to feel the show has done in "modern Corrie" is not something I think they intend, at least not going forward. Personally I've found the characters to be a nice mix so far.

    I love loved Jason trying to get through to Stella and then he's all, "You know what, you're not even worth it, neither of you" when Karl wants to fight him. Again, demonstrating a more thoughtful side to his machismo. Stella's all "I'll always be your friend, Jason" and he's all, "I don't *need* any more friends ... When he breaks your heart again, you just remember this -- remember what you threw away"! That whole breakup scene was well written and acted. "JASON: I thought you were different. I thought you knew what you wanted. Turns out you're just as clueless as all the others." "STELLA: Just because I'm older doesn't mean I have all the answers, you know." "JASON: Hey, this is nothing abut age -- this is about *you* being a mug. I mean Karl, he ripped you off, slept with your best mate, and then he tried to stalk you -- you seriously think he's a better bet than me?"

    Also liked Jason and Eilleen's funny exchange about his getting his lack of communication skills from her earlier in the episode, and Jason wanting Eileen to work on it with Paul. Grimshaws for the win.

    I don't understand why Jason keeps being dumped, he seems like a good person. And Ryan Thomas is a really good actor. I hope Jason and Stella are not over for good. They have great chemistry. I like older woman, younger man relationships on soaps, and I think Jason seems very patient with her family. Much more so than her family deserves, possibly, with the way Gloria is. Karl blowing up at Gloria will hopefully make Gloria doubt him more. I feel like Sophie may be on to Karl too.

    Funny stuff with Ken forgetting about his anniversary with Deirdre. Why does Peter hate Rob so much?

    Great scenes with Dev and Steve, Dev and Stella, Dev and Sophie, and Dev and the kids. Cannot believe Anna banged on Dev's door in the middle of the night because she was upset with his renting a flat to Tim. It's not like Tim couldn't find somewhere else to live nearby that would still pose the same problem of his being involved in his biological daughter and her adopted daughter Faye's life.

    Cool of Tyrone to organize Beth and Izzy apologizing and urging Fiz back to her old job at the factory. Fiz is still so self-righteous seeming.

    Chuckled at Tyrone saying to Fiz his religion and maybe even his football (soocer) team were negotiable but he would take "brown sauce" over "red sauce" (never heard ketchup called that before) "to his grave"... Haha! Also food-related, never heard of "fish pie" or "ocean pie" (and don't know the difference -- unless there isn't one and Ken was just saying there was to Rob to needle him) before Ken and Deirdre's anniversary thing either. Love the little windows into another country's culture.

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