Ben

So, David dressed up in Leyla's wedding dress, and went to the pub. B/c he was drunk, the scene was played for LOL moments, and I took them as such. It was odd and strange, so the LOL factor was all that was present. He played them well, and I liked the David/Nikhil interaction - that's been missing lately, especially with Leyla's exit. Alan was the only one who quipped that David was probably having a breakdown, trying to inject a seriousness at the end of the scene. But it was all sort of dismissed and laughed off. Cain trying to force Amy to terminate her baby, when she wants to keep it, was so silly, simply b/c she'd never pass the psych exam (not with her wanting the baby as much as she does). Those scenes in his house, when he locked her in, were just too OTT... I know, they were meant to show how ruthless Cain is... Meh.

That hasn't aired, yet; it happens in today's episode. They do seem to be heading that way with there male characters. Reminds me of OLTL and their idea of "real" men. I hope Nikhil stays, and someone gets a clue, soon.

You mean Stefan Dennis - you're getting your Stefan's mixed up. SD is a great actor, and can convey a raft of emotions in the simplest of scenes. Dylan was one of my fave characters, and I was sad to see him go. Which sullen girl do you mean? His sister Bree or Sky? Dylan had an on-off relationship with Sky, who got pregnant but didn't know who the daddy was. She slept with her art lecturer JP, Dylan's brother Stingray, and Dylan himself. There was a time when Dylan thought he was the father, and was devastated when he found out that he wasn't, and that Stingray was. After Paul had dumped toxic waste into the wetlands, Sky's newly born daughter, Kerry, contracted Leukaemia as a result of the toxic waste (Someone correct me if I'm wrong)... actually, I think I am, as Dylan thought he may have been impotent as a result of the toxic waste or something (Ed, correct me, please!) Anyway, Stingray donated bone marrow to Kerry, but he died shortly after from a blood clot. Dylan was devastated; he was on the edge, and felt like he was going to switch and go crazy at a moment. Dylan left town after Stingray's funeral (and after trashing the Scarlett Bar), needing to get away and short himself out. A few months later, Sky left to join him. Here's link to the synopsis of Dylan's last episode - http://perfectblend....c/2007/5180.htm Bree went through a Goth phase, and at one point during her "relationship" with Zeke, it did appear like they were exploring her as being asexual, as she wasn't really into intimacy and stuff. At some point, she was doing an essay on DNA, and discovered that her father Kim, was not her dad after all. They all suspected Janelle of cheating, but it was then revealed that she wasn't Bree's mother, and that she had been switched at birth with a blind girl called Anne, who had recently come to town looking for her birth mother, Janelle. This gave Bree an identity crisis, as Janelle was wanting to get to know Anne, but not isolate Bree or treat her like she wasn't her daughter. It was made worse, b/c Bree's biological parents didn't want anything to do with Bree, and they didn't want Anne to have anything to do with the Timmins'. They eventually came round, but then decided to move away. A few months later, Janelle married Steiger (Pepper's dad) and they, along with Bree, left in a helicopter to the tune of Daryl Braithwaite, who guest stared at their wedding. That's Stingray, Dylan's brother. He had ADHD - hence the oddball antics. Well, I'm not sure how far behind the UK was back then, so I'll just leave it as those eps being from 2005.

I think you have a few episodes from 2004 in there, as you talk about Darcy and Izzy and their story with Karl, and that played out mostly in 2004. But, I'm pretty sure the dreadful bikini shop stuff, and the Max/Steph surrogate story happened in 2005. I'm so glad you liked Darcy and Izzy, as they are two of the most fascinating characters the show had during this time (and in some ways of all time). I've never thought of Darcy as a villain, as he so much more complex than that, and to define him as solely a bad boy does him a disservice, I think. And I'm happy that you believe in "Kizzy" as a couple, as I was a big fan of them (and probably still am if Izzy returned); they had great chemistry and the writing for these two were spot on. Janelle Timmins did a lot of shouting during this time, but by late 2005/2006, she does calm down a lot, and she is developed as well. It will forever remain a mystery as to why the Bishops were killed off. It doesn't make sense, and proved to be a disaster for the show. Ian Smith (Harold) didn't like it, and none of the other actors really understood it either. As far as I can tell, it was a ratings stunt, pure and simple.

ED aired it's 6000th ep yesterday, and it was about as eventful as counting grains of sand. Amy lurches from one boring story to another, and b/c she's obviously something special (and I just don't know it), her story - about being pregnant with Cain's baby - was the "highlight" of a milestone episode that should have been celebrated in some way. Instead, it was passed over like it means nothing. Oh, and minor character Roz left after bagging the quickest job in history. On the plus side, Aaron and Chas didn't feature, after being in every single episode for the past several weeks. And should I dare touch the mess that are the Maceys? So I thought there may have been something between Jai and Ella in the past, but they never went there. But with a week before Mia leaves, they decide to throw this twist into the mix. Why bother at this late stage? There won't be much time to explore the fallout. And, Nikhil is a much better character than this dull story gives him credit for. Charity's revenge is simply making him look bad in front of his brother and employees over a botched order of chocolate and over-time rates. Wake me when this over, and they actually give Nikhil a story worthwhile.

I struggle to care about Andy, and I don't see him and David becoming best mates over night, even if Andy is going out with Alicia. I think he could be good with Nikhil, who also lacks male friends. I think Debbie will be busy with the Sarah story, as looks like it may be a cancer story, even though they want us to believe it's possibly an abusive story. Although, I hope this new lesbian couple will have Debbie referencing her past, like-wise with Charity.

Sorry, it's taken me 2 weeks to reply, but I've been busy, and the board downtime stopped me from posting last week. Script formatting is pretty similar for most shows - and film - really. As long as you have the general correct format for a spec (heading/character/dialogue/action and no directions/camera angles, etc) then you should be OK. It is the writing that is most important. I know the BBC has a different look to most shows, but Neighbours scripts look generally a lot like the majority of scripts that aren't BBC. So, if you've ever seen a script of a US show, Neighbours looks pretty similar - standard format is the phase I looking for. I've just pulled out a Neighbours script from 2007 (Births, Deaths and Marriages) and as a shooting script, they list all the characters that appear in each scene individually. A lot of people will want to write for these shows, but I think that shouldn't stop you from trying (obviously, Neighbours is more difficult geographically), as if you don't try, you don't get. I'm shy, too (you have no idea), but you have build a thick skin, as there are a lot of "big personalities" and learn not to take things personally (that can be easier said than done, and I know, as I met some indie producer a few months ago who was a right bitch, and I simply vented my anger through recognizing that she was in the wrong and chalking it up to experience). A Script Reader is someone who reads spec scripts, and provides written coverage on them. You have to know about character, structure, format, story, etc, and read a lot of scripts to get to know why the good ones are good (the bad ones can be pretty obvious to spot). It's a good way of learning what works and what doesn't, so you can (hopefully) put that into your own work. Have you tried Google? I know there are scripts online for prime-time shows, but I've never seen any Neighbours scripts online. BTW: Do you use any scriptwriting software, like Final Draft or something? That will give you templates for you to use. Have you ever thought about doing a sort course? Where are you based, if you don't mind me asking, as I noticed the other day on NFans that your location said Germany, but you have the UK flag? So that's how Carly got the gig. I remember her saying she worked there, and she talking about the scriptwriting programme that they do, and I just assumed the two were linked. I liked the board when Ben & Luke used to post, but I joined a little late in their time over there, and missed a lot of their insight. Shame all that drama happened. It can take time to u/l to YT, and I'm not really sure about how popular post-2000 eps would be (I guess you can only judge on the hits the existing ones get now). It comes across like they believe PG equals adult themes, when it really doesn't. All it allows them to be is more mature and less children's show. If you do a drugs story, then PG would allow them to say the word 'drugs', it doesn't mean that they should have Andrew OD'ing on crack. The same with Tash's naked photos - using the word 'naked' doesn't mean they have to get all graphic. I think it probably is a Ten issue, and that's sad, as going PG would simply lift the restraints. Rosemary is awesome, and wish she'd been more up for longer guest stints. I loved the inclusion of the video conferencing, as it was real and it made sense; it wasn't forced like all of the talk about Facebook or Skype that they did in 2008-09. I loved Diana, too, and really wish they'd bring her back, as they could actually develop her character to show a more tragic side. They'd have to get passed the fact that she's a wanted woman for Paul's attack... The show did have a buzz and creativity during that time (I think it still has today, just a different kind of buzz - a good buzz). I think that point was made, but I don't think it lets Paul off for cheating in the first place. He should have been honest with Rebecca, instead of allowing himself to be backed into that corner. The stunt was disappointing, and I wonder why they did it like that, and how they brainstormed to begin with. I wish someone would do an interview with a writer during that time and ask them. I do think they revealed too much of the stunt by previewing it before every ep that week, as the suspense was kinda lost when we saw a direct replay of the stunt/attack that we'd seen all week. They gave too much away in trying something different. Sons of Anarchy is an awesome show; very bloke-y and macho. It's about a motorcycle grew and the drama that leads from their illegal activities. It's very compelling, and the characters are so complex and well written. It airs on 5USA if your interested. If that's your type of show, or course. I guess Steph was a victim of her boyfriends life styles during that time - Woody, Mitch, Alex, Marc, and even Max. I don't think she was ever in love with Marc, but I think she started to grow into the relationship and lifestyle, but it was never a match made in Heaven. I think security was a big factor, especially after Woody and Mitch. The best think from that time was the intro of Chloe, who I really liked, and I loved her "Graduate" relationship with Darcy. Marc was the polar opposite to Steph, but she and Max had things in common, and were more grounded. I think her attraction to Max was helped along b/c he was (in the beginning) into adventure, and he had travelled Oz, which Steph found attractive. Of course, once they got together, he seemed to lose that edge and settle in mid-life mode, which really didn't suit Steph at all; in fact, he crushed her spirit in a lot of ways. I wonder if they would've been together for so long, if the fan base had not be so large and vocal - so many loved Stax. Then TPTB screwed them over in 2007, and that must've been hard for the Stax fans. Some people don't like things like the OTT fantasy sequences of the Bogan's Tipped Hair, and I get that, but I took them as what they were - tongue-in-cheek. I do think they were taking some inspiration from The Bold & the Beautiful, as that show used to get referenced a lot during that era. I loved how B&B got a mention a few months ago from Paul. Stingray did lose a lot of his spark as time went on, and I think you're right that he became difficult to write for during his transition from teen to adult, as they had that whole ADHD to contend with, and all his catch-phases that could have come across as immature and silly. I think they made a mistake giving him a "drink problem" as that story was so silly. Would Stingray have really turned to drink b/c of uni pressure and struggling to fit in? It felt wrong. I loved Bree, and I didn't mind her Goth phase, but was happy when it ended. I liked that it went for so long, as it made more real, even though it really didn't add up to much. I'm sure there was a reason, wasn't she just trying to find herself or something? Dylan was annoying to begin with, but I grew to love him, especially when he teamed up with Paul - and straightened his hair! I never saw him as being a weak link, and he did have a large fan base. Janae also had her moments, and those were better once she evolved out of her very bogan ways, like accusing Karl of misconduct. I liked her w/ Boyd, but they trashed their relationship with the intro of Glenn Forest, and having Boyd out-of-character cheat on Janae with Gleen. That was so difficult to swallow, and Kyal Marsh seemed to feel the same at the time. What did you think of Kim and Loris? I liked Sky, much preferred her pre-blonde, as once she changed her hair colour, her character seemed to change slightly as well. She was at the forefront of a lot of story during this period, and when she went blonde... I don't know, I never loved her or hated her; I just liked her. I did love the Terrence story, and faux Dr. Charlotte - that was a good story, and a highlight of 2007. Yeah, the baby stuff wasn't good, and highlighted a lot of the problems w/ 2006. I loved her w/ Dylan, and wasn't that sure about Stingray, and Boyd worked really well with Sky, too. Your user name is a dead give-away about your love for Sky! The G rating does hamper what they can do with the secret of Tash's mother. I read a couple of spoilers about Tash getting into a near downing accident, and I wondered if it really will be an accident, or if it's a cry for help from Tash (I'm not sure where her and Michael's relationship is up to after the plastic surgery stuff)? I know that this accident prompts Michael to think about the past, and I wondered if maybe his wife committed suicide, but the G ratings means they can never deal with that subject, so I doubt it. People are speculating that Tash's mum died in a drowning accident or something... Not just too many adult characters, but also too complex in the varying points of view they'd have to tell. I do really like Jim Dolan, though, and wish he wasn't dying. He and Lyn would've been so good together. *sigh* @ the missed opportunities. Rhys débuts next week on UK screens, so I'll be able to judge for myself. I think the missing demo thing goes in stages. The show had become a teen nightmare, and now it's moving up into the 20s - we have to give it time to move through the demos. By my logic, the show should at some point become over run with 40+ characters! What are your thoughts on the K/S/Jim story? It's only just really begun over here, and I think it's so sad. Sonya and Jade are awesome, and are better than Ronnie & Roxy, even though I love both. I'll look forward to the Jade/Sonya episode, as it sounds so good. I'm so intrigued by Jade's secret, and I think it will be quite sad. I find her character so relatable on many levels. I don't want to jinx it by echoing your point. I'm just going to except that they'll be around for 3 years at best, and anything more is a blessing. Have you missed Libby? But Bower said that she's not a fan of bringing back past characters, b/c she thinks they need to have a story or something. I think as long as the character(s) have connections left in the show, then they can return at any point. Story could easily be generated if TPTB really want to write for them. What would you do with Sky, as she has no family on the canvas now?

That's kinda sad, Carl, that you don't really watch any more (I don't blame you, especially with regards to Corrie). Emmerdale is hit and miss, but will deliver the odd few good scenes every other episode. I was all set to hate the Declan/Katie pairing, but I actually quite like them. The show is not the same any more; I don't like the tone, or the look and feel of the show, and I find I don't agree with SB's vision for the show. EE has slipped into that same pattern recently, where episodes are not that great over all, but will turn out the odd few awesome scenes. Those Syed/Masood scenes from last week (I think) were awesome; they had heart. I was all set to tune out of Friday's show, due to the horrendous Max/Tanya affair, but Vanessa saved it, and carried the entire episode. Anything nice about Tanya has been thrown under the bus for this stupid story with Max, and the way she treats Rainie, and gets away with it, is terrible. But I love Vanessa, and wish she was staying in place of Tanya. V's OCD has flared up again, but this time it was more pronounced, and then she got attacked, and ZL played those scenes brilliantly. If you can, watch those scenes with Vanessa. For some reason, I'm liking Lauren, now. But, I'm quite surprised at some of the responses that the Abi/Jay story has received, especially from girls who think Abi was wrong to say no to Jay when they were about to have sex, and see her actions as "leading him on". Jay as bi would be better than the predictable Ben/Phil story any day. IMO, I wouldn't the story with either of them right now. Or ever. I'll have to watch those FA clips some time soon. I never watched the show from the beginning, so it will be weird seeing the show look like this, and the not the London-based one that I fell in love with.

I stumbled across that promo just yesterday - how weird. I wish they would do another show like that, that goes behind-the-scenes. I love those kinds of shows. AMS: ITA about how believable Lauren would have been if she was bi. I think that would have been really interesting to explore, as you don't see many portrayals of bisexuals on TV these days; everyone is always gay, no matter how many straight folk they've had. I am aware that soaps have had bi characters in the past, but that's the whole point, there's no-one around today. I think the only bi character I can name on current TV, is Kalinda from The Good Wife, and they don't come more awesome than her. I think this Ben story is being played at the wrong time. I actually wish they weren't going there with him. And then there's the fact it will be all about Phil, as they've stated pretty much that's it will be about how Phil deals with it.

I see they've finally released Freya Stafford's character name - Emilia. And they've cast Zoe Bertram as Paul's Polish cleaner, Lorraine Dowski, who has a 4 month guest contract. Paul's getting a cleaner - how random. Ed, sorry for the many typos in my last post; I'm not usually that bad.

Thanks for the compliments, Ed. You're pretty intelligent yourself, and very knowledgeable about the show. I'm sure you must have come across other fans that are just as/more than interesting/knowledgeable than me about Neighbours. I've never written professionally for a TV show; it can be very hard to break into the industry, as it is very much who you know, or who knows you. I'd love to write for soaps, like Neighbours, EastEnders, etc. I'd love to just write for any drama or even film, I'm not picky like that. You should just go for it. I used to be like that, with zero confidence, always thinking that it was out of my league, but then one day I made a decision to study scriptwriting at uni, which was really good experience, and although I graduated at the worst possible time (middle of a global economic crisis), I don't regret it. It's a good idea to write spec scripts in you spare time, which will build your craft. Do you write at all? And, then it's all about picking the best route for you into the industry. It's never as simple as what other soap writers say, as those jobs (Script Co-ordinator, Writer's Assistant) that got them in hardly ever come along. I'm taking the Script Reader route, which will hopefully eventually lead me to writing for a show or something. If you can bag an internship with a production company that would really beef up your résumé. Do you remember when FremantleMedia run that trial programme for budding writers? I think it was in 2008. I "won" a place, and got to interact with some of the shows writers, and I had some really positive feedback from them. I know the show has a scriptwriting internship every year in Oz, and I so wish I lived out there, so I could apply. I think Carly @ N.Fans interned for the show through that scheme. I'd forgotten all about that classic Parker moment! Steve got a lot more screen time than Miranda, who I found much more interesting than her husband. She had a couple of stories during their separation that had room for development, but b/c it was Miranda, they never went anywhere. But Steve gets a whole episode talking to a Gold Fish! That's true about Didge, and I hadn't realized. Probably b/c I don't like to think too much about her. LOL. How was she able to bag so many guys in the space of 2 years? And WTH did Nicola see in Steve? The mysterious attractions of the Parkers will always be a mystery to me. You have a vast collection, and one that surpasses mine, as I stopped keeping episodes during 2009, and I have hardly any of 2002. I do have the off few from 2001, but I wish I had more from the 90s. Have you ever thought about uploading some to YT? Censorship made the show go backwards in a lot of ways, and I kinda think that maybe that had an influence on the stunts. I also think budget was probably an issue for some, although in terms of the post-Channel 5 deal, money should not have been an issue. After reading Susan Bower's DS interview, I think I understand the reason why the show doesn't go PG, and that's b/c of their under 13 audience, but at the same time, I don't think using the words 'drugs', 'sex', 'naked', etc would really be that bad for a 12 year old. Like, Ivan asking Tash to send him a "hot pic", instead of a "sexy pic" or a "nude pic". It's designed to go over their heads and sometimes confuse ours. It is a crime that I do not own the Iconic Episodes DVDs, something that I must rectify. I see what you mean about the aftermath being theatrical, but I loved that episode, especially after all the dross that we had to sit through leading up to this, and this was the first ep of 2010 that had punch. Granted, Carla's acting wasn't her best, but I didn't think Kym was that bad. The dialogue for these types of scenes have always been a bit lacklustre, and that's b/c they don't use the words we expect them to use, like 'bitch' or 'slut' (I do like their use of the word 'skank'), but instead we get 'tart' and 'tramp'. That line from Chris read like a cartoon, not the threat that it was intended. Who the hell would say that? Certainly not a teenage boy. And you've reminded my about another horrible story that I had forgotten about: Andrew's pathetic dating manual. The shaky camera was meant to be dramatic and create a more real effect - EE have been using it recently, and people have complained. A lot of people think it's modern, but it's the oldest filming technique in the business. Your scenario would have worked so much better, and I'm surprised they actually went with what they did, as it felt like a pitch that hadn't been worked through. It was all so bad, especially the destruction of Toadie's character, and the misery cycle that Steph could not get out of. I had no problem with Steph sleeping with Dan and getting pregnant, but what was a promising story soon turned into a clusterfuck of a mess. I will say this though: it had drama, and that definitely pulled me in. Those stupid SFX ruined the 6000th ep for me, and b/c they were the stunt, it tainted that episode for me in a big way. I loved those scenes in the bed sit, too. They felt very natural and Libby forgiving Steph felt right. I think they defined who they were as characters, and why they were best friends for 10 years. I never knew Kym used botox, as she's never used it in the past. This reminds me of the time Natalie Blair had collagen injected into her lips. One minute normal Carmella, and the next she had huge lips. It wasn't as bad as some, but it looked weird. Ringo's death was so sad, and Margot did some of her best work in the scenes. I wasn't a fan of Steph killing Ringo, as it all felt quite senseless and misery for misery sake. I think after everything that had happened, a semi-happy ending would have been nice. Her final prison scene was heartbreaking, and frustratingly, it should have been the ending, not bloody Summer and Andrew. For me, there wasn't that many episodes that stood out, but there was quite a few scenes that were phenomenal, b/c the actors involved really brought it. That scene with Paul in the hotel room, just before he slept with Diana, where he stood in front of the mirror was awesome. Stefan Dennis had no dialogue, and his expression said it all. I also loved how they handled Paul post-coma, especially the immediate aftermath when he woke up. Stefan's performance was so realistic, that I was genuinely surprised, as normally characters just wake up like they've had a long nap. Jane Hall was another brilliant actor, who could suck you into the heart of Rebecca's pain; she was so organic and real with every performance. I'll never forget the moment she found out Paul had betrayed her, or the time she confronted Richard Aaronow. I'll pick this up tomorrow, as I'm going to watch Sons of Anarchy. Who'd have thought these two shows would ever appear in the same thread?! ETA: Do you think Steph was always sabotaging her happiness pre-Max? Steph was a very angst-y character, and IA that she was attracted to danger, as seen in her many "bad boy" boyfriends, or the ones that were more adventurous, like Alex. Even though I agree about Max not being Steph's type and everything he represented was out of character for her, but when you of Drew, he was neither a bad boy or a thrill seeker - he was a down-to-earth nice guy, like Max. The difference being that Max was older than Drew, and probably less up tight. Maybe Max wasn't so out of character after all? You're right, a character does have to be doing something right to last as long as Steph did, but I wouldn't call her iconic, even though characters can be iconic for different reasons. Scott & Charlene are iconic, Izzy is iconic, so are Harold, Madge, Lou, Helen, Paul, the K's, etc. I think Flick was iconic b/c she was the template for the troubled young bitchy girl (there are a lot of similarities between Flick and Tash). I loved the Timminses. Not at first. I hated Janelle when she first arrived; I thought she was vulgar, loud and plane annoying. I was grateful when she left. But when she returned with her kids, I actually grew to like her and her bogan ways; she became endearing and loveable really quickly. Janelle was hilarious, and I loved her dream sequences of The Bogan's Tipped Hair, even though a lot of people hated them. I loved Stingray, who was a classic Neighbours character, and I grew to love Dylan, who became one of my favourite characters by the time he left. Bree was awesome, and I loved her general character, and the fact they appeared to be leaning to making her asexual without actually saying it; she was the heart of that family. Janae was OK; I never loved her like the others as for her first few months she was very bogan and in your face. Loris was awesome; she could stand her ground, and I loved that she was rich. Kim was a good male character, who I guess was in the Joe Scully mould, just not as typically Aussie. I wished they had all stayed, but when Ben and Damien left the show, I understand why Ten saw their opportunity to fire Janelle and Bree. I would have loved it if they had introduced Brandon and Dwayne. I think Janelle was a character that could have lasted for years, and when she left, so did a little bit of Neighbours. It's difficult to say, as all I remember feeling is sad seeing Phil & Hannah leave, and being annoyed by the Scullys arrival (I don't know anyone who liked them from off the bat). But I did grow into the Scullys, and I never hated them like you did, so I don't really know. Holly wasn't the best, but I don't think she was bad at all. I think she improved a lot by the time she got the whole Steph/Mark/Flick triangle, and her romance with Stuart. I do think that Holly's music career boosted Flick's profile and cemented her more into viewers minds. Holly's music wasn't my style, but she was catchy, I'll give her that. I think she's better suited to acting, personally. Did you see her in the film, Taken? I wish she bag herself a lead role, or at least a supporting player, instead of a bit part. I thought Jack fitted in well, too. He was never a character that was mega, just someone who fitted easily into the show. I could take him or leave him, and he wasn't a great loss to the show. His drugs story with Macca/Olivia was his best, and the fact that they couldn't say the word drugs was very annoying, as per usual. I know what you mean. The male characters need some variety. I'd like Tash's aunt (why haven't they released the character name yet?) to be a mix of both. I see no reason why she can't be a bitch and give Tash advice, be a supportive figure to her. That could be her struggle, where she doesn't show her sensitive side very often, or it could be vice versa, and she struggles to unleash her inner bitch. I don;t want her to be confronting from the get go, or written like she's the villain; I want viewers to like her, as I think she'll probably have an edge. I wonder why she has to be Serbian? B/c they already have the research? LOL. Having read Bower's comments, I'm not sure I'd like that, as it's really predictable. I think there's more to the story about Tash's Mum than her simply being her faux aunt. So, is Rhys going to be a bit of a rogue? I'm not sure Tom was meant to be smug, it's just the way he came across vie the actor's portrayal. I don;t think a random Tom mention would be necessary in those circumstances. What do you think about my idea that Lyn should have been Jim's love interest, and how she would've worked in this story with the K's/Jim? I don't remember Lyn's religiousness being discussed before hand, not quite like it was during 2005. I know what you mean, and I've identified those points in the story, too. I guess I can't let go of the fact they never planed this from the get go, and was only created b/c Ryan Moloney jokily suggested the Callum/Sonya story, and TPTB ran with it! I know their histories don't fit, and it's only pure luck that they do as well as they do. I don't know way Jade is Asian. It has no bearing on the character on the story or anything, and it seems like cast Gemma Pranita simply b/c she's a good actress and is hot. Thank God she's both. There are other characters besides the Scullys. And you said you like Steph, so that's OK. Do you have 2000-2001 on tape? I know what you mean about Carolyn not wanting Harold to have a bucks seeming contrived. But, I think she said she didn't believe in all that or something. Plus, a bucks night is not very Harold. I think they had Lou & Carolyn bicker to create drama, as if they had been friends, there would not have been any story. I liked how she would call him out on being stubborn, etc. She had no fears of offending him. I noticed that, too, about her name, but I out that down to Ian Smith probably normally pronouncing it Caro'line'. ITA about your assessment of Lucas and Scott Major. Lucas has chemistry with everyone, and slots into all of the characters lives with such ease. Scott is charismatic and can handle all the different storylines, from dramatic, emotional, to comedy and everyday stuff. I don't want to see Lucas go, as I think he brings something to the show that hadn't been seen for a while. He's bloke-y and a man's man, and I love that about him. He's a very grounded character. Holly's been hot for a while... probably ever since she was in Prison Break. I think the show has more life left, but I don;t want to jinx it. At the moment, the show is turning itself around and making improvements to last as long as it can, so I don't see why it can't last a few more years. The ratings are good and consistent on Eleven, and they're not that bad on Channel 5 (probably a bit more promotion would boost things), who seem to be happy with the show. When you look at how bad Hollyoaks rates, you'd think it was nearing death's door, but it keeps on ticking a long, and as far as C4 are concerned, that she still has many more years left. So, why can't Neighbours, which rates much better than Hollyoaks? It is sad that it doesn't have the online presence that it once hand, but I do think that may improve the more people realize the show has/is improving all the time. It will never get the buzz it once had, though. Dion: ITA about Oliver and Will. He should have been a straight-up recast, as he took on all of Will's storylines from the get go.

DS' Susan Bower Interview - Part 1 DS' Susan Bower Interview - Part 2 I think this is her best interview to date. It was honest and open, and the storylines all sound really promising. She's really listening to the fans, and that shows. I'm intrigued about the Michael/Tash story, loving that they are going to introduce a new family, and +60 characters! I'm a little bummed by the fact that they thought Lyn had run her course, as I think she would've added another dynamic to the Karl/Susan/Jim Dolan story, if she had been Jim's love interest. They could've played it as Jim not wanting to break Lyn's heart by telling her about his illness, and thus he confides in Susan, and everything else follows as planned. Me thinks Janet wanted to go back to theatre b/c she had no story, not b/c she particularly wanted to leave. Also a little perplexed about the Chris/Aidan story, as it will be a relationship story, but not a romance?! What does that actually mean? Ed: I will reply to your post, soon. It's like tackling a mountain climb or something, and I have to get into "the zone".

And the irony of that story is: Rebekah at the time was promoting a campaign for victims of domestic violence, when news of her arrest for apparently assaulting her husband came out. She had to quickly drop said campaign.

You're right, that stunt was good. I was seriously disappointed with the Parker crash, b/c they had a budget increase and I expected more. Instead, they chose to spend all the money on cameras and fancy direction, instead of the actual crash - a stunt that was the heart of the story, not the equipment used to get several "great" scenes of Steve running aimlessly through the bush for an entire episode (literally) or the crane shots of the crash aftermath. I don't know if you saw the 1997(?) season finale, when Ben flipped his car on the race track and it caught fire, but that was an awesome stunt, and one that I've never forgotten (I wish I could see it again); this is what I imagined the Parker's crash to be like, but better due to having more money. Seriously disappointing. By the time Paul's fall from the mezzanine came about, I didn't have such high expectations, but I never thought it would turn out as cheaply as it did. Those SFX were beyond terrible, and really tainted what had been one of the best episodes of 2010 (can't decide if it was *the* best ep, or if the aftermath of Libby learning Steph's secret was slightly better - they were both the best single episodes of 2010). Now, my expectations were as low as they could go, so I was surprised when Steph mowed down Ringo, as it wasn't that bad. Disappointing that they didn't show Steph's bike spin off, like they did with the Steph/Libby bike crash in 2000 (I really enjoyed that storyline, as it still was impacting on the characters 10 years later, and it merged with the Tess/Brendan domestic abuse story). I think their return was a publicity stunt, as Rebecca didn't physically need Oliver to leave town. A simple plane ticket sent e-mail would have serviced, and provided enough incentive and an escape route for her. I remember that scene where the Martins turned left and the Scullys pulled in from the right. It felt like the Scullys were bring forced on to us from the get go, not giving anyone time to mourn the loss of the Martins. They made the Scullys annoying from the get-go, kinda like they were aliens, who had invaded #26 (a tactic that was repeated with the Timminses and their bogan ways). Are Lyn and Steph iconic simply b/c they lasted for 10 years? If the rest of their family had done the same, would they be classed as iconic, too? What makes Lyn and Steph iconic characters, as there isn't particularly stand-out character traits that the show hadn't seen before in Steph. Flick has been the template for many vixens over the years, like Izzy and Tash; and Joe was the shows' last true blue Aussie male, an archetype the show hadn't really seen since the days of Joe Mangle. I liked that they were 3 daughters instead of the usual mix of genders. Flick's instant appeal would have been b/c she was hot. The Martins are different to the Kennedys, and I feel like they (the Martins) never had the story scope like the Kennedys have. Could you imagine Phil or Ruth cheating and embarking on separate lives with a younger woman and a priest, respectively? Or having retrograde amnesia? The Kennedys also had Libby and the ability to bring Mal back, but Martins were set to lose Anne, and Lance moved on to #30, and all they would've had was Hannah, and she was no Libby. I found Ruth very dull and bland, and I can't imagine what the show would be like if she had stayed for as long as the Kennedys. The Kennedys have lasted not just b/c they're fan favourites, but b/c they had the ability to explore new story ground with them. Instead of comparing the Martins to the Kennedys, really, we should be comparing them to the Scullys, as they are the family that replaced the Martins, and showed the direction the show wanted to go in; they show the range of storylines that they were able to tell with the Scullys that they couldn't with the Martins, b/c they were disbanding. The only story that Lyn & Joe had that could have been given to Phil & Ruth, was maybe them having a baby, but I have this feeling that they explored that story with them... did they not? And you've already said that. I never saw Debbie's eating disorder story, and as I've said, I never really liked her character, so I wouldn't have warmed to her returning. Michael would have been good to explore further, but in the long-term, how much story would he have generated to the same extent the Scullys and Kennedys have? Michelle was bland, and she did come into her own with Connor, even though he was a character that I never feel liked. He annoyed me on so many levels, except for when he was with Carmella, and doing HoT stuff (not all, but most HoT stories); I was glad when he left, but hated his crappy exit. Did Robert kill him? That was a good start, but then a week later it turned out he was in China. WTF?! That was not thought through at all. I loved Flick; she wasn't bland, just didn't have the same level of complexities as Tash and Izzy, but she did have issues. She was the pampered princess, but none of that fulfilled her; she wanted a lot of what other people had, and was never really satisfied when she got it, b/c she was never truly happy. She romanticized everything and used that to justify her behaviour. Extremely selfish, but once she learnt to put other peoples needs before her own (I.e. Steph) that kinda changed her. What did you think of Jack? Do you think he fitted in well with the family, or was his inclusion random? Like I said above, Joe has been the last proper older Aussie male character since the days of Joe Mangle. Steve Parker was a horrendous creation, who was simply horrible. I don't understand how anyone could like him or Bridget and their horrible personalities. Michael Williams is watered down b/c he hasn't been developed properly. Plus, there is an element to him that is supposed to be laid-back surfer dude - he's not supposed to be like Joe Scully. Have you read that they've cast Tash's aunt? She's supposed to be Serbian, so that should be cool. I hope she's Tash's maternal aunt, as that will create more story scope, and Michael could never pass for Serbian if she is Tash's paternal aunt, like DS said. She's got a 6 month contract, so I hope she proves popular and sticks around, as Tash really needs an older female family member, and *we* need to learn about Michael's past. You really did want Izzy to "win", and I loved that she ended up having Karl's baby. I felt like that was a nod to all the loyal Kizzy fans. I loved how they incorporated Darcy into the story, first with him returning as Lou's cell mate, and then discovering Izzy's secret, and his "ambiguous" tumble down the stairwell, where you weren't sure if she pushed him or not, which lead to him being set-up for burglary, falling into a coma, only to wake up months later blackmailing Izzy, that triggered her nightmares, only for Darcy to spill her secret to Susan in a letter. Phew! My mother never liked Father Tom; she thought he was smug, and hated it when he popped back up again in 2006? (I forget the year.) Relating to religion and the way they handled Carmella's spell as a nun, but Tom's entrance also allowed for Lyn's Catholic beliefs to be explored, and for TPTB to forget them once Tom had left. What did you think of this aspect of Lyn's character and how they never really mentioned her beliefs again? B/c of this, I always thought she would've been less open with Chris, but then she did love Gino... I guess her Catholicism was kinda random and thrown onto Lyn b/c they created Tom? ITA about Toadie & Sonya and Eve Morey's portrayal. They did kinda edit their back-stories, but overall a lot of it fits. Except for Jade. There are some questions that will never be answered, like why didn't Callum recognise Jade? Or why doesn't he have any memories of Jade with his great-gran? A lot of people seemed to take offence at the whole gran/great-gran thing, which I don't have a problem with, as people sometimes drop the "great" and just stick to gran. They do, but I feel that's down to Taodie and Sonya just trying to protect Callum. He has said numerous times that he's not a little kid any more. IA about Toadie's character change, and it's not been good development at all. The Steph plot really tarnished his character for a lot of people, much like the surrogacy story nearly ruined Susan's character (something she hasn't gotten over, as she's retained that judgemental streak - I hated it when Susan was judging Sonya after her secret came out; it was so out-of-character). Sonya's promise to Callum was an aspect of the story that I liked. I thought the reactions to it were spot, and understandable. I've loved the whole Toadie/Sonya/Troy/Callum story, as it had so much heart and character in it. Dieter Brummer was awesome, and I wish he had stayed around for longer as he would've made a good opposing villain to Paul. I hope Eve sticks around for many years, too, but I also hoped the same for Jane Hall, and look how that turned out. I loved the Drew/Libby romance. That was at a time when you really rooted for the couple and wanted them to get together, not like now, where we have Andrew/Summer who have no rooting value at all b/c we haven't been given any reason to root for them. You can't have a "super-couple" without any proper romance, which is what they've been touted as. I loved Joel and the whole #30 crowd at that time. I never found Joel annoying at all. I thought Joel/Toadie/Lance + Sarah had great chemistry, even though some of the comedy was a little off. They essentially recreated that dynamic with Stuart/Toadie/Connor + Dee/Sindi. The comedy of the former was better than the latter - bikini shop, wrestling, anyone? I did quite like the Robot Wars one, though. So, I take it you didn't see the bike crash involving Libby/Steph/Tess/Brendan? That was a really good story and well shot, too. The feel of the show during the former times was more warm and fuzzy, while I loved Stu, I never quite felt the same about Connor. I don't think of 2000 as a bad year, as I quite liked some of stuff that happened, like the Tess/Brendan domestic violence story; Tad searching for his birth parents after learning he was adopted; Dee's arrival; the major development of the Libby/Drew/Steph triangle; Darcy's intro; Lance's infamous Seven Labours of Love (something I now look fondly on). 2001 also had some really good stories, like the Dee/Darcy/Tess triangle and Tess leaving Darcy at the altar; Dee's miscarriage; Lou learning that Lolly wasn't his daughter (I know, it was a retcon of the past and trashed Cheryl's character); Drew & Libby's wedding/birth of Ben; Steph & Woody (I loved seeing him again last year). I just wish that I had kept more of this stuff on tape. The Hancocks weren't just bland, they just didn't work as a family unit. I never minded Matt's drag racing story, and I liked the Maggie/Toadie thing, but a part from that, everything else didn't really work. They were incredibly boring and dull, especially Evan, and Emily running away, Leo break dancing... almost as bad as the teen invasion of 2009 and Kate's dancing storylines. After I typed that, Harold shared some scenes with Lucas, and Lou got a smidgen of a storyline. But overall, he should have shared scenes with Lyn, Paul, the Ks and Summer. I don't think Harold returning for Toadie should be used as an excuse, b/c that shouldn't have meant being confined to that one story bubble. Harold could still have mingled with other characters and shared the odd scene or two. It wouldn't have been difficult. The character just don't mix like they used to, or how Bower had them doing so in 2008, when she made a point about community, etc. I liked Carolyn. At first I thought it was all going to be random and rushed and not have any heart, but that wasn't quite the case. IA, we didn't get to see any of their relationship, but the fact that they had an awesome actor in Paula, and the way they made her similar to Madge, that kinda gave you the feeling that you already knew her (for me anyway). I liked how she never doubted Harold's love for her, and how he visited Madge's grave to say goodbye. Downside being, Ian Smith had to suggest those scenes as they weren't in the original script! I don't think she came off as a bad character, as her bribe to Troy was made with the best of intentions, and her being rude to Lou... well, to be fair he was disrespecting her in the first place, and she was just giving as good as he got. The no bucks night rule was her being forceful, and kinda channelling Madge in a way, with that kind of attitude and control. She had the potential to stay around for a lot longer, and I think her similarity to Madge is why Harold fell in love with her. I loved the flashbacks when Lou was in hospital and Harold thought he might die. I pronounce Carolyn the same way they did on the show. I usually say Caro'line' when it's spelt with an 'I' and Caro'lyn' when it's spelt with a 'Y'. But I have heard some people use the former for the latter as well. There's no hard and fast rule. I never really felt like I knew Mia. Oliver worked best with her, but I never cared about them. Oliver was essentially a Will recast, and never really had much development until later on when Rebecca arrived. I was thinking that if anyone wanted to learn about the show, all they'd have to do is read this thread, as we seem to cover a lot of ground! Good to read, just terrible to write.

DS Producer Interview with Cameron Welsh - Part 1 DS Producer Interview with Cameron Welsh - Part 2 He really needs to learn to be less cagey and more open to actually answering the questions; he side-steps a lot of questions, and doesn't really tease much on character scoops. It sounds like Gypsy is only coming back for a guest run.

Yeah, Janine is going to be increasing isolated with Ricky gone, and now Pat, especially after they killed off Lydia, a decision I still believe was a huge mistake. This isn't a shock for me - surprising, and initially out-of-left-field, but considering Pat has been recurring for the last few years, I've gotten used to the show without her, and really it felt like it would happen sooner farther than later. But, Carl's right, 2010 did feel like Pat's best year in a long time (with regards to PSC's filming), and I will miss Pat when she goes. I don't think the show is the same when she's away generally. It will take some getting used to in the long-term.

I thought the same about Michael early on, too. I think the way they wrote him, they made it seem like he was a ladies man. I can also see why some believe his recent development is not growth, but out-of-character behaviour, due to his earlier portrayal. I don't want him to randomly rape someone and for TPTB to say it's in character, like they did with Archie. I just hope they do this properly and actually think about the impact Michael's actions will have on Roxy, and actually develop her a bit. A lot of viewers have the attention span of a goldfish, and can't stand stories going on for longer than 2 months, as anything longer is classed as dragging it out, and anything that may be remotely character driven is boring and dull. The problem with being sensationalist and plot driven is that viewers get used to it and expect that level of wham bam all the time; when they get a plot that is slower and more subdued, they're not used to it.

I don't remember the Martins intro, but I always liked Julie, Michael, and Phil. Hannah was OK; she had her annoying moments, but she didn't grate on me like she did for some people. I loved her relationship with Helen, and it was fitting that Helen would pass away beside Hannah. I did think that Michelle Scully reminded me a bit of Hannah. Debbie, I couldn't stand. I thought she was boring and annoying, always miserable and whining about something. She didn't get on with Julie, did she? The Scullys were a mixed bag for me. Lyn was really OTT and annoying, but those idiosyncrasies and foibles were character traits that I grew to love. She actually reminds me a lot of a mate's Mum, who is Tasmanian. I loved how all the girls upon arriving, all set their sights on a guy, and how different each approached the same subject. I loved Flick. I read that the show believed she was a younger version of Izzy, and represented what Izzy probably would've been like at that age (I bet Tash is moulded from the cloth). Mitchell had some really vexing moments, and never fully came into her own until she grew up. I liked Lyn & Joe, and was quite surprised to learn they never got on in real life. Then there was the debacle surrounding his firing, which was badly handled. As much as the Martins were disbanding, they had gone to the effort of pairing Phil with Ruth (another character who I found dull) and her ready-made family in Anne and Lance, so I was surprised when they fired Phil, Ruth and Hannah. Maybe it's b/c I found Ruth boring, but it did get to a point where it felt like they'd done all they could with Ruth, and considering they wanted to bring in a larger nuclear family, I can see why they chose to send Phil & Ruth off together, much like Steve & Miranda Parker. Was it the right decision? What stories could Phil & Ruth have had? My all time favourite Neighbours storyline (I think) is the Susan/Karl/Izzy triangle. I loved everything about it. I loved how it began with Karl & Izzy becoming friends, and how they never cheated on Susan at all. The breakdown of the K's marriage was believable (if not a little random at fist), and the range of emotions that effected all concerned was well played. Karl and Susan needed to be broken up, and TPTB were brave enough to go there, and craft a well written story about revitalising two much loved characters. Susan needed to explore who she was as an independent woman, while Izzy breathed new life into Karl. I was more of a Kizzy fan than a Kusan fan, and I think it was testament to the show that Kizzy developed a strong fan base, and divided opinion. They represent all that was good about 2004, b/c they took risks with the characters. If the show had continued to do that, and would do that today without being worried about censors and stuff, things would be a lot better. The fact that they now choose to self sensor when they could be PG for odd episodes, is weird and silly. The Ramsay story does have a lot of specific facts that does restrain it from being undone. I'd bring back their father, who isn't dead, and make him a (now) successful business man. I would definitely keep an air of ambiguity about Patrick. I like him to be introduced through Lassister's, and Paul can take an instant dislike to him. Maybe Patrick could be with Lucy (I forget of she has a family off screen), which would create conflict. Does he know that his kids live in the area? I'd have Paul find out and keep it secret from Kate & Sophie. The will can easily be explained as fake, as those words that Helen supposedly said don't ring true at all, while that locket could have been planted there by Patrick. I'd probably say that the plan was cooked up by Jill & Patrick, b/c they were struggling financially after "going straight", or perhaps Jill could have had a mental illness that was driving her and influencing her decisions. Patrick would've got cold feet and bailed on their plan and their marriage - maybe he couldn't take her behaviour any longer? The only stumbling block is their motive for targeting the Robinsons, and I'm unsure of why they would've picked them for such an elaborate scam. Maybe, Paul appeared in the paper, or maybe Jill's real mother or father knew either Ann Robinson or Max Ramsay...? I'd love for all this to be unravelled through a flashback episode. What do you think of Taodie & Sonya? Were you a fan of Drew, Joel, Sarah, Dee and Tess? How about the infamous Hancocks?

Isn't dance music kinda stereotypical, too? No offence meant. That is true, not every gay person is into "the scene". I think they have that in Syed, and will always have that. Although, Christian is changing, as that b/day ep showed, he cringes at the thought of clubbing with the drag queens, like he used to, but I think he will always be the more out there of the two. You notice I talk as if the show will never introduce another gay character? I don;t think they have the gut to break up C&S long term, as they seem like the end game. Syed took him to a club and a drag act or something. I've never liked the word "Queen" when referring to someone that's gay. Ronnie and Sharon are two different characters anyway, and really they both would have fitted into the show quite well. I know Kat & Alfie are here to stay, so Sharon running the Vic, again, isn't an option. I think she should come back and run R&R, and have stories involving her son, and maybe the ghost of Denis. She'd have to interact with Phil, but I wouldn't want them to go there again, at least not with Sharon. Phil can have unrequited love for her all he wants, but I'd prefer it if Sharon found someone new. I don't think there's anyone on the show right now that is suited to her, so maybe she'd have to return with an American b/f in toe. I get that feeling too, about BK and the fans. He does seem quick to respond to them, and I'm glad he takes on board fans criticisms, but it sometimes feels like it's on a whim. I'm pretty sure he dropped the Vanessa/Harry story last year b/c of (online) fan reaction, when really he should have just altered it, as it had potential, and ended up leaving Vanessa in limbo for months. I'm sure he's said that he listens to online fans more, like from DS, etc. What's everyone's thoughts on Michael?

Yeah, Elle was meant to leave a year earlier, but Bower persuaded her to stay on, which I'm happy she did. I'm glad Margot left when she did, as I've said before that Donna was dragging a lot of stories down (as well as Kate) with her immature antics. Jane Hall should have been talked into staying for a bit longer, even if it had just been 4-6 months, as her exit was rushed and crammed together with way too many plot points that nearly damaged Rebecca. She needed a little bit longer to naturally tie-up all her storylines. Also, Oliver & Carmella should have returned for a weeks worth of eps, instead of cramming them in to 2 eps, and neglecting all of Carmella's history with all of the other characters. It's weird, b/c they dragged out the Paul/Rebecca story for 6 months (and they barely touched the surface with that dynamic), and then rushed the resolution. I'd never thought of that before, but it makes it sense. I guess I saw Bower developing Zeke to mean that she favoured him, but may be she didn't, and he just happened to be involved in a lot of stories. ITA about all the shout-y, angst-y scenes that he got - they were too many. Broody was something that never suited Zeke at all. I think they took him down the wrong path, which nearly ruined the character. I did like what they were doing with him in 2008, when he made friends with Kyle and those other guys; Zeke and Kyle seemed to have a mutual respect for each other. But, when he returned sans memory, it all fell apart, and in came Sunny, the mis-handled PirateNet, Mia and all of her dodge antics surrounding animal activists, getting arrested, etc... so bad. ITA completely. I think Lyn's exit being overshadowed by Andrew & Summer really does reflect the attitudes and vision that Bower has for the show - the adults are second class to the teens. Something that has vexed me, is the miss opportunities with the returnees. Carmella never shared any scenes with none of the characters that she knew outside of her story bubble, and instead, for some reason, Oliver got the only scene with Toadie - a scene that should have rightly gone to Carmella, who lived with the guy for several years! Harold has been back, and he never shared a scene with Lyn, not even when they were in the same episode at her farewell party! He has yet to share a scene with Paul, even though they have all that history. Yet, they managed to write a scene where Harold met Kate! Why Kate of all people? Why not Lyn, Paul, Lucas, Libby, or Summer - people that he actually knows? This is the one element that lets Harold's return down - he's not interacting naturally with characters who are outside of his story bubble. Lyn didn't even get to say goodbye to Karl - he just had to be working. At least with Mal, he only knows K&S and Lou, so they can't really deprive him of important scenes with those that he knows. It is weird how Neighbours and H&A have been transformed (the former especially) into teen soaps, especially when Australia's #1 show, Packed to the Rafters, is a multi-generational show. Surely that should tell TPTB that Neighbours could have the same broad appeal, like it used to. I was wondering who George was. It'll be nice to see their relationship develop, and hopefully this means his parents will be around when Chris meets Aidan. Ivan has arrived on UK screens last week, and now that I have the chance to watch her story more closely, Ivan definitely is creepy, and he does look older than 28. I loved how Tash had the opportunity to buy herself beer, but chose not to. I think that was very telling in showing that she's more sensible that what she appears. I also liked how Andrew was still concerned for her, even after everything. The only time I ever liked Connor was when he was w/ Carmella; they suited each other so well. I liked Carmella with Marco, but you're right, the scope for drama wasn't as apparent as it could have been if he wasn't Italian, or even if he had a different personality. I liked him, and preferred him to Oliver. I was so over the ECO triangle, that I'm not sure which couple I was rooting for, or if any. I think I just wanted it to end, and every time it did, it would start up again, with Oliver flip-flopping between Carmella and Elle. I think I slightly preferred Oliver & Carm over Oliver & Elle, but I never really liked Oliver, so non of the pairings really worked for me. I think it shows the difference between actors and their characters, that Nat & David do seem suited to each other, even if Carm & Oliver don't. What were your thought on the Carmella/Marco/Elle/Oliver/Mia group that popped up in 2007-08? Did you like any of their stories? I loved Sister Catherine. I think the story was always about Carmella turning to religion to ease her conscience, and guide her in the right direction. I don't think it was ever supposed to be about her becoming a nun out of some divine calling. I would have liked it if they had shown how religion had become more important to her over time, something that she had grown into, as oppose to it being a plot device. I liked that scene, too, when she gave Harold her Rosary beads. I think you pretty much said what I've just said, just differently. Religion and religious characters do get a raw break in soaps, and that's a shame. Really, they should get treated the same as any other group, but no-one seems to complain about the negative portrayal of religion. If they're not psychos, then they're a bible-basher, or if you're Emmerdale's Rev. Ashley, you get persecuted and made the village pariah just b/c you don;t share others beliefs on assisted suicide. I think we will have to agree to disagree on JS and Declan. I never liked Bridget, and I don't understand how others do, b/c I don't see anything to like. I think Declan was her saving grace. Steve was another character who was also severely dislikeable. It is a minority view to like EM's Declan, but not as much as admitting to liking Kate's dancing! All of those points are reason to hate the storyline, especially since that period was all about ask the actors what they're hobbies are and weave them into the storylines, making it seem like TPTB were creatively bankrupt. Ashleigh can dance, but not the style they wanted Kate to learn. Why not have Kate dance to what Ashleigh does best, thus working to the actors strengths? The routines sucked, and looked like little-to-no effort had been put into the storyline. They should have sent Ashleigh to dance lessons, and they should never have written Kate as a master dancer, and being the best thing since sliced bread, especially when she would be performing a sub-par routine that looked liked a 5 year old could do a better job, and Rebecca would be congratulating her on being awesome and impressing her business clients, when all she would be doing is tipping her hat and slowly twirling around! It made everyone look stupid, and the actors uncomfortable. All this is why I was glad when she chose teaching. Granted, it was random, but anything was better than the pathetic dancing. Max & Katya would've worked had he not been with Steph. It was one of those, another time, another place, pairings. I remember Max's fantasies involving those AFL players, and how they seemed to drag on. At the time, no-one would have bought Max leaving Steph, or having an affair with Katya, so it would never have worked regardless of what the future held. Max living with another family and splitting from Steph was weird and out of character, but that's another story. I miss Cameron. What a waste he was. I really wish they would have Robert get in touch with Paul, wanting to build bridges, or have Paul want to fix his relationship with his son. I think that would be a good story. They didn't really know where to take the other teens. There's still a lot of scope with this group, and it's not just the Chris/Tash friendship that needs developing, but also Chris/Andrew. They never really did anything after Chris came out and revealed he was crushing on Andrew. I'll answer those last questions, and the Ramsay story idea, later, once I have more time. Why would you get rid of Lucas? Do you think he's run his course or something?

ITA! EE needs to create some variety in their male characters. I'm so tired of reading how this new guy is going to be bad, or trouble, or a ladykiller; I'm so over it. To me, it's all uncreative and boring. This is why I love Greg, as he's different. I don't find him bland at all, just under developed. You need characters like Greg, but most viewers just find decent guys boring and bland, and I don't get that. I've seen more saccharine characters than Greg. I don't think they've given him much to do at all, and what little they have thrown at him is big material, so I kinda see how you might see him as just "reading the script". That's what annoys me with Phil, is he's propped by TPTB as some God. He's had his day, and many fans do feel the same, but I think the majority don't. I'm glad you find Syed relateable, as I do to. I don't think Santer knew how to develop him, so I'm grateful that Kirkwood does and has done in the last few months. I think Christian's sexuality is very much a part of his character, and I think that's natural for him, and it creates a contrast between Christian and Syed. I also think he's probably quite relatable for many, but I've never really seen him as a complete stereotype, not like CS' Sean. There are other thinks going on with Christian that don't relate to him being gay. I wish they would remember that Christian too, had problems with his parents for being gay, as I think that experience has shaped the way he is. CS' Sean doesn't have much going on, and everything he does always reinforces that he's gay. Anthony Cotton is also the worst actor I've ever seen (worse than Neighbours' Ned), who is basically playing himself, and is deffo one of those people who are "reading the script"; he's also been guilty of phoning it in in the past, which is ironic, considering he has no acting ability even when he's trying to emote. Sean is also a character who out stayed his welcome a long time ago, and is part of the problem at Corrie. I loved Glenda, too. I think we can safely say we like similar types of characters. Glenda was wasted. The majority of her stories did nothing for her character, and really, she was just coming into her own, when she left. Those are soap staples, though, and a reason why I love soaps. Sometimes, you just have to have Character C overhear Character A & B talking, so they can reveal a secret - it's good drama. Plus, I loved Shameen - probably more-so b/c I love the actress, who is awesome, and I wouldn't mind it if Shameen was brought back on a recurring basis. It would be nice for Afia to have some family outside of her in-laws, as it does look likely that Yusef will be leaving. Plus, she's a good contrast to Zainab. My only criticism of the Masood drama, is it looks likely that Mas will get away with kidnapping and threatening to pour petrol over Yusef, a crime that deserves some punishment. He was wrong to do that, but they play it as if he's innocent and just another victim of Yusef's evil plot, simply b/c Yusef is the villain. I think that sends out the wrong message. Plus, it's Mas' fault that Yusef was able to beat himself up and frame Mas! I've liked how they've used Yusef's past to enable him to push for Zainab to reconcile with Syed. He was disowned by his family, and knows how Syed feels; he wants his family to forgive him, so has pushed Zainab to allow Syed and Christian back into her life, and I think Yusef was being quite genuine with this, even though he revelled in the conflict it caused between Zee & Mas.

^^ There won't be much of a reaction, considering Greg is leaving the show after he finds out about her affair. He is an afterthought, and has been all along. So much potential, so much waste. Personally, I would have Kept Greg, Ryan, Vanessa and Mercy, and spent time developing their characters; I wouldn't have bothered with the Moon brothers - well, not right now at least. I don't think they're necessary. To compensate, I would have got rid of Heather, Shirley, Phil and Ben... although, I kinda like the Phil/Rainie relationship, as it's kinda new territory for his character being a sponsor.

That makes what I said seem so stupid. In my defence, I wasn't watching when they came on, so I just thought from the way they talked the back story had been dealt with on screen in some form. I liked them as a couple, and you are right about Nick, but I thought it was still progressive for a US soap to feature a gay love triangle, and not just a couple. I never liked Nick, who I found clingy and predictable, but I never thought about him exploiting the gay-bashing as being offensive, more something that was born out of desperation to keep Kyle by his side. After all, other characters have exploited worse/similar before, so this wasn't any different. What I thought was more offensive was how they handled the homophobia in the end, and how blasé they were with Dorian pretending to be gay to win an election. I will have to check some of them out. You make Mandy sound quite interesting. I didn't realize she's going to have story with Billy - what's the deal with that? Do you think Sid Owen will return? And what did you think of the inclusion of those "racist" (inverted commas b/c, apparently, not everyone saw them as racist) comments with Phil & Shirley yesterday? It seems to have caused a mini-storm at DS.

Is it the rushed nature of C&S' adoption plot that annoys you, or just C&S generally? I really like them as a couple, now (I didn't last year or even a few months ago), and I like how they're developing Syed's character, and portraying how they're both at different aspects of life that is causing conflict. I know the adoption plan is rushed, but I think it's quite natural for where Christian is in life, but as a couple it is too soon. I think it's a character plot point, but I can see why you'd see it as being stereotypical, even though I don't believe that's they're intention. And I like how touchy-feely they are with each other, as opposed to every other same-sex couple on other soaps who rarely display any physical intimacy at all. Ironically, I think One Life To Live was more ahead of the times than the UK at portraying a successful gay couple in Kyle & Oliver. Bar the defunct Family Affairs, what other UK soap has had a gay love triangle? (Where all the parties were gay and didn't involve the third wheel being straight.) Correct me if I'm wrong, of course. To add to Carl's comments, there were also some storylines that were randomly dropped last year, namely all of Vanessa's; Billy & Julie also seemed to be a casualty of this. What is it about Mandy's return that you anticipate so much? I hardly remember much of anything she did, but she just seems so random to me. Actually, I hardly remember much about the show from those years. Ricky has gone to Dubai for a lucrative job. Sid Owen wanted to leave for a year, and has said he will return if Patsy Palmer does. As it appears she will not, I wonder if they're bringing Mandy back as an incentive for SO to resign with the show, as apparently, Mandy and Ricky had a ONS or something. ETA: From early comments about Ryan leaving, I think they chose to get rid of him b/c they have the new Moon brothers arriving soon. I think Ryan has potential, but they ruined him with the Stacey affair. I'm also surprised that Julie is out, considering it looked like her and Billy were being made into a solid couple. Really random decision.

I don't think they will ever retcon the Ramsays, or willingly axe any member of their family, and that's b/c Bower introduced them and gave sanction to their storyline, and changing any part of that due to fan reaction would be equivalent to admitting you were wrong, and she never does that. Hollywood has been a big problem for cast instability, but I don't blame actors for wanting to try their luck over there, but I do feel if the show had been in a better shape during these periods, maybe some would have been more willing to stay for a little longer, like a year. I think Bower loved Zeke, especially in the beginning, as she treated him like her golden boy; he was constantly on the front-burner for 2 years, getting story after story, and was the most heavily used teen during that period (bar Donna). But in 2010, there was a lot of negative reaction to the teen scene and the majority of Zeke's plots from the past 2 years, that once the show started to transition itself, Zeke was placed on the backburner, never really receiving much to do at all. I think his exit was quite representational of that and how irrelevant he had become, especially as Andrew was on the scene and proving popular and getting all the storylines. Execution has always been an issue for Neighbours in recent years, and IA that PirateNet was quite original in a way, but it seemed like they hadn't properly thought it through, like a lot of things. I've noticed how sidelined Lyn has been, and that's a shame. What worse is her departure has become all about Summer & Andrew and less about a long-term character leaving the show. I'm sure Lyn only had one scene telling Susan about her leaving, yet Summer gets a whole story out of it. Disgraceful. Or, either it's b/c the characters become irrelevant in Bower's mind, and thus the crummy exits, or it's a product of those actors quitting and some form of punishment? I can't really explain it. It's not just Zeke and Lyn, but Declan, too, and Rebecca, who was in the middle of so much story, but they rushed it and crammed it all into 2 episodes. Libby's exit was quite disappointing as well. I figured they were trying to give her behaviour more relatability and make it seem more justified. It didn't, and was pointless. I liked that Rachel was persistent, but it felt like Angus had no backbone. It was being treated like a love story, but they'd only met a couple of time in a club, and then at school, that it felt a little rushed. I remember that scene where they had sex, but were still wearing all their clothes, and it was difficult to tell what they had done other than sit close together on the sofa, was badly handled. Complexity has been no existent since Bower started, to the point where it feels like she has no idea what complex actually is. Granted, she tried it with Paul trapping Rebecca in a loveless marriage, but they never explored that dynamic much at all. I hated the way Nicola was treated by the Parkers, and how Steve took no responsibility at all, even though he goaded and pushed a mentally distressed person into poisoning him. Would Nicola have done if Steve hadn't of berated her? No of course not. He threatened her and she reacted, and he should have taken responsibility. But Steve never too account for any of his actions - he did the same when Nicola revealed she was in love with him (go figure) and that he knew and encouraged her all those years ago, but of course, it was all Nicola's fault. Horrible character. IA about the direction it could take. Chris' family would be great to see, as it's important to the story and character, and feels like it's a natural extension that should be explored; without it, I think it'll feel like something is missing. Maybe they'll throw in some random lines about how pleased his 'rents are, or how nervous Chris is about introducing Aidan to them, but then it all turning out fine off screen. Maybe Chris working with Lucas will give him more story scope? H&A's Charlie was offensive on so many levels, but I think it was all a PR stunt that backfired on them. Sadly, they threw Charlie and Joey under the bus to achieve it. Saffron is my kind of character. I find the ones that are bitches and bastards are usually the ones that will have hidden depth and be the most fascinating to explore. Nice guy characters have their place, too, are more difficult to write for in a sense, and a lot of the times many people seem to find them boring or bland (like Chris and Marco). What did you think of Marco Silvani? I loved the scene when Saffron's designs flopped and she went into the bathroom to breakdown, opening up about her struggles. I think the industry made Saffron into the hard-faced bitch that she was, and in some ways resented Donna for retaining her good natured qualities. I also think she saw a bit of Donna in herself or vis-versa. When Saffron later popped back up, I think that resentment had turned into jealousy b/c Donna had an (apparent) eye for detail and looked like to be heading into a budding career, whereas Saffron was failing. They could have explored so much more with this dynamic, and had her interact with more characters, but they didn't. Saffron was the saving grace of some of those teen-centric episodes. I hated all those contrived, irrational situations that nearly every character found themselves in one after the other. I wanted to shake them and slap some sense into them. Zeke always seemed to be the worst offender, with Donna in close second. Taking the fall for another character has it's place, and can come off quite noble, but all of those situations were just plain silly, and made the characters (Zeke, again!) look like their brains had been replaced by rocks. What gave you the impression that JS saw himself as the star of the show? That's really random, and I never once saw that. When did he come across as a no-it-all? Did you always feel this way, or was it something that happened towards the end? Did you like Declan when he first started? Pre or post Didge? Did your opinion change when EM took over the role? I think Kate's unpopular b/c she dominated a lot of unpopular stories for nearly over a year - remember her dancing? *Cringe* And had that Super Woman phase where she worked at Harold's, was a teaching assistant, professional dancer, Uni student, home-maker, looking after Sophie, socializing, a not-so silent partner in Donna's business... the list was endless. And then she'd complain about having too much responsibility, when she brought it all on herself! People haven't forgiven her for all of that, and coupled with her annoying qualities, I think it all goes against her. She's a lot better now, thanks to Jade, but she still has her annoying moments when the show props her POV over other characters, like Mark. Mark never technically lied to Kate, he just chose not to tell her something, but she gave a false alibi in a police investigation, and that should trump anything Mark did to her. Paul and Libby would have been on the list, but I didn't want to go on. At the time, the long-term characters were just like the others, and I was more drawn to the others, and that hasn't changed over the years. It just so happens that Toadie and Susan went on to become veterans, while Drew, Sarah, Flick, Phoebe, etc didn't. I loved Katya, she was misunderstood by many. I loved all of her dramas, even though some of them, like Guy Sykes were bad. I wanted her stay on, b/c I knew she'd be a source for drama and conflict if ever they were to dry up on RS. What did you think of the Katya/Max story? I liked all of those characters, and didn't really want to believe that they were dragging the show down. I thought they could be fixed and everything would be fine; it was a case of good characters, bad writing. Once they had all left, the show seemed to improve. Was it the writing, or was it that the characters had served their purpose? The show has improved a lot this year, and think that's b/c they've gone "back to basics" and are using the characters to drive story a lot more instead of piling on plots in the hope that something would stick. I think the budget cuts have forced them to be more about quality in their direction and less stylistic. Essay posts are a bitch to write, though... Especially when I'm writing an actual essay!