Ann_SS

Where the hell is Denise? I don't believe that she is really dead, but why would she put her children through the funeral? Is she with the police? Has she lost her memory? Good point. I'll take about six months of relative stability for Christian and Syed. I did like it when Sharon and Dennis returned to the Square all loved up. It was nice to see them as a couple dealing with the regular stuff before all the drama started up. I like where they are going Syed so far. ME was solid yesterday. I could see love when Syed looked and smiled at Christian. I need to see more of that. I agree. I had no problem with Team Christian resenting or disliking Syed. Like Jane, Roxy was angry at Syed for not standing up for Christian. In addition to stringing Christian along for months, Syed rejected Christian publicly and never turned up after Amira's father had him beat up. I hope we see Jane skeptical about Syed's commitment to Christian. Christian is so in love with Syed that he can't see straight.

Is any couple in the square happy? All these couples have moments of happiness, but mostly exist constant emotional turmoil and misery. Look at Ronnie and Jack. Just as it seemed like they were finally going to be happy Ronnie is going to talk about the rape, their wedding may never happen. I think that Syed and Christian are going to be the same way. I'm looking forward to them having regular couple problems (as much as family and religious rejection can be regular) and see how they deal with it as a couple.Today was a nice start.

I loved this episode. The highlight was Libby showing Adam up, then slapping him and sending him on this way. Adam is such a scumbag and had that coming for a long time. I couldn't stop laughing. Good for Libby. Denise would be proud. Too bad Libby is leaving. I always liked her. Christian and Syed were surprisingly sweet. Good to see them acting like a normal couple without the constant angst. I liked Shirley smiling when she heard Roxy talking about Christian about being in love. Good to see that they have their supporters in the Square. Syed reaching for Christian's hand in the face of his father's rejection was sweet. It is worrisome that Syed has not told Christian that the people at the mosque have rejected him as well. I hope that drives home for Christian that he is all that Syed has in the world now so he can't screw this up. ME made an effort today so I bought Syed's happiness about being with Christian. Even as she gives her away her son's clothes and worries about what people are saying at the mosque, Zainab breaks my heart. She won't be able to keep up this rejection of Syed for very long and that will cause more problems between her and Masood. My poor Tamwar. He is caught in the middle of this nightmare. I want him to take adorable Kamil and run away to go live with Syed and Christian. What the hell did Roxy have on? I try with Ronnie, but at this point I just want her secret out there so she and Jack can move on. I thought Ben was gone. Why is he still on my screen? Blah. However, it was good to see Phil accept that he is responsible for the behavior that led to Ben's incarceration.

Thanks all the same.

I would have loved to see Shabnam in those scenarios. Time for a recast if the original actress won't return. The Masoods are an asset to EE. We need more of them, not less. These are the kind of stories that would bore me to tears on an American soap, but EE does very well. The bickering and daily conflict between couples is an EastEnders specialty. Christian is a flirt and Syed gets jealous at the drop of a hat. Syed also has a dodgy past that I hope that they bring up again. Kirkwood is setting Syed up with that mobile stand in the stall. I like that idea. It keeps Syed and Christian in the center of the action in the Square. I also want to see Syed become a part of the Beale clan because it would make Zainab's head explode and push her to backdown more quickly. Usually, I scoff at the supercouple label being put on couples so early, but I buy it for Christian and Syed. Their drama in the last year has been legendary and there should be more to come. I really feel like Amira got the shaft in this story. She was treated very callously and is now an afterthought. However, I hope that she sends her baby to live with the Masoods next year. A custody battle between Syed/Christian/the Beales and the Masoods would be a great story to liven up the Square with people taking sides. This next phase of Christian and Syed's relationship will give ME an opportunity to step up and really shape Syed into a strong character in his own right, but also as a man who is clearly in love with Christian and worthy of being his partner. I'm not convinced that ME is committed to this role. I wonder how long he will even be sticking around and if he is even interested in giving Syed any depth or playing Syed as a part of a gay couple. We'll see.

I agree completely. I'll be interested in seeing what happens now that ME has to play Syed in an openly gay relationship. I see your point, but I think that the drama that captivates the audience in this story lies in Christian and Syed's love for each other. Syed is such a new character that his coming out by itself while appealing so a small segment audience, would not have simply not been interesting to the wider audience. On the other hand, Christian is the well established character with some popularity so it is natural that the audience would be interested in what happens to him as it relates to his love affair with Syed. I honestly don't think that Syed is rushing into a relationship with Christian. They are in a relationship albeit an occasionally dysfunctional one, if anything Syed's life has been derailed by not being with the man that he loves. He has not been able to get on with his life because he was in a constant state of fear and panic. Now that he is with Christian openly, I do think that things will be better for Syed because honestly, other than Christian who could put with his constant sniveling? In time Zainab and Masood will come around because they can't ignore their son forever and all will be well with him and his parents. I wonder about Christian though. If Kirkwood is smart, he will show Christian struggling to be in a committed relationship with Syed who is far more conservative. Can Christian give up his parties, stop getting into trouble with Roxy, flirting, and be faithful? At this point, everyone has behaved so appallingly that I don't think that anyone is in a position to disapproving of Christian and Syed's relationship. It is what it is. It is just time to move forward. I think it is a way for the writers to show that both Zainab and Masood share this religious bigotry about homosexuality. Masood on the surface appears more accepting and understanding than Zainab, but we have seen that in fact, he is capable to being quite cruel like when he threw out Zainab and then decided to abandon his sons. On one hand, Masood says he can't Syed, but demands that he stop being gay. I think that is a wonderfully even hand approach that we don't see soaps in the U.S. where there is usually one bad guy and one good guy in this type of situation.

I know I said this before, but I believe that Christian loves Syed. However, I don't buy that Syed is in love with Christian. I agree with b and c, but all soap couples are this way when they are engaged in forbidden affairs. As much as I loved Dennis and Sharon, they were the same way when they for months when they were sneaking around behind Zoe and Den's back. Either Sharon was trying to get Dennis back or he was trying to her back. It was tears and pleading as much much as I loved them, after awhile I had had enough even though I knew that is just part of the drama. I don't believe that Christian is just about the forbidden affair with Syed. I think he totally and completely loves Syed. Don't know why, but he does. He never wanted to be back in the closet with Syed. I actually think that it is to Christian's credit that he wanted his relationship with Syed to be out in the open. I think like with John Paul, Christian fell in love with a man who has/d a lot of self-loathing and couldn't pull himself out of the drama because he kept hoping that Syed would come out. I'm very sympathetic towards Christian in this regard. Also, got to say that I didn't see the Christian/Steven Beale story like you did. I think Christian enjoyed toying with Steven, but wasn't interested in him romantically at all. I didn't see it as Christian trying to break Zainab. She was taunting him and keep pushing. Christian, I think tried to walk away, but he has a temper and a point where he loses control. It makes him very human which is why I have come to like his character. I think if ME was a better actor, I would have more sympathy for Syed. I do feel sorry for him to some degree, but Amira's pain is on his head. He proposed to show Christian that he didn't have feelings for him and didn't want him which is horrible. Not much different to why Criag proposed to Sarah. This reminds me of Craig and Sarah. I never saw the great pain of acting straight with them either. I blame the showrunners for not dealing with this. I wouldn't mind if ME leaves and the role of Syed is recast a few months later. Finally about Zainab, I think that she is very much loved by her children. She is a difficult woman, yes, but Tamwar and Syed's frustration with her domineering manner is overshadowed by their obvious love for and devotion to her. Even though she and Masood are not in a good place, I think that it is clear that it is his love for her that makes it difficult for him to leave her completely.

K, I'm so glad you enjoyed the episode as much I did. Nina Wadia who plays Zainab is a talent and a find for EE. You absolutely right that Zainab is the new Pauline. EE can never let her leave. It may be EE heresy, but she is a better actress than Wendy Richard. Nina is a multifaceted actress who makes me feel sorry for Zainab even as I want to slap the hell out of her. I loved the confrontation with Zainab and Christian. There was so much anger, venom, cruelty, spite, frustration and vengeance in their scenes. You could see Christian trying to hold back, only to be pushed over the edge by Zianab's homophobia and religious bigotry. I have to admit that I busted out laughing when Christian told her that he and Syed did everything and that he loved it. The revulsion on Zainab's face when she hears this and then later when Syed finally mans up, defends Christian, admit that he is gay, and that he loves Christian is painful and real. I found these scenes hard to watch because it is hard to acknowledge that even people that you love and care about can be bigoted. I know this first hand. I have been watching a few scenes of Christian/Syed, put together the story isn't bad at all. I think if there had been more scenes of them happy together like when they go for that walk and Syed tells Christian that he loves him, their love story would been more believable. After re-watching these scenes, I am thinking that I have been too hard on ME as an actor. He does alright when he doesn't look disinterested in what Syed is supposed to be feeling about Christian. And K, we both know that there is no such thing as too much Dennis love.LOL

No prob.

I loved the episodes with Syed and Amira's wedding and Amira finding about the truth about Syed and Christian. It think Marc Elliot while still the weak link did a good job in Syed's scenes with Zainab and Christian in the wedding episode. In the episode where Amira finds out, I love the scene where Christian and Syed are confessing all to Amira and she says that she wants to bury Christian alive. Christian responds that it would make no difference that Syed would find someone else and Syed turns to Christian and says I wouldn't. It was one of the few times that I believed that Syed loves Christian. Another episode that l loved, but didn't get a lot of buzz was the one where Jim goes to visit Jack in the hospital. Dot as the Branning matriarch getting the family (and Ronnie) together to go visit Jack who had just woken up was quite touching. I'm not a real Branning family fan, but I really bought them as a family in that episode.

I definitely want the links. Thanks.

Dennis, oh my beloved Dennis. Damn them for getting back at Nigel for wanting to leave and killing Dennis off. I would give my right eye for Dennis, Sharon, and little Den to return to the Square, take over the VIc, and feud with the Mitchells. Sharon would give those Mitchell sisters, especially Roxy, a run for their money.

Christian and Syed got Julia's Theme so I think that EE was interested in giving them a nice send off to the next chapter of their lives, but it was setting up other stories in this episodes. I don't think that the show views Christian and Syed's relationship as volatile outside of the deception and self-loathing. I'm not sure that I do either. It wasn't like they were fighting over random things. Their problems were centered around the lying and deceit. I'm not impressed by them, but I want to see what they are like as a proper couple before making a final judgment. I want to see if there is really love there from Syed to Christian. The spoiler about the\ gym might have been wrong because Christian is advertising to be a personal trainer. Ian knows that Lucy cheated on her exams? I don't have a lot of sympathy for Jane. . I'm not and have never been a Peggy fan. I'm not going to miss her. So Phil is going to be a crack addict? I didn't know this. He is such an idiot.

I don't mind Christian and Syed getting Julia's Theme. I may not like them, but they have had an important romance and are quite popular so good on EastEnders for going all out. The one line that I liked hearing Syed say was, "I'm gay and a muslim. And I don't think that you can go to hell for having loved." It was corny, but very poignant after all the torment about his religious beliefs. I hope that Syed finds genuine peace about his faith and his sexuality. Did you see the spoiler about I also liked Shirley confronting Phil about his potential to relapse. I could do without drunk Phil.

If Treadwell-Collins cared so much about Christian and Syed getting together, he should have done a better job with their scenes.

That was the big Christian/Syed reunion? The dialogue was pathetic. The way that Syed barely touched Christian's face was so unconvincing. I just don't see love from that guy. Oh well, I'm just relieved that it is over. Hopefully, they can settle in as a couple and end the theatrics. I loved Ian stewing over how Phil raised Ben and then confronting him, refusing to back down when Phil went at him. This mess is on Phil and he should own how he has helped destroy Ben's life. I am interested in what is happening between Ronnie and Jack. I thought the actress who plays Ronnie looked lovely and the actor who plays Jack looked very handsome today. They are a striking couple. He isn't in the wheel chair permanently is he? I take it back the ratings probably won't be much. It was only an okay episode.

Santer and Treadwell-Collins do deserve credit for their efforts. I think that their era should be deemed a success in terms of improved storytelling and viewer growth. Hopefully, Kirkwood can keep it going.

I'm not surprised that Eastenders is doing so well. I feel like the show has improved which is why I'm watching more frequently and posting about the stories. I think today's episode with the Denise/Lucas story coming to a head and Syed and Christian turning a corner will bring in even stronger ratings. The UK soaps are in so much better shape than their US counterparts that I think that viewership does actually measure quality.

As much as they annoy the hell out of me, I can give Christian and Syed a pass for their hurtful actions because this is what soap couples do. The lies, the make ups and break ups, and cruel words are typical. I do believe that Christian loves Syed though I have no clue why. However, I concede that most soap couples are written like this. They kiss or have a close moment and they are suddenly in love. I see desperation and love radiating from Christian. I feel that Christian like John Paul from Hollyoaks outed their lovers in a crazy moment out of pain and sheer desperation so I find their actions forgivable. What I doubt is that Syed loves Christian. I just don't see love there. Yet they are popular so I admit that I'm in the minority here. I want to see how Syed and Christian interact as a couple when the pressure is off. I want to see if Marc Elliot can have Syed show love for Christian beyond the drama.

Reading this, it occurs to me that this is why Christian and Syed are so popular. They are a typical over dramatic dysfunctional soap couple except their lies and deception are focused around Syed's issues. They are so ridiculous at times, but they really are no different Sharon and Dennis (who I did love) sneaking around Walford hiding from everyone and then later on Zoe and Den. I am really interested in seeing where Kirkwood takes them next. Another thing, I can't believe that no one in the Square figured out Christian and Syed were romantically involved months ago. They stand insanely close to each other and are grabby in public. People have to had been blind not too see they were involved. A couple of people noticing, but saying nothing would have added to this neverending story.

I am really enjoying Eastenders lately. I love the actors who play Zainab and Masood. I have been so annoyed about Zainab and Masood's attitude about Syed's homosexuality, but damn if they didn't make me feel for their delusional state today. Tamwar is the best brother around. Kamil, the baby is so adorable. Christian is so freaking annoying at times. He was in the right taunting the Masoods today, but I cheered when Masood hit him anyway. He looked really handsome in those scenes with Syed in his flat. I was glad that Christian stood his ground with Syed. Time for Syed to take a stand about his life and stop waffling. I hope new Ben can act and comes home tougher and makes Phil's life miserable. There have been hints that Ben might be gay and I hope that he will be with the new actor. Ian is such a prat, but he cracks me up. I laughed when he told Jane to gossip with Zainab about Syed and see how she liked it. Zianab ranting to Masood about Ian calling her a gossip was also funny as hell.

Some soap fans are so weird. What possesses them to think that the actors want their scrapbooks and odd gifts? I don't think that whether someone is a good actor or not is subjective, really. Rather I think that lots of soap fans are unable to distinguish between their attraction to an actor and their acting ability. I think it is pretty clear Marc is a mediocre actor. He is fairly unimpressive though he can occasionally rise to the occasion. I do think that romantic chemistry is subjective so just because you and I don't see it, it doesn't mean that others don't. Like I always say, we can't all like the same couples. I just don't buy the explanation that what I see missing from Syed is due to his anxiety about being gay. There are simply no moments, even when he is alone with Christian that I believe that he reluctantly desires Christian. I practically rolled my eyes the first time Syed kissed Christian. I have always put it down to ME being straight and uncomfortable playing a gay character, but I could be dead wrong. He could be gay and is uncomfortable playing a gay role or it more likely it is his mediocre acting.

Great minds. I was just coming to post this possibility. Could Denise have gone to the police after escaping Lucas? The police could be trying to get Lucas to make a mistake and give them evidence other than Denise's word. I could be that Patrick knows everything and is part of the con. I would much prefer this scenario be true.

True. This is why I'm always so surprised that Christian/Syed like Luke and Noah have so many fans. I wonder if it is because subconsciously many of their female fans sense that Marc and Jake are straight and uncomfortable playing gay characters. I thought Patrick bought it completely once Lucas began to spin the lie that Denise accidentally killed Owen. Lucas is so damn convincing. Patrick better not go any where alone with Lucas or he might be next.

Ignore.