InLoveWithSoaps

Last week was actually quite good. So long Pam and Les, props to the actors for creating one of the most believable couples on the show. When you see them, it feels as if they've been playing this couple for 20 years when they were relative newcomers. Claudette showed her true colors when criticizing Pam behind her back. Ugh. And on Thursday's show, I found her quite out of order to be all happy about Ben moving on. Yes, he should, but saying that right in front of the grandmother? A bit insensitive.
Babe calling Les a pervert is tired so at least that can end now. I wonder how she really feels about Tina and Johnny's sexuality.
Carmel is a character I'd take any day over Babe or Claudette, but she's getting on my nerves lately, trying to evict Masood from his home. I just hope they don't pull a Coker on her before finding a better way to use her.
I'm interested in seeing where the Lauren / Steven story goes.

Jude is a hoot. I already love her. I'm so glad they're bringing on some more family for Cindy. I loved her the most from the moment I first laid eyes on her back in 2011 when she came back from a trip and was the new co-owner of the spa. I didn't expect a soap like Hollyoaks which moves at the speed of light to bring back a character not seen in almost 20 years.

I am intrigued about the new Ste storyline with his blackouts. DID? On a British soap, has it been done? If that's where they're going I can't see that going down well with the press, and people are harsh with Kieron (and I'd agree he wouldn't be the right choice for such storyline, although he's fully capable of good work.)

Not interested in the least bit in the Liam/Eva story, it's the one dud at the moment. I actually like Liam but him ready to kill Jack was laughable. Eva is on her high horse but she's no better. Of course she'll come around to Jack, and maybe, then she'll start being interesting.

This Eva storyline is annoyingly dull. Someone needs to tell them those drug transaction "mysteries" never work. I didn't like them years ago, and I didn't care for them back when Trevor was around as much as I liked him.

Not Bella and Rachel! My two favorites! I'm going to miss them, although I still have about 75 episodes from 2011 to watch (sadly the uploader stopped after that).
Well, at least we still have the magnificent Harper who has everything a Shortland Street icon should have. I love her so much. Maybe it's time for a Brooke return, it'd be interesting to see her go at it with Harper. And Finn who is another great new character. And Drew, etc. I wonder what Chris'll do now. The only character I'm not a fan of is Esther.
A question, before Leanne left, she told Nicole "I've put you in the right way, away from lesbians and drugs". Didn't she come around to that (well not the drugs part)?
Did Dayna and George leave the show? I didn't watch everything this year as I couldn't find somewhere which had every episode until recently.
I also would love to see Isaac return one of these days. His downfall and exit which I watched this summer was epic. Roimata and Jill are still new in the 2011 eps I'm watching but they're great. I'm loving the Hunter training to become a doctor story arc and his rivalry and then friendship with fellow-student Paige, the niece of Callum's enemy. Also really interested in Gabrielle who just returned.

Watching December 1995 and I have a few thoughts.
I loved the set-up at the Reardon boarding house. Sad it disappeared before the end of 97. It wouldn't have been a bad idea to bring it back when everyone was living at the Beacon hotel. Surely it wouldn't have cost that much to have a living room/kitchen set and put a few characters in that house.
Kimberly J. Brown was a lovely child actress and I really enjoyed her 2006 brief return. I really wish they had brought her back full-time. I know people were bitching she looked too young (to have been with Jeffrey no less) but it's nonsense. Marah is one character that was really missing in the last years. Outside of Lizzie, they were short on legacy kids (Marina was not popular and let's not talk about Daisy).
I loved that Hart. Much better than Grillo who was miscast I feel and not a very good actor, at least on GL. Why did they fire him? Is the actor the one who went on to bash the show for that? Killing off Hart was a dubious mistake, given Zaslow had died why kill off Roger's only son? This would have prevented that weird Sebastian thing years later. Hart could have easily been recast, although I suppose we'd have ended up with someone like RPG in the role or something. This move really hindered the Thorpe/Marler clan. Actually saying Hart was alive after all when they brought back Dinah would have been believable, but maybe we'd have gotten something really convoluted like Jeffrey is Hart.
I'm surprised Melissa Hayden never worked more after GL. It looked as though she was the type of soap actress who would make it big, maybe in a sitcom. I wonder how Nola/Ed might have worked.
Marj was on point at that time, I don't know why she felt so different after her time at AMC. Her & Nick were such an interesting mother/son relationship I'm not surprised AMC pulled a repeat. I love all the families in Springfield but the Spauldings will always have a special place in my heart.
The Marian Crane saga while Passions-like was something different. Guilty pleasure trashy storyline. Why not!

This last scene of Thursday's episode with Dot was so moving and upsetting. Best work I've seen this year. I know Friday's is going to break my heart.
I must say the Coker's have proven to be a strong addition to the square despite some weird acting from Les but when I see them I absolutely don't see actors in a scene. They feel so much like a real couple, it's hard to imagine for me that they're not, it's a rare occurrence. I try to be spoiler-free but I've read Pam would be leaving? Silly if so. She's the type of human, real character they need. Although I guess poor thing deserves a new start. But really her over wretched, nasty Babe? Props to Shirley for taking on her mother at least, and I loved Sonia telling her off before leaving Walford.

Great use of Celine recently. I've always found her so-so but they're really doing a good job with her and they've struck gold with that pairing with Jesse.
The double wedding where both weddings didn't happen was some good drama. The Juanita character, although a caricature, was a fun addition. I didn't see the twist re: Diego coming.
Mercedes & Joe were working but I'm not sure I feel sad about them breaking up. I'm interested in seeing who they move them with. Although no Joanne please. She's a wet fish. I'm always annoyed at how Darren being Joe and Freddie's brother is swept under the rug.
The balance on this show does my head in sometimes. We had the week of the Patrick saga, and since then I don't remember seeing Sienna, Maxine etc. It's a bit anticlimatic.
I've never had a problem with Tegan but she was annoying last week. I've watched every episode this year but I can't remember Leela having sex with Jesse at all.
Joan Collins would have been a catch and more age appropriate to be Marnie's mother but I just don't see her in a British soap. Or even US soap. GL was just a case of right show in the right era/right character/right family.

I loved watching 1997 for the first time back in 2008 as it was airing in Iceland. The only stuff I truly disliked was that bland vanilla love story between Michelle and Jesse. I remember their first love scenes taking up half an episode. Ugh.
I've picked back up the December 1995 episodes I was watching last year, around the time Josh marries Annie right before he discovers Reva is alive.
I hope all of 2002 will show up one of these days. There's some 2001 episodes up I liked but not that many. Overall I liked the feel the show had in 01/02.

I've been watching January 2003 episodes online and I'm loving it. Sure, every storyline is a variation of each other, everybody's sister or brother wants the same person, but this show could be so good at being what it was set to be. It was picked up in my country to replace Sunset Beach in 2001, but it got axed after a month and a half. I always begrudged that as I always thought having this show around in my pre-teen/teenage years would really have been something. Well at least when soaps started being ripped in 2005 I got it back but I didn't stick with it, because it got repetitive ("Gwen and Rebecca are the ones who sent that e-mail to the tabloids revealing Ethan was Sam Bennett's son" or whatever the line was Theresa repeated 10 times an episode) and that awful Noah/Fancy introduction story in Las Vegas wasn't interesting to me. Those 2003 episodes are perfect soap for me. Beth is still one of the last iconic characters US soaps created, I was fascinated by her reading synopses and watching 2005 episodes and she still stands as my fave. I always wished to see more of Liz, and I got my wish, why did GL never bring back Amelia Marshall?

I forgot how those nights were endless. Three weeks in and it's still the same damn night! At least four episodes Liz pretends to be sleepwalking and basically molests dumb TC forcing her kisses on him. At least five eppys with Theresa evicting Ivy. Come on. But that's still so much fun! My first time seeing Deanna Wright as Kay and I really enjoy her. Heidi Mueller brought a more human and mature side. Jessica #2 is one of the weakest actresses right now, she has nothing to do but when she goes all dramatic on Kay it doesn't work. Simone #2 is okay although I liked Cathy Doe more. I find it nice JER held onto those characters in spite of the actresses always leaving.

What I loved the most about Passions was that JER wasn't afraid to have Sheridan, the show's heroine, always suffering and being tortured. She always comes off as so dumb it's such a joy to see her miserable. I can't wait to see her committed! That story where Alistair has "doctors" performing electroshock therapy on her made me thirsty when I was reading recaps. But I think it's in 2004 or much later in the year.

The Joanne obsessing over Joe story is a big miss. Why is she still on the show? Especially when the Lovedays are MIA.

The scenes where James cared after JP only for him to bring him back to the MacQueen's, where he told him he wasn't up to it and broke him and Scott for a cheap bet, were some of the most compelling scenes I've seen on that show this year.

Interested in seeing what they'll do with the Courtney character. I'd like some continuity with the Lomaxes. Tegan stopped believing Ste (re: Cameron) when he went on and on about Warren but now that it's a fact he's back in town, will they follow it up? Cameron needs to pay. There's not an appealing bone left in that character's body. At least with Nico, she's fun to watch when she's not bullying cancer patients.

Is Reenie gone for good? What a waste. I don't care about Diego and his ex-wife. Also sorry but those scenes where he begs Myra to forgive him were badly acted.

I am loving the show right now. Where are the Loveday parents though? I'm a week behind and I'd say the last time they were on was around May, I hope they return. The real Lisa is a joy to watch, she could give Grace a run for her money as the new HBIC. I liked how she called Sonia and passed herself off as a nurse to tell her Jade was in ER, which led to Ste stealing the garage money.
I'm finally beginning to care about Ste & Harry. Kieron really is doing a stellar job. I truly felt for him during the stand-alone episode. I thought the end had a nice message, that when you need professional help you have to do it, whether it's a drug addiction or mental issues, etc.
I'm so over Cameron. And Nico. I find it hard to believe she would want to hurt a cancer patient when she went through a life-threatening illness herself.
KMan101, I am so sad to have to agree with you on Sienna. Anna Passey is just wasted these days, she's one soap actress I think could have a bright future, much like my beloved Rakhee (ex-Shabnam, EE), so I'd miss them on my shows but feel they're doing the right thing.

I'm a bit mad they killed off Trevor. Slow down, Hollyoaks.


YES at Sophie Austin turning up on another soap. Anna Passey is another one I think has a bright future if she were to leave, but I'm not sure I want her to. I just find her very primetime-ish if that makes sense.

I did. It was rather short, Xanthe & Sheila met her, Xanthe said she used to watch the show with her mother and KKL replied "not anymore?". I thought "no wonder!".

I haven't been watching in the past couple of weeks but I find it ridiculous how everyone is blaming Paul for the explosion, especially Terèse. I think it's either Ned or Tom Quill.

I believe Twinnie-Lee left the show to focus on her music career.

I made the wish Lindsey would kill Silas, and in the end, it's the other way around. I don't believe she wouldn't fight back but then again he's the physical one there. So long Lindsey 2.0, I hope Sophie Austin pops up on Emmerdale or something.

Poor Hannah. She gets a double mastectomy to save herself from cancer and then 3 weeks later she dies from a blow to the head. I haven't been watching for long at all, since February I believe, but I'm sick of all these deaths on ALL the international soaps. If you watch all of them, there's one nearly weekly. Anyway, I find H&A much more compelling than Neighbours right now, Neighbours is a lot more plot-driven, Terese's attitude towards Paul refusing to believe he might be innocent is so irritating and unbelievable for me.

So Lockie is dead too? Geez. That makes three serial killers on the loose, Cameron, Lindsey and Nico. (Not to mention Silas.)

Are you confusing her with someone else because I'm pretty sure she was removed the day right after she left. The girl who plays the bully Lauren on Corrie looks and acts just like her.

Really impressed with the Lisa girl.

I wanted to see how Harry/James would go but so far the story is a bit unappealing. At least Harry gave him back the money, so maybe there will be something less sleazy between them? Do Ste/Harry have that many fans? I think JP/Harry would have been a lot more interesting but without the teacher/student angle.
I just watched Friday's show and I loved the Sienna/Grace banters, and the Loveday climax. I kept expecting Lisa to be Esther's online date, now that would have been a twist.

(I kind of miss Patrick.)

Wow that ending. I only saw the end of that storyline but good job everyone. Shortland Street between now and the 2010 (now 2011) episodes I'm watching might just be my favorite soap. Sadly so overlooked.

I don't know how I'm going to cope without Isaac, I think I only have three months left of him. The actor seems to be doing well in theatre, but I hope there is a small chance he might come back one day. Then again I don't know whether Isaac's dead. I'll have to see. Good to know Annette will be back.

The Gerald actor is a writer for the show now? Good for him, I miss Gerald.

Ste & Harry's shtick is getting so old.
Am I the only one worried about Kieron? He doesn't seem well at all.

The Loveday drama has been good. I wonder if anything will happen with Joanne's mother. I've gone from hating Joanne to thinking there might be potential with her.

The Sienna/Trevor affair seems to be the dead end I knew it was going to be. I've never gotten the point of Ben as currently written, he could be so much more than this.
Maxine and Neeta being best friends now was a weird moment but good to see Maxine even though they clearly don't know what to do with her.

So 120-ish episodes watched within the past year, I'm around the end of 2010 now. If I didn't watch more it's that I took a break after about 40 episodes then came back. Thankfully so, because this show is so worth the time. Intelligent and entertaining at the same time.
I am currently loving Brooke/Isaac, not that I ship couples but they're a great pair, I suppose it won't last though. I'm sad Isaac won't be around much longer as he's charming and witty, sexy too. Another great pair were Maxwell/Sarah (but I guess they're done now) and Rachel/Callum. Other than that I enjoy most characters. I loathed Scotty at first but now I find him appealing, I'm liking him with Tracey and currently I'm watching his mother being back into his life. Also I must say Luke is quite fascinating, I can't picture him with Bella, who I'm liking with Brodie. They had a great teen scene at the time with Ula, Phoenix and Evan. I hope Annette Freeman will return because the mini-alcoholism storyline is the first thing that kept me coming back.
I caved and started watching 2016 episodes too. It's still well-written from the three weeks I've seen. Too many changes to adjust to at first. I like Jack the most. The show looks much better too.

From 2012, I only watched Riley's death and at the time Nancy & Darren had a baby who was in intensive care. That makes me interested. Once again it's just sad all those characters were killed off, Riley, Texas, Doug. I just wonder why all those actors leave.
The detective from 2011 Ethan showed up on Emmerdale last week. Honestly I'm interested to see what Iain McLeod does for ED which is still good but I don't think this year has been particularly outstanding, I'm spoiler-free so I don't know of his plans.

So the Donovans are Grace's brothers. Glad to see they're building a family around her. When I first saw her I never would have expected she'd have such good timing for comedy. But the stories they give her are not as well thought-out as they could be. I don't even remember a real ending to Esther's baby, then those short flings with Kim and Esther which were weirdly resolved (don't know why Kim suddenly stopped being obsessed with her). Not to mention her fling with Darren. But then again that's true for the whole show.

Great to see Nancy but on a shallow note I don't like the blonde on her. I hope they have story for her. When I came back over a year ago there was a time where she was on everyday it seemed.
Tuesday's episode was really good. Lindsey should kill Silas, would serve him right!

Great work by the Nightingales today. Queen Marnie and James have been added to the opening. Joanne too, but I'm not sure what they can do with her, she's by far the weakest link in the Loveday family, although she's grown on me recently. I've seen a casting spoiler about the Lovedays and I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out.
I'll miss Lindsey. Sophie Austin has been fantastic. I hope Lindsey actually pays for her crimes, unlike Silas. That reminds me of the previous Lynsey whom I really liked and thought it was stupid to kill off. I haven't really agreed with some of the murders, Charles brought both comic relief and depth I thought, Dylan was promising.
When Jack gave a tour of the city to the Nightingales they made fun of all the deaths. If only they knew. I just hope they and the Lovedays don't go the way of so many families before, like the Costello's. What did you think of them? I remember they were brought on in great fanfare then were all written off quickly. Two of them are dead too, good lord. Why would anyone move into the Dog's is beyond me.
I find Liam slightly good-looking although his intro is a bit like Dodger's (IIRC). I suppose some light stuff is a good balance for all the drama.
Freddie/Marnie are a more interesting move than he & Ellie but we can see where this is going.
I feel like the writers thought that having Rachel not die from the crash but from its consequences is a way to let Holly go scott free but it's still the same to me. It's a silly move which Holly will never live down.

Talk about a pointless death and turning a viable character into a killer, if the other character indeed dies. I enjoy the show tremendously but still... I just don't see the drama in killing off a tenth character within six months to watch people (we barely know to boot) grieve for two days and then forget about it. The way Ziggy's death was handled still makes me roll my eyes, and I didn't even care about the guy.
So both Robbie & Jason are gone for good? And there's a new clan being introduced already apparently.
I look forward to Frankie returning, thanks for the info. I didn't realize she'd been gone that long!

Parry looks better on his profile picture than he does on the show, he always looks so pale. How I wish for a Harry/James affair.

Definitely didn't see that one coming, re: Mrs St. Claire.