EastEnders: Discussion Thread

[Skylover]

 

Yeah, don't know if we're allowed to mention it on here publicly so I'll PM you.

[victoria foxton]

Hi Eddie. I've been watching 1989. A year which is not considered  one of EE's best. Donna's OD was hard to watch. I don't hate the new short lived crop of characters introduced that year. 

 

Edited August 22, 2019 by victoria foxton

[InLoveWithSoaps]

I'm enjoying the show's turnaround and I think this summer has been the best EE's been in years. The episodes just fly by effortlessly with good balance and every scene has a point. They've managed to infuse the show with the energy and urgency that had been missing for a long time.
The Ben recast has turned out to be fantastic (didn't see Callum/Ben coming at all), as has the new Bobby. He is very fascinating to watch. Every scene seems to work and feel important and one I will single out is the lead-up to Gray beating his wife, which made for a most classic EastEnders moment. The way you could tell something was shifting in his behavior towards his wife between leaving the Vic and walking to their house, all leading up to a shocking attack once inside. I think the Taylors have been a very good addition to the canvas overall.
Other improvements is the whole Rainie/Max saga, it was just stalling and they found a way to make it interesting again, I know people hated Stuart but the actor has always been good and his 'friendship' with Rainie is one other thing that works.

[DRW50]

 

I'm glad you're enjoying it. The Gray story is so badly written to me it's made me go on a hiatus from the show. The setup was so clumsy and I'm so bored of the evil middle-class trope on EE.

[victoria foxton]

 

 

[Skylover]

 

I enjoyed 1989. I liked those short-lived characters too.

 

I really like Bobby, Tiffany and Ruby. Ruby's probably my favourite but I'd like them to introduce some family for her and set her up with Kush.

 

I've gone off Ben again, I'm a little sick of the constant Phil/Ben battle. 

[victoria foxton]

Ben and Callum are making me watch after a long absence. It's nice to see EE going through an upswing in quality. 

Edited August 29, 2019 by victoria foxton

[Skylover]

 

I still feel like it's not quite right but I think it's better than it has been for years.

 

I wish they wouldn't do a lot of silly things. Max/Ruby as a pairing is silly. Rainie and Max adopting Abi is silly too. 

[DRW50]

The show is all plot, no character, no heart.

[Skylover]

 

The Honey/Adam thing has been drawn out to ridiculous levels too. It's just annoying.

[Skylover]

It's also a real shame how they stuffed up Mel's return.

[BetterForgotten]

I didn't realize that the BBC had started doing promo materials again for the show. Here's one with Patsy Palmer and Maisie Smith.

 

 

As for the show, it is HIGHLY plot driven. Though I can see why some see this as a step-up given the years of really poorly executed, regressive, and just boring material. The day to day writing is a bit better and there does seem to more momentum than usual again. There's also a bit more character interaction that we've not really seen much of - the story is trash, but who would have thought Steve McFadden and Jessie Wallace would be sharing so much screentime together? For years, it was said those two hated each other and the show went out of its way to make sure Phil and Kat only shared limited scenes. 

 

Oates and Sen are very much in Santer's vein though - they seem very good at publicity and sensationalist plots, but piss poor at character development. But none of this seems to be paying off in the ratings yet

[BetterForgotten]

Granted, Mel’s return has been an overall flop and she’s leaving soon (and I was never a big fan anyway during her first stint). However, Tamzin is a damn good actress and was very good this week (especially today).

[Vee]

As for returns that actually work, Patsy Palmer clicks immediately.

 

The new Ben guy seems decent and all but I can't invest in another surprise gay story when Callum and Ben look exactly alike and Ben seems so different in personality. It's sad.

Edited September 6, 2019 by Vee

[BetterForgotten]

Lucy Benjamin has slotted back in quite nicely as Lisa this week too.

 

The writing for Bianca and Tiffany’s scenes felt off. It’s like they’re struggling to explain why Bianca’s been an absent/terrible mother.