The gasp I gasped when I saw Pat at the end of Monday's episode!

And then that beautifully sad, often tender, Nigel episode. "I've let you down" - that scene brought me to tears, such wonderful acting all around. Young Phil was phenomenal. And such a classy touch bypassing the doof-doof.

I'm honestly considering giving up the show and I don't know why, but it feels like it's about time. I sort of want to carry on because I think its days are numbered, it certainly won't last longer than another 10 years I wouldn't have thought. 15 at the most.

I've been watching other shows like the gay Australian show 'Single, Out', the 1987 season of Neighbours on YouTube and it's going to sound terrible but even The Kardashians, and they are so much more enjoyable to watch. Life is depressing enough, that I want to watch happy stuff now. And EE doesn't get rid of enough deadwood characters (in fact, none of the UK soaps do) and they don't keep as many of the ones I like around.

I won't quit easily, but I did quit Home and Away in 2019 and I've never regretted that decision. I think now Neighbours is done, I might be done with soaps. I would have carried on watching Neighbours, as it wasn't depressing.

I have been loving EastEnders so much lately. It's a not-to-miss soap for me.

Processing that flashforward episode... I was mortified initially but a little intrigued by the end. It was supposed to function as a sort of year-long teaser/preview, I suppose, although I question the decision to show the entirety of what happens a whole year from now majorly. So, we already know the whole brouhaha about Max changing will mean nothing. And it's like being spoiled a whole year in advance.

If I'm that interested in it, what's keeping me from just tuning in next year to see the resolution? Let's just hope they don't lose any of the actors that are present a year from now lol

On 12/30/2025 at 11:40 AM, Chris B said:

I have been a Ben Wadey apologist but I am officially over him after seeing how the plots came together on Christmas. One thing I enjoyed is the same thing most people hated: the Zoe story and the focus it got. I felt like with Clenshaw, he was throwing so much at the wall that most stories didn't get properly developed. Especially when it came to social issues, it seemed like every other week there was a new one and it was just too much going on and not enough character moments for me.

I've loved seeing the Slaters, who had been underused, on the forefront and getting to see Zoe re-integrate into their lives. Another part that I enjoyed was having Anthony return so Patrick had his son and that family also got some time to shine. I feel like killing him off was a cheap stunt that makes no sense. They ruined his character by introducing these out of nowhere villain aspects, they didn't play the issues with his wife and kids and now he won't get to reconcile with Zoe and wont get to meet his twins. How is this satisfying? It's a pointless murder mystery for a character that didn't need to die.

I hope this isn't a sign to come because this is literally the worst they could've done to resolve this story. Makes me wonder how they'll pull off NYE which will involve extensive planning.

It wasn't entirely out of nowhere with Anthony, as he was somewhat shady in his run as a regular character, but the execution was terrible and there really wasn't a need to kill him. I've been OK with Wadey's run so far but there are some big exceptions - the Zoe return story and just how bad the pacing is.

19 hours ago, DRW50 said:

It wasn't entirely out of nowhere with Anthony, as he was somewhat shady in his run as a regular character, but the execution was terrible and there really wasn't a need to kill him. I've been OK with Wadey's run so far but there are some big exceptions - the Zoe return story and just how bad the pacing is.

I wasn't impressed with the New Years fast-forward either. I'm not going to drop the show but definitely they need to win me back. I'm hoping the next couple month see some improvement.

19 minutes ago, Chris B said:

I wasn't impressed with the New Years fast-forward either. I'm not going to drop the show but definitely they need to win me back. I'm hoping the next couple month see some improvement.

I thought it was OK - my main complaint was they were too vague. We needed at least one or two solid moments.

I'm still enjoying individual scenes, relationships, performances. Once that stops I will go back to not watching, as I often have.

Just now, DRW50 said:

I thought it was OK - my main complaint was they were too vague. We needed at least one or two solid moments.

This is how I felt. I also hope they're misleading us when it comes to Max. I don't want another year of him being the same mess he was before. I hope that we get to see him actively trying to be a better person before getting drawn into whatever they were teasing.

Just now, DRW50 said:

I'm still enjoying individual scenes, relationships, performances. Once that stops I will go back to not watching, as I often have.

This is exactly how I feel. I stick around for those individual scenes and the relationships. I just need one story I can latch on to.

I just haven't cared about Max in years. IDK!

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jan/11/derek-martin-who-played-charlie-slater-in-eastenders-dies-aged-92

Derek Martin had a long career in TV - many may remember him for the hair-raising stunts he was involved in in early '70s Doctor Who, or his role on Only Fools and Horses, or his lead role in the Law & Order series which scandalized the country in the late '70s.

For me, he will always me Charlie Slater, the patriarch of the Slater family. Charlie was a deceptively simple role, but he had to play a man who loved his daughters yet was deeply unaware of what was going on with them, a man who could be comic relief but was also deadly serious, a teddy bear who could give a severe beatdown.

I remember the scene where his disgusting brother Harry tried to shake his hand as he was leaving Walford, and Charlie spit in his face. A very raw, unflinching moment in a land of fake slaps and punches.

There was something special about the OG Slaters, something that has never been recaptured in the many cobbled together versions we've had since 2006. And Derek was the core of what made them special. There was something pure about him which couldn't be replaced.

His relationship with Kat was devastating, moving, and had an honesty I miss on soaps.

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by DRW50

Aw, may be RIP. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the OG Slaters as well. Derek wasn’t the greatest actor, but he was always present and had great chemistry with actors who made up his on-screen family.

The early Slater years were lightening in a bottle, the likes of which we have rarely ever seen with newly introduced characters and families since.