EastEnders: Discussion Thread

[Y&RWorldTurner]

There's a small part of the Alan/Carol scene in the EastEnders Most Cliffhangers Special, though it really doesn't do the whole scene justice:

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Carol's Moment, 4:52 in:

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David's Moment is 2:20 in:

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Bianca's is 3:24 in:

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And since they're returning in a few weeks, here's Kat and Alfie's, with Stacey's in the middle:

Starts 2:47 in:

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Edited August 17, 2010 by Y&RWorldTurner

[Bright Eyes]

What's the countdown about?

[Y&RWorldTurner]

It was counting down the characters with the most duff duffs (or cliffhangers) and showcasing their most memorable clffhanger in their respective segments.

[DRW50]

Thanks for posting those. I enjoyed that special, even with the leaden quips and too much focus on recent stories.

Anyway, today's episode was pretty good. I can't say I disliked any scene, aside from Heather's moaning.

Poor Darren. I don't know what it says about Vanessa if Harry thought that she was sleeping with him.

The scene where Phil tore through the Vic and stole from the till was genuinely scary. The show and Steve McFadden are doing a great job showing his downfall, without overdoing it.

I really liked the scene where Ronnie said she appreciated Roxy doing all this for Jack, and Roxy said, softly, "I'm doing this for you." THAT is the type of relationship I have rarely seen between Ronnie and Roxy until now.

Everything with Carol and her attempt to start over was very good, I felt sorry for her when Fatboy reacted that way. She looked pretty good though, even though that was the type of outfit few make work. I'm glad we're seeing more of her vulnerability and we're also getting a friendlier relationship with Bianca.

I liked the casual cast integration in the episode -- the show has been getting better and better at this lately. Pat wandering by Bianca and Carol even though her main scenes were in the Vic, Liam and Morgan with Harry, etc.

As with most soap clubs, R&R apparently was not made over for their grand re-opening. But I thought that last scene with Glenda and Peggy was good. Barbara Windsor isn't a great actress but she's a good reactor, she gives good soap faces. Her reaction to Glenda's news was perfectly done.

I guess this is probably just about it for Glenda. It's too bad -- I think Glynis has done her best with a very poorly written role.

I think she likes to look what she believes is young. She looked like an Easter basket. And Ronnie looked like she was wearing luggage.

[Ann_SS]

It was a nice moment for Ronnie and Roxy.

LOL! You totally cracked me up with the Easter basket comment, it describes her outfit perfectly. She is a wealthy woman living in London, that dress was the best that she do? Ronnie at least looked halfway decent.

[DRW50]

I think they want her to be seen as edgy or unique or whatever. I think you can dress edgy and still look good but she often seems like a Barbie doll who was overly experimented on. I thought that again today with the crimped hair.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Something else about today's episode, Bianca mentioned Doctors and a character on that soap. The show has mentioned Corrie before, but I was a little surprised at the Doctors shout out...

[DRW50]

I was surprised by that too. I wonder if they were trying to give the show an extra boost or if they just mentioned it because The Doctors is a daytime show and Carol might watch that at the moment.

I wonder if Carol's 1997 exit is online (I think her 99 one is). I have a soft spot for the "look around one last time" exits.

[DRW50]

Looks like Stefan Booth is joining as Greg, the latest fantasy man for "Tan." Short-term, so I wonder if that means the Tanya/Max stuff is going to be back again very soon, unless some other poor man is roped into this mess.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/08/17/tanya-s-new-man-joins-eastenders-115875-22492904/

Stefan played Jamie Nash on Hollyoaks, the barely dressed bad boy who gave Becca VD and then after reforming, died in a potholing trip with Max, OB, Ben, and others. He went on to almost win Dancing on Ice.

In Google Images you can find some photos of him doing his version of the Daniel Craig James Bond trunks look.

Edited August 17, 2010 by CarlD2

[dannigold]

Heres the digital spy article on Stefan's hiring

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a262789/tanya-brannings-fiance-cast-in-enders.html

[Ann_SS]

Stephan is a nice looking guy. KIrkwood should consider keeping him around. There are other single women in the Square who need love interests.

Edited August 17, 2010 by Ann_SS

[Y&RWorldTurner]

He has a showreel, it's nothing much, just a few random scenes, mainly from The Bill, with one from Hollyoaks.

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[Ann_SS]

Another good episode. I like the transition in the final scenes. Kirkwood is putting his touch on EE.

Linda Henry is so talented. She is a fine too often overlooked actress. I hope this is a sign that Kirkwood plans to use her better than Santer did. Shirley has got to stop being Phil's doormat. He better beg Shirley to come back to him when he gets his life back together.

Phil is scary as hell. I can't believe Minty and Ricky let Shirley go in there with Phil alone. I can't stand Phil, but I almost felt sorry for him when he was lying broken on the ground today. Kudos to Steve McFadden.

I am not crying for Heather. Her stupidity got her in this situation.

Poor Ronnie. Her mother is a piece of work. No wonder she is such a mess. I couldn't figure out what expression Scott Maslen was going for as Jack sat there listening to this horrible story. It did not work.

It was good to see Syed and Christian flirting and happy. This is the stuff that they never got to do at the beginning of their relationship. Their scene was a nice set up for next week's drama.

Edited August 17, 2010 by Ann_SS

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Today's episode was very well-crafted, I thought.

Shirley was just heartbreaking, and this episode really showed how there's no one looking out for her, when she's constantly looking out for Phil and Heather.

The scene with Phil at The Arches, and then at Phil's house was just harrowing. It must really crush her that Phil chose the crack over her.

I have no sympathy for Heather. I loved when Shirley told her to grow the hell up and that she can't always be there to pick up the pieces for her.

The Glenda/Ronnie/Roxy stuff was well-handled too. It's strange to see Roxy comforting Ronnie, when usually it's the other way around and Roxy doesn't typically care about anyone but herself. I'm enjoying Roxy a lot more lately, and her and Ronnie's dynamic is better developed and layered these days.

Glenda isn't being written out, so I guess it looks like she'll be trying to prove herself to Ronnie and Roxy over the next couple of months, which should be interesting to see how it's handled.

It's strange, but I know a lot of mothers sadly turn a blind eye when they know their husband's are sexually abusing their children. They often blame the child over their spouses.

The directing has gotten really sharp and filmic since Kirkwood took over. It like the subtle stylized features.

Edited August 17, 2010 by Y&RWorldTurner

[Ann_SS]

First, Rudolph Walker and now Lindsey Coulson and Linda Henry. I like Kirkwood's approach to using the EE cast so far. I really thought that he would focus on the younger actors like he did on Hollyoaks, but it really feels like he is determined to use a variety of talented actors on EE.

The one thing I hope that he improves is the pacing of stories. It was horrific under him at Hollyoaks and not much better with Santer at EE. I know that there are budgetary restrictions at work, but still. He can do better to interweave stories and reduce if not eliminate the black holes that they disappear into for months at a time.

Edited August 17, 2010 by Ann_SS