EastEnders: Discussion Thread

[detroitpiston]

I always forget to comment on this show but I’m loving Nicola Mitchell

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Teddy and his boys have really come into their own since the Panesar feud and Jack blackmail plots started a few weeks back. Nicola’s addition has added some needed layers and bite to all of their dynamics and the actress has a great presence on screen.

[Liberty City]

Nicola is a breath of fresh air! Hoping she remains that way, too.

[Vee]

Who the Christ is Nicola Mitchell? I remember being thrown by just Ronnie and Roxy years ago so I shouldn't be surprised at this point. How many branches does the family have?

[Skylover]

She's Teddy's ex wife I think. I'm about 35 episodes behind though.

[Liberty City]

Teddy's ex-wife. She is fabulous!

[MichaelGL]

She’s a Mitchell by marriage. She’s married to Billy’s half brother Teddy.

[Liberty City]

We need Shirley back to knock some damned sense into Linda... she's the only one I think that could do it.

Edited November 24, 2024 by Liberty City

[Skylover]

The Panesars are close to making me quit this show. Just awful. Bianca's the only reason I'm bothering to catch up. She represents a time when the show had a heart, I'm 35 eps behind at the moment.

[Liberty City]

Kathy shïtfaced at the Vic during the wedding reception is giving me LIFEEEEE!!!

[Skylover]

Kathy is great, another reason I want to carry on watching.

[Liberty City]

Kathy is an icon. We love Kathy.

[Chris B]

I started watching last June so I didn't get to see Bianca before this more recent run and she is absolutely brilliant. One of the best soap characters that I've seen. She really makes me want to one day go back and watch the old episodes. I hate that the actress lives in the US and likely won't return full time. She is absolutely amazing!

[Skylover]

I totally agree, to be honest I don't keep up with BTS stuff for EastEnders, but I'm shocked we've had Bianca back for such an extended run this year. As you said, she lives in the US and so I always expected her returns to only be for a few episodes, so I'm honestly just soaking up every episode she's in.

For me, the show is so cold and clinical these days that I've been struggling not to tune out. Bianca just reminds me of some of the fun characters the show had in the old days, some of the characters that had real heart. Even the other long-termers like Phil, Sharon, Ian etc feel cold and lack the warmth that long-term characters should have. I don't know what the issue is with EE, but I feel like it's lost its way somewhere along the line. I really miss some of the more upbeat parts of the show from the old days, some of the friendships and interesting families. I love Kat and Bianca's friendship. I'm behind so I don't know what's happening with Ruby's return, but I find it dreadful that they ruined the Ruby/Stacey friendship in the name of drama when it was an opportunity to bring back some of that warmth. I've been watching some old Neighbours episodes, and it's just night and day. Going from watching old Neighbours to watching current EastEnders is like going from a sunny, inviting show to a dreary, depressing show. I know EE has always had a harder edge, but it's lost its core.

I also really hate that they introduced another branch of bland Mitchell men. Much as people hated Peggy, I liked how she brought out a softer side to Phil and could hold him to account. I wish more Mitchell women were introduced to the show, I liked Sam's return but they should have matured the character and have her and Phil grow closer instead of her being a thorn in his side again. I still miss Ronnie and Roxy.

At this point, the only thing keeping me watching is the returnees. I love Bianca, Yolande, I enjoyed Jane's guest stints and I like having Lauren back. 

I can't stand some of the newer families like the Panesars, the Knights and the new Mitchells. 

The sad thing is this is still probably the best the show's been in at least a decade and yet I'm still not connecting with it. 

Edited December 1, 2024 by Skylover

[Chris B]

@SkyloverI like the Panesar's and the new Mitchell's but the Knight family is so boring and has soaked up far too much screentime. I do like Kojo, but the entire family could go and I wouldn't mind. 

I do agree with you that the show is lacking in balance, especially this year. It seems like the stories are very disjointed just jumping from issue to issue. It needs more balance and there needs to be more long term planning like when they developed the six story or even Cindy's return. 

 

[Liberty City]

We'll see what happens under Ben Wadey's vision.