Happy days!

Pat finally cannot take anymore of Bianca's entitled attitude, making the home messy, and expecting Pat to be her unpaid babysitter. I hope this leads to Pat having a role as something beyond pack mule. I never thought this was going to be addressed.

http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s2/eastenders/spoilers/a239076/darrens-devastated-as-jodie-dumps-him.html

It's about time Pat took control of her own house. Bianca has some nerve calling Pat selfish...

Edited July 20, 201015 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

Ohhh, so the Gold's are Jewish, as I guessed months ago.

But Jodie says she isn't really religious in that spoiler, but still, it's interesting that they've made that family Jewish.

I see they're also setting up next week

Lisa's one off return..

It also looks like Roxy puts

The Vic for sale next week...

Edited July 20, 201015 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

So have Darren and Jodie never had sex? I know that type of comedy can annoy some people, and I can see why, but I think it suits Darren more than some of his stories over the past few years, especially when they try to write him as a 40 year old man.

I'm a bit surprised Roxy puts the Vic up for sale, although I wonder if it's losing money and she is upset about the Archie revelations and decides to move on. I hope she just stays with Booty's and is kept from the Vic and R&R.

I wonder if Kat and Alfie will buy the Vic or if might still end up in Mitchell hands with Kat and Alfie just running the place.

It will be interesting to see whether or not they will let Roxy keep her money. I honestly got the feeling that Santer planned for her to lose it all...there was a lot of focus on Roxy making stupid decisions which I haven't seen in recent months.

The photos of Max and some others playing rounders look like fun. I've really enjoyed Max over this past year.

Edited July 20, 201015 yr by CarlD2

It doesn't look like Jodie is the easy type for sex, and other spoilers have indicated that she doesn't feel ready for sex yet.

I don't know who in the Mitchell family will buy the Vic right now or have the money to do so. Phil is too preoccupied by the Ben story and the upcoming Louise stuff with Lisa, so I can't imagine it would be him, and I don't think Peggy will buy it when she's due to leave in a few months. Unless she buys it and then lets Alfie and Kat run it again, as she really trusted them the last time she was away for a long time.

Maybe Kat and Alfie unexpectedly and anonymously buy it like Sharon did in 2001?

I think Roxy is losing money, and the effects of Danny managing her budget all those months might creep up on her. She made some really stupid financial decisions, especially with the Vic, so it might come back to haunt her. I don't mind her at R&R, but Booty's seems more like a place Roxy would thrive though.

Edited July 20, 201015 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

Short preview clip of Denise "funeral" that will air this Friday:

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Denise's funeral is gonna be so sad. I really thought they were going to have her gate-crash it, but that looks very unlikely, now.

I think next week is the climax to the Lucas story, right?

These are the kind of stories that would bore me to tears on an American soap, but EE does very well. The bickering and daily conflict between couples is an EastEnders specialty. I also want to see Syed become a part of the Beale clan because it would make Zainab's head explode and push her to backdown more quickly.

Usually, I scoff at the supercouple label being put on couples so early, but I buy it for Christian and Syed. Their drama in the last year has been legendary and there should be more to come. I really feel like Amira got the shaft in this story. However, I hope that she sends her baby to live with the Masoods next year.

This next phase of Christian and Syed's relationship will give ME an opportunity to step up and really shape Syed into a strong character in his own right, but also as a man who is clearly in love with Christian and worthy of being his partner.

I know what you mean - those kinds of stories would be a complete bore on a US soap. That's not to say it can't be done, just they would have to inject more heightened drama into it; EE doesn't need to do any of that to make those kind of stories work. I think Syed becoming apart of the Beale's would be quite interesting - Ian would be his usual self, unhappy with it (b/c he's Ian, and you know he would), but loving winding up Zainab; could be some conflict between Syed and Lucy, after her blackmailing him, and basically being the catalyst that outed him; but in the end, they would become his surrogate family.

I don't want them to have too much legendary drama anytime soon; in 3 months, maybe, but they need to develop as couple first. And yeah, Amira did the get the shaft. I got the feeling as soon as Preeya announced her departure, that she'd become an after thought, as if she never really mattered. I know she was always collateral damage, but with her leaving, all respect for her character seemed to go out the window. I don't think Amira sending her baby to live with Masoods is realistic. What I'd like, is if she returned with the baby, and allow Syed to see it, before ripping it away from him, with intent of never letting him see it ever again. It would be cruel, but symbolise all that he took away from her.

I noticed yesterday how jarring it was seeing Syed & Christian being all sweet, and couple-y without angst, considering that we never seen that before. I like it. ME definitely showed the changes in Syed. I loved how messy and untied he is; really showed how free Syed is now.

To the person who asked about Roxy being a Chryed supporter - she's always been in their corner, but was against Syed b/c of the pain he was inflecting on Christian. Now that he has committed to Christian, Roxy is happy for them.

Where the hell is Denise? I don't believe that she is really dead, but why would she put her children through the funeral? Is she with the police? Has she lost her memory?

I don't want them to have too much legendary drama anytime soon; in 3 months, maybe, but they need to develop as couple first.

Good point. I'll take about six months of relative stability for Christian and Syed. I did like it when Sharon and Dennis returned to the Square all loved up. It was nice to see them as a couple dealing with the regular stuff before all the drama started up.

I noticed yesterday how jarring it was seeing Syed & Christian being all sweet, and couple-y without angst, considering that we never seen that before. I like it. ME definitely showed the changes in Syed. I loved how messy and untied he is; really showed how free Syed is now.

I like where they are going Syed so far. ME was solid yesterday. I could see love when Syed looked and smiled at Christian. I need to see more of that.

To the person who asked about Roxy being a Chryed supporter - she's always been in their corner, but was against Syed b/c of the pain he was inflecting on Christian. Now that he has committed to Christian, Roxy is happy for them.

I agree. I had no problem with Team Christian resenting or disliking Syed. Like Jane, Roxy was angry at Syed for not standing up for Christian. In addition to stringing Christian along for months, Syed rejected Christian publicly and never turned up after Amira's father had him beat up. I hope we see Jane skeptical about Syed's commitment to Christian. Christian is so in love with Syed that he can't see straight.

Edited July 20, 201015 yr by Ann_SS

Steve McFadden claims he almost quit when Barbara Windsor decided to leave:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a247026/mcfadden-i-nearly-quit-enders-this-year.html

I think next week is the climax to the Lucas story, right?

No, it doesn't look like it, probably early August. Having read the detailed spoilers for next week, it doesn't look like Lucas is caught or figured out in any way next week. In fact, it seems like the Foxes/Johnson's don't appear all that much, though they're still present.

It seems like there's more to this story than they're letting out...

Edited July 20, 201015 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

I don't think Amira sending her baby to live with Masoods is realistic. What I'd like, is if she returned with the baby, and allow Syed to see it, before ripping it away from him, with intent of never letting him see it ever again. It would be cruel, but symbolise all that he took away from her.

I think Amira's situation could be bad enough for her to send the baby to the Masoods. Remember how she said that Syed had condemned her to be her father's slave from now on and no one would touch her. Her father and family could reject Syed's child leaving her desperate to find a good home for her child. If the character of Syed is around in a couple years, I would like to see this story play out. I think that would be a great drama with a social issue angle.

Steve McFadden claims he almost quit when Barbara Windsor decided to leave:

http://www.digitalsp...-this-year.html

I wouldn't have missed Phil.

Edited July 20, 201015 yr by Ann_SS

I think that Phil is a character whose story relevance ended a number of years ago but who is seen as very important as some kind of part of the fabric. I was never fond of the "hardman" stuff they put on him when Grant left, although it was very popular with the public. The last time I really liked one of his stories was when he was with Kate. The Stella story had some fantastic moments (the woman who played Stella was unbelievable, and I can't believe she's Emma Thompson's sister!), but wasn't followed up on. The show I think made a mistake in not wanting to explore Phil's relationship with Ben, and instead, somewhat shamefully IMO, siding with Phil and treating Ben as some pathetic thing to be mocked. They stuck to this story and to Phil bedding various attractive women instead of actually writing for Phil. At least they are finally exploring more of the story now but because the character was so hyped up as being mythic you still hear some say "I'm tired of Phil being blamed" or "Phil is a hardman, why aren't they showing him be tough!"

Depending on the success of any other existing characters, or new characters, over the next year or two, I think it could be time for Phil to go. I think generally a lot of the Mitchell dynamics are played out. I guess it also depends on how the recast of Ben works and what they do with him, if he can give Phil a different type of storyline.

Apparently Soaplife is saying that in early August

Tanya's drug addicted sister Rainie returns to Walford. Max uses her for something? I guess another plot to get to his beloved "Tan." Some are speculating that she gets Phil hooked on cocaine.

I enjoyed both episodes today. I think EE is on a roll.

Lucas is so cold. I'm glad Patrick supported poor Libby about the coffin. These girls are in a bad place. I loved Kim seeing through Lucas. She better watch out for Lucas or she could be next. Is Kim going to a permanent addition? I remember the actress from "Beautiful Thing."

It was great seeing John Bardon. He looks better. I can't believe Patrick chucked the girls out of the house. WTH?

My poor Tamwar having to put up with Zainab and Masood. I cheered when he told off Zainab for ignoring Libby's pain and then told them that they were both wrong, Syed's alive. I laughed at his comment about Syed leaving Amira for Christian. LOL! Glad that someone remembers Amira. Tamwar was so sweet comforting Libby. They would have made an adorable couple, then again they would have just given Zainab and Masood another target to go off on.

Okay, I'm beginning to buy Christian and Syed as a couple. Shopping for the new mattress together, Syed uncomfortable about being out, Syed's jealousy over that guy leaving the apartment, and actually having a conversation about their feelings and Syed's beliefs. However, I can't believe that Christian went to the mosque. It was so stupid. Hasn't he ever heard of the Internet? But it was good that he and Syed can talk about everything and resolved the issue. Isn't going to be easy street for them, but they are figuring things out.

The rape reveal was well done. I'm glad that Ronnie was so controlled as she told Roxy what happened. Glenda's reaction makes me think that she suspected Archie sexually abused Ronnie. However, she is glad to use it drive a wedge between Peggy and Ronnie.

That dress was ugly on Ronnie. I just don't like these Mitchell women, all these brassy annoying blondes. However, Glenda scheming against Peggy and then fighting over pushing Jack was funny.

I must say that I love how busy the Square is. Those extras must cost a pretty penny, but it makes the place vibrant.

Edited July 20, 201015 yr by Ann_SS

Today's episode:

I think they did a really good job of showcasing Patrick's hurt and anger over Denise's "death." they didn't have to and could have ignored him, but I thought it was really important to see Patrick's perspective, and they delivered on that today.

I didn't so much mind Christian and Syed today. They seemed to be doing normal things, and at least they touched upon the faith issue and with Christian wanting to know more about Islam and the impact it has on Syed's life. Today's episode also did well in showcasing how torn Tamwar is between supporting his parents and supporting Syed.

That little scene between Dot and Zainab at the Minute Mart was funny.

I thought Samantha Womack was really good in the rape reveal scenes, especially with Roxy and that little spat they had over it. I wonder if Glenda already suspected this. Womack didn't overdo the dramatics like in typical reveals, she was subtle and trying hard to hide her tears, but cracked and it was an effective portrayal for someone as cold and detached as Ronnie.

The repercussions of this reveal seem to be far from over, especially in regards to Ronnie's relationship with Peggy, and with Glenda using this wedge between them to her advantage.

I LOVE Kim Fox, so fierce and so unashamed to be herself. I loved when she roasted Lucas' ass and blamed him for sucking all the joy and personalty out of Denise's life. Kim is such a fun character to watch.

Yeah, I notice the square is a bustling and vibrant community again with tons of people just walking and hanging around. It was one of the things Kirkwood said he wanted to bring back to the show, and I guess he is.

Edited July 21, 201015 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

Apparently, Lucy Benjamin's one-off return as Lisa is August 5th, and some are speculating that

Peggy may allow Lisa to leave with Louise.