13 minutes ago, I Am A Swede said:

I do enjoy it, very much. 

 

It's amazing how much better the show was back then, at least in my opinion. And all those saying that nothing happened on the show before the 1990s should take another look. Sure, there were no explosions or stuff like that, but things happened nonetheless. I also find it so refreshing to see a criminal (Harry Mowlam) portrayed as a criminal, and not like some hero.... (looking at you, Cain Dingle!)

I love the contrast in this episode between Pat realizing that she's pregnant (with Robert) and Dolly mourning another miscarriage. (No offense to Jean Rogers who's wonderful, but oh, how I would have liked to see Katharine Barker play out these scenes. I've always felt that she played Dolly with a little more fire than Jean did)

 

 

Oh so this was after that Mowlam guy pushed her into a miscarriage? 

 

I saved the clips of the brawl between Matt and Mowlam (on a disc somewhere). I'm not sure if you saw them. Pretty rough stuff compared to most soaps now. 

 

Jean Rogers did seem to play a more subdued Dolly. In a way I'm surprised she lasted as long as she did as she never seemed to be a main player during her time  in the role. It's too bad that just as she was getting some backbone, standing up to the Tates, it was for Dolly's exit. They should have had her come back to help when Frank was taking away the Sugden farm.

Edited April 23, 20178 yr by DRW50

I feel that both Matt and Dolly were somewhat pushed slightly into the background during the 1980s. They were the solid couple providing the show with some stability to the turmoil surrounding them. In a way that was always Matt's role. He was the solid, almost stoic, rock that everyone else could depend upon. Even when he had major stories, and he did, things always happened to him, he was himself never the catalyst for these stories.

That's why I feel that they should have kept Dolly more like she was when Katharine played her. She had more fire and was a bit more pro-active than she became. It's hard though to know how much of that was down to the writing and how much was down to the way Jean played her.

3 hours ago, I Am A Swede said:

 

But the Dingles are the bestest family ever, don't you know? Everyone loves them and they're sooo fabulous!  

 

 

I so beg to differ. 

Where the hell is Tina Dingle is all I want to know.

15 hours ago, TimWil said:

Where the hell is Tina Dingle is all I want to know.

 

Hopefully far far away from Emmerdale. To paraphrase Tina Turner's 80s hit song, "We don't need another Dingle"!

I can't stand Zak most of the time, but God I hate that little f-cker, Lachlan. I wish Zak would've pounced on his a** like a piñata tonight. Ugh! 

 

Also, I cannot get into this Rhona/Pierce story. I still feel it is criminal how vile they've turned this fine ass man. 

What was with the excessive make up on Jonathan Wrather (Pierce) in tonight's episode? It was distracting. He's a fine specimen of a man, I don't think he needed a truckload of rouge to look good for the wedding episode.

 

Does anybody else think it might turn out that Pierce had raped Tess on their wedding night, too? That could have been what Pierce's mother was referring to?

 

Edited April 25, 20178 yr by TimWil

Looks like John Bowe has said on Twitter that he's been let go. 

 

I’ve had my issues with Lawrence (especially his saying women ask to be raped, which was heinous and disgusting and something I don’t think the character ever recovered from), but I do think John Bowe brought a great deal of charisma and talent to the role, much of which was never really tapped. I’ve enjoyed his story with Ronnie and as little as we actually saw of them together, I liked the idea of two star-crossed lovers from a very homophobic era finding each other again. 

 

For the most part the Whites just have never worked. The Alicia story, the confusing tone, the constantly changing personalities - it’s been a mess.

 

I feel a bit bad for John because he obviously loved the character and loved being on the show (I wasn’t a big fan of his Bernice/Lawrence pushing but that’s not a big deal), but considering how isolated and poorly written they’ve been, 3 years is actually quite a feat. If you remember, Tom King, who was a very well-written character involved in all kinds of rich stories, was also there only 3 years. (he wanted to leave, but still)

 

I imagine this is the end of the line for all the Whites. Emily Head doesn’t seem likely to stay, and Lachlan has always been a time bomb. I’d love for Ronnie to stay in the village (which he still could with his friendship with Lisa), although it isn’t something I’m expecting. I also wouldn’t mind Chrissie staying around, although that doesn’t seem likely either. 

 

So - I’m not “happy,” but I get it. It was coming for a long time and it makes a lot of narrative sense. 

 

I just hope all the rumors about Lawrence’s exit aren’t true because I would rather not see Emma leave this way. Oh well.

Edited April 27, 20178 yr by DRW50

3 hours ago, DRW50 said:

 

  Hide contents

Looks like John Bowe has said on Twitter that he's been let go. 

 

I’ve had my issues with Lawrence (especially his saying women ask to be raped, which was heinous and disgusting and something I don’t think the character ever recovered from), but I do think John Bowe brought a great deal of charisma and talent to the role, much of which was never really tapped. I’ve enjoyed his story with Ronnie and as little as we actually saw of them together, I liked the idea of two star-crossed lovers from a very homophobic era finding each other again. 

 

For the most part the Whites just have never worked. The Alicia story, the confusing tone, the constantly changing personalities - it’s been a mess.

 

I feel a bit bad for John because he obviously loved the character and loved being on the show (I wasn’t a big fan of his Bernice/Lawrence pushing but that’s not a big deal), but considering how isolated and poorly written they’ve been, 3 years is actually quite a feat. If you remember, Tom King, who was a very well-written character involved in all kinds of rich stories, was also there only 3 years. (he wanted to leave, but still)

 

I imagine this is the end of the line for all the Whites. Emily Head doesn’t seem likely to stay, and Lachlan has always been a time bomb. I’d love for Ronnie to stay in the village (which he still could with his friendship with Lisa), although it isn’t something I’m expecting. I also wouldn’t mind Chrissie staying around, although that doesn’t seem likely either. 

 

So - I’m not “happy,” but I get it. It was coming for a long time and it makes a lot of narrative sense. 

 

I just hope all the rumors about Lawrence’s exit aren’t true because I would rather not see Emma leave this way. Oh well.

 

 

I enjoyed Marlon calling the diminutive Victoria "Little Chef." Little Chef is the name for a chain of fast food truck stops in the UK.

Edited April 28, 20178 yr by TimWil

Harriet seems to be a case of the perfect supporting character that just doesn't work in bigger stories. I liked her with Ashley, but with Cain something's off.
This Megan/Jay/Nell/Frank custody arc is obvious filler and I think it's bringing the show down. I do like Megan but I have yet to see a purpose to that character. She could have been gone years ago nothing would have been affected. Her with Sam would work better.
Props to Ross for being "shot" and keeping a silent mouth, no screams, no pain or shock!

Harriet and Cain as a couple doesn't work on any level whatsoever. Have they even shared a scene before all this started? Nothing about this story makes any sense at all, and I don't see what the point of the story is. It feels like they just put those two together to give them some kind of story regardless of how illogical it is.

5 hours ago, I Am A Swede said:

Harriet and Cain as a couple doesn't work on any level whatsoever. Have they even shared a scene before all this started? Nothing about this story makes any sense at all, and I don't see what the point of the story is. It feels like they just put those two together to give them some kind of story regardless of how illogical it is.

 

They hadn't, no.

 

It's all very plotty but I do enjoy the opposites attract idea, and getting to see more of this side of Harriet. It would work better if they reminded viewers of Cain's past with lady cops though.

It just smacks to me of writers room "Oooo, wouldn't this be fun?" shenanigans. Putting Harriet and Cain together is such a big mistake.

I don't mind Harriet and Cain either. It comes off as a short term thing, so I'm going along for the ride. I do think it would be a lot less predictable if Cain found himself wanting to better himself instead of Harriet being with Cain because he's "bad."

 

Megan definitely needs to go. Except for the Declan abuse/Robbie's death story, she's been useless.