10 hours ago, AMCOLTLLover said:

I’m Not looking forward to the corrie and Emmerdale crossover.. I don’t know why but it doesn’t excite me Right now 

Totally understandable. I can't speak for Corrie, but nothing about Emmerdale is exciting right now. More emotionally draining with all the relentless misery.

Back to 1980....

It feels like we've gotten over the rough patch the show was going through. Grandad and Reverend Hinton are back and I'm slowly becoming used to new Jack and Dolly. I can totally understand how this type of show would never work now though, when people's attention spans are so short. It's very slow-moving and actionless, with some long, almost philosophical discussions occasionally. Like right now when Rev. Hinton is having a bit of a crisis about his and the church's role in village life. He had a several minutes long talk with the bishop about that, which is something you would never get now, on any show. People would get bored and switch channels, but I find it almost relaxing and strangely captivating. It's one of the aspects of old Emmerdale Farm that I find the most enjoyable. The mix of the day-to-day, almost mundane life of ordinary people and deep, almost existential discussions is absolutely spellbinding. There are no explosions, no back-from-the-dead stories, no illicit affairs and no intrigues. Yet it's more addictive than anything current Emmerdale throws at its audience.

So, they're breaking up Gaby and Vinny (not that I thought much of that pairing to begin with) after all they put them through, and dropping the possible romance between Kammy and Belle before it even got started properly? But they think it's a good idea to throw Laurel at the creep who (together with his psycho mother) is blackmailing April and Dylan to sell drugs and are trying to force April into prostitution?

Seriously, this show is in so much trouble.....  

Started watching Emmerdale for the first time this summer (dabbled across the years here and there with the show, but nothing permanent) and why is every single character miserable on this show?

58 minutes ago, CassieFan said:

Started watching Emmerdale for the first time this summer (dabbled across the years here and there with the show, but nothing permanent) and why is every single character miserable on this show?

Your guess is as good as anyone's. It's really amazing how the writers/producers of this show seem to be allergic to any kind of happiness or joy. 

4 hours ago, CassieFan said:

Started watching Emmerdale for the first time this summer (dabbled across the years here and there with the show, but nothing permanent) and why is every single character miserable on this show?

That’s what we all Like to know. They always excuse it with a Phrase like: It reflects real life and its relatable and all this stuff. But I’ve never met a village, a farm or anyone in a town where Like ALL people are that miserable lol

but to be fair all British soap operas are Like This. Hollyoaks was the Most balanced with Camp and ridiculous over the top Comic Relief characters + serious storylines  and even that was left in the 2010‘s. It’s Crazy 

i really try to love Emmerdale like I did from the mid/end 90’s til the end of 2010‘s and a bit of early 2020‘s.. But it’s so hard to defend that sh1tshow that it has become. 

5 hours ago, CassieFan said:

Started watching Emmerdale for the first time this summer (dabbled across the years here and there with the show, but nothing permanent) and why is every single character miserable on this show?

As @AMCOLTLLover said, all the British soaps are like this and have been for years. The biggest difference is some of them have designated "comic relief" characters. All of Emmerdale's died or were turned miserable. 

There has been a dark cloud over Emmerdale ever since Gavin Blyth took over the show in 2009.

Edited October 24Oct 24 by DRW50

16 hours ago, AMCOLTLLover said:

That’s what we all Like to know. They always excuse it with a Phrase like: It reflects real life and its relatable and all this stuff. But I’ve never met a village, a farm or anyone in a town where Like ALL people are that miserable lol

That's such a load of crap. Yes, real life is like that sometimes, but there's also happiness, love and positivity. Why are those aspects overlooked? Watching a show that is full of misery, unhappiness and catastrophies is draining and not fun, and in the end it will drive viewers away to shows that offer some kind of entertainment.

On 10/24/2025 at 5:58 AM, I Am A Swede said:

Back to 1980....

It feels like we've gotten over the rough patch the show was going through. Grandad and Reverend Hinton are back and I'm slowly becoming used to new Jack and Dolly. I can totally understand how this type of show would never work now though, when people's attention spans are so short. It's very slow-moving and actionless, with some long, almost philosophical discussions occasionally. Like right now when Rev. Hinton is having a bit of a crisis about his and the church's role in village life. He had a several minutes long talk with the bishop about that, which is something you would never get now, on any show. People would get bored and switch channels, but I find it almost relaxing and strangely captivating. It's one of the aspects of old Emmerdale Farm that I find the most enjoyable. The mix of the day-to-day, almost mundane life of ordinary people and deep, almost existential discussions is absolutely spellbinding. There are no explosions, no back-from-the-dead stories, no illicit affairs and no intrigues. Yet it's more addictive than anything current Emmerdale throws at its audience.

I think it reflects a huge difference in how people watch TV. When you have to watch a show at a certain time on a certain date because that's the only time you'll ever get to see it, you're watching it while tending to other business. You're cooking, you're cleaning, you're ironing, you're doing paperwork, etc, and so a slow-moving show doesn't feel so slow-moving when you're also watching the stove, vacuuming, figuring out the monthly budget, etc. The show can really offer you that calmness in the midst of regular life.

Now, it's so easy to save a show for when you can give it your full, undivided attention, and when the only thing we're doing is watching the show, slow-moving really does move slow.

It's funny, because the only way I'll ever wash, dry, fold, and put away laundry all in one go is if I have classic soaps on the TV. So much of Emmerdale Farm has been watched while washing dishes in my house.

So April is a murderer now?

4 hours ago, CassieFan said:

So April is a murderer now?

Isn't this show just the sweetest, most endearing show ever. There are so many great storylines going on right now it's hard to contain one's excitement.  

Spoiler

 

5 hours ago, I Am A Swede said:

Isn't this show just the sweetest, most endearing show ever. There are so many great storylines going on right now it's hard to contain one's excitement.  

It's disgusting to even read about. And anyone at that network or show who claims this is about awareness can kiss my behind.

10 hours ago, CassieFan said:

So April is a murderer now?

I would guess he survives and this is used to blackmail April.

9 hours ago, DRW50 said:

It's disgusting to even read about. And anyone at that network or show who claims this is about awareness can kiss my behind.

At least Paddy was bobbing apples, so happy Halloween?

I'm home from work today so I thought I would pop in and see where we are in Emmerdale at the moment here. To my horror I found myself right in the middle of the all-Dingle episode when Lydia's ex (and rapist) had been killed and she had gathered the entire family to find out who killed him.  I mean, I know it's Halloween, but an entire episode of nothing but Dingles is too much horror for me.... 😱