So I guess they're going to take Robert down the psycho Cameron road after all.

x infinity

Beyond the fact that this isn't even the first death Robert has caused, and he presumably hasn't gone around murdering people for a decade, this is such silly, stupid writing for a longtime, core character. I hate the term "legacy character," but that's what he is. Is that going to be sacrificed for some tease about whether he's going to bump off Chas or Paddy (when they obviously won't be leaving)? What a huge huge waste if they just make him another generic nutjob like Cameron, all for short-term "soap serial killer" drama.

I can't tell you how far my eyes went back in my head when I saw this.

http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a629070/emmerdale-robert-sugden-to-endanger-aaron-livesys-loved-ones.html

The other thing that annoys me is selling this as some type of “once you’ve done one” story just dismisses Katie’s death and the grief people (including Robert) feel. He didn’t intend to kill her, it wasn’t just a breeze for him. The story was supposedly going to be about his guilt and how he struggled. Instead it’s just about, “Who will he kill next?” and that doesn’t work, because obviously he isn’t going to kill anyone Aaron cares about, as I doubt any of those actors are leaving the show. So it will just be more hospital stays, and everyone is in the hospital constantly anyway.

The main beats of this story were about the affair, and Robert’s lies, and what his lies would cost him with his family. There’s no story if it all just ends in him killing or trying to kill people and being carted off. It’s not like Cameron, where no one in the village cared about him anyway. There’s so much story potential, years of story potential, in reactions to Robert and how Robert copes with people being angry at him and turning against him.

This also takes away most of the character development Aaron could have, because instead of it being about the lies he and Robert told and the consequences of those, it’s about Aaron being a victim and is Robert going to kill his family. It takes away his voice. It takes away what made him interesting as a character.

Soaps today think everything can be thrown out the window for a one or two day hostage crisis or serial killer saga that may boost ratings very briefly (which Katie’s death didn’t even do). There’s far more long-term potential in not doing these lame, lame “who will he kill next?” storylines that people have seen so many times they can’t even begin to care at this point.

Robert isn’t a generic psycho soap serial killer. He’s never going to be that, even if they try to put him in that role. Interest in the story will tank in no time at all, because that isn’t what any fan tuned in to this story wanting to see. People didn’t start watching Aaron and Robert because they were terrified for Aaron and wondered if Robert was going to garrote Chas. Hell, some of the fans I know would cheer him on if he did that. They just don’t have a read on fan reaction at all. It’s a big shame.

I knew it! I called it! Ugh! Why?!

This just saddens me. Kate Oates has done so well, so it hurts more deeply.

So Aaron's become Gail Platt? LOL

The thing with Gail is as dumb as she was, she never knew anything but the best of Hilman for most of their relationship. Aaron mostly knows all of Robert's worst. So if he gets involved with Robert again, how many viewers will feel sorry for him, especially if he starts whining about how he hates being a secret? And if he doesn't get involved with him again, is that just going to be months of him self-harming while Robert makes evil eyes?

The main reason some fans got into this story was because it wasn't another "poor Aaron" story. It may not have been a love story, either, but it was an interesting story about two screwed up guys and the consequences of their affair. If it turns into another "poor Aaron" story, along with Robert being written off as a serial killer (because clearly only Andy and Cain can get away with killing people), it's going to flop.

Not to mention that if they had this planned all along, that means they always set out to say that bisexuality makes you murderous and depraved, which is disgusting. Adding into that the whole self-harm aspect mostly just being used to shock and not being treated seriously if it's just going to go on for months as viewers wait to see whether Robert will push Chas down the stairs and knock those awful bangs off her face.

I'd like to believe she's just trying to create buzz, and nothing like that will actually happen, especially since his reaction to Katie's death was not "oh I killed somebody, now I can do it again and again." But her reply was so flippant I now have to assume the worst and have to assume that even though Robert is so integral to Emmerdale and Ryan has been such a perfect addition to the cast, she just sees him as fodder to more Andy and Aaron misery, sees him as disposable, not as a character in his own right.

It's just a very sad and very wrong writing choice, if this is how they're going. And it's a great way to push viewers away for good.

That's all I have to say

Robert lashing out at that uppity Georgia was amazing.

I'm glad they finally had more scenes showing him struggling to cope, as I'm so tired of the idea that he's a remorseless killer who loves every minute. And the show too often does nothing to stop that view.

Someone on tumblr made this:

Lmao...I literally was cheering him on and on during that whole encounter.

Sigh I wish Emma would stop digging herself deeper into this hole....

I do think she handled Adam well. I'll be surprised if they don't sleep together.

Nicola Wheeler will be going on maternity leave. http://www.digitalspy.ca/celebrity/s12/emmerdale/news/a629429/emmerdales-nicola-wheeler-pregnant-with-her-first-child.html#~p4Fu9x8f4ftiOD

With that brief scene of Chas coming out of Katie's house with Leyla and Vanessa, I really hope we'll get to see her hang out with them now. She desperately needs those two to bring her back to life.

I have a feeling it may be just through tomorrow's episode, but I hope it's more, especially as they have no stories of their own. We've seen more of the old Chas lately in how she is with Aaron (I just hope they will further explore this beyond her being an obstacle to Aaron/Robert and a reason for Aaron to hate himself), but I'd like to see more of the other side of her old personality too. I'd also like to see James vanish and see her get new hair, but we can't have everything.

What do you think of the Laurel booze story?

I am loving every step of Laurel on the sauce. I actually like and care about her again. As has been mentioned here, it just feels like complete validation and karma as an Ashley fan that her and Marlon's life is becoming a complete hole. As you can probably guess, Charlotte Bellamy is playing the hell out of it. The scene last year where she kissed Ashley on her wedding day and he gracefully rejected her was one of the most cathartic scenes I ever witnessed after a character assassination.

And today was especially great with her becoming a bit vicious before running out of the factory.

The only thing I fear is Marlon, of course. I won't be able to take his reaction, which he'll no doubt make all about him.

And with Nicola going on maternity leave soon, she's probably going to feel utterly alone.

Edited February 19, 201510 yr by Bright Eyes

Was there a scene of her watching Ashley and Harriet and looking forlorn or am I making that up?

Was there a scene of her watching Ashley and Harriet and looking forlorn or am I making that up?

It sounds like it might have happened, but with me watching 5 soaps I can't really remember to be honest. Who was the last alcoholic in the village anyway? All I can think of is Miles de Souza, because on DS when Callaghan debuted on Hollyoaks his hilarious Miles de Bouza nickname always stuck with me, but that was before my time.

Who is he on HO? Lockie? Cameron?

I guess he might be the last alcoholic, although there may be one I'm forgetting.

I mostly remember Miles for his the scarves he constantly wore, even in summer.