Jump to content

Shortland Street


Dion

Recommended Posts

  • Members

Yeah I've complained about the pacing on these forums before.

 

As an example, in 2019 the King family burned through years of storylines - dementia, suicide, rape, infanticide (in backstory), pyromania, abortion, near incest, temporary paralysis - in their first six or seven months on the show.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 653
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Members

 

Fascinating.

 

I have to admit I was surprised when I went on Wikipedia and saw that characters like CeCe or even Marty or Tess or Dawn had just been around since 2019 as it feels like they have had very long, pained histories. I suppose it's a credit that CeCe and Louis both feel like compelling characters even though they went through so much story, but it does make CeCe feel somewhat isolated. 

 

I guess at least some of the more longstanding characters like Drew, Boyd or Harper still manage to seem fresh. 

 

Has the pacing always been like this?

Edited by DRW50
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Pretty much, yes.

 

Six weeks was pretty much the rule for a storyline to run back in the 90s and that length of time is still common today.

 

The pacing is actually pretty similar on Neighbours and Home and Away but their storylines tend to be a bit less extreme so it's less noticeable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Members

The scenes with  Chris getting hooked on Drag Race, even putting drag makeup on, because it's a happy family atmosphere unlike what he has, were so nicely done. I don't really connect to Chris, but for a character who has been on the show almost all the way through its 30 years, they have managed to make him feel much more rounded and relevant than, say, EE have done with Ian Beale. 

 

Curtis seems so likeable - I can see why the show is reluctant to fully let him go, even though it means Esther is left in limbo. I wonder if they are killing him off. Is that why the actor came back to make those few appearances? 

 

I wonder if the actor who played Eddie left abruptly. The Eddie/Esther tension had been bubbling along for a good while, and then he's left so instead the tension involves whether Esther will sleep with some rich guy viewers had known for about a week before this. And Curtis says hey, no biggie, rather than the more complex reaction he might have had if she was getting further involved with the father of her child. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Members

I was just watching the episodes where Esther went on a talk show and faced down backlash for the quota system and being a Maori doctor, which even went as far as having a white racist vandalize her office. I think what surprised me most was they repeatedly made it clear there was no way for Esther to be a "model minority" - when she tried to be a good doctor and operate on the racist in spite of his hatred for her, he hurled abuse at her and refused her treatment. Even though the guy who plays Rico can't act, I did appreciate the mini-arc of him going from being a pro-assimilation figure to realizing just how little trying to fit in with the status quo mattered in the face of bile and hatred. 

This is a story that few soaps would ever touch. I guess the one-week runtime for these types of plots on Shorty make it more possible, but I still appreciate their guts here. 

Esther is such a rich character, especially now that they have moved on from her love life dramas. She's possibly the most layered and relateable character on the show at present. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
  • Members

I assumed Zara would return (especially when reading an article saying the actress was just on break), but I was shocked to see that she was pregnant. And that was completely unspoiled - good work! Apparently the actress was pregnant (she's since given birth) so they wrote the pregnancy into the script. 

Overall they've done a good job of tackling an important issue while also having melodrama, never letting the melodrama drown out the seriousness of the issue. Most soaps don't know how to do that anymore. 

Even the obviously doomed pairing of Boyd and Kellyanne worked for me, as she was so much more layered than I was expecting (they should take notes with the writing for Desi and Damo). I genuinely felt bad for her.

I did not realize Zara and Harper are both bisexual. I wish the show was as willing to be fluid with men. I think Boyd and Drew would make a great couple down the line. And it would have to be better than the endless, tedious, constipated misery with Jack and now Rico. They have already written that gorgeous Tom into a corner through that unpleasant mess. 

Edited by DRW50
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

 

Through a streaming service I can watch the UK networks so I've been able to more easily watch compared to searching through youtube and dailymotion and downloading. 

 

I watched a recent episode I found on DailyMotion and the show interests me. I'll have to do some research on it and try to get into it. 

 

Funny you mention Home and Away. I did start watching that a few months ago but I keep forgetting about it. It's sometimes hard to keep up when you don't make it a part of your routine. I liked what I was watching.

 

I have little interest anymore in the US soaps, sadly, so I've found myself depending on the UK/Aussie/NZ soaps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Fun fact, Oliver Driver once played a nurse back in the 90s (Mike Galloway, 1998 - 1999) but if his character was to reappear today literally noone else on the canvas would know him as he was on during the years (1996 - 2000) Chris wasn't on the show.

 

I have wondered why the number of episodes screened each week hasn't been reduced like it was last year...they must have only like 3 - 4 weeks left at the rate rate of 5 episodes a day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



  • Recent Posts

    • By 78 NBC daytime was struggling. They knew what the issues were but failed to make the changes needed to get those young gals watching.  Jan 78 Plans for NBC's daytime programs - which are in third place -are apparently less well defined at the moment. Michael Brockman, a former daytime programer at ABC, took the position of vice president in charge of daytime for NBC just a few weeks ago. He and his chief assistant, Mary Alice Dwyer (an associate of Mr. Brockman at ABC), are in the process of analyzing the network's schedule to determine where to begin making changes. One thing Mr. Brockman knows, he said, is that NBC needs more women18 -49 (NBC is currently last in that category in daytime). "Whatever you design," he said, "has to fundamentally appeal to that demographic." He indicated, however, that he is less concerned with the network's afternoon serial block than he is with its morning game show and rerun mix, and, like his counterparts at the other networks, Mr. Brockman discounts the notion that recent drops in daytime viewership may be attributable to the one -hour serial form. The first changes were indeed in the morning. In April 78 Card Sharks replaced Sanford and Son reruns at 10am and High Rollers was introduced at 11am knocking Wheel of Fortune back to 11.30 replacing Knockout. Sanford and Son moved to noon replacing To Say the Least. On paper that looked like a stronger schedule. The next move in July was the disastrous America Alive at noon, replacing Sanford and The Gong Show,which set them back even further. Finally in October 78, Jeopardy was brought back at 10.30 and Hollywood Squares moved to 1pm replacing another flop For Richer for Poorer. The only major change for the soaps apart from cancelling FRFP, was Linda Grover as headwriter for The Doctors as of April 78.
    • Yeah, Ben and Evie don't start interacting in a 'we're going to pair them together as a couple' way until Feb/March 1977 when she recommends Ben paint a portrait for Jackie.  And Evie's working for Jackie so she and Ben interact and start to become friends.  That happens after Tim breaks up with  her and she's forgiven her sister.. and he and Hope break up after he covers for his younger brother for a crime that he had committed.  Jackie does come onto the canvas in December 1976 and the first months are her trying to snag Mike while she and Justin seem to play a cat and mouse game with one another as he's trying to restart things with Sara again. I often wonder if the Phillip story only came about because the show was going to be expanded to an hour.. and the Dobson's deciding that some of the new characters they were introducing could be tied to Justin/Jackie's back story.
    • Seems like the Dobsons were aiming for a Joe/Sara/Justin triangle or, having decided that Joe would be killed off, Justin would be waiting in the wings. But that never came to pass and I don't think there was much reference to Justin/Sara as time went on.That was something that could have been used later on but Doug Marland may not have known or cared. Also, when the show went to an hour they could add a lot of characters and not rely on the stalwarts, hence Jackie/Alan/Elizabeth. And after Leslie died, Mike went into Dad mode with Hope. Hope/Ben never took off and Hope was replaced and then dropped and Ben moved on to Eve, whose romance with Tim fizzled and Jordan Clarke left (by choice?)
    • Please register in order to view this content

       
    • Would anyone have any of these Y&R episodes they could add to the vault? It would be very much appreciated. November 11, 1987 February 16, 1989 February 17, 1989 February 1991 episode - Brad vs Paul fight April 10, 1992 November 16, 1992 November 17, 1992 November 23-27, 1992 July 11, 1993 October 5, 1993 June 17, 1994  - english version June 29, 1994 September 15, 1994 May 16, 1995 August 4, 1995 October 27, 1995 March 11, 1996 April 8, 1996 September 6, 1996 November 26, 1996 January 3, 1997 January 27, 1997 February 17, 1997 February 18, 1997 March 5, 1997 April 22, 1997 June 16, 1997 September 23, 1997 September 24, 1997 September 25, 1997 December 11, 1998 January 12, 2000 September 27, 2000 March 5, 2001 March 6, 2001 March 8, 2001 - english version March 19, 2001 April 5, 2001 April 6, 2001 October 7, 2002 January 30, 2004 August 23, 2004 August 24, 2004 June 15, 2004 June 21, 2004 November 8, 2004                                          
    • When I was a kid, I would watch DOOL with my mom. I remember Denise as Susan so well. And later, of course, on GH. How sad to hear she has passed. RIP.
    • I have to dig that scene up on YT. I'm glad they gave them some kind of happy ending, even if it was really late. Interesting! I remember Justin and Sarah being involved, but I either forgot or never caught their backstory. The girl with money and social position of course turns out to be Jackie. He sort of did to Sarah what Vanessa did to his brother! I do remember Justin started out as not the greatest guy. Kind of a horn dog. It's only when Ross comes on that he becomes the "good" brother. I only have some vague memories of Ben and Hope, mostly of when they were in a positive relationship. He certainly changed over time. "Chill" would be the way I would describe Ben (along with "handsome but kind of a yawn") for most of his time on GL, so hearing he once had a violent temper is very surprising.
    • Yes. That's called good writing.
    • interesting idea.  That makes sense, as MVJ seems to have set up each character development (traits) for future plot developments.
    • I really enjoyed today's episode. It showcased a lot of the other cast and I saw hints of storyline potential (Smitty & Bill). Martin definitely has some anger issues and I recall him being overly scared about protecting his family and having all the doors locked, coming out of one of his "dreams". There's obviously a lot going on there and I can't wait to find out more. I'm thinking June is going to be more than just the issue story of the week. I think she just might be related to one or more of our main characters. As for Tomas, yes, Alex Alegria is not the strongest actor, but he's pretty to look at and he emotes something. I'm just not sure what that something is yet.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy