What makes a Great Soap?

[SpyFam]

Hey Sudsers!

I'm VERY NEW to the Soap Board Community and this site, so I'm currently figuring out a lot of things in the thoughts of the many soap board users who don't give [!@#$%^&*] to share what's on their mind.

Hi All!

Anyways, What makes a Great Soap in your opinion?

This thought has been in my head for a long time, it was just a matter of when. I was sitting at the dinner table actually discussing this with my family b/c I'm very passionate about TV and the differences views surrounding soaps or primetime. Also, I'm a writer, and pondering ideas of how to create a fresh organic soap without making it a soap with so many stereotypical soapy stories that one just mash up b/c they feel it should be so soapy.

I ain't about declining ratings, head-writer ego bullshit, or the personal behind the scenes person. I'm all about the story, quality, entertainment, depth of characters/development, pacing, the value of a story, and what drives everything. I'm all about characters, stories, all about that stuff.

I'm a writer in development, currently thinking over writing a soap opera and have many thoughts, many of correcting the little things, and working hard through everything else to make it a good damn script. So EVERYTHING does matter to me, and it does matter when I'm watching a show.

Now, we're down to 4 soaps, now we've all heard of the golden era of soaps and how good they were. Now, it all DEPENDS on who you ask, it's all biased, hell if some of my friends were to tell me which soaps to watch (Not many high schoolers watch soaps so I doubt they'll ask.) Hell, I'd be incredibly biased on which one I like and which one I'm watching.

I see many comments ranging from good to bad to ugly to [!@#$%^&*] ripping shreds til there's nothing to shred to downright snarky funny, concerning, killer comments.

I just want to get to a basis of your Intelligent, VERY-THOUGHT PROVOKING comments.

Also with a fabulous premiere of Empire or Great Smart Slick Dramas like House of Cards or The Good Wife I just had to ask. Also, the Great Primetime Soaps: Dynasty, Knots Landing, Dallas, Falcon Crest, Melrose Place, BH90210

Being able to understand where one comes from, than what some people call complaining or hating. Me, currently I LOVE Days of our Lives, one of my first soaps along with Passions when I was little however I find them revolving stories around newer characters (Serena) than serving to their core characters but also rushed, contrived, replacements for EJ or Sami or the loss of what went down In November, like Melanie's return (I'm the minority who like her but her behavior and this story zzzzzzz), It's just not enough to keep me entertained. The Will/Sonny/Paul story has legs so that's one upside imo.

Do you think soaps should base stories from the headlines or fiction or a great balance of both?

Normal Drama or Over-The-Top Campy Soapy Melodrama?

[SpyFam]

Also I've heard from some great shows either writer's have a clear plan/outline of where they're going to go with the story for the whole season or at least half of the season while some, make it up as they go or plot the next 4 or 5 episodes and don't jump so far in advance.

Which one do you think is good?

I say, do whatever works but if your going to make it up as you go, don't make it obvious to the audience!!!!

[allmc2008]

I'll be sure to answer if I get the time.

That said I welcome you to SON!!! You'll love it here!!

[GMac]

Welcome, SpyFan!

I have been watching soaps for most of my adult life and for me, good soap is a couple of things.

First, everyone, fictional and IRL, have a through line. The thing that makes them tick. The story should work with the character, changing them, evolving them, but not drastically.

I think that the best soap stories are simple, built up over a period of time. Think of taking some bricks and building a wall. Not overly convoluted or complicated, but adding layers as the story matures.

Lastly, good soap has a sense of community, of home. At times glamorous, other times ordinary. Happy, funny and sad.

I hope that helps. :-)

[Steve]

ITA that the characters have to be true to themselves first and foremost and the stories should come from how the characters react to the circumstances around them. It helps if the writers have an idea of where the stories are headed at least 3 to 6 months in advance. I've always liked my soaps to have around a half dozen stories going at once and to be multigenerational. I started watching soaps in the late 1970s/early 1980s when most of them had storylines for the older characters as well as the young ones. I also like social issue stories if handled with sensitivity like the Agnes Nixon shows used to do, but I don't watch any soaps currently and I don't know if there is a good headwriter out there who is capable of handling them well today.