It was a strong episode, and an episode very unique to EE, which you don't get with soaps now - they always seem like different shades of Hollyoaks. There was that specific EE mix of heavy self-awareness, digging up the past, poignancy, melancholy, raw honesty. Pat and Barry were such clear fan service but the way they were presented made this more along the lines of the show being aware of what they were doing and tweaking the concept. I think many fans needed those moments with Pat, even if she wasn't quite like Pat. That last moment where she said goodbye to us was especially transparent, but even as someone who was OK with Pat's death, I understand why many want this final moment.
In the behind the scenes you can see how grateful Shaun Williamson was to be asked back, and he expresses that well in his work onscreen.
The casting for young Phil and Grant, especially Phil, is uncanny. You can see Phil go from Nigel's boyhood chum to the Phil we know in just a few minutes. Clenshaw did well finding them.
Karen Henthorn, Steve McFadden and Paul Bradley were superb, especially Karen and Paul. I assume Julie will leave when this is over, but I hope Karen gets some strong work out of this stint as she was never even a real character the last time around and this time, she's been consistently terrific for months on end.
The moment with Debbie and Nigel was gorgeously staged - sad, sweet, and yet not too sentimental, as we knew Nigel was not in a good place. The show's refusal to sugarcoat Nigel's decline is something Julia Smith would have been proud of.
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DRW50 ·
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