230 posts
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Post by hal9000 on Jul 9, 2019 13:56:23 GMT
Any fans? I started watching last when my mother was in hospital after a break of 20 years for her, and 30 years for me (legit had no clue that Barbara Windsor was in EE!). With some minor wiki-ing I just about was able to continue watching with no issues. I’m happy to say that what I assumed was reasonable soap opera quality in 2018 was actually considered garbage by everyone else and this year the show has improved exponentially with Kate Oates and Jon Sen producing. I am especially loving the Ben and Callum romance.  |
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Post by d'James on Jul 9, 2019 14:07:32 GMT
Any fans? I started watching last when my mother was in hospital after a break of 20 years for her, and 30 years for me (legit had no clue that Barbara Windsor was in EE!). With some minor wiki-ing I just about was able to continue watching with no issues. I’m happy to say that what I assumed was reasonable soap opera quality in 2018 was actually considered garbage by everyone else and this year the show has improved exponentially with Kate Oates and Jon Sen producing. I am especially loving the Ben and Callum romance. No. I gave up when they brought Kat Slater back. |
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230 posts
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Post by hal9000 on Jul 9, 2019 15:15:20 GMT
I had the advantage of never knowing she left. I love Kat and Alfie. Now, Alfie is someone everyone seems to hate. Me, I hate Stacey. Never stops screeching,
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2019 19:06:34 GMT
I had the advantage of never knowing she left. I love Kat and Alfie. Now, Alfie is someone everyone seems to hate. Me, I hate Stacey. Never stops screeching, But but but.........Babs Windsor was in it the same time as Kat and Alfie......?!? |
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230 posts
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Post by hal9000 on Jul 9, 2019 22:33:38 GMT
I first saw Kat and Alfie last year. Kat is back on the show but Alfie has come and gone after he had a one night stand with Kat’s cousin and after he stole some money from Phil. I saw Ross Kemp on Portrait Artist Of The Year and my mother explained that he used to be on EE as Baba’ son.
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Post by d'James on Jul 10, 2019 10:20:09 GMT
I had the advantage of never knowing she left. I love Kat and Alfie. Now, Alfie is someone everyone seems to hate. Me, I hate Stacey. Never stops screeching, Yeah her voice goes right through me. I just don’t like returnees in soaps in general. For me it shows a lack of ideas and trying to live off past glories. I generally don’t like the direction I’ve read the current Executive Producer (or whatever they’re called now) is taking the show in. |
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513 posts
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Post by Deal J on Jul 10, 2019 11:28:13 GMT
Well I'm with you, hal9000 - I love EastEnders. I'm one of those you mentioned who considered 2018 to be a real low-point in terms of scripting. I stuck with it, but my word it was a hard slog. To get seasoned actors such as Christopher Timothy and Maggie Steed on the payroll and use them in dull storylines was shocking. Worse still, getting a well-loved classic character Michelle Fowler to return (re-casting her with the fabulous Joanna Russell, no less) then letting her story gradually fade into nothing and a quiet exit. Many of the storylines just dragged on for way too long, even by soap standards. It also got a little 'Acorn Antiques' with a lack of attention to detail. The biggest crime of all was that it became BORING, which is far from ideal when it comes to something that expects viewers to invest time in 4 times a week. Nevertheless I stuck with it, and since Kate Oates has taken over the standard has improved significantly - I'd go so far as to say we're in another golden era of the show. The storylines are intertwined, the characters are well-written, and it's finally exciting again! |
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848 posts
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Post by duncan on Jul 10, 2019 12:18:35 GMT
I had the advantage of never knowing she left. I love Kat and Alfie. Now, Alfie is someone everyone seems to hate. Me, I hate Stacey. Never stops screeching, But but but.........Babs Windsor was in it the same time as Kat and Alfie......?!? I'm probably in the minority of one but I cant feckin stand Barbara Windsor - from being a terrible presence in the Carry On films via shagging evil bastards to EastEnders I've always wondered why someone with no discernable talent has become a national treasure. |
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8,153 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jul 10, 2019 17:04:11 GMT
I used to watch it along with Corrie but about 4 years ago I realised I was watching it for no justifiable reason.
For me there was too much violence, too much screaming and shouting and far too depressing. Any attempt at comedy failed miserably.
Now I just stick with Corrie which I have watched since I was a child (a long time ago) and even when I lived overseas in the 80s my mum used to video the episodes and send them to me.
Now they know how to do comedy.
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230 posts
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Post by hal9000 on Jul 13, 2019 3:40:50 GMT
Well I'm with you, hal9000 - I love EastEnders. I'm one of those you mentioned who considered 2018 to be a real low-point in terms of scripting. I stuck with it, but my word it was a hard slog. To get seasoned actors such as Christopher Timothy and Maggie Steed on the payroll and use them in dull storylines was shocking. Worse still, getting a well-loved classic character Michelle Fowler to return (re-casting her with the fabulous Joanna Russell, no less) then letting her story gradually fade into nothing and a quiet exit. Many of the storylines just dragged on for way too long, even by soap standards. It also got a little 'Acorn Antiques' with a lack of attention to detail. The biggest crime of all was that it became BORING, which is far from ideal when it comes to something that expects viewers to invest time in 4 times a week. Nevertheless I stuck with it, and since Kate Oates has taken over the standard has improved significantly - I'd go so far as to say we're in another golden era of the show. The storylines are intertwined, the characters are well-written, and it's finally exciting again! EastEnders has improved in leaps and bounds since last year, hasn’t it? It is much more of an ensemble now, people interact more organically and there are multiple interesting storylines. I couldn’t imagine that brilliant Pride episode taking place last year. It’s good that they’re picking up on old threads. Like Iqra running away from her arranged marriages, but it may be because she gay. I am surprised that hot Gray has turned out to be a wrong ‘un. I thought he was just boring. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2019 7:23:08 GMT
I first started watching during Bex’s bullying story in 2017 as I could relate to it a lot with me also being in school and being bullied at points.
I didn’t like 2018 as much. John Yorke’s era was dull and depressing with not much happening.
Since Oates took over it has picked up significantly in my opinion, with the pride episode, Ben and Callum, and now what looks to be the start of a DV storyline with Gray and Chantelle.
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230 posts
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Post by hal9000 on Jul 15, 2019 5:37:20 GMT
New trailer!
The good: Ben looking tenderly at Callum 😍
The bad: Ruby flirting with Max 🤢
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230 posts
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Post by hal9000 on Jul 16, 2019 5:16:28 GMT
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230 posts
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Post by hal9000 on Jul 30, 2019 9:57:03 GMT
Am I the only one watching? It’s getting so good.
All hail Jon Sen and Kate Oates!
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513 posts
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Post by Deal J on Jul 31, 2019 11:41:10 GMT
Genuine jaw-drop for the duff-duff on Tuesday night. I thought this was going to be another "Who attacked Phil" style storyline, I certainly wasn't expecting to see the culprit in action!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2019 16:16:15 GMT
So that's how they are writing Stacey out for a while. I'm guessing she's going on the run. But it's not as if Phil saw who it was who hit him.
It's been fun watching how they try to cover up her baby bump. I've never seen Stacey wear so much billowing chiffon!
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887 posts
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Post by longinthetooth on Jul 31, 2019 16:18:55 GMT
So that's how they are writing Stacey out for a while. I'm guessing she's going on the run. But it's not as if Phil saw who it was who hit him. It's been fun watching how they try to cover up her baby bump. I've never seen Stacey wear so much billowing chiffon! I remember when one of the other actresses was pregnant she hid her bump behind increasingly large handbags! |
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513 posts
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Post by Deal J on Jul 31, 2019 16:59:41 GMT
Hahaa yes, I did laugh at how they framed her with her tummy barely hidden behind a huge happy birthday banner on the gate!
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230 posts
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Post by hal9000 on Aug 1, 2019 16:37:21 GMT
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230 posts
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Post by hal9000 on Aug 16, 2019 10:32:18 GMT
So Callum and his first love!
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230 posts
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Post by hal9000 on Aug 23, 2019 10:46:37 GMT
Loving how they are making steps to overcome their traumas - Callum with his sexuality, Ben’s with his father - and can meet as friends. Here’s hoping Callum’s wedding goes up in flames!   |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2019 19:36:21 GMT
Due to my commitments to the Edinburgh Fringe I have been switched off for the summer but I'm getting back into it and it's still looking in good shape, especially compared to how dull and boring 2018 was.
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Post by ruthieh on May 31, 2023 22:02:05 GMT
Bumping this…
Tonight’s episode with Lola’s death…what a stunningly well written and acted episode.
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