Eastenders

Was anyone else really struck at how bad the acting was in parts? They must have all been nervous but it really made me giggle.

I think the guy who plays Jack is a horrible actor, and the live episode just underscored it.  I was pretty impressed with both Stacey and Bradley's performance, even if I think the writing for Bradley's final line was pretty weak.

I don't understand how the murderer could've been kept a secret from the entire cast until the night. What happens on Monday? These episodes have to be filmed weeks in advance. You can't tell me they've been filming all weekend for Monday...or that no one is going to mention Stacey on Monday as the murderer?  Then again, she only said it to Max.... Surely theyll have to discuss it on Monday?? Oh it's all confusing..

I watched the live after-show discussions with the cast and crew.  Apparently Diedrick Santer said that they'd written a lot of ambiguous episodes where it could be one person or another. They've filmed those, but left out specifics.  No doubt they'll focus on other story lines as well like they usually do....Siyed and Christian and others.  That should give them some time to crank out a few episodes that fit in the story line.

I am so glad the Lucas plot is winding down.  At least I hope so.  I really hope he doesn't break out of jail or something. But Auntie Kim's a regular now?  Really?  I can see this getting old pretty fast.

Things feel a bit weird now.  I think they are doing a plot with Ricky not wanting Bianca and Bianca possibly cheating on him just because they feel they need to do something with them.  Why not have yet another wife spurned by her husband?  I mean, it's not like it hasn't been done over and over on this show...

I really don't know if I like the new writers/producers.  I don't know where it's going, and I am sorry they are getting rid of some of the people that are supposed to leave or already have.

It just seems a bit stagnant right now.  I am considering moving on to a different soap as I feel like my cultural study of this particular one is winding down.  I watched like 2 weeks worth of Emmerdale and Corrie when I moved here and I sort of half-heartedly follow The Archers, but I never really got into a soap here until Eastenders.  I've watched every episode since the Autumn of last year.  I hope it doesn't get too lame for me to watch.

I really don't know if I like the new writers/producers.  I don't know where it's going, and I am sorry they are getting rid of some of the people that are supposed to leave or already have.

It just seems a bit stagnant right now.  I am considering moving on to a different soap as I feel like my cultural study of this particular one is winding down.  I watched like 2 weeks worth of Emmerdale and Corrie when I moved here and I sort of half-heartedly follow The Archers, but I never really got into a soap here until Eastenders.  I've watched every episode since the Autumn of last year.  I hope it doesn't get too lame for me to watch.

So is it too lame now? I have to say that the new story line about the cot death and baby snatching leaves me cold - it's way too distasteful. I understand they're cutting it short and the actress playing Ronnie may be leaving the show.

I found this article on the lack of realism in Eastenders really amusing. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/10/charlie-brooker-eastenders-row

I'm still watching it.  I think it is more because I've not missed an episode in over a year (even when I had to DVR it), and it is sort of part of most weekday evenings' routine.  I realise they are trying to get rid of a lot of older characters who they've sort of written into corners, but in the past year they seem really reluctant to replace them.  When they do replace them, they seem to replace them with returning characters.  As much as I like Alfie and Kat (I missed them the first time around so I don't have the aversion that so many watchers seem to have), I'd make more sense to enliven it with totally new storylines, and no, not the e20 kids or anything like them (although Fatboy is tolerable).

I think when characters leave, a lot of times it makes no sense. I don't get why Denise would have sent her daughters to Spain.  I don't get why, even as traumatised as she was, why Libby would have thrown away her Oxbridge education to do something like that so spur of the moment.  I know they try to keep the door open for characters to return, but it rarely rings true when they do leave, at least in the time I've been watching.  They all could have been improved (even if not perfected due to the need to have a way back for any of them) with better writing.

The cot death thing, well, I sort of agree with Charlie Brooker on this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/10/charlie-brooker-eastenders-row

I think when characters leave, a lot of times it makes no sense. I don't get why Denise would have sent her daughters to Spain.  I don't get why, even as traumatised as she was, why Libby would have thrown away her Oxbridge education to do something like that so spur of the moment.  I know they try to keep the door open for characters to return, but it rarely rings true when they do leave, at least in the time I've been watching.  They all could have been improved (even if not perfected due to the need to have a way back for any of them) with better writing.

Agreed. I can imagine situations that might encourage a parent to send their children to an unfamiliar country to "start again" but the scenarios usually feature war or famine.

I think there is a quite a bit of laziness in the execution of plots in Eastenders, but I still enjoy watching it. We look at it as light entertainment, and I suspect lots of others do as well, hence the general irritation at episodes that are patently ridiculous, but that we cannot laugh at.

So....anyone else happy that Samantha Womack is FINALLY leaving EastEnders?  I have gotten SOOO bored with her character's story lines and her whining all the time! 

And was I the only one to notice the horrible continuity tonight when everyone is at the daytime wedding, yet a few minutes later in the car ride to the hospital it's pitch black out? 

As far as the current story lines, I'm glad Jean is back and the Max and Tanya kiss is going to provide for some good watching.  Let's just hope it doesn't get stupid like some of the ideas can be. 

I am glad she's going.  Her character had no options even before the baby swap.  I am glad the story-line is wrapping up. 

I hope they don't totally misrepresent immigration with the Mercy/Fatboy story arc.   

Okay, for those of you NOT watching but possibly interested in a totally gritty "realism" portrayal of the immigration system, this is the story arc so far:

Fatboy is in love with Mercy from Nigeria.  Mercy doesn't seem to share the same level of interest in Fatboy as he has in her.  They date other people, but eventually Mercy gets shopped to immigration (by Fatboy's father).  Turns out that she was here on a 6 month visa (student? visitor? she's in college) and has overstayed by months.

So Mercy gets called upon by the authorities.  She just recently broke up with her boyfriend.  Fatboy proposes to her in order to keep her in the UK.  After a long drawn out "will she or won't she?", they get married last night after Fatboy tells Mercy he loves her for real and would follow her to Nigeria if she gets sent back.

They are meant to have an "immigration hearing" sometime soon, and she will say she's married to a British citizen and provide affidavits that she is a benefit to the community.

a totally gritty "realism" portrayal of the immigration system

Corrie has one too - Graeme has faked breaking up with Tina (it was her idea) and married Xin "so she can stay in the country" but unfortunately he got a bit carried away one night and behaved like a real husband. I must say I have every sympathy with him...

I was wandering about Zainab's ex husband isn't he Muslim as well if yes then why was he drinking champagne for Kim's B/day where Zainab & Massod never drink alcohol?  

I was wandering about Zainab's ex husband isn't he Muslim as well if yes then why was he drinking champagne for Kim's B/day where Zainab & Massod never drink alcohol?  

Some Muslims do drink alcohol. Just as some Jews eat ham, and some Hindus eat beef. I know examples of all of these. Mind you, he's a wicked man - didn't he try to set her afire?

Yeah, he's definitely "evil neutral".  He uses Islam when it benefits him, but I doubt he uses it for any sort of moral or ethical compass.  Just when it looks good, or when he can use it to his own ends.  If he weren't so "bad", I'd probably just see him as a lapsed Muslim who follows some of it for cultural reasons, but not because of a sense of faith.

Of course, a big clue that he was going to be evil (even before he showed much through his actions) was the fact Denise is attracted to him.  She's got a thing for OTT evil nutters, apparently.