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| Should EastEnders take a leaf out of Emmerdale’s book? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 27 2018, 02:27 PM (164 Views) | |
| EE85 | Jun 27 2018, 02:27 PM Post #1 |
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Emmerdale are tackling issues like acid attacks, missing children and transgender characters with the reintroduction of Hannah Barton as Matty. This is the show which was often considered the third soap behind the juggernaut Corrie and the dark and gritty EastEnders. These days Emmerdale are telling stories, which really reflect society in 2018. When did EastEnders last feel like its finger remotely on the pulse? |
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| Sue Osman | Jun 27 2018, 03:24 PM Post #2 |
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Eastenders should do what is best for itself, rather than social issue stories for the sake of relevance. I honestly believe all the soaps would be better off taking a step back from too many of these types of plots. They just don't have the ability to handle them very well in recent years, with a few exceptions. In EE's case, I am still sickened by the depression story with Lee and by Paul Coker's murder, and I will be for a long time to come. Yorke seems to be trying to split the baby by having social issue plots that are sped through and as much about melodrama as education. Personally, outside of a few powerful scenes with Bonnie Langford, I don't really think the knife story has been anywhere near what it could have been, and I have a lot of issues with the Stuart story. I was actually offended by the story they had about Tiffany and men online, especially as she then got over it in the blink of an eye. You take a story like Joyce's death, which was not an "issue" story, yet still told a very powerful tale about an older couple, struggling to get by, and the horrible choices Ted had to make when saying goodbye to his wife. That's what I want to see more of. Edited by Sue Osman, Jun 27 2018, 03:25 PM.
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| PurpleRain | Jun 27 2018, 04:11 PM Post #3 |
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It shouldn't take a leaf out of anyone's books. Just focus on being EastEnders. That's what EastEnders is best at. The show has suffered enough identity crises in the 2010s without it trying to be another show altogether. ![]() |
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| See You Slater | Jun 27 2018, 04:24 PM Post #4 |
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If this was a thread two months ago I would probably agree that the show could perhaps do with taking some more risks. When the only story on the table was the missing money plot and samosa wars, the show could definitely have looked to the brave and bold stories Emmerdale were telling for inspiration. In the past couple of months we’ve really turned a corner though and the show has definitely gotten a lot better. Stories like Shakil’s stabbing couldn’t be any more relevant in the current landscape where there are Shakil Kazemi’s losing their lives all over London on a daily basis. Even the hunting storyline with Stuart is arguably a very relevant story that hasn’t been told on the show before. At the moment the show is brimming with stories and potential and I actually enjoy it over Emmerdale at the moment. Even in areas that the show has usually struggled in the past where Emmerdale excels, such as being an ensemble piece, EastEnders has really upped its game at in recent months. |
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| EE85 | Jun 27 2018, 05:06 PM Post #5 |
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I do understand all of the points you’ve raised and I can see what you mean. One for me though is what Emmerdale is very good at, is balance. There is always a variety of stories going on. EastEnders this year has had periods where the only real story, was a missing money plot. Emmerdale has it’s weaker stories for sure but I think that, the good far outweighs the bad. Nonsensical stories such as Bob/Laurel are far easier to swallow, when you have stories such as Charity’s sexual abuse or Ross’ acid attack running alongside them. I think that EastEnders could definitely learn from them, in that respect. |
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| WalfordEast | Jun 27 2018, 08:12 PM Post #6 |
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EastEnders should stick to EastEnders. |
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| The Other Slater Cousin | Jun 27 2018, 08:31 PM Post #7 |
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If we consider vague storyline synopsis', EastEnders should definitely be the platform exploring the hard-hitting stories like acid attacks and historical sex abuse and the families of trans people and birth defects, which Emmerdale are monopolising right now. However, should EastEnders be rejecting its house style to mimic Emmerdale? Definitely not. An acid attack in the urban setting of EastEnders shouldn't be a case of mistaken identity towards the upper class villain. It should be a part of an exploration of gang culture. On a basic level, yes the stories should be told in Walford, but the way in which they are presented and explored can't be the same. Central London doesn't compare to a rural village. And EastEnders' established and well-known style of storytelling and brand of hard-hitting storylines and kitchen sink drama doesn't compare to Emmerdale, which largely has been boundless since it stopped being Emmerdale Farm, largely acting as a blend of British dramatic qualities and camp melodramatics of the American counterparts like Dynasty. People don't look at Emmerdale for social commentary how they do with EastEnders with issue storylines, and so the level of responsibility is different. So, yes or no. EastEnders should should be pushing boundaries. But it should be doing it as EastEnders. |
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| Jamie Fowler | Jun 27 2018, 08:34 PM Post #8 |
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You are the best of us. |
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| I've Got Class | Jun 27 2018, 08:40 PM Post #9 |
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The Bob/Laurel/Doug/Brenda story strand has been diabolical and worse than Molfie's relationship. Emmerdale makes misfires just as often as EastEnders does, especially in recent months. The brilliant stories lately have focused on the same characters who've received frequent exposure for most of Macleod's era. Debbie, Joe, Ross, Charity, Cain and Moira are all excellent. The rest of the cast range from the good (Bernice and Faith), the poorly written (Laurel and Bob), the bad (Dan and Daz) and the ugly (Aaron ).
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| Angie's Den | Jun 27 2018, 08:45 PM Post #10 |
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Aaron and Robert's 'romance' has been a thorn in the side of the show ever since they started throwing wrenches at each other. This isn't an endgame couple. Their affair was good for what it was. It was destructive, it was dramatic and it should have ended three years ago.
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8:31 AM Jul 11