Eastenders - The Merry-Go-Round Continues ...

[andy-hughes]

I am not a fan of soaps, and don't watch them.

That said, when I did watch, I became aware that a standard plot device for all of them, was everyone having a turn working in the central points - the shop / cafe / restaurant / garage / pub / launderette, and so on.

If you watched long enough, everyone would have a go everywhere.

I brought the present Mrs Hughes a cuppa last night, as she was watching EastEnders, and I observe, in the ten seconds I was in hearing of the TV - that Phil Mitchell and Kat Slater are now married.

I thought it was just the jobs everyone had a go on, now it appears it's the rest of the cast as well!

[douglas9401]

I had assumed that Phil had died a horrible rock and roll style death years ago aspirating his own vomit.

 

Don't care though.

[Hopkirk]

It won't last

[andy-hughes]

Oooh, Hopkirk, I could never be as cynical as you!!!! 🤣

[elliemay1]

Yes, it's the same in all the soaps, in Emmerdale Victoria is about to have a relationship with Jacob, her ex's son

[Zacs-Master]

Utter crap for the ignorant masses. 

[brainiac]

 In every  episode someone overhears something, or sees something they shouldn't.

Two main plotlines: pregnancy - whose baby etc etc; and the hospital vigil.

[elliemay1]

...or a young person runs away from home

[andy-hughes]

Zacs - Something of a lofty over-generalisation, I would suggest.

[Hopkirk]

I love the way the actors leave in search of better things. Most come crawling back.

[douglas9401]

Or drive an Uber.

[Zacs-Master]

I speak from experience, Andy. We don't watch any soaps any more. There comes a point where you realise the writers are taking the P. 

[Cloverjo]

Why do people hang out in the café? Their homes are just metres away if they want a coffee. I haven't watched any soaps for years, but, disconcertingly, Husband seems to be watching Eastenders while pretending to stare into space. 

[mushroom25]

// I had assumed that Phil had died a horrible rock and roll style death years ago aspirating his own vomit. //

that wouldn't be rock n roll. Rock n roll would be choking on the vomit of person unknown. you can't "dust" for vomit, y'know.....

[Hopkirk]

They must all be rich, they can afford to drink regularly in the local.

[nicebloke1]

You do have to wonder how the script writers keep their jobs because its more than obvious little thought or effort goes in to any soap production. And no, I dont ever put myself through such pain or embarrassment.I tend to feel sorry for anyone that sees such being entertainment on any scale.

[douglas9401]

The public gets what the public wants.

[nicebloke1]

Actors they are not, more like robots. In fact soaps would more than likely become entertaining if they used robots to play out, what they call scripts. I have watched people watch soaps, and they also appear to be robots. On the hour they sit, glare into space, 15 mins past the hour, walk to kitchen, make tea, walk back with tea, sit, glare into space for another 15mins. Walk away looking puzzled into kitchen and tip full cup of cold tea down sink. Repeat actions the following evening.

[douglas9401]

There, nicebloke, you see how difficult it is to write fiction?

[MargoTester]

Out of interest what do you soap condemning, patronising people watch?  

[andy-hughes]

Cliverjo - // Why do people hang out in the café? Their homes are just metres away if they want a coffee. //

A simple plot device, to put people together who may not visit each other at home.

As you probably know, soaps don't stand a whisper of basic analysis without collapsing like a house of cards.

Why does every single person drink in the same pub. and hold all their celebrations there?

Why do people use a luanderete when the can afford washing machines?

Why does no-one ever cough or sneeze unless they have pneumonia written into their current story-line?

Why does everyone speak so fluently, never say umm, or errr, or lose the thread of what they are saying?

And the biggest kicker of all, espcially for Eastenders - if you found yourself in such a claustophobic community with such a large proportion of deeply unpleasant people, why would you not move somewhere else!!!!