Dot`s solo

[MAD BUTCHER]

I chose not to watch Eastenders last night because I hate their two-handers of which they are so proud and thought that Dot`s memories would be 100 times worse.
However, I did record it so that I could watch it if the AB Judges deemed it worth watching or even then could fast-forward most of it.

So what is your verdict?

[littlel1]

didnt watch it either. how boring was that. a whole half an hour of dot and tape recorder... thrilling.....

[andy-hughes]

It was actually very moving.

Dot is from a generation who 'got on with it' and notions like love and affection were simply not thought of, much less discussed. because of that she has grown up into a person to whom expression of emotion is next to impossible - until the medium is given to her - a chance to simply talk about herself without interuption or judgement, and she took to it like a drowning man takes to a lifeline.

June Brown is a fabulous actress. She knows that TV is about nuance, not movement, it's in a vocal inflection, a twitch of facial muscle, and as a mansterclass for the rest of the cast, it was all there to see.

I didn't see all the episode, but enough to know that younger viewers, used to quick-speed instant delivery will find its place funereal, and its message lost, but the more, ah, senior among us may have thought about the way we communicate with those we love, and that leaving it until it is too late is not something to take on lightly.

[B00]

Hate to do this, but I disagree with andy there.

It was the most boring dirge filled half hour that I'v had the misfortune to sit through. The sad thing is I sat through the lot waiting for it to get better- it didn't. All I could think of when it was finished was "well, that'll be an half hour I'll not get back again!"

[Everhelpful]

I would fast-forward ALL of it if I was you.!!

[chazza]

I watched part of it and found it boring so switched off!

[SteveD]

I think that, if you detach it from the fact that it was an episode of a very long-running soap-opera (which you may or may not like) and look at it critically as a one-off from the point of view of the writing and the theatrical performance of June Brown, it was very well done.

[andy-hughes]

No problem Boo - how are you?

I think you are in the majority anyway - and as I said, I didn't see the episode beginning to end so I am perfectly prepared - as always - to admit that maybe my opinion is in the minority here.

[beejaybee]

I found it a very moving episode. I can imagine that there a lot of people who can relate to Dot`s story. June Brown is a great actress.