When do the Early Years finish?

[Lulu1978]

I didn't mind Lance and Martin.Although,not my all time favourites they were a good comic duo.

[alexx]

Because it all went crap after that?

I don't know why I started watching the show again in 2006. I haven't truly enjoyed it apart from 2008 and Marilyn/Roo's returns.

Someone I was talking to about Home and Away a year ago said that all the newspapers at the time of Bobby's death had headlines such as 'Can Home and Away continue without Bobby?' etc...Maybe I read that on here actually. But still, she was and is one of the main characters for its first 5 years.

If there was a 'Most Popular Character' vote now, I think I would only include characters from the early years now with the exception of Irene.

I would love to include Martin & Lance in your 'Most Popular Character' awards Edward but sadly I seem to be their only fan

Lance and Martin were a couple of my favourites too, as I've already said many times... Most members who discuss the early years are fans of Lance and Martin, so you're not alone, not sure how you got that impression.

Edited February 18, 2012 by alexx

[Dibble Investments Inc]

Because it all went crap after that?

I don't know why I started watching the show again in 2006. I haven't truly enjoyed it apart from 2008 and Marilyn/Roo's returns.

Someone I was talking to about Home and Away a year ago said that all the newspapers at the time of Bobby's death had headlines such as 'Can Home and Away continue without Bobby?' etc...Maybe I read that on here actually. But still, she was and is one of the main characters for its first 5 years.

If there was a 'Most Popular Character' vote now, I think I would only include characters from the early years now with the exception of Irene.

I would love to include Martin & Lance in your 'Most Popular Character' awards Edward but sadly I seem to be their only fan

I liked Lance and Martin too, I just don't feel the need to mention them in every post I make

Yes, I do get a bit carried away at times talking about the Gruesome Twosome

[Dibble Investments Inc]

Because it all went crap after that?

I don't know why I started watching the show again in 2006. I haven't truly enjoyed it apart from 2008 and Marilyn/Roo's returns.

Someone I was talking to about Home and Away a year ago said that all the newspapers at the time of Bobby's death had headlines such as 'Can Home and Away continue without Bobby?' etc...Maybe I read that on here actually. But still, she was and is one of the main characters for its first 5 years.

If there was a 'Most Popular Character' vote now, I think I would only include characters from the early years now with the exception of Irene.

I would love to include Martin & Lance in your 'Most Popular Character' awards Edward but sadly I seem to be their only fan

Lance and Martin were a couple of my favourites too, as I've already said many times... Most members who discuss the early years are fans of Lance and Martin, so you're not alone, not sure how you got that impression.

Martin & Lance, to me, represent all that's good about TEY and all that's wrong with 2012 (and the immediate decade prior).

Well, I must say I'm heartened by these responses of support for the Gruesome Twosome....I must've only seen generally negative responses about them when I've solicited opinions about them previously....

Perhaps I'll stop whining now

[Blaxland 89]

I think 1993 was the end of the early years.Most of the original cast and other major characters from the late 80's/early 90's era were gone by the end of 1993.

ITA. Perhaps Bobby's death is the defining moment which ends the 'early years'.

I agree about Bobby's death marking the end of the early years.It felt like a new era without Bobby,Marilyn,Sophie,Blake(who all left in either 1992/1993)on the show.1993 was also the beginning of Shane and Angel so definitely the end of one era during that year and the beginning of another which I think ended in 1998 with Pippa's departure.

Also with Lynne McGranger becoming a full time Irene.

[English Invader]

I think The Early Years ends when Debra Lawrence takes over as Pippa.

[Natasha]

I wouldn't mind if the TEY finished right before the Sutherlands moved in and the show became the Sutherland Show.

Edited February 22, 2012 by Natasha

[Red Ranger 1]

Yeah, I think the change of Pippa is probably the cut off point:You've got the Tom and Pippa Mark 1 era and you've got Carly's wedding at the end to give a nice bookmark, after that they start bringing in the early '90s teen group with the arrival of Blake, Karen and Haydn, with Michael and Pippa Mark 2 coming to the fore.

[James Martin]

I've always seen the show as roughly divided up thus:

1988 - 1992: The Early Years

1993 - 1996: The Golden Years

1997 - 1999: The Wilderness Years

2000 - 2004: The Sutherland Years

2005 - 2007: The OTT Years

2008: The 20th Birthday Year

2009 - Pres: The "We've Lost The Plot, Mate" Years

Edited August 5, 2012 by James Martin

[83ray1]

I'd say mid 94. A lot of people say 94 is somewhat dull, but, it finished off the early years, it let characters like Irene come into their own and settle in, it let Shane and Angel grow as a couple and introduced Curtis, Shannon etc..

Its 94 that finished off the Bobby Simpson era, and kickstarted the 95 and 96 eras which were a new era, with more dramatic stories, and would remain as such until Sally's 2008 exit. 2009 - present is the "we've lost the plot" era.