Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[Gerard]

If the day comes when most of the contributors to this discussion agree that H&A is in a good place, then this thread can be locked, and I for one will be more than happy with that

I would only advocate closing threads if there's already an existing one of the same topic, it goes off tangent or if the same posters repeat the same things - And even with the last two it should only happen after repeated warnings from the mods.  It is my personal belief that no matter what direction this show takes if you believe in freedom of speech and are against censorship this thread should not be closed.  It was started because of the objection to the show being dominated by certain characters which was somebody's opinion however it is just that an opinion. I accept that certain segments of the forum blame the script producer but not every poster here thinks the show is being ruined.  And if the show does eventually go back to the 'roots' who's to say that any people who like the current format of the show or any relatively new viewers won't think Home and Away is then being ruined.  So they should in turn be able to express an opinion in this thread like some of the posters are currently.

(Unfortunately) I'm not anticipating this particular discussion will wrap up any time soon and therefore most people will think H&A is back to its former glory. Just that it would be great some day if this discussion fell by the wayside and no one posted in it any more, because everyone thought the producers were doing a great job!

But you're right though, if H&A could somehow work its way back to how it was in the mid-90's (in my opinion) I certainly wouldn't be complaining, but as you say, others would be annoyed and wishing the series was how it has been over the past few years. I doubt there will ever come a time when just about everyone is happy! Anyway, in the worst case if this thread did get locked, or fell off the radar, there is nothing stopping anyone starting a new thread or for Mod to unlock this one again.

[James Martin]

I'm not expecting a return to the 90s, or even the 00s high points of 2004 and early 2008.  You can't go forward by going backward.  The teens watching the show now were toddlers when Noah got shot.  Very few of the under-25s, realistically, will remember Shane and Angel.  They might just remember the Sutherlands.  Generally, it's always been a young person's show and maybe, just maybe, we're all getting old.

I'd be interested to know what the core demographic of the show's viewers are both in the UK & Ireland and its' native Australia - who's out there?  Who's watching this?  Who's going to watch this?

Ultimately, though, whilst the programme makes a hell of a lot of money for the Seven network, I can't see any producer making drastic changes.  When advertisers stop advertising and international broadcasters stop buying in the programme, then is the time to panic.

[dee123]

 If the viewers who dont like the warm feeling the show has usually had returning then they can go and watch another show that is usually cold and full of crime.

I guess that comment can easily be turned around and applied to all the posters who took exception in this thread to certain characters previously!  They could have in turn gone and watched another show rather than complaining about it continually!

That was then, this is now

[Jeremai]

Just to add a slightly different point of view, I haven't watched the show for about 7 years now. My other half still watches it and so I catch the odd glimpse of it every now and then but it just isn't recognizable as the show I loved enough to start a web site about! However, I do live in hope of an improvement, and this thread gives me the best indication of whether there's anything worth tuning in for (Alf's Canberra storyline for example) so I hope it continues.

[Blaxland 89]

I'm getting very confused with the current show. Especially since the early years are repeated. I don't watch the 2015 version but to read the episode guide section on here in upcoming Australian episodes. There seems to be a Charlotte, a Josh and now a Damo and a Greg! 

[JamesC10]

Lucy Addario needs to leave soon. I never really rated Cameron Welsh but I preferred him than Lucy. I try to watch Home and Away again every few months but it's terrible. I think Dan Bennett can be a good script producer but Lucy Addario is destroying the show, in my opinion. Marilyn, Alf, Leah and Irene are my favourites. But Irene needs a big storyline soon. Why is she always so underused? Lynne McGranger is a brilliant actress.

[Light of the Bay]

Lucy Addario needs to leave soon. I never really rated Cameron Welsh but I preferred him than Lucy. I try to watch Home and Away again every few months but it's terrible. I think Dan Bennett can be a good script producer but Lucy Addario is destroying the show, in my opinion. Marilyn, Alf, Leah and Irene are my favourites. But Irene needs a big storyline soon. Why is she always so underused? Lynne McGranger is a brilliant actress.

Oh yeah, she really does. Cameron Welsh did a fairly good job in 2007-2008 but after that he was terrible and led the show to where it is now. Dan can make improvements but he is not in charge ultimately. 

They need to realise what an asset Lynne is to the show. Fantastic actress and Irene needs to have a more central role within the community. I also wish the writers would give Irene some backbone again. I've been re-watching the Angie Russell storyline recently and it struck me how different Irene was back then; she would defend her family to the last breath. 

[Homeandawayfan.]

Some improvements seem to be happening but I think the crime aspect of the show will be around, which is not too bad as long as they write a good script. Emmerdale and EastEnders have crime stories but have a decent script written. I love a juicy crime story but not as cold and calculating as Addario has it. H&A still needs to cut down on the crime stories to a degree and get some of the community spirit back. Dan Bennett is being met with some positivity but I do feel he was partly responsible for the cloak and dagger style H&A has seen in recent years.

[jodlebirger]

Some improvements seem to be happening but I think the crime aspect of the show will be around, which is not too bad as long as they write a good script. Emmerdale and EastEnders have crime stories but have a decent script written. I love a juicy crime story but not as cold and calculating as Addario has it. H&A still needs to cut down on the crime stories to a degree and get some of the community spirit back. Dan Bennett is being met with some positivity but I do feel he was partly responsible for the cloak and dagger style H&A has seen in recent years.

I agree. 

He was responsible for the stalker storyline (and Sarah storyline too??). The stalker and Sarah were storylines that was exciting at that time, but with storylines like that you always need to make things more and more shocking to keep people interested, and that doesn't work in the long run.

It is better to keep people interest with character which have been developed from the start, so you can get excited for them, sad for them and happy for them whatever they are going through. I think it is better not to think so mechanic about what's grabbing people's interest.  And that will keep people's interest in the long run. 

But it is also more difficult to write such storylines, and sometimes I think that producers and writers often take the easiest way too get the viewers attention because it feels the right thing to do. But for a long running soap I think it would have been better not being so calculated. Because that's what the show is, calculated. Even the less criminal characters are calculated for example Marilyn and Palmer. They are just there to give "humor" to the show, Alf and Irene are just there because they are iconic to the show, just like Ash and the others are there only for excitement and romance storylines. 

I think the whole show would have felt more natural if the characters were written more like people we should learn to know, and not only like cartoons with one purpose. It would have been easier to connect with them if there were more focus on their backstories, and we were together with them in all their sorrows, drama and happiness. I feel like the characters used to be more like that. Even in the stalker years. But from 2010, the characters have written much more one sided. 

[John]

Some improvements seem to be happening but I think the crime aspect of the show will be around, which is not too bad as long as they write a good script. Emmerdale and EastEnders have crime stories but have a decent script written. I love a juicy crime story but not as cold and calculating as Addario has it. H&A still needs to cut down on the crime stories to a degree and get some of the community spirit back. Dan Bennett is being met with some positivity but I do feel he was partly responsible for the cloak and dagger style H&A has seen in recent years.

I agree. 

He was responsible for the stalker storyline (and Sarah storyline too??). The stalker and Sarah were storylines that was exciting at that time, but with storylines like that you always need to make things more and more shocking to keep people interested, and that doesn't work in the long run.

It is better to keep people interest with character which have been developed from the start, so you can get excited for them, sad for them and happy for them whatever they are going through. I think it is better not to think so mechanic about what's grabbing people's interest.  And that will keep people's interest in the long run. 

But it is also more difficult to write such storylines, and sometimes I think that producers and writers often take the easiest way too get the viewers attention because it feels the right thing to do. But for a long running soap I think it would have been better not being so calculated. Because that's what the show is, calculated. Even the less criminal characters are calculated for example Marilyn and Palmer. They are just there to give "humor" to the show, Alf and Irene are just there because they are iconic to the show, just like Ash and the others are there only for excitement and romance storylines. 

I think the whole show would have felt more natural if the characters were written more like people we should learn to know, and not only like cartoons with one purpose. It would have been easier to connect with them if there were more focus on their backstories, and we were together with them in all their sorrows, drama and happiness. I feel like the characters used to be more like that. Even in the stalker years. But from 2010, the characters have written much more one sided. 

I agree particularly with the bold paragraph.

I think this is down to the way the show is being written currently.  Moments of high drama are most effective if used sparingly against a background of normality.  Too many moments of high drama and too little normal background living and the dramatic moments lose their impact because there is no contrast and they become "normal".

We need more of the characters living their normal lives.  Actually most people's normal lives contain moments of interest which most of us could empathize with.

That way when we do have occasional moments of high drama they would grab our interest and attention.