Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[Luke39]

I agree re recent post, but i think the show is heading in the right direction, but rome wasent built in a day. 

[sindikatas]

The way, I see it, and that is how expected, Dan is not heading the direction that was in 1988-2004, but rather what was in mid-late 00s. Lots of baddies, crazy over the top stories, but just like in mid 00s and not like in 2012-2015 they are written in an interesting way.

[Homeandawayfan.]

A long long way to go before the show recovers and I think the days of it being like it was in the 1980s and 1990s are gone. Lucy is not ruining the show beyond repair but has damaged it.

[jodlebirger]

The way, I see it, and that is how expected, Dan is not heading the direction that was in 1988-2004, but rather what was in mid-late 00s. Lots of baddies, crazy over the top stories, but just like in mid 00s and not like in 2012-2015 they are written in an interesting way.

I think that last half of 2005-first half of 2007 have a lot in common with 2011-2015. A lot of baddies popping up, bad follow up on certain storylines. But unlike 2011-15, 2005-2007 had some good and grounded characters with a better development than 2011-15 characters. So agree with you on that. But I haven't seen Dan Benetts work yet, I think because we are 5 months behind Australia here. We have just seen the Anzac storyline here. 

In general 2011-13 were bad years, but they still had some good moments too; even if one set of characters were dominating too much. I liked the first year of Jet, and I loved Gina and John, Gina's death was ok done even if there were too much other storylines in her funeral episode. And I enjoyed some of Heath's journey. At least he had some development and that made him interesting for me even if I think he and Bianca weren't the best match. And I enjoyed the Walkers from time to time. But there were too much nonsense storyline, too much violence and storyline that had no realism and went in circles (Brax, Casey, Kyle) and some storylines that were about nothing and went nowhere (Marilyn, Roo, Harvey). 

But 2014 and first half of 2015 I have almost given up on H&A. No direction, the same old all the time. The only storyline that had something was the storyline about Maddy and her cancer. The show seems totally without direction and all the characters feel kind of helpless. I hope it changes, but Dan is probably not the right person to change totally it since he was responsible for the mess in 2005-2007. In my opinion Last half of 2007 and 2008-2009 were far better years with more focus on the characters. But still 2005-2007 were more interesting than now. 

[cadyctslover]

Ray Meagher confirms he has no plans to leave the show

It seems Ray might be more comfortable with the content of the show these days following his 'word' with the producers a few months back. If (like me) any one read about but didn't actually hear Ray's interview with 2GB back in February I found a link to it:

www.2gb.com/tags/ray-meagher

[Homeandawayfan.]

I think what makes H&A seem worse than it is, is the harsh music used for scenes that are not that dramatic. If they culled the harsh music, then the show would seem a lot lighter. Out of the soaps still on air Emmerdale, EastEnders and H&A are the 3 most topical soaps in my opinion and always have been in many ways, but with a warm heart and charm as well. H&A is lacking that at the minute. But I am pleased to think that H&A is better than this time last year. I still stick by the shows side.

[alexx]

I don't want to jump the gun but I'm just going to post the positives to show my encouragement. I've been enjoying the episodes over the past week and particularly enjoy how the Marilyn/John storyline is being played out including references to the past that help to connect the past to the present and feel like Home and Away again. I've also noticed a definite shift in the direction of the show over the past week (since I started watching regularly) and the community feel seems to be creeping back.

Summer Bay has actually felt like a small seaside town over the past few episodes and I can only put that down to how the screen time has been spread out to include a decent mix of characters in each episode. I think the pacing has been slowed down slightly too so that there's not as much rushing about from one scene to the next.

I'm going to stick with it and see how it goes from here...

[c120701]

I think the increased use of the Summer Bay House interior and the return of the exterior helps too, they just need to work more on making character's exits on location work better with their positioning on set as the other day Maddy came in via the back door to get something and when she returned to where she was sitting outside it was right by the side door. Also when Irene & Leah were sat at the table inside, Irene came in through the side door but rather than leaving by the same door she was sat by, her and Leah walked out through the front door.

[pembie]

The show has impoved with the latest John and Marilyn story. I like the Charlotte/Hunter Zac and Leah story too.

I do think though that characters such as Ricky and Ash Kyle and Pheobe need to move on now though

[Luke39]

Its pretty clichie to say oh Brax left that is why the shows improoving lol. But it is true. His character brought the bulk of all the crime driven stories. Since his character left, the community feel has returned, because it is more integrated. Even the remaining river boys Kyle/Andy/Josh/Matt e.t.c. Have integrated into the community. Without that sense of danger, the light hearted, fluffy, feel good Home and Away is returning. Now this is a good change, but still a while to go. But I am getting early 2000-2008 feels here. Get rid of Ash, but the Phoebe I fell for when she was introduced, she is still in there damn it! .