Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[dee123]

3 hours ago, Luke39 said:

Not ashamed to say, Matt and Roo are my fav pair ups on this show atm hahaha. Hell woulden't mind if they know get together heh. That would be a scandal :D. I think difference with Neigborsf from what I have observed. It feels more well rounded, in storytelling and the casting, the characterization. It feels like a community. I cannot say I have felt that watching Home and Away in a long time. 

It's been going on for years but this is the NUMBER ONE problem, and while it was happening before The Braxtons it became more apparent with their introduction of certain groups of characters being in their own bubbles with some characters not interacting with each other much at all.

[Homeandawayfan.]

Does anyone think that H&A is like Emmerdale when it comes to ignoring its history and straying from its roots? Emmerdale seems to ignore its history. Virtually no storylines or characters from before the mid 1990s are mentioned or referred to in Emmerdale.

Neighbours is a fantastic programme and has always kept true to itself. Corrie is still Corrie despite the stunts, EastEnders is still EastEnders, always kept to the same format since 1985.

Apart from Alf and SBH, H&A feels like a completely new show. That is not a good thing, to neglect the past and lose any originality.

[dee123]

1 hour ago, Homeandawayfan. said:

Does anyone think that H&A is like Emmerdale when it comes to ignoring its history and straying from its roots? Emmerdale seems to ignore its history. Virtually no storylines or characters from before the mid 1990s are mentioned or referred to in Emmerdale.

Neighbours is a fantastic programme and has always kept true to itself. Corrie is still Corrie despite the stunts, EastEnders is still EastEnders, always kept to the same format since 1985.

Apart from Alf and SBH, H&A feels like a completely new show. That is not a good thing, to neglect the past and lose any originality.

I agree though to play devil's advocate i'd rather they ignore than blatantly revise history like Neighbours has recently with a few things.

[Luke39]

tbf, IT IS NOT like the current characters are even aware of past characters lol. I mean I don't see Hunter walking into the diner, and saying "I heard about this Shane bloke" . I know that is not what some mean lol, just being silly. Same I guess for 2005 lot, talking or referencing 2001 crowd. I don't see a new lot of characters talking about characters last decade. That is the problem for me interchangable storylines. I mean clearly I was in the minority with Matt and Maddy. Sorry I loved them LOL. But in the end it was pointless. They are just throwing characters in pointless storylines. And throwing characters under a bus, Ahem Oscar Ahem. Theirs just no real value to the storylines, it is like they give up at the first hurdle, and move on. I do like the photos of Aden, Belle, and Annie on Irene's fridge. I like that little continuity. Yeah sure be nice they reference past characters. And I agree they need to integrate the past into present more. But it does not ruin the show for me. I don't like it when they stomp over their history. Like for instance, I did not have much problem with a new actress playing Olivia. But changing history to suit storyline, is a no no for me. But that is just me. I Think we call all agree, the show lacks balance atm. 

[Homeandawayfan.]

We do say that not much of original H&A remains but what does remain is prominent. Summer Bay House has remained throughout and IMHO I see it as the primary residential location in the show. And the beach remains and caravan park. The original shop was bombed by Dodge and I think in real life was condemned so had to be written out. The school is still the same place as it always was, just majorly revamped. And we still have Alf. Tonally the show has changed a lot but visually, some does remain from the old show, and I cannot see SBH ever being written out of the show. In Neighbours, only Ramsay Street has remained unchanged throughout whereas Lassiters has changed beyond recognition and only Paul remains from the originals. Just tonally Neighbours ATM is nearer to its roots. But both have changed a lot since the 1980s.

 

[alexx]

On 8/31/2016 at 4:29 PM, dee123 said:

It's been going on for years but this is the NUMBER ONE problem, and while it was happening before The Braxtons it became more apparent with their introduction of certain groups of characters being in their own bubbles with some characters not interacting with each other much at all.

When the show just focuses mainly on one group of characters or focuses mainly on the younger characters, that's when it loses it's community feel. If they started to make it a show truly about all age ranges and personalities living in the town, whether they be 65, 23 or 12 they all got consistent, on-going character development like they used to - then the show would feel more like a community we can relate to and that's when it would start to feel like H&A again.

[emmasi]

On 8/31/2016 at 10:50 AM, emmasi said:

Chris and John are both portrayed as outsiders with odd perspectives that people rarely listen to, so putting them together is comedy gold, but even that doesn't happen much anymore.

At the risk of spoiling UK viewers, I'd just like to say, there was a scene between Chris and John in today's Australian episode. It was not comedy, but it certainly was gold. If every scene could be like that - so full of genuine emotion and realistic connection between characters - there would be no problem with the show. It was worth the wait. 

[jodlebirger]

I am not so sure it is only about mentioning past characters, but staying true to the original plot and style of storylines. And unfortunately H&A isn't anything like what it used to be. It is just used as a "window" to show how perfect beautiful people, and to make a hype around them. It's so empty. The show lacks direction, meaning and logic. I know it's "only" a soap, but soaps doesn't need to be this shallow. 

But there are opportunities to use past characters and or link the current ones to the past ones. Why aren't we getting more family members of previous characters for instance? And why are we getting new characters when old ones can be brought back with recasts. With characters we haven't seen in decades it will work. It worked with Roo. For ecxample why on earth introduce a crazed unknown son to Irene, instead of using her known children?? Finlay and the others could have been recasted. It is long time since they have been on the show. If  they stay true to the characters history it will work.  

And I wonder if that is the problem, because they seem not to remember much about how the characters were. I don't have a problem with the new actress playing Olivia either. I mean, we just saw the child actress only for a very few episodes. But what I don't like with it is that they haven't been exactly true to Olivia's storyline. They have just "forgotten" about how James was, he was a good man. And for Olivia to suddenly turn up like she did without involving James more is out of character for him and not true to the history. There was hundred other ways to re-introduce Olivia to the show. Why couldn't Olivia and James asked Irene for Olivia to stay with her while he was either sick or busy with work? It felt like they sacrificed Olivia's past to give Irene a story, and she got a (terrible) storyline which wasn't quite true to her history either. To watch the characters departure and run on the show is a must for the writer to be able to write it in character. And I wonder if the writers don't bother or don't have the time to do that. Or is it simply that the current style of writing doesn't match how they once used to write a character? 

[Skylover]

Alf and Roo's scenes are brilliant in the current episodes.

Seeing John and Marilyn as foster parents to this Jordan makes me think I wouldn't mind them being the new foster parents at Summer Bay House. I'd still prefer one of the original foster kids returning as a foster parent though.

I really think having Alf, Roo, Zac, Leah etc in SBH is ruining the caravan park (and I do love those characters).

ETA: I think things are going to get better with the arrival of the Morgans, they seem really good, and once their initial story is over I think they have potential.

[Luke39]

Well I remember their was a time when Mangrove River would camp out on the beach. At least the Beach feels like the old H and A again. I think after 4 years of just The Braxton Show. IT is going to take a while to integrate the show again. It still feels like two worlds at the moment. IT needs to become one again in a way. I guess with Neighbores even though they kinda revise their history. They never had one character, or a group of characters take over the show. So you know, that is an issue. Maybe they have just forgotten how to write for the other characters, they pretty much ignored for four years. Like Irene. The older characters are the best part of the show right now.. One example which should always be the case. IS Pairing younger and old. Matt and Roo, Chris and John e.t.c. Are the shining lights of the show.