Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[Luke39]

Do most ppl watching notice age gaps? I diddnt even realise their was a three year age gap between Olivia and VJ. Then again I had no idea Olivia was a pre existing character when she first arrived. But of course I agree, Matt Little while he's grown into the role. Is still way too inappropriate for the role. Would of been good as another character. I do think the show had better balance and pacing by seasons end. I don't think theirs too much violence. I mean it's a lot more spread out then it was with the Braxtons. At least Tori and Brodie particularly contribute to society. I just think they need better balance with depicting Aussie life. 

[dee123]

3 hours ago, Luke39 said:

Do most ppl watching notice age gaps? I diddnt even realise their was a three year age gap between Olivia and VJ. Then again I had no idea Olivia was a pre existing character when she first arrived. But of course I agree, Matt Little while he's grown into the role. Is still way too inappropriate for the role. Would of been good as another character. I do think the show had better balance and pacing by seasons end. I don't think theirs too much violence. I mean it's a lot more spread out then it was with the Braxtons. At least Tori and Brodie particularly contribute to society. I just think they need better balance with depicting Aussie life. 

Agreed. I don't like how the second the recast happened VJ completely changed.

[Blaxland 89]

I don't think it matters that people watching knew there was a nearly four year age gap. But it certainly does matter that the people involved with making the show do and that they keep continuity such as this. 

[Skylover]

On 26 January 2017 at 9:28 PM, Blaxland 89 said:

I still think the actor playing VJ is inapproiate for the role. As many did when he was first cast.

He had already been SORASed so I guess I wouldn't have been too offended if they'd chosen an 18-year old actor who looked like he could be 16. The fact they chose someone who already looked 25 felt like rubbing salt in the wounds, VJ was a legacy character. I can't take any of his or Leah's scenes seriously now. I feel like we skipped his teenage years.

[c120701]

The thing is, I believe Matt Little as an older version of Felix Dean's VJ, they don't look too dissimilar, and Matt has got better at playing down, but I agree we seem to have skipped too much of his life.   There's a point where SORAS helps give a parent more story, but there's also a point where it reduces the years of story they have. Leah needed VJ to be older when they brought in Felix Dean, but now rather than Leah having a good 5/6 years of being a mother to a high school student, it's been cut down to about 3 or 4. Where does VJ go after high school? Ok, really I think he should follow in Vinnie's footsteps and become a lifeguard, but how many years will Matt Little stick around? I'm surprised he's stayed this long though.

[j.laur5]

I think H&A is way more exciting to watch than Neighbours which is a dull fest since it returned!

[~Lynd~]

It depends on why you watch a show.I personally prefer Neighbours these days.The characters have personalities and you get to actually invest in them.I don't think the shape of HAA is any one person's fault.I've learned to accept that it'll  never be the show I've loved almost my entire life though I still don't see any reason why it can't be.I still like it enough to watch it but I'm not obsessed anymore and that'll have to be enough.

[samdanfan]

2 hours ago, ~Lynd~ said:

It depends on why you watch a show.I personally prefer Neighbours these days.The characters have personalities and you get to actually invest in them.I don't think the shape of HAA is any one person's fault.I've learned to accept that it'll  never be the show I've loved almost my entire life though I still don't see any reason why it can't be.I still like it enough to watch it but I'm not obsessed anymore and that'll have to be enough.

Both have their good and bad and your so right It never be as we would like and as a friend here in America said be glad you were able to enjoy the era,

I feel the same.

[Luke39]

The format for h and a is performing. So that's it really. Neighbors has better balance and pacing. The characters have mostly better stories. Enjoying Dee right now. Although they are doing a Paige Pregnency storyline ATM. Not as good as The Billie one imo.

Shows changed too much. I agree it's not one persons fault. Mixture of things. You could say shift to a more crime focused show since 2010. Writing, producer decisions etc. 2008 was the last great year imo. But I still enjoy it mostly. Recently it's improved. 

[Skylover]

1 minute ago, Luke39 said:

Shows changed too much. I agree it's not one persons fault. Mixture of things.

After reading Dan Bennett's interview it's quite clear to me that there seems to be a view that ratings = OTT drama. Which I don't think is necessarily true. Character-led drama can also lead to big moments and draw in ratings.