Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[Red Ranger 1]

Looking at the way Alf's character has gone over the last year or so, I'm drawing the conclusion that the last thing the producers should do is listen to fans who want things to be like they used to be.Not so long ago there were complaints that Alf had gone too soft and people missed the days when he used to yell at people.Well, maybe they're happy now but I'm certainly not:He's changed from a kindly elder statesman into a nasty old man, who's all right with his favourites like Marilyn or Sally but spends far too much time snarling at the teenagers in his care(or rather his daughter's care, not that that seems to stop him sticking his oar in)and threatening to throw them out onto the street whenever they answer him back or sometimes even when they don't.He's changed from the character who most embodies the spirit of the show to the character who least embodies it.Say what you like about the Braxtons but there's more of a family vibe and more of a desire to help young people who don't have anyone else coming from them than there are from what should be the show's chief household.

To me, the fans who really don't understand what the shows are about are the ones who sit around constantly asking "Why don't they kick Maddy out?"

I don't think Alf's been that bad. He always tend to be a jerk at first and think second. How his behaviour to Josh was different than to Rachel 22 years ago when he didn't want Blake to date a criminal's sister?

Well, that's kind of my point.Firstly, it doesn't work as well as it did 22 years ago because it's too much of a departure from the "This house always offers a home to those that need it" speeches he's been giving for the past 6 years.And secondly, there's no real attempt to follow through on the storyline and show him changing his mind, he either forgets about it or just randomly comes out with nasty comments when you think we've moved on from that.Part of that might be down to scenes being cut, we saw hardly any response from him to Maddy running away even though the spoilers claimed he was wracked with guilt, just one scene of him dismissing it with a "She'll come back" and then Roo telling us he felt really guilty without the viewer seeing any evidence.But that just shows that they shouldn't have him behave like that in the first place if it's just going to come across as nastiness for nastiness' sake.Perhaps the real problem is that writing Alf like that just doesn't work without Ailsa around to act as a counterpoint, and that's why the character was moved on from that sort of attitude a long time ago.

[Luigi Severus Fletcher]

Yes, it is ALL about relation ships and is less and less about families, like it used to be... It used to be magical, now it is all about the twins, Beardo (the twins' uncle) and relationships...

[Jacklost]

Yes, it is ALL about relation ships and is less and less about families, like it used to be... It used to be magical, now it is all about the twins, Beardo (the twins' uncle) and relationships...

Who is Beardo? The reasons it felt more magical before was because of the old quality

[QUIET ACHIEVER]

Yes, it is ALL about relation ships and is less and less about families, like it used to be... It used to be magical, now it is all about the twins, Beardo (the twins' uncle) and relationships...

Who is Beardo? The reasons it felt more magical before was because of the old quality

I have a feeling that the previous posters is referring to Zac MacGuire (played by Charlie Clausen) who has a beard.

[Luigi Severus Fletcher]

Yes, it is ALL about relation ships and is less and less about families, like it used to be... It used to be magical, now it is all about the twins, Beardo (the twins' uncle) and relationships...

Who is Beardo? The reasons it felt more magical before was because of the old quality

I have a feeling that the previous posters is referring to Zac MacGuire (played by Charlie Clausen) who has a beard.

Yes, I am referring to Zac, haven't really watched the current episodes since 2011.

[cadyctslover]

Yes, I am referring to Zac, haven't really watched the current episodes since 2011.

I'd say (early) 2011 was the last time the show was halfway decent, such a shame to see what it's become .

[Light of the Bay]

I think the last time the show was really on a roll for an entire year was 2008 - I absolutely loved that year. Great balance of story lines amongst characters.

I also liked (I may be alone in this) early-mid 2010. The story lines were quirkier and it was more like a drama rather than a generic American soap. However, it went downhill from there and the show really grinded to a halt.

It picked up in early 2011 and I wish the quality had remained. I agree that it's sad to watch now IMO.

Anyway, I've said more than enough.

[Jacklost]

What are you talking about? The show is better than ever now, in two years you will say the same thing then and complain about how good it was back in 2014

[Light of the Bay]

I don't think so. I can make up my own mind.

We all have different opinions. I'm entitled to mine, as you are yours!

[alexx]

What are you talking about? The show is better than ever now, in two years you will say the same thing then and complain about how good it was back in 2014

I don't agree that the show is better than ever. I get your point, sometimes that does happen - but only because the quality just gets worse and worse haha

Seriously though, whilst there were boring patches I pretty much enjoyed the show right up until 2005/2006, where it started to change but I still enjoyed watching it mostly. Then it was back on form in 2008, slipped back in 2009 - picked up early 2010 and then I followed it right up until sometime in 2011 where it started to become what it is now. 2012-now I stopped watching (other than to tune in every few months to see if it improving/changing).