Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[c120701]

I've noticed that we don't actually have a nuclear family in the show

There has rarely been one in the show. We had the Nashes briefly before their house burnt down, but other than that and the brief period before Brodie moved in with the Sutherlands, I can't remember another.

[JamesC10]

^ Oh yeah that's true . I think the Sutherlands were the last proper nuclear family in the show (mum, dad and kids together). I wonder why the producers don't do it anymore.

While it's nice for Zac to have family, it doesn't feel right having Hannah and Zac as "guardians" of Evie and Oscar. Hannah is quite young and I rather we got a mum and dad brought in!! Home and Away needs more older characters IMO.

[jodlebirger]

^ Oh yeah that's true . I think the Sutherlands were the last proper nuclear family in the show (mum, dad and kids together). I wonder why the producers don't do it anymore.

While it's nice for Zac to have family, it doesn't feel right having Hannah and Zac as "guardians" of Evie and Oscar. Hannah is quite young and I rather we got a mum and dad brought in!! Home and Away needs more older characters IMO.

Zack is in his thirties, I know the actor is about 35 and I thought it was realistic to think that the character was meant to be at the same age.

Zack was younger than Ethan but I got the feeling that he is not much younger.

Ethan isn't dead yet here in Norway, but the twins are now living with Zack and Hannah. In my opinion I think that the woman who plays Hannah is not the right one for the role. Yes, she is a very beautiful young woman, but that is my point.. she is far too young. The actress is 28, and if they had choosed someone at Charlie Claussens age to play Hannah it would have been more right.

The teens are meant to be only 16, and it wouldn't have been that strange to have someone in their mid 30's as guardians.

I know that the two who are playing the twins are older than teens. I have earlier said that there is no wrong to use people in early 20's if they look younger than their age, to play teens. But to make that work, they need older people to play their guardians and not someone who is only about 4 years older than them.

I have a feeling that they casted this young woman to play Hannah so they could use her in situations and relationships to the Barrets or the Braxtons... But with a character who is supposed to be a guardian that is not believable. They need to be portrayed as responsible adults too, they can have their faults but they need a behavior which differ from the teens. I never found it believable when she was soooo worried about the teens and she had to help the teens to get out of the cult. She is just like a irresponsible teenager herself.

I feel that this kind of roles where more successfully played out in the past, like when Nicole moved in with Roman. He had his faults, but he tried to act like an adult who was in charge.

[Homeandawayfan.]

Yes older characters help make a show what it is rather than just teens and 20 somethings. I have always liked an older cast. EastEnders, Neighbours and H&A all seem to revolve around teenagers and 20 somethings today.

Home And Away is an "EastEnders Of Down Under" now. Crime led and many teens.

[Light of the Bay]

Home and Away and EastEnders so share some similarities. Both pander to those with short attention spans.

James, you're right, Home and Away desperately needs a group of characters in their 50s at least. Irene and Alf isn't enough. I'd like to see the show portray real-life struggles as well as positive things that face older adults. Just write some story lines that bring the characters to life and make us care about them, young and old.

j.laur5 said in the Bayside Diner forum that were too few older characters in 1990. Well, what about now? Alf and Irene are the only ones that remain. I'd like to see Fisher return for a good few months, along with Morag. Let's finally see her retired and explore the vulnerabilities of her character. Maybe find companionship after losing Ross in 2011.

[John]

Not sure about the "put down" in the short attention span comment. Probably better left unsaid.

However I pretty much agree with the rest of the post.

It could be done without using it as an excuse to sideline characters like the Braxtons and it should be.

[TelephotoMarigold]

A lot of this isn't about the Producers and what they are or aren't doing but more about "what you would do".

[j.laur5]

But years between 2010-1012.

We had 10 40+ onwards characters on the show. Irene/Alf/John/Colleen/Marilyn/Gina/Roo/Harvey/Sid and Elijah.

[Homeandawayfan.]

Positives of H&A in 2014.

Hilarous characters like Alf, John and Jett.

One minute you can be laughing, the next you are growling at another gangster story.

Alf having been around since January 1988 when the show began.

The interweaving of beach scenes, hot totty and sunset and sunrise scenes.

Negatives

Too many Braxtons.

Too many crime stories.

Too many lust stories.

Underuse of the older characters.

Too much harsh music which is better for NCIS and CSI not Home And Away.

Unlikeable characters.

I think at the minute the negatives outwigh the positives but this can be addressed. I dont think this is truning into a What would you do" thread but pointing out what the producers are doing wrong.

[Jezz]

Home and Away and EastEnders so share some similarities. Both pander to those with short attention spans.

Here we go again ! You haven't learnt a thing about stereotyping and undermining current viewers of the show. Frankly I'm sick of your nonsense that the show is pandering to the 'lowest common denominator' or those with 'short attention spans' as you quoted just now.

You're entitled to your views on the show and the way it is at the moment but leave the judgments of fans out of it. It's not necessary and it only comes across as insulting to those who watch the show currently.

In regards to your current issue, you do raise some good points but j.laur5 has just emphasised that many characters over 40 years of age or older have been featured in the show recent times especially in 2010-2012 as he rightly pointed out. The key to a successful soap opera like Home and Away and Neighbours is 'balance' in terms of storylines, characters and etc. Whether the show has done this successfully is questionable in recent times but I don't think the show is in a bad state at the moment despite how some depict it either.