Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[alexx]

They were once all dressed very individually to express the personality of the character. But now as they're all carbon copies of own another that has been lost.

Also as it is (was) a slighty backward town the chilled out town the clothes with locals that weren't loaded with cash reflected that. A contrast to the city. Now the woman especially are done up to the nines just walking by the sea!

All these little things are why people say its not the same show any more. And I agree. Not because the show has changed because all shows have to. But because I personally feel that the heart or core of the show is longer there.

Exactly.

I'm not bothered about guys with their tops off here and there because that's always been the case and reflects the seaside town (I do think that there may be more of a focus on it now, espeically in the marketing because of the new found audience) - but I completely agree that all of the characters are now pretty much very 'polished' which I find boring and not like the H&A I enjoyed at all. I think that started happening years ago though not to the same extent. The dialogue isnt unique to certain characters either I.e they all sound like each other.

It now feels like a very busy inner city seaside resort or a trendy resort on the Gold Coast or something. Again, not the H&A I enjoyed.

All of these elements, including the type of storylines and how characters are written, it all keeps changing but every time it goes further and further away from what the show used to be instead of building on what it already was.

[cadyctslover]

However the fact that enough people find the show enjoyable to vote it Most Popular Drama must mean they find the writing and storylines at least acceptable. I think if we simply dismiss those people completely as "not knowing any better" in contrast to us who are able to judge what is good and bad writing we are being a little unfair.

It might not be very nice, but it is fair to say the type of viewer I describe is unable to judge good or bad writing.

In the long run ratings are essentially a popularity contest. While the show rates well enough to win a popularity vote it wont change.

So what we are really arguing about is what the Topic starter meant by "ruined"'.

The tragedy of that is programming that focuses on 'hot' actors and poorly-conceived, sensationalist plots instead of engaging, realistic drama. That's what upsets me when I remember H&A's 'glory ' days, and why I struggle to understand why the show can't modernise and maintain a minimum script/plot standard.

[Homeandawayfan.]

When Donald Fisher left the show was fast becoming an even more mainly younger persons show. Donald was one of the most authentic characters ever in H&A and the show of now lacks someone like him. You may say we have Alf but Don was a lot different to Alf. Don always had storylines right up to his 2003 exit. Alf used to have storylines but now is just an extra as the hot totty takes centre stage in the character balance.

Unfortunatley the days of Flathead handing out detentions to prankster pupils like Shane, Angel, Jack, Sam etc are long gone.

[Blaxland 89]

Losing Donald Fisher certainly was a turning point for me. But I'm thankful he left when he did. Would hate to see him go the way Alf has. And I like to ignore the 2007 return.

[j.laur5]

What's wrong with Alf?.

I know he has been a bit moody lately.

[Homeandawayfan.]

I do agree that even though it has changed a lot, Neighbours has much of the time built on what it once was. In 1985 the show was about families in a Aussie cul de sac and in 2014 it still has the same basic premise. H&A has the basic premise of troubled teens but in the 1980s and 1990s the teens in H&A were mainly pranksters who were being fostered and well looked after. And others like Shane and Damo and Jack in the 1990s never got up to any real harm, they maybe nicked a car for joyriding and hilariously crashed into Alf or Don's front wall and drove off with just a graze or two, or two timing ended up with someone getting a black eye and people taking the mickey for days afterwards, now in 2014 two timing in Addarioised H&A often ends up with someone being killed or seriously injured.

I appreciate a juicy murder plot in a show as much as the next bloke but as long as they are quite isolated events, not to the excess H&A does them now. H&A can do lighthearted stuff well but it is outweighed by the heavy stuff. 20 years ago it was the other way round.

[Pinky1975]

Bring back all the characters that have left and the show will rock again

Cast and wages bill might be over large.

Well don´t need to bring everyone back only the most important ones like Romeo, Belle, Gina, Charlie Flynn, Dan and Jack from the death in some witness protection, Kirsty, Sally, Harvey, Miles, Don, Aden, Nicole, Angelo, Liam, Rhys, Jade, Kit, Kim, Seth, Tony, Lucas, Irenes oldest son, 'Jesse, Hayley, Scott, Mathilda, Ric, Cassy, Ruby, Morag, Celia, Sid, Xavier, Hugo, Martha, Rachel, Amanda, Peter, Colleen, Geoff, Annie, Jay, Bartlon or whatever his name was again, Kane, Shelly, Brody, Dani, Beth, Nick, Will. That´s all the cast I could come up with now that should come back:)

Some of those people are dead, in jail or in witness protection so it's not going to happen.

[Homeandawayfan.]

Also they need to address the sloppy writing. Yes H&A has always had artistic license but characters being in hospital seriously injured then hopping about playing sports a week later is stupid.

[cadyctslover]

I got a reply to my tweet to Lucy Addario!

https://twitter.com/lucyaddario/status/465383556831670272

[JamesC10]

I hope Lucy will agree to do an interview with Digital Spy this year. If they ask her complicated questions, I hope she answers them truthfully instead of answering them like a politician.

I really want the opening titles back!