Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[alexx]

I was under the impression that H&A was at it's peak in popularity during the 1995-1996 era and again in 2000 when it won a soap award over there. Those years were dark and dramatic (bush fires, deaths, ghosts and robberies etc.) but also very warm and lighthearted. The 'Shane and Angel' years were also extremely popular in Australia too.

Also if you look at the success of shows like Packed to the Rafters and Winners and Losers, it seems evident that Australians also like to watch warmhearted and light storylines, as well as the darker stuff. So really I think the Australian and UK audience appreciate the same thing - just good quality character writing, strong drama and emotional storylines as well as a nice dose of lighthearted/feel good plots to balance it all out. Surely that's universal. I think a lot of people just take what they're given without really thinking about what could be done to improve the show to increase their enjoyment and that's fair enough, the majority of people don't think about it as much as us lot.

[jodlebirger]

I have the impression that the 2008 season in general was well appreciated all over, Australia, UK and other countries. That season was very dark, but it still had heart and a lot of character development and well written storylines!

I want drama, but I don't want shootings, enemies popping up with no real reason, and gangsters popping up without any reason. I want drama with everyday stuff, and also tragic and dramatic events that a lot of people can experience.

I prefer a mix, but not the mix we have now. I think the writers are trying too hard to be funny. But characters who are made to be there for the light scenes, are not funny at all. They are not better than the really dark ones. I wish the writers could go back and write the characters more like real humans with both darker and lighter sides. People with secrets but not secrets like which have no root in reality.

It is about how the storylines are written. I like long lost and secret relatives like Rick, but I don't like relative storylines like the one with Kyle. That was far too violent and without common sense!

[Homeandawayfan.]

Its not rocket science is it? I still live in hope there is a chance H&A can turn itself around. I like a good mix as even though 2005-2010 was dramatic, it had a good heart as well. Everything since 2011 has been all over the place. H&A is just 3 years away from reaching 30 years of age. I live in hope this period of the show will have died down by then. A good mix of drama, warmth, and some harsh music here and there is right. Neighbours plays harsh music from time to time and H&A should go back to things like that as now Neighbours is everything H&A used to be before 2011.

[RI4444]

  On 05/12/2014 at 13:34, Homeandawayfan. said:

Its not rocket science is it? I still live in hope there is a chance H&A can turn itself around. I like a good mix as even though 2005-2010 was dramatic, it had a good heart as well. Everything since 2011 has been all over the place. H&A is just 3 years away from reaching 30 years of age. I live in hope this period of the show will have died down by then. A good mix of drama, warmth, and some harsh music here and there is right. Neighbours plays harsh music from time to time and H&A should go back to things like that as now Neighbours is everything H&A used to be before 2011.

I live in hope too, but I don't think it's going to happen.

[Homeandawayfan.]

I can understand why some people feel that the current show isn't Home And Away anymore and is a new show using an old shows name, and is just set in the same town and has Alf in it.

Would any of you class it as the same show (or at least basic programme) that has been on since 1988 or has it morphed into a separate show using the title Home And Away?

Neighbours is still Neighbours at the core, just an updated version.

[John]

I don't often contribute to this particular discussion because it seems to have become a meeting place for those who are dissatisfied with the show in some way.

I did think I'd make a comment as the season draws to a close.

Has 2014 been one of the great years on the show? No I don't think so. Has it been he worst year ever. No I don't think so either.

It has been good in parts and not so good in others. I loved the episodes surrounding Casey's death. I guess "loved" is a strange way to put it but the episodes were well written, well played and really well produced. I've appreciated the writing of Maddy and Matt as consistent characters. That's not to say I particularly "liked" them. I am starting to enjoy the interaction between Ricky and Brax. I'm hoping this leads to Brax coming to terms with the fact that he has to grow and change. John, Marilyn and Jett have generally been a joy until the last few weeks when I feel the writing has lapsed a bit. I'm really enjoying the involvement of Alf and Roo in the Maddy storyline.

There have been parts of this year I haven't been overjoyed with. I won't go into them as I'm sure they've already been covered in this thread.

Has the show evolved in a way that some viewers haven't appreciated? I'm certain it has.

Has the writing of the show been consistently good? In my view no.

Has the writing of the show been consistently poor? In my view no.

Has the show been ruined? No.

I'll be back next season.

[Bobby Forever Missed]

I'm sorry but I disagree the show is well and truly ruined how did we get from a show about family and friendships to a show full of thugs sex drugs endless "who's the daddy?" stories and love triangles?

I tuned in a few times last week just to see if things had improved but I'm sorry what I saw was PATHETIC! Brax and Ricky (is that who he's with these days?) dominated both episodes I watched while the characters I really want to see (Irene Alf Marilyn Roo John Jett and VJ) were only in it for a minute each or in the case of Marilyn John Jett and VJ not seen at all.

  Reveal hidden contents

Maddy has cancer? my question is, is Home and Away the right show to deal with something as heavy as cancer? my answer is No maybe in the 1980s 90s and 2000s it was but remember how badly Irene's cancer was handled? it was billed as this big deal but then a few weeks later she was randomly better with no follow up IE her going for check ups or any of that stuff that at least in my eyes is offensive to the viewers who HAVE had or been touched with cancer

I will not be tuning into the modern show again unless things REALLY pick up

[John]

  On 06/12/2014 at 03:50, Bobby Forever Missed said:

I'm sorry but I disagree the show is well and truly ruined how did we get from a show about family and friendships to a show full of thugs sex drugs endless "who's the daddy?" stories and love triangles?

I tuned in a few times last week just to see if things had improved but I'm sorry what I saw was PATHETIC! Brax and Ricky (is that who he's with these days?) dominated both episodes I watched while the characters I really want to see (Irene Alf Marilyn Roo John Jett and VJ) were only in it for a minute each or in the case of Marilyn John Jett and VJ not seen at all.

  Reveal hidden contents

Maddy has cancer? my question is, is Home and Away the right show to deal with something as heavy as cancer? my answer is No maybe in the 1980s 90s and 2000s it was but remember how badly Irene's cancer was handled? it was billed as this big deal but then a few weeks later she was randomly better with no follow up IE her going for check ups or any of that stuff that at least in my eyes is offensive to the viewers who HAVE had or been touched with cancer

I will not be tuning into the modern show again unless things REALLY pick up

I suppose the Early Years is a really good alternative for you and I'm pleased about that.

[Slade]

  On 06/12/2014 at 03:50, Bobby Forever Missed said:

  Reveal hidden contents

Maddy has cancer? my question is, is Home and Away the right show to deal with something as heavy as cancer? my answer is No maybe in the 1980s 90s and 2000s it was but remember how badly Irene's cancer was handled? it was billed as this big deal but then a few weeks later she was randomly better with no follow up IE her going for check ups or any of that stuff that at least in my eyes is offensive to the viewers who HAVE had or been touched with cancer

I'm so sick and tired of people posting in this thread and not using spoilers. Dan has already posted a reminder but people still continue to ignore this. This thread is in the General discussion area. With the exception of possibly the New Zealand episode discussion all posts are supposed to be discussed at UK pace. i.e.

It's not rocket science. I follow at UK pace and generally stick to this part of the forum as I do not want to encounter spoilers and you've just given away a major storyline and COMPLETELY ruined it for me or any other posters that follow at UK pace. And it's so unfair and incredibly frustrating. Is it to much to ask for you to use spoilers? And the same goes for anybody else who follows at Australian pace and posts in this thread or any other thread in this sub-forum!

[Bobby Forever Missed]

Oh so we're back to trolling again?