Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[Jacklost]

But dead characters has come back before and it has worked like Peter Baker and Hugo, not to menion Vinnie

[Jezz]

The thing is Peter and Hugo never died though. Their 'deaths' were staged for the purposes of ensuring that they were in witness protection for different reasons.

Also in both circumstances we weren't initially aware that Peter had actually not died but in Hugo's case we knew he was alive from the beginning.

[Jacklost]

The thing is though Peter and Hugo never died though. Their 'deaths' were staged for the purposes of ensuring that they were in witness protection for different reasons.

Also in both circumstances we weren't initially aware that Peter had actually not died but in Hugo's case we knew he was alive from the beginning.

Couldn´t that work as an explanation to any dead characters as to how they are not dead if they came back?

[Dan F]

The thing is though Peter and Hugo never died though. Their 'deaths' were staged for the purposes of ensuring that they were in witness protection for different reasons.

Also in both circumstances we weren't initially aware that Peter had actually not died but in Hugo's case we knew he was alive from the beginning.

Couldn´t that work as an explanation to any dead characters as to how they are not dead if they came back?

Only if you wanted the show to lose every ounce of credibility.

Again if we could just keep on the topic of discussing the producers/views on the show, rather than what people would do if they were producer, that'd be great.

[kmp1963]

Obviously it is a very subjective issue as to whether or not the show has or is being ruined. For me it been destroyed almost beyond redemption. I have however recently tuned back in after a long period of both despair and disgust at the shows direction in recent years. I Did so in the hope that upcoming departures would force a change by tptb.

I am by reason of my age in the previously loyal demographic that the current producers seemed to quite deliberately and willfully throw away in their efforts to attract a younger audience.

I therefore will find it very interesting if upcoming departures herald a drop in ratings given that the main attraction for the new, younger viewers is now gone.

I guess a sudden drop such as I suspect may happen would make this thread redundant. And prove that yes they have ruined the show, mostly by creating a group of characters that polarised the fans to such a degree and then by letting those same characters dominate the show to the exclusion of all else.

But what now Lucy? Version 2.3, good luck with lightning striking twice.

I guess the next few months will show one way or another, did you take the show down a big dead end or are your bad boys interchangeable?

I do believe that big problems are coming for tptb, if the show starts to hemorage ratings it may finally force a revamp

I wait with some amusement for the next installment.

[alexx]

I was just agreeing with someone in Australian discussion. If you go back through this thread you will see plenty of posts about how the current producers shouldn't ignore characters and only focus on a handful of their favourites, essentially making the show all about one group of characters. They dig a hole for themselves because when those characters are gone, a lot of people don't have any reason to continue watching or they find the characters that are left just too bland and boring because they were neglected for such a long time.

As I suggested, probably about two years ago, Channel 7 should have just commissioned a new drama about a family called The Braxtons. It would have been a successful weekly drama, made them a lot of money and lasted a good few years.

I really do think the producers of H&A have made a mess out of the show because they had no idea how to write it and forgot that it was supposed to be a show about an ensemble cast of characters with everyone getting a fair share of the screen time and drama.

[Homeandawayfan.]

I agree, Lucy and Louise have turned it into a show called The Braxton Show with just a few token guest appearances from Home And Away - Roo, Alf, Maddie, Maz, Irene etc. The Braxton's and Barrett's are unlikeable people who I certainly would never want to be associated with. Casey and Heath have left and now we just have Brax and Kyle. Ratings will probably plummet if they leave.

Dan Bennett has returned, the show many improve. I think Lucy Addario needs to go now. It was nice to see the SBH back for the 2015 season and I had high hopes but after a few episodes it was back to the usual Brax, Ash and Barrett tedium. After I watch neighbours, I look at the synopsis for H&A on the TV onscreen guide and when the synopsis says the word "Brax" I turn over. My remote has a new button called "TOB" Turn Off Braxtons lol.

When they arrived I thought they would be part of a big ensemble and I would have liked them more but they took over the show.

[Gerard]

Home and Away these days is very obviously biased towards a handful of characters as the central household, namely the Braxton/Barretts. The other characters, even the likes of Alf, Irene and Marilyn feel like supporting cast by comparison. A bit like when H&A started, it could be argued that Tom and Pippa, and the Fletcher household were the main characters. (I'm not suggesting the series revolved around them as much as it does around the Braxtons now, obviously back in the day, all characters got a look in).

Anyway, if several more of the current Braxton household were to leave at some point, the producers have two options (as with any character leaving):

1. Replace like for like - so introduce very similar characters to those who are departing. This minimises altering the look and feel of the series, so it carries on with as little disruption as possible.

2. Introduce fresh characters who are very different and will take the storylines in a new direction.

It depends what TPTB want to do. A cast turnover is a good opportunity to refresh the series, but if they feel the current formula is successful, it would be less of a risk to go for the safe option (option 1).

So if/when the Braxton/Barretts leave, there is no guarantee that the same crime drama storylines will not continue with a new set of "gangsters". I guess time will tell, but given the nature of soaps, they are bound to alter the formula eventually.

[Jacklost]

Home and Away these days is very obviously biased towards a handful of characters as the central household, namely the Braxton/Barretts. The other characters, even the likes of Alf, Irene and Marilyn feel like supporting cast by comparison. A bit like when H&A started, it could be argued that Tom and Pippa, and the Fletcher household were the main characters. (I'm not suggesting the series revolved around them as much as it does around the Braxtons now, obviously back in the day, all characters got a look in).

Anyway, if several more of the current Braxton household were to leave at some point, the producers have two options (as with any character leaving):

1. Replace like for like - so introduce very similar characters to those who are departing. This minimises altering the look and feel of the series, so it carries on with as little disruption as possible.

2. Introduce fresh characters who are very different and will take the storylines in a new direction.

It depends what TPTB want to do. A cast turnover is a good opportunity to refresh the series, but if they feel the current formula is successful, it would be less of a risk to go for the safe option (option 1).

So if/when the Braxton/Barretts leave, there is no guarantee that the same crime drama storylines will not continue with a new set of "gangsters". I guess time will tell, but given the nature of soaps, they are bound to alter the formula eventually.

What is TPTB?

[greg098]

I think Neighbours is much stronger and a lot better then Home and Away right now. Neighbours had the disadvantage because it was moved to Channel 11 but it has risen from the ashes to be amazing. I am eager to watch every episode as it hooks me in. Something Home and Away has not done in a very long time. I also think because Neighbours uses social media to their advantage to get people to watch the show. Lately they have been posting daily behind the scene videos and special web only episodes like the back from the dead episodes which just increases their popularity. Home and Away would benefit from doing something like this as their Facebook group is kinda stale.