Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[Light of the Bay]

Thanks for that, Cadyctslover

It'll be interesting to see what happens in the next few months, on screen and off.

[Gerard]

These great periods, be it on h&a or neighbours were driven by fantastic writing of the characters and giving storylines realistic timeframes to be played out. The likes of billy and Anne or dani vs kirsty and Kane wouldn't have worked if the plot was over and done with in a weeks time. I'd have to say neighbours is currently creating history with its fantasic production, and I think it's down to a combination of scriptwriting, directing, and of course the actors (Olympia valance I'm looking at you). If you compare the similar Paige finding her parents on neigbours, to Casey finding out he is a Barrett, the amount of time on the actually plot as well as the impact it had on people was embarrassing on h&a's part.

I think the only was Haa can survive now is if we have a massive revamp.

I agree totally that the best times on Home and Away (and Neighbours) have been when the writing has been on top form, the characters well defined and interesting, and the storylines have been paced correctly. It just takes one of these things to be out of balance to ruin a potentially good storyline. To create good drama, it needs to be believable and the stakes have to be high. You can come up with the most impressive stunts or explosions, but if we don't really care about the characters involved, it is a waste of time. Staying true to the characters must come first, second and third - alongside the fact that we have invested in and are emotionally attached the characters involved.

Shallow characters we don't really care about can be put in the most outrageous life-and-death situation, but who really cares? Liking a characters just because they are eye candy may be enough for some viewers, but I don't think these are the same viewers who will stay loyal to the show in 10 years time once their eye candy has long gone.

Casey finding out he was a Barrett had little emotional impact and was only really done to bring the Barretts into the Braxton universe, as if we needed any more Braxton associates.The "my parents aren't who I thought they were" is an old soap staple that is used all too often, and needs to be done really well, or not at all.

Home and Away has misplaced its heart. It probably does need a good shake-up - cast clearout and change in direction - but it feels like it's gone so far down its current direction, I'm not sure how it can change without taking a big risk with its ratings. Some brave decisions are needed.

[John]

I do urge some of those who have abandoned watching the show to revisit it now.

The River Boy/Surf Gang era of the show is fading into the background as it was always going to. The show feels as if it is in transition to a new era and at the moment I don't know what that will be. I look forward to it with some excitement.

What I do note is that there is an increasing use of storylines which involve quite large groups of characters across the age groups. The older characters are being involved with the younger cast in storylines. e.g. Maddy's storyline and the departure of Sasha. I welcome these developments.

[beau_t]

The River Boy/Surf Gang era of the show is fading into the background as it was always going to.

That was never a question for me. Of course it was going to change at some point. But nor was it reason enough for me to waste how many years of my life watching a show I didn't like just because at some unknown point in the future it was possibly going to change back to how it should be. I'll watch again if and when that period ends, and is replaced by something more akin to the original concept within modern times.

"Developments" like older cast members being used more is a comment that I've seen pop up now and again over the years, but never seems to last.

I'll keep my eye on the comments, if more people start to praise the show again (not just here but other forums too) I might give it a cautious try.

[Jacklost]

I do urge some of those who have abandoned watching the show to revisit it now.

The River Boy/Surf Gang era of the show is fading into the background as it was always going to. The show feels as if it is in transition to a new era and at the moment I don't know what that will be. I look forward to it with some excitement.

What I do note is that there is an increasing use of storylines which involve quite large groups of characters across the age groups. The older characters are being involved with the younger cast in storylines. e.g. Maddy's storyline and the departure of Sasha. I welcome these developments.

I´m gonna miss the River boys, the added alot of excitement to that show and action that it needed badly at that time I hope we get someone to replace the Braxtons when they are gone

[TelephotoMarigold]

I do urge some of those who have abandoned watching the show to revisit it now.

The River Boy/Surf Gang era of the show is fading into the background as it was always going to. The show feels as if it is in transition to a new era and at the moment I don't know what that will be. I look forward to it with some excitement.

Why would some of us want to revisit the show? We've been bullied for expressing our views over the poor writing and characterisation. We've been shouted down and ridiculed. We've been mocked and accused of making comments just to cause arguments.

What can possibly be good enough to have us watching again? What can be good enough to have me watching it again? Have they got rid of love triangles? Have they stopped having people recover from serious illnesses within the space of a couple of episodes? Have they introduced new families or characters that cover different age groups? Have they stopped focusing on displaying eye candy instead of fleshing out the characters and their back stories? Have they stopped introducing random characters and then just as they get interesting getting rid of them? Or just having them as someone's love interest?

[John]

I find it interesting that you didn't quote the last sentence of my post.

I find the accusations of bullying, shouting down and ridiculing rather puzzling. We all know that those things do occur from time to time on the board. If they are persistent they are dealt with under the rules. My impressions has been that those who are feeling that writing, characterisation etc. has been poor have been guilty of bullying and ridicule as often as those who find them currently acceptable.

I'm sure if you look back through posts on the board you will find that both sides of that discussion have had ample opportunities to air their views.

As this is a discussion board neither side has been prepared to meekly accept the "superior arguments" of the other. Is that a surprise?

I say again, over recent months I have noticed a definite move toward storylines that involve a larger number of characters and also much more interaction across the age groups in the cast. The show is starting to have much more of a community feel. There are storylines such as Maddy's cancer and Hannah's recovery from spinal injury which have issues aside from the old soap staple of "making up and breaking up".

As for the introduction of new and interesting characters the jury is still out on that. There are several characters who have left recently or are about to leave so we'll have to wait and see.

It's and individual decision. Do we maintain the rage over slights or hurts from the past or do we move on? Are we prepared to be open minded enough to give the show another go?

[kmp1963]

I do urge some of those who have abandoned watching the show to revisit it now.

The River Boy/Surf Gang era of the show is fading into the background as it was always going to. The show feels as if it is in transition to a new era and at the moment I don't know what that will be. I look forward to it with some excitement.

What I do note is that there is an increasing use of storylines which involve quite large groups of characters across the age groups. The older characters are being involved with the younger cast in storylines. e.g. Maddy's storyline and the departure of Sasha. I welcome these developments.

I am one of those who voted with my remote over the last two years. I was encouraged to give my once loved show another chance this year after hearing of the departure of the Braxtons along with other behind the scenes changes.

However so far I'm struggling to invest in any of the new characters. And for me that was always the secret to the shows success. Characters that I loved and cared about. Obviously the long termers are still great, but I feel that the show invested all its effort into the Braxtons for so long that the remaining characters were little more than supporting cast and the consequences of this are still evident.

I would love nothing more than to start enjoying the show again. BUT they need to make huge changes to both cast and the quality of the writing to get my vote.

At the moment the only characters I care about have been in the show since before the current producers took over. And that can't be a good sign surely.

Sorry forgot Jett. Love him, such an amazing talented young man.

But for the rest. If a cyclone wiped out half the town and killed every character introduced since about 2010, I'd probably be cheering.

[Gerard]

I have been a massive fan of H&A since it began, and have probably only missed a handful of episodes. I often give the series the benefit of the doubt and a lot of leeway, and I'm sure I will continue to watch no matter what. I used to enjoy H&A immensely up until around the departure of Pippa, and have stuck with it since then, although for me enjoyment has varied a lot. I think the last time I thought it was on top form was during the Sally/Milco storyline when they was some incredibly good material, and a real treat to those who had stuck with the series for over 20 years.

While part of me does get excited about the latest Braxon-related peril, I am growing a bit tired of it all. I can't say I've noticed yet any big change on screen back to more traditional H&A storylines. The Maddy and Hannah storylines are good up to a point, but I feel it is a bit of overload to have these two running concurrently. But they do have more of a place in classic H&A than whatever the next hostage or stalker drama will be.

The Palmers are great, It would be perfect if we could see Marilyn and John take on another teen or two, and Jett is more of a classic H&A troubled teen than many of those currently around. If they would only build up the fostering/family aspect a bit more, and phase out the younger characters who have no real purpose. I would suggest they concentrate more on larger families - it feels like everyone is scattered over too many locations - it would give more of a natural setting for teens and adults to interact.

While I seriously doubt we're entering another golden age, I do live in hope that H&A is past its worst. Only time will tell if things improve...

[Bobby Forever Missed]

I do urge some of those who have abandoned watching the show to revisit it now.

The River Boy/Surf Gang era of the show is fading into the background as it was always going to. The show feels as if it is in transition to a new era and at the moment I don't know what that will be. I look forward to it with some excitement.

Why would some of us want to revisit the show? We've been bullied for expressing our views over the poor writing and characterisation. We've been shouted down and ridiculed. We've been mocked and accused of making comments just to cause arguments.

What can possibly be good enough to have us watching again? What can be good enough to have me watching it again? Have they got rid of love triangles? Have they stopped having people recover from serious illnesses within the space of a couple of episodes? Have they introduced new families or characters that cover different age groups? Have they stopped focusing on displaying eye candy instead of fleshing out the characters and their back stories? Have they stopped introducing random characters and then just as they get interesting getting rid of them? Or just having them as someone's love interest?

My thoughts exactly Tele! i am sick to death of being condescended to/ my opinion being rubbished just because I don't watch the current show well why should I? what's in it for those who DON'T like Teens/violence and yet more teens? NOTHING that's what! everyone is entitled to go there own way without having to put up with smart remarks and patronizing replies