Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[Blaxland 89]

Oh thank heavens for that. 

[kmp1963]

For the last few years the show has managed to enrage me and bore me stupid. often both  at the same time. 

The last couple of weeks the anger quotient has managed to reduce slightly, at least other than the ridiculously hole ridden plot that was Braxs exit.

However I still find 90% of the show boring. Where once I was entertained, amused and most of all truly engaged with the characters, I now find myself not giving a rats what happens to any of them.

Even the few remaining characters that I once loved, now seem like shallow imitations of their former selves.

 

I so wanted to start watching and enjoying the show again but I am struggling. It all just seems so blah.

I suspect that is the biggest inditement of how much damage Lucy and Louise did. They sacrificed the entire show to promote one character, and now he's gone they and the viewers are left with little more than the ashes.

Good luck with saving the show Mr Bennett, but from what I've seen in the last two weeks. Its beyond it. And as I am bored beyond belief at the moment, I will leave you all to it.

From where I'm sitting, Lucy, Louise and the Braxtons managed to destroy Home and Away beyond saving. 

 

[emmasi]

I gotta say, I don't think the Braxtons ruined the show. It was Casey's death that actually made me start properly paying attention again. That scene was just brilliant all-round. Brax, Heath and Casey were all fine characters portrayed by fine actors. The mistake was keeping them stuck in the criminal vendetta rut, which completely changed the tone of the show. Instead of introducing bad-boy characters who changed to become a part of the bay, the entire bay was changed to match the bad-boy characters. The whole tone of the show was lowered, but it's not specifically the fault of the characters, it's the way they were handled and the complete failure to integrate them properly. 

[~Lynd~]

I gotta say, I don't think the Braxtons ruined the show. It was Casey's death that actually made me start properly paying attention again. That scene was just brilliant all-round. Brax, Heath and Casey were all fine characters portrayed by fine actors. The mistake was keeping them stuck in the criminal vendetta rut, which completely changed the tone of the show. Instead of introducing bad-boy characters who changed to become a part of the bay, the entire bay was changed to match the bad-boy characters. The whole tone of the show was lowered, but it's not specifically the fault of the characters, it's the way they were handled and the complete failure to integrate them properly. 

​This!My love for Johnny, Sarah and Corey make it clear that I'm not opposed to a baddie but I am opposed to the whole bay changing for them which is the problem I had with the Braxtons.I originally really enjoyed them but that wore thin when they were treated like saints of the bay while doing little to deserve it while the 3 I mentioned were treated like the awful people they were which made them wonderful characters imo.The fact that they were so overused while other characters were next to ignored doesn't help matters.

I do think some people are being a little hard on Dan B and expecting to much.It's gonna take him more then 5 minutes to fix this mess.

I have to admit though that the fact that the atrocity that is Ash and Phoebe is still currently being filmed doesn't fill me with a lot of hope.I'm willing to see if something else lessens my anger over them ruining someone I've loved since his arrival though.RIP Ash.You're still pretty.

[alexx]

For the last few years the show has managed to enrage me and bore me stupid. often both  at the same time. 

The last couple of weeks the anger quotient has managed to reduce slightly, at least other than the ridiculously hole ridden plot that was Braxs exit.

However I still find 90% of the show boring. Where once I was entertained, amused and most of all truly engaged with the characters, I now find myself not giving a rats what happens to any of them.

Even the few remaining characters that I once loved, now seem like shallow imitations of their former selves.

 

I so wanted to start watching and enjoying the show again but I am struggling. It all just seems so blah.

I suspect that is the biggest inditement of how much damage Lucy and Louise did. They sacrificed the entire show to promote one character, and now he's gone they and the viewers are left with little more than the ashes.

Good luck with saving the show Mr Bennett, but from what I've seen in the last two weeks. Its beyond it. And as I am bored beyond belief at the moment, I will leave you all to it.

From where I'm sitting, Lucy, Louise and the Braxtons managed to destroy Home and Away beyond saving. 

 

​I'm not sure about it being beyond saving - perhaps that is the case - but I agree with you on pretty much everything else and feel exactly the same way sadly.

[downy2009]

Great to see that they have introduced another female teacher that shouldnt be anywhere near a school, or schoolkids. Yet another opportunity to introduce a strong, professional role model for young females has been sacrificed to provide a storyline for a male character. If this plot line happened in real life, the teacher would never be allowed near young people ever again, and would probably end up in prison. We all know this, hence our instant repulsion for this character. Well done to all concerned.

[cadyctslover]

I agree that Dan B should be given longer than a couple of weeks to turn the show around, there is a lot of work to do.

[John]

I don't think the current problems with the show were caused by Lucy, Louise or any particular set of characters. To expect that with their departure will suddenly usher in a "new dawn" in the show is  not reasonable.  In my view the notion that the show has been "ruined" has been overplayed anyway.

For me an era has ended with the departure of the River Boys as a "Band of Brothers".  They didn't ruin the show but their departure does set the current writers and script staff a challenge. They can't use the River Boys to weave their storylines around any more.  They were largely played out in my view.

The shows iconic sets are all still in place with their owners and those who relate to them.  Summer Bay House, The Diner, the Bait Shop etc.  The challenge is to take those characters and to begin to have them grow and interact in storylines that are interesting, modern and dramatic.  A new direction needs to be set.

I understand that it will take some time to establish that new direction.  I just hope it's not too long.

 

Addition after thinking a bit more:

 I do think at least one good move has been made.

 The impending move of Evie and Josh in with Leah and Zac is a good one although I would have preferred Leah and Zac to have been a longer established couple.

Really all the writers have to do is start writing interesting lives for the characters.  One idea I had which makes use of some forgotten talents is to make Maddy, Matt and Phoebe form a band.  They could become resident at Angelos where there would be potential for a lot of storylines. Alf is out on a limb a bit at the moment but if Maddy was in a band with the others they could be more frequent visitors at Summer Bay House

Whatever happened to Josh's artistic talents.  We do see it occasionally.  It needs to be developed more and not overwhelmed by the actions of his brother.

The school is a bit wasted at the moment.  Don't the students support any causes or projects?

Still thinking on this.  Perhaps others could think of some development paths for other characters.

 

[Blaxland 89]

I still say bring Sarah and Tug back to run the present farm. Maybe with there own kids and some fostered. Laura has made no secret that she would like to return. They could ask Tristan buts if not maybe a recast would be okay. Alf could be involved with them too as he was always very close to Tug and we know Sarah lived with him. 

[Blaxland 89]

Also bring back the boat shed or a general store.