Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[Red Ranger 1]

I’ve been wanting that development with Oscar and Evelyn for some time too. Putting this in spoiler tags for two reasons despite only talking in vague terms: The suggestion that one of the show’s longest-serving sets might be destroyed in the near future concerns me, but maybe it’s a sign of a new dawn like losing the Stewart house in 2000 or maybe it won’t be as permanent as it could be.

 

It’s tempting to assemble a hit list of characters I think should be dropped but okay, work with what we’ve got: The caravan park house is looking rather sparse at the moment so we need more characters in there. I actually think bringing in Alf’s long lost daughter Quinn with a family could be a good way of making him and Roo, and by extension Maddy, more integrated: She’s been gone long enough and was a minor enough character that a recast wouldn’t matter if the original actress was unavailable and I’m wary of bringing in any of Alf’s other immediate family. (Duncan has a reputation for being trouble, Ric’s exit should be ringfenced to prevent it being spoiled by a return, especially a long-term one, and bringing Martha back would require masses of exposition.) Irene’s house also seems rather empty and with a lot of characters stuck out in caravans it might be an idea to have her take in a lodger (Phoebe or Kat maybe?).

 

I’m worried that Jett’s exit leaves John and Marilyn out on a limb, so it might be an idea to have them take up fostering. Or, similar to my comments on Alf above I know but, maybe bring Shandi back?

 

They can do more with Chris volunteering at the surf club, maybe see him looking at it as a career path. Kyle is at the stage when he needs to become more than “one of the Braxtons” or “the guy that runs Angelo’s”: Some of it might be in online profiles but on screen there’s about a twenty year back story that’s barely been touched upon (Who were his foster parents? What happened to his mother? Is there anyone from his past other than Phoebe still around?), so it might be time to delve into that. Nate and Kat could also do with having more to their characters than their jobs and their relationships.

[CaptainHulk]

Duncan probably has mellowed unless his marriage failed and he turned back into 1999 or 2001 Duncan...

[cadyctslover]

Any guesses how much longer Lucy Addario is likely to stick around? The show feels really tired and I think some new blood is required.

[sindikatas]

Cameron was there in 2007-2012 wasn't he? So it's two years for Lucy left.

[kmp1963]

Any guesses how much longer Lucy Addario is likely to stick around? The show feels really tired and I think some new blood is required.

Yes, tired beyond belief is exactly how the show feels.

We all get that a show that's been around this long is always going to suffer from repeat storylines. But there are so many important  social issues the  show continues to ignore. Sexuality, (real long term) disabilities, domestic violence and more. Tptb have in the past claimed that such stories would alienate viewers, but given how willing they have been to glamorise violence and crime in recent years, we all know what a load of rubbish their excuses have been.

I would like to see a teen pregnancy story that shows how hard it is. No pretty fluff and no taking off five minutes after the baby is born. I want to see some real life ,gritty human dramas with real, complex but engaging characters.

Alas we seem to be in for just more love triangles, relationships that have no more reason for being than (who hasn't he/she slept with yet). And more let's feel sorry for the big angry guy because the script said so. 

If the upcoming pairings that various spoilers have suggested are real, apparently Mr Bennett has changed nothing of substance after six months, so I'm not holding my breath for the future.

Pity.

[Homeandawayfan.]

I think Lucy Addario probably has the final say in the scripts and while she is at the helm she will continue to destroy the best Aussie soap ever. It was the best until a few years ago. I think Dan is the Script editor but Lucy probably has the final say, much of the content is down to one person, the producer. Emmerdale has a Lucy Addario type producer Kate Oates and it is no coincidence that when a new producer comes in, the style changes.

Now that Brax has gone and the Braxton era is over, maybe Lucy will do the decent thing and step down.

[christine king]

Not surprised to see the ratings are falling and I hope this means seven will take notice and hire a new producer and writer for the show. 

 

Link to article

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11477563

[JUDE]

No Surprise at all that ratings are falling.

There are far too many endless teenage romances and why does everyone who just moves to Summer Bay automatically fall into bed with someone.

They have already done the teacher, Pupil storyline to death and there is never any proper resolution.  A teacher is in a position of authority so it doesnt matter what age the pupil is.  The police would be involved and the teacher would either be fired or suspended.  H & A seemed to think these storylines are "big romances", but they are not they are just sleezy.

Also the endless roundabout of romances, pregnancy scares.

I know H & A is on about 7 in Oz, but in the UK so is Hollyoaks and though their storylines and acting leave alot to be desired at the moment, they have in the past managed to tell some good hard hitting storylines.

 

 

[j.laur5]

Not surprised to see the ratings are falling and I hope this means seven will take notice and hire a new producer and writer for the show. 

 

Link to article

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11477563

That articles makes things sounds a lot worse than they really are, so I wouldn't be taking it seriously.

[cadyctslover]

Not surprised to see the ratings are falling and I hope this means seven will take notice and hire a new producer and writer for the show. 

 

Link to article

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11477563

​Very interesting article CK, thanks for sharing.

Can't say I'm surprised, it's so dire I can't watch any more. I will try again in about 2 months to see if Dan has been able to right the ship, but he has a hell of a job ahead of him.

Louise decided to save face and leave the show on a 'high' as soon as St. Brax departed. She knew that she had mistakenly centred the show around one set of characters, and that on their departure they would lose that fan-base too. Shame on her for leaving the show in such a state.