Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[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. 

[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.