Rewatching The Early Years

[nenehcherry2]

3 hours ago, adam436 said:

That's a good point - Jack, Selina, Shannon and Curtis were all given time to settle in and build a fan base before they were thrown into the thick of storylines. I don't think it's a coincidence that they are probably considered the most iconic teenage gang the show has ever had. 

Many new characters aren't given that opportunity to settle into the show before they are thrown in the deep end, which sometimes affects how well they are received.

 

It helped that Steven and Marilyn still knew quite a few characters from their time, which is not always the case. Also Marilyn was pretty much immediately moved into the Beach House and Steven had new interactions through his job as a teacher and with Travis (I think it was said that he, Travis and Donna were all in the same year at school together!) so that got him out beyond just interacting with the Ross family. The writers really put some thought into how they were going to work. '

May I ask who you were referring to with it isn't always the case? The only other regular returnees H&A has had have been Jesse McGregor, Kirsty Sutherland, Marilyn in 2010 and a recast Roo, plus Morag's semi-regular appearances in the mid-late 2000s. Jesse's eventually worked, but I felt like they had to pair him off with Leah pretty quickly for it to happen, and I wasn't really watching in the late 2000s, so I can't comment on Marilyn, Roo and Kirsty. Morag's semi-regular stint worked too because she's such a strong character and as a lawyer, was often in demand professionally. 

On the point of the 94-6 gang having some bed-in time prior to the 95 revamp, I feel the show very often did a great job of allowing newer characters time to find their feet before throwing them into the deep end. I.e. no heavy storylines for their first year. Take Sophie for example... the David/Tammy arc which defined her was only the second half of her stint. Her first 18 months was very light and she probably wouldn't have been that memorable had she left the Bay only a year or so in. Yet, her latter arc was more effective and iconic (and annoying in the end?!) BECAUSE we'd had that low-key 18 months to get to know her first (with b-plots of teenage romances, singing contests, domestic rivalries, obsessive teachers and illiteracy cover ups).  Similar story with Blake prior to Meg. Would Shane have been as remembered as he was if he'd gone before Angel arrived (even though he was more interesting as a CHARACTER before her)? 

It's likely that many of those characters who only stayed for a year would have gone on to be some of "the greats" had they'd been around long enough to pass this "first year storyline cutoff" period, especially those about during the high-drama periods. What's to say that Casey or Stacey may have become just as iconic as Angel, Bobby or Shannon if they'd had more time?

Edited June 2 by nenehcherry2

[adam436]

The group that followed them were largely forgettable, but they didn't stay that long. I'm thinking the likes of Liam, Casey, Aaron, Stephanie and even Tom Nash to a lesser extent. Justine, Joey and Tegan are more fondly remembered, but they also stayed much longer.

I'd say Will, Gypsy, Hayley, Nick, Jade and Kirsty were also quiet starters who went on to become iconic characters too.

[CaptainHulk]

7 hours ago, adam436 said:

The group that followed them were largely forgettable, but they didn't stay that long. I'm thinking the likes of Liam, Casey, Aaron, Stephanie and even Tom Nash to a lesser extent. Justine, Joey and Tegan are more fondly remembered, but they also stayed much longer.

I'd say Will, Gypsy, Hayley, Nick, Jade and Kirsty were also quiet starters who went on to become iconic characters too.

Nothing quiet about Will and Gypsy, it was clear that they would make a noise.

[nenehcherry2]

8 hours ago, adam436 said:

The group that followed them were largely forgettable, but they didn't stay that long. I'm thinking the likes of Liam, Casey, Aaron, Stephanie and even Tom Nash to a lesser extent. Justine, Joey and Tegan are more fondly remembered, but they also stayed much longer.

I'd say Will, Gypsy, Hayley, Nick, Jade and Kirsty were also quiet starters who went on to become iconic characters too.

Exactly my point... What's to say that Steph, Liam and Casey wouldn't have been given meatier stories (to make them more memorable) had they all lasted into 98-99.

I think what happened there was a case of Selina, Shannon, Chloe and Curtis staying on much longer than usual at that age 

Edited June 3 by nenehcherry2

[Homeandawayfan.]

Donna Bishop's only major storyline was the Andrew Warren business. She did not stay around for very long. First appeared in November 1994 and left in June 1995.

[nenehcherry2]

5 minutes ago, Homeandawayfan. said:

Donna Bishop's only major storyline was the Andrew Warren business. She did not stay around for very long. First appeared in November 1994 and left in June 1995.

Nicola was axed to make way for Emily's return. Emily had got divorced and was planning to move back to Australia. So, the Producers called her, commited her return and ended Nicola's contract early to make way financially. This was quite well publicised at the time.

A shame because, to my point today on a different thread, Donna likely may have been "one of the greats" had she been given more time. We will never know, as they say.

Edited June 3 by nenehcherry2

[CaptainHulk]

3 hours ago, nenehcherry2 said:

Exactly my point... What's to say that Steph, Liam and Casey wouldn't have been given meatier stories (to make them more memorable) had they all lasted into 98-99.

I think what happened there was a case of Selina, Shannon, Chloe and Curtis staying on much longer than usual at that age 

Bar Joey, Casey is the only one probably would have survived into mid-98 and probably joined Stuart in the U.S. later than she did but would have repaired things with Don.

 

[nenehcherry2]

I disagree with you there. I think that Stephanie had lots of mileage & that Fleur's a fine actor, she was EXCELLENT in Heartbreak High. 

Besides, it meant a lot to many viewers at the time (myself included) to see a character / actor of colour. 

Edited June 3 by nenehcherry2

[Homeandawayfan.]

8 hours ago, nenehcherry2 said:

Nicola was axed to make way for Emily's return. Emily had got divorced and was planning to move back to Australia. So, the Producers called her, commited her return and ended Nicola's contract early to make way financially. This was quite well publicised at the time.

A shame because, to my point today on a different thread, Donna likely may have been "one of the greats" had she been given more time. We will never know, as they say.

My new avatar is of me visiting Nicola Quilter in London in August 2014 and her signing one of her business cards for me. I always feel it was a shame she was axed in 1995 as I quite like Donna. Nicola must have signed up in early to mid 1994 due to the advance filming schedule and may have signed for 3 years initially.

[adam436]

8 hours ago, nenehcherry2 said:

Nicola was axed to make way for Emily's return. Emily had got divorced and was planning to move back to Australia. So, the Producers called her, commited her return and ended Nicola's contract early to make way financially. This was quite well publicised at the time.

Donna likely may have been "one of the greats" had she been given more time. We will never know, as they say.

I did not know this. Do you happen to know if it was the same situation for Rob Storey and Steven? 

It's a shame Donna was axed, because not long after Marilyn returned, Kelly Watson was introduced and pretty much slotted into that group where Donna probably would have been. Nothing against Kelly, but Donna was a far stronger character and more memorable character.