Emmerdale

[Slade]

I’m glad this whole Charity/Cain/Jai storyline has ended up like it has as I don’t think the characters have shown any likeability. I used to like Cain but as I mentioned last time what’s really bothered me about him is the way he seems to be able to do anything without copping the flack so I found it really satisfying seeing Jai wind him up in his attempts to Woo Charity. I don’t like Charity either so I was glad Cain cheated on her. Even more glad that Cain and Faye were blatantly flaunting it right in Charity’s face. In saying that I don’t really like the way Faye’s been written. She’s coming across as immature, jealous, petty and bordering on desperate. I didn’t think Jai was actually going try his luck with Charity at the hotel but given how much money he must have spent trying to impress her surely it would have been cheaper to go for an escort/hooker.

Really glad Henshall has been taken off the case and his former partner had enough sense to follow her instinct and display objectivity. I really didn’t like Brenda driving into Andy’s van but liked that Andy was mature enough to realise given what’s she’s been through she wasn’t in the right state of mind (even though I’m really hating her attitude towards him). For the first time we actually started to see frustration with Henshall but he is still trying his best to bait Andy so you wonder if Andy’s going to crack eventually.

Getting pretty fed up with Hazel’s attitude towards Aaron even though it is understandable. Jackson has clearly said he wants Aaron to move on so Aaron cannot force Jackson into a relationship. Like I said previously unless Jackson makes a miraculous recovery not sure which direction they can take his character.

I’m finding Mia quite annoying and it’s frustrating to seeing Adam trying to pursue her like this. I find there’s not much depth to her at all and now I’m thinking he would be better off going back to Scarlet even though I don’t think there’s much depth to her either.

[Red Ranger 1]

Glad the Henshall thing's over, I was worried they were gonna string it out for months.Wish they'd come up with a more original ending than him taking Katie hostage, at least they resisted the temptation to have Andy play the hero.Henshall's offscreen suicide was a massive anti-climax as well, did anyone really think Katie had been killed?Glad Gennie and Brenda apologised to Andy and he accepted it in good grace and also had the sense to knock back Katie.

Glad Charity walked out on Cain, it'll serve him right if she does take up with Jai.Don't really mind Faye's behaviour since Charity's been a cow towards her but it does seem very out of character, she always seemed like a basically nice person.Guess having a son framed for murder can change a person.

Edited February 19, 2011 by Red Ranger 1

[Slade]

So I guess the big question is what has happened to Jimmy? I'd completely forgotten about him and Kelly. How? Perhaps it was during the days when he had money.

Why does Debbie seem to be on a downer with Alicia? Is she jealous of Andy or something?

I thought Lisa outing Derrick and the scenes afterwards were really well done. If it hadn't been for Lizzie she probably would have kept quiet. I didn't blame Nikhil for his two sides to every story argument as he was just being professional but I'm glad there was never any doubt with Jai. Although reluctant at least Zak seems to be accepting her decision to let the police deal with the matter. I think it's going to be hard to get a conviction because there's no evidence, no witnesses, just his word against hers. There didn't seem to be a reaction from Cain. Does he even know about what happened yet?

[Red Ranger 1]

Hope Charity's serious about Jai because it seems as though he really likes her.Cain's continuing to behave like an impotent bully, which thankfully isn't doing him any good.Debbie's ex seems a bit creepy with the way he refused to leave and insists she wants to be with him.I don't think there's any unfinished business between her and Andy but they do seem to have a strong friendship these days, she was one of the few to stick by him when most of the village thought he was an arsonist.

Chas has been really getting on my wick lately, literally treating Carl like a criminal for cheating on her and now she and Hazel seem to be competing for who can interfere in their sons' lives the most. It might not be an ideal situation but Aaron and Jackson are big boys, let them get on with it.Not sure about the sudden tension between John and Adam, it's beginning to seem like John's been using his son as cheap labour for too long.

Jimmy's amnesia is an interesting idea but so far his hostility's been taken a little too far:I can understand his confusion but I thought he'd be relieved at finding people that know him rather than wanting to stay in his own little bubble.

[Slade]

I’m so glad this stuff with Charity, Jai and Cain is over...for now anyway. Wasn’t that bothered about Faye leaving. I liked her at first but after the stuff with the Wyldes was over with she just seemed to be miserable all the time and acted like a jealous cow re Charity and Jai.

Was really disappointed with Alicia for stealing from her own sister and having the cheek to use the money she earned to pay Leyla the rent she owed her in the first place. Although at least she does appear to be displaying some amount of guilt. I don’t mind her and Andy together and whilst they are happy at least they aren’t being unpleasant to other people.

Chas buying half the Woolpack is an interesting idea. She and Alicia don’t get along so it will be interesting to see how their professional relationship progresses. It will also be good to see how she has to deal with serving Carl and Eve on a regular basis.

I’m actually quite enjoying this storyline with Jimmy and his amnesia now that they’ve thrown Kelly into the equation. It is interesting how Jimmy seems more receptive towards Kelly than he is towards his own wife. TBH I’m really unclear as to what Kelly’s motives actually are. The Kings are broke so she’s not after Jimmy’s money. She’s managed for several years without a father figure for her son so I’m not sure that’s the reason. Is it really because she’s head over heels in love with Jimmy and can’t live without him? She’s lied to several people about him having an affair with her tried to manipulate Rodney (Did she really go out with him too? Was he loaded at the time or does she just like older men/father figures?), Marlon and Bob into being sympathetic towards her and clearly wants to break up Nicola and Jimmy. I have to say I’m quite pleased with Carl’s role in this. Although his methods haven’t worked he’s gone out of his way to ensure that Kelly doesn’t try and end Nicola and Jimmy’s relationship even though he doesn’t like Nicola he honestly believes she is the one for Jimmy. I wonder if the stuff he went through with Chas and his kids moving away gave him a different perspective. I’m glad Nicola’s decided not give Jimmy up without a fight and really enjoyed the scene in the Woolpack with Kelly so as far as they are concerned...game on!

Not really sure that I get Eve either. After copping off with John Barton and sleeping with Carl behind Chas’s back for months she’s made quite a few enemies. At times Chas still acts like she wants to kill her so I really think Eve should be keeping her head down and letting the dust settle. But instead she’s actually taken sides in this whole Kelly/Nicola/Jimmy thing even though she’s doesn’t really know Kelly (I wasn’t watching the show when Eve was first in it so I don’t know if she and Kelly were around at the same time, presumably this is the first time they’ve met). Or is her sole reason for doing that to get back at Carl for using her for sex? She can’t hurt him directly so instead she’s going to ruin things for Jimmy to see the effect it has on her ex lover.

[Zetti]

I am slightly annoyed at the writers for making Zak so cold and distant, I had always believed that he wanted his family to be safe & that he would do anything at all possible to protect them. I get that he doesnt always know how to deal with the situation but then again who does, its not soemthing that you can just get over is it?

Chas & Diane working together is going to be eventful to say the least but I am actually looking forward to it, its something different and interesting to watch. Two unlikely people getting into a partnership about something they are passionate about (not sure about Chas but definitely for Diane)

[Red Ranger 1]

The continuation of the Dingles drama is rather good.Lisa's guilt at not being able to stop Derek striking again and Zak's inability to do the right thing are well played.And it's great that Belle's stepped up to the plate, shown maturity and managed to discuss this as an equal.

Wasn't sure about Chas being co-owner of the Woolpack at first, I was worried she'd end up throwing a strop and sacking or barring people she doesn't like.So far, hasn't been that bad but interesting to see how she keeps it up.

Kelly seems to be pursuing Jimmy because, in some warped way, she loves him and thinks they belong together.Not really sure why Eve's helping her, maybe she seems Kelly as a kindred spirit.

Sliding both ways on the Barton/Macey drama.At first, while John was right to be angry about having the farm sold from under him, it seemed like he was being a bit too stubborn and intractible and he was definitely wrong to blame Adam.But Declan seems to be slipping more and more into a "I've got money and power so I can do whatever I want" mentality so maybe John was right about him.Feel sorry for Adam stuck in the middle and I can definitely relate to his desire to keep his head down and do his job.

I hadn't even realised Amy had turned sixteen so her coming on to Cain felt a bit weird.Not sure if he'd care that much if he knew her real age, he's had them young before.(Jasmine, anyone?)Amy's supposedly "glammed up" appearance looked more like a vampire to start with although I eventually got used to it.

[Slade]

Debbie’s reaction when she found out about Cain and Amy was priceless. Every time she’s dealing with Cain and Charity it always seems as though she’s the parent. I really liked the way Cameron was smirking when Debbie was telling Cain off at the garage. I really don’t care what happened with Cain and Amy but I don’t like Cain so was glad he got some backlash from Mia and even Zak.

I don’t really blame Leyla, Eric or Val for thinking that Amy stole the alcohol and cigarettes from Leyla’s shop as all the circumstantial evidence seemed to point to her – She worked there so had the opportunity and Val and Eric found out David covered for her about her losing the money to the customer. It’s funny because although it didn’t show in his attitude towards Amy I thought David was a bit jealous of Cain. I think he actually likes Amy.

I was very disappointed with Alicia for stealing from her sister twice. I’m not sure she would have come clean if Leyla hadn’t accused Amy and she hadn’t overheard Eric and Val contemplating throwing Amy out. I suppose a small consolation is that she did the right thing in the end and it did appear as though she was more concerned about Amy than she was about herself. Like David I can’t blame Leyla for throwing Alicia out although I don’t think it’s the right move in this case.

John does seem to be the sort of person to have a massive chip on his shoulder but his behaviour is understandable in this instance. I’m not sure what he can do in this situation with Declan. Perhaps it would be better to take the money and run. Sometimes I’m an all or nothing person but do think as far as John’s concerned, half of something is better than all of nothing considering he has a family to think of.

[Red Ranger 1]

I don't think David really sees Amy like that, I think he just views her like a little sister.But thinking about it, he might, it's a remote possibility, end up going there if things between him and Leyla get worse.I think David's right about Leyla wanting to apologise to Alicia just so she can be close to Jacob.(And the three of them, including Justin, seem to be turning the poor kid into a spoiled brat with their constant oneupmanship.)The only thing in Alicia's favour is that she owned up when she saw Amy was in trouble, she was wrong to steal in the first place and she hasn't seemed particularly remorseful since.(Although Chas cutting her shifts out of spite didn't help.)

It was incredibly dumb of Nicola to try and pay Kelly off and even more dumb of Carl to help her.She underestimated Kelly and perhaps underestimated Jimmy too, since he would have chosen her anyway if she hadn't handed Kelly the ammunition.I did think at one point that maybe Elliot not only isn't Jimmy's son, he isn't Kelly's son either, that she's borrowed him for a bit until she can convince Jimmy they belong together, but I'm not so sure now.I felt sorry for Eve during the whole thing with Carl but now I'm really starting to dislike her.

[Liz]

I really hope that they don't do an assisted suicide story with Jackson. I fear that once the nice-ness of the Royal Wedding is out of the way, Hazel might be booking one return and one single flight to Switzerland. I know that it happens and I know that it's a very serious issue, but I don't want to watch it at 7 o'clock in the evening. The Jackson storyline has been fantastic, but I'm starting to feel really depressed by it all now.