Home and Away or Neighbours?

[katya]

I had a dream last night that in Neighbours a train derailed and there was some gory gory scenes in it. I was thinking, that's more like it!

[lypole]

You can't even compare the two....i can go for literally weeks and weeks without watching Neigbours..then you watch it again and nothing has changed! I have never thought Neighbours has been clever, but on the season ending episode of H&A that was on Friday, i think, i thought it was really well done with all the couples. And the Flynn story line is so much more touching than the one with Alex.

[katya]

Your myspace is really cool. And your rabbit is awesome!

[lypole]

Your myspace is really cool. And your rabbit is awesome!

Lol thanks! I'll tell him..

[ste]

I agree with everyone who said that the channels that both are shown on in the UK has made a huge difference to the amount of viewers. For Neighbours 20th anniversary, the BBC made a special programme and advertised the show loads, and generally made a big deal of it. To be honest, I can't see Five doing the same for Home and Away's 20th. Also, the fact that Home and Away wasn't shown for a year would have definately lost viewers, although I do remember that they did a behind the scenes programme and catch up show when it started on Five.

Having said that, I seem to remmeber seeing somewhere (I think it was in the TV mag where they list the top 10 shows for each channel from the past week) that a couple of years ago Home and Away was the most watched programme on Five. That probably isn't the case now that they have shows like House and Grey's Anatomy though.

In terms of which I prefer, I always try and watch Home and Away, whereas yesterday was the first time I watched Neighbours in about a month. The storylines may be more realistic, but I don't really find it very entertaining watching people plod around not doind very much. Maybe I would if the characters were actually likeable, but since they brought the Timmins in (with the exception of Stingray and Dylan) they have irritated me, I don't like Lyn, Max, Alex's kids (and Alex in fact) and others. The storyline when Toadie became a wrestler really did it for me. It's a shame because, a few years ago they did big, emotional storylines such as Dee's death really well, but nowadays their attempts at Home and Away style disasters aren't a patch on the real thing.

So yes, Home and Away may be a bit unbelievable, but the fact that the actors are so good, and that the characters are still well written and likeable makes me enjoy it so much more. Neighbours is too much like Eastenders and Corrie, which is probably why a lot of people in the UK watch it, but is the reason I don't.

God, sorry about the essay!!

Great post!

I kind of agree with what other people have said, that you can't really compare the two. Ten years ago I think you could have compared them as they were both pretty soapy. But while Neighbours has clung onto what it is, Home and Away has moved with the times and I think Neighbours is still very soapy and feels like H&A felt 10 years ago. H&A feels a lot more like a drama than a soap, the way it's filmed and the music they use etc.

[Hollie06]

I like both of them, i can go for weeks without watchin neighbours and the same thing will be happening but in home and away i cant miss an episode.Sometimes i prefer neighbours episodes only because of the storyline but overall Home and Away gets my vote and i think Home and Away has a better forum!

[Jack Holden]

Neighbours has improved so much these past few months (uk episodes) compaired to how it was, but it still has a long way to go before its anywhere near as good as Home and Away!

[Isha_Rose]

The Flynn story line is so much more touching than the one with Alex.

Perfect comparison in my opinion- they were both suffering from cancer, both leaving behind the women they loved, and both important to the show. The only difference is, when Flynn died I cried my eyes out, and when Alex died I really really didn't.

I've been watching Neighbours for as long as I can remember, and I've been saying "Why on earth do I watch this rubbish?" for pretty much the same amount of time. The main trouble is that I can only think of one character who I actually like [that's Bree, for anyone who's interested], and the rest either irritate the hell outta me, or just seem plain unrealistic. With Home and Away, on the other hand, I find the complete opposite. I think the characters are much easier to relate to, and over all, much more realistic. The personalities of characters on Neighbours seem to change at the drop of a hat, and that really bugs me. I find myself almost liking a character- like Dylan for example- and then they go and do something completely ridiculous which annoys me!

Above all else, however, is the simple fact that I despise Ned Parker. Ridiculously unrealistic character who is far too judgemental and generally just does my head in.

In conclusion, the only reason I watch Neighbours is because it bridges the gap between Tea and Home and Away.

[ter06]

Neighbours is boring. Simple as. The majority of the stories could be happening on our own streets they are that boring. With Home and Away you are getting good quality drama with award winning actors and a stunning backdrop.

One thing I have noticed about Neighbours the past few years is that they have seen how all the murdrers psychos and stalkers are doing so well on H&A and they seem to be trying to copy it to an extent but it is so not working.

H&A is one of Ireland's top rating shows and has been for 19 years. Neighbours, I have never seen in the top shows here. The way the ratings are going in Oz and at the pace they are losing their stars I dont think the show will be around for much longer.

[Ryan]

I think Neighbours has been written by the same people for the last eight years or something, and I think it's began to suffer because of it. You need fresh ideas every 3 years IMO.