2011 Cast is so much more likeable than any cast from 2000-2007

[Skylover]

Hi, today I've been watching some random past episodes of Home and Away. I chose at random which episodes I wanted to watch, and I ended up watching episode 4000 from 2005, which featured a vast array of cast members, some from 2008, one from 2006 which saw Leah falling into the sea and hitting her head on a rock, and some from 1989/1990. Oh and the latest episodes of 2011.

It struck me that I had almost slight to no interest in a lot of cast members when I put on episodes from 2000-2007. Martha, Ric, Peter, Dan, Kim, Rachel, they just all made me groan. Episode 4000 was a delight and I found myself interested in the cast from the early eras. Then watching the 2011 stuff it struck me how much Home and Away has improved over the last two years. The cast is SO much mre likeable now, and I feel like the interactions between characters in general has improved. I think the characters from 2000-2007 seemed selfish and not very likeable. Watching the past episodes made me feel very lcuky we have this cast at the moment. The teens in particular are great at the moment. The best thing, however, is the strong families. The Walkers, Gina and Xavier's relationship is much more interesting than any of the Hunters or Sutherlands relationships. Do you agree or am I in the minority?

I think we also have a good number of 'classic' cast members now, with Marilyn, Alf, Morag, Leah, Colleen and to an extent, Miles.

[Ryan]

I think it can depend on what era you get into. Certainly I enjoyed the show immensly and probably still more than I do now from 2000-2003, and I enjoyed that terribly soaptastic spell late 2005-early 2006, but at the same time I do think the show is better than it's been since late-2008 at the now, 2009 and 2010 almost being complete washouts.

[Perry]

I agree with Ryan 2011 is a huge improvement from 2009 and 2010 they were picking up the pieces of that mess. But for me 2005-2008 was Home and Away at it's best. There are a lot of likable characters right now but also a few dreadful ones that shall remain nameless. *cough*Romeo*cough*

[lozlovesh&a]

I loved the Sutherlands and the Hunters. I loved watching Amanda, the bakers and actually most of those characters that you said. I have not seen much of the early years. But I do miss certain people like Ric & mattie and the whole teen group before this one (minus Cassie). This teen group is alright but I feel the friendships of Mattie, Belle, Cassie, Ric, Lucas, Drew, and Kym and Tasha and then even Kirsty, Jade, Seb and Nick were alot stronger then this one of Ruby, April, Indi, Romeo, Dex, Xav and Casey. As Ruby & April barely share scenes and same with Indi and April... (have they ever talked, aside from when Indi was mad at her for getting wiht Dex?) The last group talked all the time.

However, I do like the cast now especially as Marilyn & Roo are back. But yes this year is a huge improvment from 2009-2010 with the stupid year long mystery. Ugh, that was horrible and pointless IMO.

[Julez]

I agree with Ryan 2011 is a huge improvement from 2009 and 2010 they were picking up the pieces of that mess. But for me 2005-2008 was Home and Away at it's best. There are a lot of likable characters right now but also a few dreadful ones that shall remain nameless. *cough*Romeo*cough*

Ditto.

[-Kevin-]

I agree with Ryan 2011 is a huge improvement from 2009 and 2010 they were picking up the pieces of that mess. But for me 2005-2008 was Home and Away at it's best. There are a lot of likable characters right now but also a few dreadful ones that shall remain nameless. *cough*Romeo*cough*

This!!

2011 has been a delight to watch! I have found myself getting back to never missing an episode and just generally being excited about the show, something which hasn't happened since 2008! In saying that thought, 2005/2008 WAS Home & Away for me. It was definitely my favourite era of the show by far, and had some of the best characters the shows seen I feel. As good as the 2011 era is.....nothing will ever beat the 05-08 era for me!

[Red Ranger 1]

Hmm.Looking back at that era, I think there's not much difference for me.There are characters that I started off liking and ended up not liking, characters that I started off not liking and ended up liking, characters that I basically liked throughout and characters that have gone in and out of my bad books.I'd say that Ric is a good example of a character who at first seemed to have no redeeming features who we gradually began to see there were other sides to and became likeable, something the show used to be very good at and nowadays is not so good at, although they did a good job with John Palmer.I would say, and maybe I'm looking at the past through rose-tinted glasses, that up until 2008/2009 all the characters were basically decent people:You'd get the odd one who turned bad when they were on their way out but that was all.In the present day show, that isn't always the case and it feels like we're expected to forgive/ignore a lot more with certain characters.

[Snapp]

The dreadful Gina & Xavier drag the whole likeability of the cast down for me.

I also don't find the current bunch of teens that interesting, Dex I like maybe April at a push.

[rosalie]

I actually really miss a lot of the old characters. I think there are a lot of good adult characters at the show nowadays, but I really miss the teens from a few years ago. Mattie, Ric, Robbie, Tash, Lucas, Belle.

And I miss the families. They're all gone now - the Hunters, the Sutherlands, the Stewarts. New characters were almost always family or relatives to one of these families, but now all the characters are so new:p Apart from Alf, Colleen and Irene, Gina and Xavier are the only ones that are somewhat related to the old cast, aren't they? Oh and Miles! And I guess Leah. But still! I felt like everyone was related on HAA before, it was like one big family. Not anymore. Now it feels more scattered in a way.