Have you seen any improvement over the last few weeks?

[Light of the Bay]

I recently noticed that in the closing credits of Home and Away Lucy Addario is now credited as the Series Producer... Does this mean she has now taken over from Cameron Welsh completely and we are no longer seeing his produced episodes? I was wondering as I have noticed a very small improvement in the show in recent weeks and there is something about the characters that makes them seem more human and approachable, like they used to be. I also enjoyed the introduction of Jett and I think there are many stories to be told regarding his character. The only thing ruining the show at the moment is the constant focus on the River Boys and Romeo/Indi/Ruby- NO ONE CARES! I am also sick of Irene, Leah and Marilyn tossing salad in the Diner, the three of them need a more central role within the show.

In conclusion, Home and Away of late is certainly far better than it was earlier in 2012 and 2011, however, it still has a long way to go until I feel passionately about it again.

[John]

No I haven't but then I think that the show has maintained a consistently good standard recently.

What I have noticed is what seems to be a move to a deeper exploration of characters and their personalities and back stories. I'll enjoy that.

[beau_t]

From what I've seen, it's still awful.

[greg098]

i find the characters at the moment to be rather boring and i dont enjoy watching them. i think doing a complete rehaul of the characters and bringing back a few ex cast members would increase interest again.

They should not bring old characters back just to do horrible things to: eg: killing chloe off and putting will in jail. the show was based on a community and foster children. its called home and away (at home and away from home). this is the roots of the show but its clear they have lost that. a lot of it was lost when sally left. however miles was sort of like the last link to sally and the foster children. now miles is gone, the show has changed and this is why i believe its struggling.

I think the writers need to think of better ways to bring back what the show is about. I would like to see things like:

Sophie and Blake returning and buying the caravan park from sally. Sophies daughter is now a teenager (17 or 18) so would fit into that vibe of having teenage cast members.

Jesse is released from Prison for killing Chloe and tries to make amends with the people he hurt. It will also follow the storyline of him reconnecting with his daughter rachel (who would be about 25 right now).

With Sophie and Blake being back in the show, it would open up windows for other cast members to return like Pippa and Carly.

I would also like to see a gay character in the show. This is 2012 and most shows are adapting this because its good for ratings (just look at the uk soap emmerdale who made one of their main teenager characters aaron become gay. they gained so many new viewers because of it.)

[Ryan]

I have watched more episodes in recent weeks and I did seem as if had moved onto a less River Boy crime orientated theme, though some of the plasticness in the show seemed to remain, maybe I hadn't got to the heart yet though. The problem I feel though is that when someone exclaims the show is great, there is usually weak episodes or weak blocks, though perhaps 1995-1996 is an exception or when we feel the show is poor, a storyline or block of episodes come along that we really enjoy and that if there has been any improvement in the show that it's anything other than fluctuaton.

[alexx]

Carried over from the Twitter Thread.

Alexx, I agree about the divide and I don't want to go too far off topic, but I belong to the group that believes that the show has to change to resonate with and gather a new generation of viewers. Retaining the audience from the past and present is important but wont by itself ensure the show's future.

I do get what you are saying, completely. I agree. I just dont agree that they should change the shows premise entirely when they go on these missions to 'reinvigorate' the show. Mainly because I don't think the current writers and producers understand how to do it successfully whilst retaining the integrity of Home and Away and Summer Bay. For instance, 1995 and 1996 are so, so different to 1988 - much more fast paced, more over dramatic, higher in drama, probably more unbelievable - but all of the H&A elements were still retained. They managed to really evolve the show without ignoring the original concept and above all they remained very character based.

Whereas since 2006-onwards they've tried to 'evolve' the show by literally changing the genre. For example they went through an obsessed streak of turning the show into a hospital drama where every character was ill or getting involved in a crash, explosion, fire, robbery... resulting in injury and operating tables every week.

Then they went down the cop-drama route, where we got to see the police station in every episode pretty much. Lots of cop cars, corrupt cops, court room drama, year long 'mysteries'.

Then they went down a love and romance direction - where pretty much nothing happened other than relationship break-ups and make-ups.

And now we've gone down the crime and 'Underbelly' couple of years.

Instead they should be dabbling in all of the above at the same time and spreading them out amongst more 'real life' friendship, family and community based storylines. They focus on one element and become obsessed with it until everyone's (writers and viewers) bored and then they are forced to think up a new 'genre' to become. When I know I could come up with a better version of the show, I get irritated.

[John]

Carried over from the Twitter Thread.

Alexx, I agree about the divide and I don't want to go too far off topic, but I belong to the group that believes that the show has to change to resonate with and gather a new generation of viewers. Retaining the audience from the past and present is important but wont by itself ensure the show's future.

I do get what you are saying, completely. I agree. I just dont agree that they should change the shows premise entirely when they go on these missions to 'reinvigorate' the show. Mainly because I don't think the current writers and producers understand how to do it successfully whilst retaining the integrity of Home and Away and Summer Bay. For instance, 1995 and 1996 are so, so different to 1988 - much more fast paced, more over dramatic, higher in drama, probably more unbelievable - but all of the H&A elements were still retained. They managed to really evolve the show without ignoring the original concept and above all they remained very character based.

Whereas since 2006-onwards they've tried to 'evolve' the show by literally changing the genre. For example they went through an obsessed streak of turning the show into a hospital drama where every character was ill or getting involved in a crash, explosion, fire, robbery... resulting in injury and operating tables every week.

Then they went down the cop-drama route, where we got to see the police station in every episode pretty much. Lots of cop cars, corrupt cops, court room drama, year long 'mysteries'.

Then they went down a love and romance direction - where pretty much nothing happened other than relationship break-ups and make-ups.

And now we've gone down the crime and 'Underbelly' couple of years.

Instead they should be dabbling in all of the above at the same time and spreading them out amongst more 'real life' friendship, family and community based storylines. They focus on one element and become obsessed with it until everyone's (writers and viewers) bored and then they are forced to think up a new 'genre' to become. When I know I could come up with a better version of the show, I get irritated.

I agree with a lot of what you say. The writers don't always get it right when they try and move the show on to ensure its future.

Some of us had a discussion some years ago about the constant changes of Script Producer etc. and that sometimes during all of that an understanding of the history and ethos of the show doesn't get passed on and we have a period where the show seems lost and lacking a focus.

We've had some of those over the years.

What I do admire is that they keep on trying.

[ter06]

I don't think trying is good enough, tbh. Trying is something you do the first few years to get it right. After 25 years, it should be at the top of its game. Eastenders is 27 years old, similar to H&A, you don't see them "trying". It tops the ratings because it gets it right, sure there are mistakes and characters who don't work but they don't spend a couple of years at a time focusing on one theme, they balance it out.

[John]

I don't think trying is good enough, tbh. Trying is something you do the first few years to get it right. After 25 years, it should be at the top of its game. Eastenders is 27 years old, similar to H&A, you don't see them "trying". It tops the ratings because it gets it right, sure there are mistakes and characters who don't work but they don't spend a couple of years at a time focusing on one theme, they balance it out.

You're assuming that the "right" you get it in the first few years will still be "right" 25 years on. Times change, audiences change. People who were a young demographic 25 years ago are no longer at the same stages of their lives.

The show must continue to evolve. I'm sure the powers that be would love to get it right as you put it 100% of the time but I don't think that's possible. They must have got it right a lot of the time for the show to be still so successful so many years on.

[ter06]

I don't think trying is good enough, tbh. Trying is something you do the first few years to get it right. After 25 years, it should be at the top of its game. Eastenders is 27 years old, similar to H&A, you don't see them "trying". It tops the ratings because it gets it right, sure there are mistakes and characters who don't work but they don't spend a couple of years at a time focusing on one theme, they balance it out.

You're assuming that the "right" you get it in the first few years will still be "right" 25 years on. Times change, audiences change. People who were a young demographic 25 years ago are no longer at the same stages of their lives.

The show must continue to evolve. I'm sure the powers that be would love to get it right as you put it 100% of the time but I don't think that's possible. They must have got it right a lot of the time for the show to be still so successful so many years on.

I understand what you're saying about the show needing to evolve but that's where H&A is getting it wrong, all wrong. They're assuming all their Facebook and Twitter fans represent the whole H&A viewership and are forcing the River Boys on us when a lot of fans don't want that. Coronation St and Eastenders have evolved but managed to stay true to their roots. I think H&A lost its way in 2008, I think Sally leaving was a big part of that. She had been central to most stories in the previous 4 years and it's just like they didn't know what to do after she had left.

It's a shame because we do have a lot of great characters but it's like they don't know how to write for them. Take Roo for example, she has a 21 year absence we know nothing about with endless opportunity for stories. Marilyn hasn't had anything to do the past 6 months.