Does the show need an injection of life, if so, then what?

[Revealed]

I feel like we've not seen the caravan park or the house for some time. It did feel a bit odd when Travis and Rebecca moved in but when the Sutherland's were there it seemed more natural.

A Christopher Fletcher comeback would seem a bit pointless, he was too young when he was on the show for people to really notice he was there.

 

[adam436]

It does feel like the show is treading water right now. It is perhaps due for a shake up once again, something that used to happen every 4 years or so when the show was getting a little stale and treading water.

For example, we had a revamp/cast overhauls to varying degrees in late 89/early 1990, 1995, 2000, 2004/early 2005, 2011, 2016 and 2022. It doesn't always have to be a cast shake-up, but just a renewed focus or dynamic to make it feel fresh. As much as I hated Lyrik, the producers at least attempted to give the show a new focus. Likewise, the River Boys in 2010. I'm struggling to think of something that could be introduced right now that hasn't been done before though.

A cast overhaul alone would not be the answer, since it would just be replacing one set of cookie-cutter characters with likely another.

[Revealed]

I still maintain the show is in the best shape it's been in for a long time. That said all it takes is for one of the actresses to do the unthinkable for that to change.

I do think too many of the cast have been on for more than 3 years but then be careful what you wish for.

There's something that Amelia needs to do to live up to her potential, I won't state what but am sure you all know what that is.

[pembie]

No not really Amelia is there for David what esle do you mean? 

It seems to have gotten better three main big stories well two Edens but l don’t think that’s going to be enjoyable and David and Amelia getting together I don’t know what they can do with Sonny now really 

 

 

 

 

[adam436]

4 hours ago, Revealed said:

I do think too many of the cast have been on for more than 3 years but then be careful what you wish for.

It's great that the show has actors that are committed to the show, as we need a succession plan for when the likes of Ray, Shane and Georgie (I see her going with or shortly after Ray!) decide to retire or move on. Justin and Mackenzie seem to be the next generation of stalwarts, which I have mixed feelings about. I am not a fan of Justin, but it's been good for Leah to have a marriage that hasn't ended after a year or two. The writers need to give Mackenzie some decent material for her to work - we had years of doomed love interests before she settled down with Levi. He's been great for her character, but if Tristian left, I'd fear we would be back to square one with Mac again. 

The problem, as I've said time and time again, is the writing and having too many characters in the same group. For example, if all the characters who were clocking up the years were in different age groups, then we'd be looking better. Would Leah, for example, have lasted as long or been as popular in the 2000s if she was just one of a dozen twentysomething who all stayed 5+ years? 

It's hard to sustain so many long-term characters in such a small cast, especially when they are all generally the same age. It works for the UK soaps that have a larger cast size, since those characters can take a break between big storylines every now and then. 

 

4 hours ago, Revealed said:

There's something that Amelia needs to do to live up to her potential, I won't state what but am sure you all know what that is.

It's a shame they've got a good actor like Nicole and all they've given her is to is pretty much to eventually Jo and Lacey's stepmum (we all know that's where it's going!). It just feels like a waste, when she's such a coup for the show and would likely have brought some of the Wentworth fanatics as well. 

[James Martin]

Damelia is the one couple I've found myself really rooting for and I love the dynamics of two adult kids in the mix because she won't be that much of a stepmum. I think if anything she might be more of a "Pippa MK1" figure to the girls. Plus we know

Spoiler

Lacey is getting a new love interest 

so you've got the dynamics of that too.

I actually think the show is in OK shape at the moment, the build up to Beau's day of reckoning has been entertaining. Dark, but it's kept me hooked in.

[pembie]

6 hours ago, James Martin said:

Damelia is the one couple I've found myself really rooting for and I love the dynamics of two adult kids in the mix because she won't be that much of a stepmum. I think if anything she might be more of a "Pippa MK1" figure to the girls. Plus we know

  Reveal hidden contents

Lacey is getting a new love interest 

so you've got the dynamics of that too.

I actually think the show is in OK shape at the moment, the build up to Beau's day of reckoning has been entertaining. Dark, but it's kept me hooked in.

I haven’t found many people who call David and Amelia Damelia haha obviously I’m out of the loop 

[Revealed]

At the point Leah reached 5 years the other twenty something females were Sally and Hailey who had both been on the show longer but I take your point there's more than 3 characters in the same demographic these days.

To be honest I have no idea how old a lot of the characters are supposed to be. The actor who plays Justin was born in 1975 but when they showed his ID on the show it said he was born in 1984. I gather Leah is supposed to be a similar age to the actress but then there's been no mention of Justin being a toyboy and given VJ must be well into his 20s by now there's no way Leah would of been born as late as 1984.

The actress who plays Mac is apparently 36 but I don't know if she's supposed to be in her 20s. Levi seems far too young to be the top doctor but then so have many of the doctors who came before him.

[Homeandawayfan.]

Leah was born in Feb 1979 I think so would have been 5 in 1984.

TBF H&A has never been great with continuity of character ages, nor has it's cul de sac based sister soap in Melbourne. After all Alf was 45 in 1988, and in 1995, he was said to be 47. Wish we could all age as slowly. 

in EastEnders, Nick Cotton was said to be 33 in 1985, and in 2000 he said he was 36. 

Edited August 31 by Homeandawayfan.

[adam436]

5 hours ago, Revealed said:

At the point Leah reached 5 years the other twenty something females were Sally and Hailey who had both been on the show longer but I take your point there's more than 3 characters in the same demographic these days.

I guess the other difference is that they came in at different points too - Sally had been on the show since she was 8, Hayley from a teenager and Leah in her early 20s - and all interacted with characters outside of their age bracket. Sally through Alf and the school, Leah through Colleen and Alf, and Hayley through Irene. These days, they've all entered the show in their 20s, mostly only interact with each other and their only storylines seem to be relationship woes. The twentysomethings just felt more fresh and interesting back then, perhaps because there were so fewer of them moreso than their personalities, since I was never a fan of Hayley and always felt Sally was over-rated (no reflection on Kate Ritchie's incredible run and committment though). 

Alf, Marilyn and Roo often feel very segregated from the rest of the cast. The writers have been forced to make more of an effort to integrate John since Irene left though. I thought he'd end up just being an extension of Alf/Marilyn/Roo, so I'm plesantly surprised he's developed stronger connections with the younger characters.