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Original poster

To not quite understand the fuss over Eastenders

199 replies

MistletoeMush · 06/01/2011 14:58

This may have already been done, but I just don't understand all the fuss. Its a story, the people involved are not real. Surely one of the purposes of drama is to explore situations, dilemas, emotions etc which it would not be possible to explore in real life. Also are soaps not famous for tackiling difficult issues, murder, teen pregnancy, rape, kidnap, violence, disasters, adultary, death by various means. Why is this storyline so much worse?

OP posts:
Original poster
MistletoeMush · 06/01/2011 15:24

I think that the people who believe that this is how women who have lost a baby behave will be in the minority MsKLo. Also Kat's reaction is portrayed which is different and gives another prespective perhaps?

OP posts:
Haribojoe · 06/01/2011 15:30

2shoes I do see your point, but for me I just find this plot twist. I'm not saying it has never/could never happen.

For me I feel it is pure sensationalism and exploitation of a very, very sensitive topic and I personally find the whole thing in extremely bad taste.

I do not have a problem with them tackling the issue of SIDS but I feel it could have been dealt with in a much more considered way.

I take on board your comments about people not being upset by other storylines but different things affect people differently.

I think the number of people who have voiced concern over this speaks for itself.

MsKLo · 06/01/2011 15:36

Of course noone can say for certain it would never happen 2shoes but fo me that is not the point

If you are going to tackle such a serious issue as least do so with decency, respect and honesty. They bleat about how they worked with the SIDS foundation but then piss all over any advice they were given with this tacky, disrespectful and distasteful storyline.

Read the thread in tellyaddicts and what the women who have experienced this have to say - their posts made me cry

MsKLo · 06/01/2011 15:39

Miseltoemush

Yes maybe not many would believe it but it is still
Beyond distasteful and disrespectful as a storyline

I have never been so bothered by a soap beore but this has really got to me

meantosay · 06/01/2011 15:41

I agree the storyline is over the top and not true to life. But, like the OP, I'm wondering why this particular storyline is making headlines.

Abused children don't generally kill their father and bury him in the back garden but that storyline is considered Brookside's finest hour.

Emmerdale had a storyline where a baby died from a cot death and then the couple discovered there'd been a mix up in the maternity hospital and their child was alive and well. This was hardly a sensitive treatment of the terrible aftermath for a family of cotdeath.

I think most soaps, whatever issue they're dealing with, do not usually handle it in a realistic way.

foxinsocks · 06/01/2011 15:44

we all paid for it to be made via our licence fee

therefore, all of us are perfectly entitled to make a 'fuss' as you call it, when we are not happy with how our licence fee is being used

MassiveKnob · 06/01/2011 15:46

Eastenders is a load of rubbish anyway. I watch from time to time because my tennage dc like it.

But it really is nonsense and has nothing to do with real life.

For instance, does everyone in your street/cul de sac whatever, get up and go to the local cafe for your breakfast like the whole of albert square does.

Would someone like Ian Beale with all his business really use the laundrette?

If people honestly think the present story line alond with everything else is what real life is all about then they are a sandwich short of a picnic.

Rockbird · 06/01/2011 15:46

But May didn't actually kidnap Dawn's baby. That's the crux of it.

The main problem with Eastenders is that they paint themselves as responsible, go all out to say that they have researched particular issues, taken advice, are sensitive and are ensure that they are portraying things realistically. I'm thinking of the various little Mo domestic violence scenes, the Whitney and Tony child abuse etc to name a couple. Then they go all out to do something as sensationalist and crass as this and when challenged they say it's only fiction don't get your knickers in a knot. They can't have it both ways, they either want to be taken seriously for realistic drama or they should be honest and say sod that, we're out for big storylines and high ratings.

mommmmyof2 · 06/01/2011 15:48

I have never experienced anything like it and hope i never do, and to anyone who has lost a baby then I can only say it must be the most horrific thing to got through for any parent.

EE likes to push boudaries but it is very hard to watch, i think the problem for me is there just seems to be too much negativity based around Ronnies character and just once it would not have hurt for them to be happy!

Real or not real, people who watch do get involved, i for one think it is sad but i do watch it so then that is my own choice.

Maybe though instead of the usual thing EE does which is to drag on a story line, this time they can wrap the whole baby swapping thing sooner rather than later.

cumbria81 · 06/01/2011 15:49

I agree

What about Shakespeare and Wagner and Greek tragedies? Awful things happen in those plays. It's fiction.

PixieOnaLeaf · 06/01/2011 15:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

travellingwilbury · 06/01/2011 15:50

If this had been portrayed in an hour long drama it would have still made me cross but not to the extent this has made me .

The fact is EE do try and put themselves out there as educating and informing the nation and while most of us know that to be Bollocks there are still a lot of people who think it is true .
This is not the way a mum would react on finding her dead son .
Find dead son - check
Scream the most awful not human noise you have ever heard - Nah!
Ring 999 maybe - nah
Wander over the road with dead baby and swap him for my neighbours ? - Yes !

The whole thing is ridiculous and the reason that I personally have complained is I am sick of seeing bereaved mums depicted as deranged nutters .

This is the straw that has broken my back rather than being a one off story .

diddl · 06/01/2011 15:52

I can see why people have been affected by SIDs are outraged.

And I have already been flamed for saying this, but I don´t think that EE are saying "this is how all bereaved mothers act", but rather "this is how our fictional character reacts"

Because it´ll get more ratings this way.

meantosay · 06/01/2011 15:53

As someone else has said, Coronation Street had a storyline where a new born baby died in his cot and the deranged with grief mother stole another baby and ran out of the hospital and threw herself under a truck. I can't remember so much consternation over that storyline even though it was pretty similar.

Rockbird · 06/01/2011 15:54

Shakespeare didn't profess to be a point of reference for how to live your life. EE likes to think it is...when it suits them.

I think if May had given Dawn the c section she was threatening to there would have been an outcry about that too. But it was publicised before that they weren't going to do that.

meantosay · 06/01/2011 15:55

I'm sorry, but who on earth would see EE as a point of reference for how to live your life?????

Rockbird · 06/01/2011 15:56

The Corrie storyline was a while back now (google tells me 98-2000), people may well have complained but the internet makes it a hell of a lot easier and more obvious. It's not really helpful to compare the two.

Rockbird · 06/01/2011 15:56

sorry, that wasn't meant to sound as snotty as it did Blush

travellingwilbury · 06/01/2011 15:56

I think that is the point meanttosay we can all remember some story of "mum loses baby and turns into nutter"
Where are all the "mum loses baby and remains a strong and dignified prescence to those around her" ?

Those are the women I know and just once it would be nice to see one on the tv .

MassiveKnob · 06/01/2011 15:56

Since when has eastenders professed to be a point of reference for how to live your life? God help us if that is so!

Rockbird · 06/01/2011 15:57

They like to think it is, that's the point.

meantosay · 06/01/2011 15:57

I don't remember any complaints at the time. Certainly nothing like the storm of protest in the newspapers.

nikki1978 · 06/01/2011 15:58

I think Eastenders is the most miserable heap of horseshit ever. I say don't watch it.

I haven't watched what has been happening but knowing people who have lost children I can see they are skating on thin ice when it comes to upsetting people.

meantosay · 06/01/2011 15:58

Travell

I take your point but, in fairness to EE, they did do a very realistic storyline when Sue and Ali lost their baby to a cot death.

Rockbird, When did EE say or imply they were a point of reference?? They have always professed to be a drama.

mommmmyof2 · 06/01/2011 15:59

I just think EE on a whole is far fetched, I think they seem to think the worse the story line the more viewers, and sad but true it works.
I just think some things need to be treated with more care, like this story.I can understand why people get uset and offended.

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