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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not understand the point of watching soaps.

71 replies

robotlollypopman · 12/08/2011 21:29

I have no problem with them per se. I do think they're ricockulous with the levels of unrealism but my biggest gripe is this: When was the last time anything was left a surprise? TV mags and newspapers tell you everything that happens before you watch it. And with the exception of June Brown, the acting isn't even that good (I'm looking at you Nick Platt).

OP posts:
Original poster
robotlollypopman · 12/08/2011 22:07

I was obviously joking btw.

OP posts:
Original poster
robotlollypopman · 12/08/2011 22:08

About my wife being lucky that is, not the soaps. In truth, she's long suffering.

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 12/08/2011 22:09

I only started watching it again after Grant and Phil returned Wink.

Phil still does it for me Blush

Original poster
robotlollypopman · 12/08/2011 22:13

Phil? Really? I think that makes you a Steve-fuck Mad 'un.

OP posts:
GreenEyesandHam · 12/08/2011 22:14

Also a big secret was who shot Phil Mitchell.

I like the soaps, you can dip in and out at will.

I think some of the acting is great, current faves are Denise in EE, and Norris, Mary and Julie in Corrie Blush

corriefan · 12/08/2011 22:15

I hardly watch them anymore, but as you could prob guess corrie was my fave. I loved the dry one liners- Blanche was full of them and the quirky characters like Roy. I loved it when steve was with Karen and he'd hold her handbag while she was gobbing off at someone, little touches like that! There was also the obvious needing to find out what happened next. It's on too much though! I think doing an evening class on a Monday when they're on for hours was the final nail.

LadyBeagleEyes · 12/08/2011 22:21

I used to watch Corrie all the time but after East Enders arrived, they all decided to go with utterly depresssing gritty story lines.
I find them endlessly miserable and soul destroying now, though OP is correct, you just have to watch daytime telly or pick up a tabloid, or even read mumsnet and you can keep up with them all.
It also helps if you have a mother that discusses every detail of every soap on television everytime you phone her.

CalmaLlamaDown · 12/08/2011 23:08

A while ago, i read a study that said people that regularly watched soap operas were happier on average than those who did not. i recomend using sky+ and fast forwarding the boring bits.

M0naLisa · 12/08/2011 23:22

There has been a few times in soaps when things have happened that hasnt been reported.
Who shot phil
who killed archie
Danielle dying
the denise storyline in Enders.

Some of us like to get away from our own lives and watch soaps to unwind.

redexpat · 12/08/2011 23:23

Bradley died? SadConfused

EightiesChick · 12/08/2011 23:23

As corriefan mentioned above, I have no problem with soaps in terms of content but I don't watch any primarily because I would never be able to keep up - they are on so often. I remember the days when Corrie and EastEnders were both on 'only' twice a week and that was manageable. Now as far as I can tell, three times a week is the minimum and about every month there's some kind of special run where one is on every night of the week for an hour. It just looks like work to have to keep up. Stuff that's on once a week suits me best as I have a chance of keeping pace then and even that's with the Sky+ box rammed full Grin

Fiendishlie · 12/08/2011 23:33

Agreed, they are just on sooo often. I work full time, if I wasted my time watching 2 hours of crap every night nothing else would ever get done.

M0naLisa · 12/08/2011 23:34

yeah redexpat bradley died in Feb 2010. He fell from the roof of the Vic during the live episode.

Original poster
robotlollypopman · 12/08/2011 23:38

Hang on..... Was reading back through the thread and re-read this.

''I think you are thinking of the live episode of Eastenders, in which Bradley died, they filmed three endings.''

How did they film 3 endings if it was a live episode?

OP posts:
M0naLisa · 12/08/2011 23:40

Because they only decided which one to go with half hour before it aired on TV. So the actress had only done rehearsals knowing that it might not be her ending they finished with but in the end they went with The Stacey killing Archie ending.

giraffesCantZumba · 12/08/2011 23:40

i dont read the mags so really dont know what will happen. I enjoy the mindless viewing of corrie after a long day bu work

ravenAK · 12/08/2011 23:44

Nice half hour of chewing gum for the eyes after putting dc to bed.

Also I would quite like to do very rude things to Cain Dingle.

usualsuspect · 12/08/2011 23:46

Cain Dingle is mine ,so gerrof him

CurrySpice · 12/08/2011 23:53

I don't watch any soaps but I am a big fan of the Archers

I find the pictures better and I've learned a lot about silage over the years

Whatmeworry · 12/08/2011 23:59

I used to watch soaps a bit until I discovered Internet chat groups (like MumsNet) :o

They are just mental chewing gum though.

ravenAK · 13/08/2011 00:05
Grin
M0naLisa · 13/08/2011 00:25

yeah cain dingle is quite shagable isnt he?! lol

Nihilisticbunny · 13/08/2011 00:37

I do get why people watch them tbh, you get drawn in, and it's not like a once a week drama where you have to wait for the climax, there are multiple storylines running simultaneously. Actually they sound great, I should watch, but I don't, I'm just not interested.

We lived with Mil for 2 years who was a soap addict, and I grew up watching Corrie and Eastenders. After we moved I don't think I have watched a full episode of any soap.

I'm not snobby about them, they just don't interest me, although I do know what is happening on casualty as we have been watching that for the last few weeks, fook all else on you see.

I get your point regarding spoilers, that does seem a bit daft.

islawhiter · 13/08/2011 00:47

Whatever happens during the year with the gritty storylines and everyone falling out with each other in Eastenders they always go down the pub on Xmas Day and have a sing song and put their arms round each other, aahhh!

Tortington · 13/08/2011 00:48

SOAPS are shit and are generally made for stupid people Grin