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What should happen now - Eastenders baby swap story

221 replies

PotPourri · 06/01/2011 21:57

MNHQ have done us proud and taken a stand on our behalf. So what do we want Justine to tell the producer should happen now?

My own view: The only way I would accept is to reverse: make it a dream. It could be a from the point where Ronnie finds her dead baby. Maybe a sleeping sedated Ronnie is trying desperately to 'fix' the situation in her dream, but realising that there is no way to fix it. Then it could flash back to what really happened - the sensitively handled real life traumatic event - an unearthly roar, dialling 999, collapsing with grief, being sedated (hence the crazy dream)

And a public apology from the bbc to viewers and licence payers. And an apology to FSID for abuse of their name.

Reversing and admitting they messed up big style is the only outcome that will show integrity

OP posts:
deemented · 10/01/2011 14:53

Lol, i know.

And tbh, i doubt SW is as cut up about it as she'd like us believe - after all, she's got to work after EE.

But that's another thread, another time.

softnstrong · 10/01/2011 16:31

Didn't the babies look different? HOW did they do the swap and everyone believes it was baby Tommy who died?

2catsand1rabbit · 10/01/2011 16:32

There was a similar storyline in 'Footballer's wives' but I didn't see anyone complain. In fact it was worse. I switched off in disguist HOWEVER you need to remember it is NOT real life. Just switch off like I did with 'Footballer's wives'.

deemented · 10/01/2011 16:33

Because the babies were wearing the same clothes as each other. And Kat said she'd not seen much of Tommy, then was taken into hospital, and Jack hadn't seen baby James as he was in Dubai when he was born.

Or something.

deemented · 10/01/2011 16:34

Thank you for your very helpful and insightful post, 2catsand1rabbit. I'll be sure to remember that in future Smile

wannaBe · 10/01/2011 16:58

so now the actors aren't behaving as people think they should? Hmm

Seriously what do people expect? that actors involved in upsetting storylines should take their work home with them, be seen to be emotional over the stories they film?

The ridiculousness of the storyline aside, they're actors. It's their job - it's what they do. They play a role, act out a story, and then they move on. And it is a fictitious funeral for a fictitious baby - yes it's an upsetting storyline but once the storyline has been filmed they switch off the cameras and walk off the set with the doll that plays the part of the dead baby.

If every actor took every depressing storyline to heart the whole cast of EE would surely have been committed by now.

I'm not making comment about peoples' reactions to the storyline. But getting annoyed because the actors involved in the storyline don't appear to be upset after having filmed the scenes is a bit mad.

2shoes · 10/01/2011 16:59

wannabe you are not wrong.

HereMeRoar · 10/01/2011 17:15

No, you misunderstood. It was a response to all the media coverage insisting how upset they were, especially Samantha. I didn't say they ought to feel upset. Although, tbh, I am suprised by parents who don't think the concept of the storyline is sickening.

HereMeRoar · 10/01/2011 17:17

No actually, I take that last bit back. I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed.

wannaBe · 10/01/2011 17:25

ah, fair enough hmr.

I do think the concept of the storyline is horrendous tbh but I haven't watched it and don't intend to start.

But tbh I find it harder to watch storylines that are more credible (which this one clearly isn't) because you can empathise with the characters, which tbh when the storyline is completely far-fetched is harder to do and I find myself sitting shouting at the screen "oh ffs what a load of shite." Grin

But e.g. there's currently a storyline in casualty where one of the nurses is involved in a dv storyline where she is being beaten up by her husband and there have been scenes where he has hit her/where there is an outside shot and you can hear her screams as he's beating her up. I find that pretty hard to watch, tbh because A women do go through that sort of thing, and B I just want to pummel his head in! Angry And I've read somewhere that he's going to kill her and I really hope not, but if he is then I think I'd like to know so I can avoid watching it.

Notbyalongchalk · 10/01/2011 17:42

HereMeRoar can you explain why all parents should find the storyline sickening? This is a genuine question coming from someone who doesn't and has discussed in RL with many who don't either?

EvilTwins · 10/01/2011 18:56

HMR - I genuinely think you're going a bit OTT now. You're not the moral guardian of the world, and have no right whatsoever to be so unpleasantly judgemental. Really - anyone who doesn't agree with you is "disappointing".

In fact, I think it's all going a bit far now. I get that the storyline is upsetting, and particularly for those who have had to go through this themselves. BUT, criticising the actors for not being full of misery after a day's filming is ridiculous. Sam Womack may have said that EE has "ruined her life" but I suspect that's more to do with the nutjob who had a go at her in the street and the fact that she can't open a newspaper without seeing some kind of criticism of her morals than the fact that they gave her a harrowing storyline. Dare I suggest that she, and some of the others involved, might actually think that the opportunity to play something so emotionally charged is a good opportunity for them to showcase their talents? FFS, if actors only agreed to storylines they felt were unlikely to offend, TV would be one long episode of "Dad's Army". Are actors supposed to turn down some of the most important roles ever created (Lady Macbeth, Hedda Gabler, Abigail Williams) on the grounds that the characters' behaviour is morally beyond the pale? And are actors supposed to be mired in misery for the entirety of the run? On this point, I strongly urge those who are criticising the EE actors for not being miserable enough once the cameras stop rolling to get real.

MsFox · 10/01/2011 19:17

2catsand1rabbit Mon 10-Jan-11 16:32:11
There was a similar storyline in 'Footballer's wives' but I didn't see anyone complain. In fact it was worse

Just a couple of points on this

  • it wasn't pre-watershed
  • it was shown on ITV, not the BBC with it's mission statement "To enrich people's lives with programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain."
  • I doubt they sort advice from a chaity, nor did they offer an advice line at the end of the programme, as if to normalise that sort of behaviour.
  • it wasn't shown on New Years Eve.

Perhaps if one of more of these points had been applied, it may have had some complaints?

HereMeRoar · 10/01/2011 19:20

NBALC I dunno. Are you a mother? I thought it was obvious what's up with this plot.

The idea of a mother abandoning the body of the baby she has literally just discovered to have died and wandering off with her neighbours baby, which she then does not return, despite knowing that they believe it be dead and thereby putting them through hell. It is just a sickening idea. It's sickening to think of abandoning your own baby who you've moments ago discovered to have died. It's sickening to think of picking up someone else's baby and keeping it (even if you did take it 'accidentally') and allowing them to think it's dead. I think it's plainly obvious what's wrong with all these ideas and so do plenty of other people.

Some, clearly disagree and so I think I will leave this thread here.

Eviltwins: read my last post. You have misunderstood. Oh and have a Biscuit Smile.

fragilerock · 10/01/2011 19:24

Thank you piranhamorgana. It was meant for the blog but the registering page was down. No I'm not a journo! - I just tried to put down how I think this storyline has caused offence - and what the real, 'rw' problems are for those who didn't get to turn off in time.

EvilTwins · 10/01/2011 19:38

HMR - thanks. Jammy dodgers are one of my faves. Grin

carolelove · 10/01/2011 20:24

How about we all just stop watching this dreary, poorly acted, offensive twaddle, that rarely gets any human response right let alone appropriate.
it really has plumbed the depths this time and i fail to see how any one could judge this entertainmemnt.

IAmReallyFabNow · 10/01/2011 20:34

I just want the story over with. Jessie Wallace has been amazing.

beachholiday · 10/01/2011 20:42

Grin at deemented's line at 16:34. Putting that on my cut and paste. That couldve saved me a lot of typing over the last 10 days Grin

MummieHunnie · 10/01/2011 22:33

I wonder if someone could help me please, as I am confused by reporting in the press.

I know they have changed the storyline to give a shorter ending to the story of the baby swap/kidnap.

I read that the baby will be given back at the funeral, that is in a few days time, is that right?

Winsister · 10/01/2011 22:48

The funeral is 2moro. I hope that happens. What people are forgetting is that this is just one of MANY storylines, its made up, Its about how Ronnie has coped/hasn't coped with the trauma of the last year and then losing a baby, everyone has complained about it and it is just a pretend story!!!!!!!!!!

beachholiday · 10/01/2011 22:56

Thanks winsisiter. We had all forgotten it was a pretend story. So thats ok then.

deemented · 11/01/2011 08:35

No, they say they have shortend the storyline, to now finish in May, but given that Samantha Womack's contract ran out in May anyway, they we're always gpoing to end it then.

NorwegianMoon · 11/01/2011 13:32

if i was rewriting the plot kat would get a postmortem done and would be informed it isnt her baby. shed put two and two together and goes round to see ronnie. ronni cries admits its all true and how she only wants grieve for her baby and hands kat back her child. everyone finds out but kat decides not tell the police as she has experienced the pain of the loss of a child and leaves ronnie with guilt of what shes done to live with. everyone returns to normal and ronnie has a tasteful funeral. she grieves for child becomes a born again good person and goes on to get pregnant again and all is well.

i cant work out what the hospital do though.

MNHQ
KatieMumsnet · 11/01/2011 17:29

Update on EastEnders meeting is here