I agree with all these points you guys have raised!

 

I think the main problem with the show Series 6 onwards is that it has become lazy. Around the time it won the National Television Award, it seems the BBC became complacent and assumed that fans would stick with the show just because of its past popularity.

 

I takes a lot more thought, effort and creativity to create a show which was as high quality as Series 1 & 2. Developing believable characters who we actually care about is much harder than writing for one-dimensional characters like Simon and Sue. I suppose, if a show still attracts 4-5 million viewers regularly after four series, then it's not surprising that the quality will drop off a bit because of complacency. Hence the situation the show has found itself in now!

 

The significant drop in viewing figures will probably result in one of three things: 1) it will carry on as it is and figures will probably level off at around 2 million 2) producers will aim to improve the show in order to raise viewing figures or 3) it will be axed.

 

I think option 3) is best in Waterloo Road's case. It all seems a bit pointless now... starting off as a seriously run-down school in the middle of Rochdale to now being a Scottish school which does rather well and doesn't seem anywhere near as rough! And, even though Tom and Grantly weren't given much to do from Series 8 onwards, their loss - and the fact that there are not only no originals left but also no characters pre-Series 7, just makes it feel very empty.

I agree with all these points you guys have raised!

 

I think the main problem with the show Series 6 onwards is that it has become lazy. Around the time it won the National Television Award, it seems the BBC became complacent and assumed that fans would stick with the show just because of its past popularity.

 

I takes a lot more thought, effort and creativity to create a show which was as high quality as Series 1 & 2. Developing believable characters who we actually care about is much harder than writing for one-dimensional characters like Simon and Sue. I suppose, if a show still attracts 4-5 million viewers regularly after four series, then it's not surprising that the quality will drop off a bit because of complacency. Hence the situation the show has found itself in now!

 

The significant drop in viewing figures will probably result in one of three things: 1) it will carry on as it is and figures will probably level off at around 2 million 2) producers will aim to improve the show in order to raise viewing figures or 3) it will be axed.

 

I think option 3) is best in Waterloo Road's case. It all seems a bit pointless now... starting off as a seriously run-down school in the middle of Rochdale to now being a Scottish school which does rather well and doesn't seem anywhere near as rough! And, even though Tom and Grantly weren't given much to do from Series 8 onwards, their loss - and the fact that there are not only no originals left but also no characters pre-Series 7, just makes it feel very empty.

Completely agree with all of what you've said. The show really did decline in quality from series 6 onwards, and the fact that they've now banished all of the original characters in a bid to claim that the show is "always changing its dynamic" is just pathetic - it is no longer 'Waterloo Road', it's just a show about some silly antics in a school now. There is less and less being shown of the characters' personal lives, and that will only continue. I think it's fair to say 'Waterloo Road' ended after Waterloo Road Reunited was broadcast, showing the characters now in their lives outside of the school.

 

It's a shame because it probably remains my second favourite show on TV, but it's not supportable any more. The only commendable era(s) are series 1-5, and then after that there are only a few highlights.

 

I think we're due a Waterloo Road Rate, TBH.

Completely agree with all of what you've said. The show really did decline in quality from series 6 onwards, and the fact that they've now banished all of the original characters in a bid to claim that the show is "always changing its dynamic" is just pathetic - it is no longer 'Waterloo Road', it's just a show about some silly antics in a school now. There is less and less being shown of the characters' personal lives, and that will only continue. I think it's fair to say 'Waterloo Road' ended after Waterloo Road Reunited was broadcast, showing the characters now in their lives outside of the school.

 

It's a shame because it probably remains my second favourite show on TV, but it's not supportable any more. The only commendable era(s) are series 1-5, and then after that there are only a few highlights.

 

I think we're due a Waterloo Road Rate, TBH.

 

You've hit the nail on the head there - in the earlier series, the general running of the school was only really in the background and the personal lives of both staff and pupils was at the forefront. Now the show seems to centre on how a school should be run, with the odd personal story popping up here and there. For instance, the whole episode with Nikki's daughter took place inside the school - why wouldn't her daughter have gone to Nikki's house instead? It would have been nice to see Nikki away from the school and in her own environment, but that whole mother/daughter story fell flat because it all took place in school. (In fact, we've never even seen where Nikki lives, have we?!)

 

That's probably why the show seems to insist on 'reinventing' itself, because that's essentially what happens in schools, but producers don't seem to have realised that the reason viewers tuned in each week was to see certain characters - I fell in love with it because of Steph, Rachel, Kim, Tom, Grantly, Sambuca both at work and at home etc. etc. I didn't fall in love with it because I wanted to see the inside of a school the whole time and see silly class projects and budget meetings! The running of the school now seems to be bigger than the characters.

 

There's still a lot of potential with the show, but it doesn't show any signs of reverting to how it used to be, in fact it seems to be running in the complete opposite direction!

 

Oh dear me :(

 

The preview for next week's episode looks pretty dire. It won't let me post a link but you can find it on the BBC Waterloo Road website.

 

Evidently Waterloo Road is now aimed at primary school children!

Oh dear me :(

 

The preview for next week's episode looks pretty dire. It won't let me post a link but you can find it on the BBC Waterloo Road website.

 

Evidently Waterloo Road is now aimed at primary school children!

I did watch that and it does look sappy. :lol: I suppose that's the kind of thing you WOULD get in an ordinary school - but that's what the show seems to have forgotten. This isn't an 'ordinary school', it's 'Waterloo Road'. That whole basis is lost. :(

I hope the series ends with Linda Radleigh coming back and blowing up the school with everyone still inside. That goddess deserved so much more than a mere 8 episodes!!!

 

I couldn't take her seriously though. I kept expecting her to pull out Heather in one her classes and start singing...

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-veYiMGltmSw/URWxIO-X69I/AAAAAAAADMQ/zT33hYrZnGs/s640/proud.gif

I couldn't take her seriously though. I kept expecting her to pull out Heather in one her classes and start singing...

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-veYiMGltmSw/URWxIO-X69I/AAAAAAAADMQ/zT33hYrZnGs/s640/proud.gif

 

Or for Miranda to randomly appear from nowhere! I liked Linda, it was a shame she wasn't in it for long, but she was only really used for comedy (even the attempted murder of Michael was humorous!)

 

So, I watched Series 2 Episode 8 last night and it was so good. Loving the relationship between Steph and Maxine, especially the scene in the car at the rubbish dump.

 

Watching Series 2 and Series 9 together really is like watching two different shows!

 

 

I'm sorry but that was without a doubt the worst episode of Waterloo Road ever. Maybe even one of the worst episodes of television either. I felt utterly embarrassed watching it. :unsure: :lol:

Edited October 24, 201311 yr by Connor.

There are honestly no words for that episode... :lol: It was so TERRIBLE but it was so AMAZING at the same time. :rofl:

It was seriously rubbish tonight.

Oh dear! Please just put the show out of its misery...

What on earth was that episode all about? I admit, I switched off after 15 minutes... too cringey for words! I instead watched more of Series 2 :P

 

This show really needs to end. Sad times but true! Or, alternatively, maybe they could carry on making it but just transmit it on CBBC or something haha.

Or, alternatively, maybe they could carry on making it but just transmit it on CBBC or something haha.

If they carry on with episodes like that, they really should consider that. :lol: I think a lot of the actors would leave if that were the case, though. They're all under the impression they're dealing with serious issues but at the same time keeping the show light-hearted, so if it moved to CBBC they'd probably feel different about the show...

 

Next week's does look like an improvement, though.

If they carry on with episodes like that, they really should consider that. :lol: I think a lot of the actors would leave if that were the case, though. They're all under the impression they're dealing with serious issues but at the same time keeping the show light-hearted, so if it moved to CBBC they'd probably feel different about the show...

 

Next week's does look like an improvement, though.

 

Good point, actually. I didn't see the preview for the next episode - what's it looking like? I'm so undecided whether to carry on watching this show or not. I feel like I should out of duty haha. I might dip in and out - let's hope this kind of episode was a one-off and never happens again!

Good point, actually. I didn't see the preview for the next episode - what's it looking like? I'm so undecided whether to carry on watching this show or not. I feel like I should out of duty haha. I might dip in and out - let's hope this kind of episode was a one-off and never happens again!

It looks great, although apparently the storyline is a supply teacher taking Lenny away fishing and he ends up being somebody he's not made himself out to be... It's Janeece and Wilson all over again.

It looks great, although apparently the storyline is a supply teacher taking Lenny away fishing and he ends up being somebody he's not made himself out to be... It's Janeece and Wilson all over again.

 

Just seen the preview and it does look a lot better. However, like you said, it's just more repetitions. There is a serious lack of originality with this show now - pretty much everything has been seen or done before in some way or another.

 

And I know they made a conscious effort to up the 'humour' in this series, but it really doesn't work! It's so cringeworthy most of the time. The humour in the early series worked so well because it was set against the gritty storylines so it created a nice balance. Last night's episode really was the worst I can ever recall seeing.

Viewing figures up this week from 2.61m to 2.97m according to Digital Spy.

Viewing figures up this week from 2.61m to 2.97m according to Digital Spy.

 

That's still pretty terrible. I can't believe how much viewers have dropped off in the last few series. It's hard to think a couple of series ago it was regularly hitting 5 million, occasionally even 6!

It's hard to believe that the show's highest viewing figures (for a series on average) is series 7 which had 5.1m viewers on average throughout the series. I suppose that's down to the increase in episodes from 20 to 30 - with the next highest being series 3 which had 5.0m viewers on average with only 20 episodes.

That episode was so poor it was actually funny. They really have run out of ideas haven't they?!