Haha Liam, I'll do my best not to watch them too fast!

 

That's interesting that Ann McManus does still write for the show, Calum. It must be strange for her - it says at the start of each show that she and Maureen created it, I wonder if Ann herself has recognised how far the show she made has dropped in terms of quality? I wouldn't be surprised if the decent episodes these days are written by Ann! When did Liz replace Maureen?

 

I just think there's so many missed opportunities with the show these days, but that might be down to its relocation to Scotland. Grantly's furneral, for instance, was the perfect opportunity to bring back old favourites such as Steph and Ruby, and maybe some former pupils. Granted, they did bring back Tariq, but he was in just a handful of scenes so there really wasn't much point to that! I honestly think that if Denise Welch returned on a permanent basis then the show would be tons better. I'm not ashamed to admit that she was one of the best things about the show! She was so funny, but also had a real connection with the pupils that really came into its own especially with Maxine moving in with her (this is where I'm up to on Series 2 now). There's a chance she could return, but it's not likely now that the show has relocated.

 

I'm intrigued by Neil Pearson taking over as the new head teacher, as well. He seems like a good actor. Hopefully Christine is demoted and sticks with the show, maybe goes back on the booze and has a relapse now that she's not head anymore? Her storyline in Series 8 was probably the best one.

 

They also need to get rid of Sue and Simon! Awful characters. She is so one-dimensional it's crazy, she's like a parody of Lorna! Simon had potential, but so far he just seems creepy and try-hard.

She's bound to know herself that the quality of the show has rapidly decreased since the show moved to Scotland, and since Maureen left. Ann's written a lot of episodes with Eileen Gallagher too, who seems to be like Liz Lake, but the last episode(s) Maureen wrote were for series 5 - and it was after that time that the quality of the show started to decline, so I think that's a big factor right there. It's probably more Eileen that has replaced Maureen, because they've written a lot of episodes together (some more than one at a time), but Liz is still quite prominent apparently - but in answer to your question: just after series 5.

 

I do agree with you about Grantly's funeral - that was such a good opportunity for them to bring back some of the show's greats like Steph (I mean... she was his best friend, just because they're in Scotland it doesn't mean the Rochdale characters don't exist any more :drama:), and bringing Rachel back would just have been AMAZING. Is Ruby really viewed as a favourite, though? :lol: I really hated her when she was on the show, especially when she slapped Rachel in 5.19 and was trying to steal Adam, etc - she was nothing but a moaning faced shit and an up-tight bitch most of the time. I do agree with you that bringing Denise Welch back would probably work wonders for the show, and she's quit Loose Women and isn't exactly doing anything else with her life right now, so now would be a perfect opportunity, but they probably don't even want her back. :(

 

I do think Christine will probably have an alcohol relapse when she doesn't get the job (but hopefully she has it from 9.11 to 9.30 before Neil comes to the helm in series 10). I'm not sure I'm keen on him as Head though, and I've not really been keen on any of the male leads. Jack was probably the best but Michael was just a complete NO. :lol: Rachel is the best by far (you'll see why when you get to her era, Simon). Completely agree about Sue and Simon though, the pair of them are just terrible. Simon would have been alright if he wasn't a villain, but I guess they just want him to be Max Tyler pt. II - and Sue is Helen Hopewell pt. II.

She's bound to know herself that the quality of the show has rapidly decreased since the show moved to Scotland, and since Maureen left. Ann's written a lot of episodes with Eileen Gallagher too, who seems to be like Liz Lake, but the last episode(s) Maureen wrote were for series 5 - and it was after that time that the quality of the show started to decline, so I think that's a big factor right there. It's probably more Eileen that has replaced Maureen, because they've written a lot of episodes together (some more than one at a time), but Liz is still quite prominent apparently - but in answer to your question: just after series 5.

 

I do agree with you about Grantly's funeral - that was such a good opportunity for them to bring back some of the show's greats like Steph (I mean... she was his best friend, just because they're in Scotland it doesn't mean the Rochdale characters don't exist any more :drama:), and bringing Rachel back would just have been AMAZING. Is Ruby really viewed as a favourite, though? :lol: I really hated her when she was on the show, especially when she slapped Rachel in 5.19 and was trying to steal Adam, etc - she was nothing but a moaning faced shit and an up-tight bitch most of the time. I do agree with you that bringing Denise Welch back would probably work wonders for the show, and she's quit Loose Women and isn't exactly doing anything else with her life right now, so now would be a perfect opportunity, but they probably don't even want her back. :(

 

I do think Christine will probably have an alcohol relapse when she doesn't get the job (but hopefully she has it from 9.11 to 9.30 before Neil comes to the helm in series 10). I'm not sure I'm keen on him as Head though, and I've not really been keen on any of the male leads. Jack was probably the best but Michael was just a complete NO. :lol: Rachel is the best by far (you'll see why when you get to her era, Simon). Completely agree about Sue and Simon though, the pair of them are just terrible. Simon would have been alright if he wasn't a villain, but I guess they just want him to be Max Tyler pt. II - and Sue is Helen Hopewell pt. II.

 

Wow, so Maureen's exit as a writer for the show coincided exactly with the show's demise! It seems pretty evident that the two things are connected then.

 

I absolutely loved Ruby but I think that was because I like the actress Elizabeth Berrington. Plus I liked her and Steph's friendship and the arguments that Ruby had with Rachel were great because of their contrasting personalities, but overall I suppose she isn't looked back on as a WR legend. Her and Grantly's friendship was pretty good, too.

 

I think you're right about saying the producers probably don't want Steph to come back - in fact, it seems like there has been a cull on nearly all the Rochdale characters apart from Maggie and Harley. I can't see Maggie being in it for much longer, as without Grantly I can't see her having an awful lot of story lines. Harley was really good in Grantly's final episode, but overall his character is quite dull and I can't see them doing much with him. It's mad that in just two series we've got a near-on complete new cast :o

 

Another good idea would be for them to bring back Scout. She left to become a Teaching Assistant, didn't she? If so, there's a great window for her to return. I think the actress is in Coronation Street right now though so that probably won't happen! I know she was just a replacement for Sambuca (she came into it the episode after Sam died funnily enough!) but she was a really good character.

 

I agree, I think the male leads aren't as strong as the female. Michael was dire, worst head by far (talk about dull!). I've seen the second half of Rachel's era, and I'm excited to see her first series as Head. Neil Pearson might be good, though, I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I was going to stop watching the show but I think I'll stick with it to the bitter end as it is still fairly good now and again, and I do think Series 9 has had its good bits. I can definitely see it ending after Series 10, though.

 

If it does end, I'd love to see a new school drama that emulates the original Waterloo Road!

Wow, so Maureen's exit as a writer for the show coincided exactly with the show's demise! It seems pretty evident that the two things are connected then.

 

I absolutely loved Ruby but I think that was because I like the actress Elizabeth Berrington. Plus I liked her and Steph's friendship and the arguments that Ruby had with Rachel were great because of their contrasting personalities, but overall I suppose she isn't looked back on as a WR legend. Her and Grantly's friendship was pretty good, too.

 

I think you're right about saying the producers probably don't want Steph to come back - in fact, it seems like there has been a cull on nearly all the Rochdale characters apart from Maggie and Harley. I can't see Maggie being in it for much longer, as without Grantly I can't see her having an awful lot of story lines. Harley was really good in Grantly's final episode, but overall his character is quite dull and I can't see them doing much with him. It's mad that in just two series we've got a near-on complete new cast :o

 

Another good idea would be for them to bring back Scout. She left to become a Teaching Assistant, didn't she? If so, there's a great window for her to return. I think the actress is in Coronation Street right now though so that probably won't happen! I know she was just a replacement for Sambuca (she came into it the episode after Sam died funnily enough!) but she was a really good character.

 

I agree, I think the male leads aren't as strong as the female. Michael was dire, worst head by far (talk about dull!). I've seen the second half of Rachel's era, and I'm excited to see her first series as Head. Neil Pearson might be good, though, I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I was going to stop watching the show but I think I'll stick with it to the bitter end as it is still fairly good now and again, and I do think Series 9 has had its good bits. I can definitely see it ending after Series 10, though.

 

If it does end, I'd love to see a new school drama that emulates the original Waterloo Road!

Yep, there has to be some sort of connection between the two - and I think I preferred a lot of the episodes that Ann and Maureen wrote together as opposed to those currently being written by Ann and Eileen (most of the Ann and Eileen episodes are series 8 episodes and while that series had its moments, it was quite abysmal at points). I really like Elisabeth Berrington normally (I loved her in 'Northern Lights' (if that's what it was called?), but I guess the character was just really irritating in this! :lol: I suppose they kind of hoped she would be the new Steph for Grantly when they faded Steph out at the end of series 5, but she was never going to be that. And she just kind of... disappeared suddenly when the character did leave.

 

It's strange to think that of the people left on the show from when it was in Rochdale, Harley is the longest serving cast member. :lol: I don't think Maggie will last much longer, nor will Harley. It seems as though Harley's been in the same year at school since he was introduced to the show, and I think they'll have a grieving period for Maggie, have her settle in, maybe find a new love interest that won't go down well at all, have the school house close and then finally have her character leave - although I imagine it'll be sped up a lot more than that and I can see her leaving in series 10, probably. And agreed about Scout, it was so obvious that they attempted to make her the new Sambuca after she had been faded out - she turned into the exact same girl coming from a rough background but with bright ambitions. I suppose the only thing they did to alter their characters was have Scout with a happy ending (apart from her mum dying). I don't think I'd want her to return permanently but a Bolton-style return would be good for the character.

 

I probably shouldn't make a pre-judgement but I don't think I'm going to like Neil at all as the Head. There's just something off-putting about him, like there was with Michael (I had known him previously from 'Hope Springs' - the drama with Alex Kingston, and he was a bit of an arse in that which put me off the actor, and he was always just a bit unnerving in the role of Michael). There's just something about women in power on the show, and Rachel was AMAZING at that. While Karen wasn't exactly the best of Heads, she had her moments and was utterly brilliant at times; and the one thing that I LONGED for that never happened was seeing Sian become the permanent head because she's probably my second favourite character to have ever been on the show, just behind Rachel. :(

Yep, there has to be some sort of connection between the two - and I think I preferred a lot of the episodes that Ann and Maureen wrote together as opposed to those currently being written by Ann and Eileen (most of the Ann and Eileen episodes are series 8 episodes and while that series had its moments, it was quite abysmal at points). I really like Elisabeth Berrington normally (I loved her in 'Northern Lights' (if that's what it was called?), but I guess the character was just really irritating in this! :lol: I suppose they kind of hoped she would be the new Steph for Grantly when they faded Steph out at the end of series 5, but she was never going to be that. And she just kind of... disappeared suddenly when the character did leave.

 

It's strange to think that of the people left on the show from when it was in Rochdale, Harley is the longest serving cast member. :lol: I don't think Maggie will last much longer, nor will Harley. It seems as though Harley's been in the same year at school since he was introduced to the show, and I think they'll have a grieving period for Maggie, have her settle in, maybe find a new love interest that won't go down well at all, have the school house close and then finally have her character leave - although I imagine it'll be sped up a lot more than that and I can see her leaving in series 10, probably. And agreed about Scout, it was so obvious that they attempted to make her the new Sambuca after she had been faded out - she turned into the exact same girl coming from a rough background but with bright ambitions. I suppose the only thing they did to alter their characters was have Scout with a happy ending (apart from her mum dying). I don't think I'd want her to return permanently but a Bolton-style return would be good for the character.

 

I probably shouldn't make a pre-judgement but I don't think I'm going to like Neil at all as the Head. There's just something off-putting about him, like there was with Michael (I had known him previously from 'Hope Springs' - the drama with Alex Kingston, and he was a bit of an arse in that which put me off the actor, and he was always just a bit unnerving in the role of Michael). There's just something about women in power on the show, and Rachel was AMAZING at that. While Karen wasn't exactly the best of Heads, she had her moments and was utterly brilliant at times; and the one thing that I LONGED for that never happened was seeing Sian become the permanent head because she's probably my second favourite character to have ever been on the show, just behind Rachel. :(

 

Yes, I see what you mean about Ruby! I liked her in Northern Lights too, or was it called Lapland? The show with Sue Johnston? It was weird when she just disappeared to write a novel, I imagine Elizabeth left as there wasn't much further for her character to go.

 

I knew Michael from Hope Springs too (off topic but I really liked that show and it shouldn't have been axed! Wasn't the actress who played Helen Hopewell in it as well?!) I never really liked him, the close-ups on his face were especially unnerving! I actually quite liked Karen, too, but I imagine Amanda Burton left the show because of the silly storylines she was given, they didn't really stretch her to her full potential as an actress. Power women are definitely the best as Heads though. Actresses such as Amanda Redman (Sandra from New Tricks) or Amelia Bullmore (Gill from Scott & Bailey) are examples who would be great!

 

Sian was brilliant, but unfortunately she was given pretty rubbish story lines. Her husband in Series 7 (forgotten his name, PE teacher...) was such a bad match! She would have made a great Head, though. I always wonder when characters leave if it was the actor's choice or whether they were pushed / written out of it. Sian would have made more sense as a replacement for Michael, Christine felt like she had been forced into the role and only got it because of her relationship with Michael.

 

Another Series 9 character who has potential is Shaznay - she's not been in it much yet (and she does seem a bit of a Michaela Part II) but I've actually really enjoyed her scenes so far! I wonder if she'll have a storyline or whether she'll just disappear like a lot of the pupils seem to do.

 

Yes, I see what you mean about Ruby! I liked her in Northern Lights too, or was it called Lapland? The show with Sue Johnston? It was weird when she just disappeared to write a novel, I imagine Elizabeth left as there wasn't much further for her character to go.

 

I knew Michael from Hope Springs too (off topic but I really liked that show and it shouldn't have been axed! Wasn't the actress who played Helen Hopewell in it as well?!) I never really liked him, the close-ups on his face were especially unnerving! I actually quite liked Karen, too, but I imagine Amanda Burton left the show because of the silly storylines she was given, they didn't really stretch her to her full potential as an actress. Power women are definitely the best as Heads though. Actresses such as Amanda Redman (Sandra from New Tricks) or Amelia Bullmore (Gill from Scott & Bailey) are examples who would be great!

 

Sian was brilliant, but unfortunately she was given pretty rubbish story lines. Her husband in Series 7 (forgotten his name, PE teacher...) was such a bad match! She would have made a great Head, though. I always wonder when characters leave if it was the actor's choice or whether they were pushed / written out of it. Sian would have made more sense as a replacement for Michael, Christine felt like she had been forced into the role and only got it because of her relationship with Michael.

 

Another Series 9 character who has potential is Shaznay - she's not been in it much yet (and she does seem a bit of a Michaela Part II) but I've actually really enjoyed her scenes so far! I wonder if she'll have a storyline or whether she'll just disappear like a lot of the pupils seem to do.

That was it, 'Lapland' - forgot for a moment. :P And yeah, the one with Sue Johnston (on that note, she was fab in that! - wasn't Anne Reid in it too?). Helen Hopewell was indeed in 'Hope Springs' too. I do think Amanda will have left off of her own accord too. She seems like a fantastic actress (I've not watched anything else that she's been in), but the character just didn't suit her and some of the acting seemed very forced, and she was NOT a good match for Charlie at all - she was more suited to Robson Green near the end of her tenure which we didn't get to see a lot of after they hooked up. One woman aside from Eva Pope who I would love to take the role of Head is Suranne Jones. It'll never happen because she's made a name for herself now, but she's just fantastic! :wub:

 

I agree about Sian, she was given some really poor storylines, although for the most part it was her that drove them and made them as good as they could be. Jez was terrible for her, though. All of the stories with him were terrible, but I did slightly prefer her being with him than being with Michael which was just really vile to watch. Sian would have been the perfect replacement for Michael had she stayed on, but I'm glad we've had the episode we have with Christine as Head (especially 8.29 when she interrupted the Adrian Pile Show :wub:). It's so obvious that Shaznay is just an attempt at a second Michaela too, and I think if they handle it the right way they can make her a good character. I think she was just a background character to begin with but they've slowly revealed more layers to her, and hopefully it develops into a storyline concerning her in a later episode.

That was it, 'Lapland' - forgot for a moment. :P And yeah, the one with Sue Johnston (on that note, she was fab in that! - wasn't Anne Reid in it too?). Helen Hopewell was indeed in 'Hope Springs' too. I do think Amanda will have left off of her own accord too. She seems like a fantastic actress (I've not watched anything else that she's been in), but the character just didn't suit her and some of the acting seemed very forced, and she was NOT a good match for Charlie at all - she was more suited to Robson Green near the end of her tenure which we didn't get to see a lot of after they hooked up. One woman aside from Eva Pope who I would love to take the role of Head is Suranne Jones. It'll never happen because she's made a name for herself now, but she's just fantastic! :wub:

 

I agree about Sian, she was given some really poor storylines, although for the most part it was her that drove them and made them as good as they could be. Jez was terrible for her, though. All of the stories with him were terrible, but I did slightly prefer her being with him than being with Michael which was just really vile to watch. Sian would have been the perfect replacement for Michael had she stayed on, but I'm glad we've had the episode we have with Christine as Head (especially 8.29 when she interrupted the Adrian Pile Show :wub:). It's so obvious that Shaznay is just an attempt at a second Michaela too, and I think if they handle it the right way they can make her a good character. I think she was just a background character to begin with but they've slowly revealed more layers to her, and hopefully it develops into a storyline concerning her in a later episode.

 

Sue Johnston was great in it, yes! I don't think Anne Reid was in it, are you thinking of Last Tango in Halifax?

 

And yes - Suranne Jones would be great! She's the kind of actress who makes a show her own, in fact if I see a show is on with her starring in it I will watch it just for the fact that she is in it!

 

I'm glad we've got Christine as head, too. I honestly think they could have offered Jason Done the role as Head, though, and it might have stopped him from leaving. Tom would have been a great Head and it would have provided continuation from the first Series when he was Jack's right hand man. Then maybe Steph could have come back, Grantly could have survived and it all would have been great! Oh well, maybe Jason just wanted out and that was that. Do you know if he chose to leave or if he was axed?

 

Yes, I hope Shaznay gets a storyline. The pupils overall really are pretty dire - Rhiannon, Connor, Imogen, Lula, the twins, Archie etc. are all really bad characters (well, not so much Connor, but he's been a right grump this series!) The only decent pupils in my opinion are Dynasty, Kacey and Kevin, but I think Shaznay has potential.

Edited October 20, 201311 yr by simonc13

Sue Johnston was great in it, yes! I don't think Anne Reid was in it, are you thinking of Last Tango in Halifax?

 

And yes - Suranne Jones would be great! She's the kind of actress who makes a show her own, in fact if I see a show is on with her starring in it I will watch it just for the fact that she is in it!

 

I'm glad we've got Christine as head, too. I honestly think they could have offered Jason Done the role as Head, though, and it might have stopped him from leaving. Tom would have been a great Head and it would have provided continuation from the first Series when he was Jack's right hand man. Then maybe Steph could have come back, Grantly could have survived and it all would have been great! Oh well, maybe Jason just wanted out and that was that. Do you know if he chose to leave or if he was axed?

 

Yes, I hope Shaznay gets a storyline. The pupils overall really are pretty dire - Rhiannon, Connor, Imogen, Lula, the twins, Archie etc. are all really bad characters (well, not so much Connor, but he's been a right grump this series!) The only decent pupils in my opinion are Dynasty, Kacey and Kevin, but I think Shaznay has potential.

 

Suranne really does - when she was in 'The Doctor's Wife' (an episode of Doctor Who) she really made it her own and she was the star of the episode. :wub: I keep meaning to try and watch all of Scott & Bailey just for her too because she's fantastic, and what I've seen of the third series was sensational! I'm not sure I would have been keen on Tom being the Head, though. I understand he was there for a while and really should have been offered the job given his loyalty, etc - but he's just somebody I can imagine being very awkward about it and being quite terrible at making decisions, etc. :lol: He did decide to leave, though. He wanted to go on to do new projects, he didn't get axed.

 

I do agree that a lot of the pupils are terrible. They really need to get rid of Rhiannon, Imogen and a few of the other regulars very soon. Connor's story with Maggie is going to be interesting, I think, so I'll let him off. :kink: Lula isn't bad either, granted she has a good story (see the Nox story with Esther - that was amazing!). Dynasty, Kacey and Kevin really are the best, I agree with you there. They've all had stories that match their characters so well and the acting doesn't seem forced either, it's just very natural.

Suranne really does - when she was in 'The Doctor's Wife' (an episode of Doctor Who) she really made it her own and she was the star of the episode. :wub: I keep meaning to try and watch all of Scott & Bailey just for her too because she's fantastic, and what I've seen of the third series was sensational! I'm not sure I would have been keen on Tom being the Head, though. I understand he was there for a while and really should have been offered the job given his loyalty, etc - but he's just somebody I can imagine being very awkward about it and being quite terrible at making decisions, etc. :lol: He did decide to leave, though. He wanted to go on to do new projects, he didn't get axed.

 

I do agree that a lot of the pupils are terrible. They really need to get rid of Rhiannon, Imogen and a few of the other regulars very soon. Connor's story with Maggie is going to be interesting, I think, so I'll let him off. :kink: Lula isn't bad either, granted she has a good story (see the Nox story with Esther - that was amazing!). Dynasty, Kacey and Kevin really are the best, I agree with you there. They've all had stories that match their characters so well and the acting doesn't seem forced either, it's just very natural.

 

Oh you must watch Scott & Bailey - it's amazing! Suranne is brilliant, as are Lesley Sharp and Amelia Bullmore :)

 

True, I guess Tom was more of a 'behind the scenes' kind of character as opposed to a Head. Wish he was still in in though :( Why on earth they thought it was a good idea two kill of both the original characters within episodes of each other is beyond me - there's no chance of a possible return for either of them now. If that doesn't demonstrate a culling of the Rochdale characters I don't know what does!

 

I'm interested by the Connor/Maggie storyline, too. I wasn't a big fan of the Nox storyline, really, it dragged a bit but I admit Lula did come into her own there.

 

Have you seen the trailer for next week's episode yet? Seems like it's reverting to being a kid's TV show again!

Oh you must watch Scott & Bailey - it's amazing! Suranne is brilliant, as are Lesley Sharp and Amelia Bullmore :)

 

True, I guess Tom was more of a 'behind the scenes' kind of character as opposed to a Head. Wish he was still in in though :( Why on earth they thought it was a good idea two kill of both the original characters within episodes of each other is beyond me - there's no chance of a possible return for either of them now. If that doesn't demonstrate a culling of the Rochdale characters I don't know what does!

 

I'm interested by the Connor/Maggie storyline, too. I wasn't a big fan of the Nox storyline, really, it dragged a bit but I admit Lula did come into her own there.

 

Have you seen the trailer for next week's episode yet? Seems like it's reverting to being a kid's TV show again!

I've got the DVDs on my to-get list. I'm sure it was the last couple of episodes of series 3 I watched, where they fell out, wasn't it? And the woman who was one of the daughters in 'Last Tango in Halifax' was in it as the woman in the car who was a bit psychotic? :lol:

 

I have seen the trailer, yeah, and it does look a bit strange. :lol: Hopefully there's plenty of action among this silly World War 2 façade.

I've got the DVDs on my to-get list. I'm sure it was the last couple of episodes of series 3 I watched, where they fell out, wasn't it? And the woman who was one of the daughters in 'Last Tango in Halifax' was in it as the woman in the car who was a bit psychotic? :lol:

 

I have seen the trailer, yeah, and it does look a bit strange. :lol: Hopefully there's plenty of action among this silly World War 2 façade.

 

Yes they did fall out in Series 3. Yeah haha, Nicola Walker was the psychotic character in the back of the car. Great actress. Coincidentally, the actress who played Lindsay James in Waterloo Road played one of Scott's daughters in Scott & Bailey!

 

I think next week's episode is centred on Audrey. I like her as a character, but next week's episode is going to be a bit cringeworthy I'm thinking!

Yes they did fall out in Series 3. Yeah haha, Nicola Walker was the psychotic character in the back of the car. Great actress. Coincidentally, the actress who played Lindsay James in Waterloo Road played one of Scott's daughters in Scott & Bailey!

 

I think next week's episode is centred on Audrey. I like her as a character, but next week's episode is going to be a bit cringeworthy I'm thinking!

Jenna Coleman was in Scott & Bailey? :o I must check that out if that's the case! One of my favourite actresses. :wub:

 

Yeah, it's probably gonna be Audrey and Christine/George/Simon/Sue (that whole feud) ongoing. It's a bit tiresome now, hopefully it can get more interesting soon though. I expect Simon and Christine will be at WAR by episode 10.

Jenna Coleman was in Scott & Bailey? :o I must check that out if that's the case! One of my favourite actresses. :wub:

 

Yeah, it's probably gonna be Audrey and Christine/George/Simon/Sue (that whole feud) ongoing. It's a bit tiresome now, hopefully it can get more interesting soon though. I expect Simon and Christine will be at WAR by episode 10.

 

Sorry, my mistake, I meant to say the actress who played Emily James, not Linsday James! Apologies :P

 

Yes, the feud is getting a bit tiresome now. Simon's character is so predictable.. he'll have some dodgy back story which will result in him being sacked. Sue won't be able to cope without him and she will leave. Yawn. They really need to get some decent teachers on board now, surely it can't be that hard to write in some interesting characters and make some informed casting decisions!

 

They also need to stop with the daft, childish storylines and get back to the more gritty, darker themes. It's definitely doable, but whoever is in charge of this show always seems to make the wrong decisions! Oh well, wait and see what next week brings :)

Whatever happened to Emily James? I can't ever remember her leaving! :P

Whatever happened to Emily James? I can't ever remember her leaving! :P

 

No idea! So many pupils randomly disappear from series to series that I lose track. All I can remember about her is that she had a crazy personality change in the space of one series.

Edited October 20, 201311 yr by simonc13

Sorry, my mistake, I meant to say the actress who played Emily James, not Linsday James! Apologies :P

 

Yes, the feud is getting a bit tiresome now. Simon's character is so predictable.. he'll have some dodgy back story which will result in him being sacked. Sue won't be able to cope without him and she will leave. Yawn. They really need to get some decent teachers on board now, surely it can't be that hard to write in some interesting characters and make some informed casting decisions!

 

They also need to stop with the daft, childish storylines and get back to the more gritty, darker themes. It's definitely doable, but whoever is in charge of this show always seems to make the wrong decisions! Oh well, wait and see what next week brings :)

Ah right, she was always annoying, so I'm not really fussed at all by her. :lol: Jenna Coleman on the other hand... She should have returned to the show after she was released from prison, I would have loved to see her in action again. :snif:

 

I think with Simon and Sue, the only thing that can happen at the conclusion of this storyline is if Robert Bain gives him the Headship and somehow Christine and George find out that he only got it because with Simon and Sue being together he has connections to Robert who is Sue's father... If that all comes out and is played out well it could work and hopefully that Robert git gets the sack and Christine is given the job until Neil Pearson comes in.

 

Whatever happened to Emily James? I can't ever remember her leaving! :P

She never was given a proper exit, was she? :lol: I suppose with the young cast they have to just come and go (like Gus from series 8... I REALLY miss him but it was never explained why he was prominent in a couple of episodes and then just vanished :snif:), but somebody with such prominence like her was just faded out. I mean, she didn't exist until she suddenly became a prominent character again in series 7 before vanishing for good. Hopefully they learn from this, although they're never going to do it.

Emily left at the end of Series 7 if I remember. She just stayed in Rochdale.

Emily left at the end of Series 7 if I remember. She just stayed in Rochdale.

 

Thank God. She was such an awful character!

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!!!

Glad there's a few other WR fans here! :P I've watched all the series of WR - and have 1 to 6 on DVD but am aiming for the rest in the future. I agree that the early days of the show were the better. I think series 1 and 2 were amazing. 5 was also great too and 4 was really good. I found series 3 to be very poor though.

 

Rachel is my favourite headteacher to date and the actress was suited perfectly to the role. Jack was also good, the first couple of series were so intense with Jack, and then Andrew and Kim :lol: and it focused on the staff's lives just as much as the pupils which was good. I found series 6 onwards to be pretty poor, I did not like Karen as the head teacher at all. It seemed to be really good characters got incredibly weak storylines and any good storylines kind of just fizzled out. The whole thing with Bex could have been so much more dramatic than it was.

 

I didn't mind Michael as a headteacher, I think the show improved slightly towards the latter half of his stint, and now it kind of fluctuates. Characters I think are good for the show at the moment are: Christine, Connor, Nikki, Sonya, Audrey, Kasey, Barry, Maggie and Lula. The ones I don't think add much to the show are Imogen, Simon (He's basically just a weak Max trying to overthrow the head), I also think Harley's ran his course as well now. It's a shame that many of the characters are so one dimensional, like the twins for example. I know they've been put in for a purpose to stir things up but people often have more than one side to them.

 

Out of the current teachers, although I was sad to lose Tom, he was kind of a non-event by the end. Characters like Sonya and Audrey, although annoying, you can't help but kind of like them because they always mean well, I don't feel they would get old as both seem quite versatile. Christine is good, pretty much what you'd expect from a stressed out headteacher, and her story previous series' was good. Sad to lose Grantly obviously, he was always such a great grump! I still remember the time he made a door out of cardboard. :lol: Maggie is great and I hope she stays for a while as she has good relationships with both the kids and the teachers. Sue Spark could be really interesting but she seems to have one dimension which is a shame. I don't think that she's shading Lorna, maybe slightly in the relationship stakes but only a small amount. She reminds me more of Helen Hopewell. Simon annoys me so much as a character. I feel they are rushing him into being a potential baddie too quickly and I think it would be better to be more drawn out. I think we need more cast than we currently have for both students and teachers.

 

It is so frustrating to see such watered down storylines. I understand the target audience might be young but they're not 5! Meanwhile I'm sitting here with all these ideas whilst they repeat stories that have happened 5 years ago. :(

Edited October 20, 201311 yr by Parallel Reality

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!!!

Don't you mean Stevie? :heehee: She really should come back though, she shouldn't have left when she did. :(

 

It is so frustrating to see such watered down storylines. I understand the target audience might be young but they're not 5! Meanwhile I'm sitting here with all these ideas whilst they repeat stories that have happened 5 years ago. :(

It is annoying - there's so many ideas that the fans have that the writers either haven't thought of or just can't be arsed writing. :(