I’m glad they had Sam tell Jack about Amy at the end. I don’t think I could stand him having yet another stick to beat her with.

Shona really is wasted in EastEnders, her character has run its course and she has so many other talents as we see in that video alone.

Not sure who watched the 2003 episode of Alfie searching for a condom and thought "we need more of that!" :lol:

 

Shona really is wasted in EastEnders, her character has run its course and she has so many other talents as we see in that video alone.

I think the character of Whitney was really exhausted in 2020/21 and I'd have been happy to see the back of the character, but a year in the background and just being allowed to have fun has made me warm to the character again. Like last night's episode, for example, Whitney just feels human and sympathetic again.

 

I think Shona herself has always been brilliant though, it's just a shame it's been about a decade since the character was utilised properly. She's either been severely underused or overused (and in these periods of overuse the character has been unbearable i.e. start of the 2020s and 2017). I hope wherever they go next with Whitney, she's given something that allows her to show off her acting skills whilst remaining a character you can root for.

I actually thought we’d done well with the Alfie return until that.

 

I don’t think Whitney is done they just need to do new things with her. Shona is easily one of the best actors in the show, it’s amazing she’s never been tempted to leave. I have a feeling all this stuff with Zach is to set up a pregnancy story for her next year.

I’m glad they had Sam tell Jack about Amy at the end.

 

Me too... but I do wish that Amy hadn't been just outside the door listening in. It's another of the usual scriptwriting traits to have someone conveniently stood nearby to overhear what's privately being said.

It would have been much more interesting to have seen Jack and Sam having to go back to the table with that knowledge and how they would have acted towards Amy. Maybe they could have even had Jack not flying off the handle for once.

 

 

Also, I do feel that things have dipped a bit this week. I quite liked the way that Alfie was acting with Linda and his understanding. This week they stick him in a beret with the God-awful Freddie and have some kind of comedy sketch selling cheese on a market stall. It was almost as bad as that ridiculous Don scene with "Marilyn"... I said "almost :)

Denise / Diane Parish are such a powerhouse! *.* Please no more putting her in the background, she deserves to be front and center! The scene with Denise and Amy talking on the stairs in particular, you can see Diane has put a lot of consideration into each line and facial expression to make her performance feel real. Definitely one of the best and most consistent actors on EastEnders.

^ I completely agree about Diane. The scene on the stairs and then the scene with Jack, both were exceptionally done. Her acting was incredible. Working in a school and having experienced things like this, the script too was on point and she said all the right things in the right ways. The storyline is so hard hitting and I think they're all doing well with it.

 

And then there's the Alfie plot reminding me that EE isn't completely cured yet :)

Would it be right for them to rewrite Alfie in any other manner? He has always been like this, though it feels dialled up to 11 atm but it would be weird for him to be toned down somewhat given his eccentricity

They can write him out x

They need to find away to write him in a modern day setting. There’s something awfully dated about him when Kat isn’t around.

Not gonna lie, didn’t love that episode. The football references were too many and way too heavy handed-I’m not sure it’s ever been as on the nose as that?

 

Also I hate that Janine is likely being punished with a miscarriage.

Completely agree about the football references. They came so thick and fast. I almost expected them to have quickly filmed a scene with the result and shoe-horned it in last second.

Guess that might come tomorrow instead.

Sonia is finally appearing again after 2 months next week though it is for

Dot's death

.

 

Reiss Colwell, a great nephew of Dot's, will be played by Jonny Freeman. He has been cast in the role as

Sonia's new love interest. We'll need to remember here that Dot isn't actually related to Sonia by blood before anyone goes off on one.

 

I am in awe at Isabella Brown's performance in today's episode. That scene between Lexi and Lola was hitting hard.

I am in awe at Isabella Brown's performance in today's episode. That scene between Lexi and Lola was hitting hard.

 

I agree, she had me in tears today, her acting skills are always on point, I just hope when she gets older she won't be re-casted, like they did with Amy. Mind you her storyline is exceptional good and she is growing on me, at first I wasn't too thrill of the young girl been re-cast as I prefer original Amy, but than again bearing in mind where her storyline angle is getting played out, which is a touchy subject, I bet her parents just didn't want their child been used on a touchy subject.

I am in awe at Isabella Brown's performance in today's episode. That scene between Lexi and Lola was hitting hard.

Totally agree.

Dot's funeral will air on 12th December. The episode has been extended to 40 minutes

The Janine Sonia scene in the shop about been bridesmaid was hilarious, that's the humour eastenders does so well when it's on point.

I guess last night's ending is Sonia calling Ricky to come and sort out Janine :kink:

 

There's a lot of schedule disruption between now and Christmas so have your beady eyes out for the episodes.

 

1st December - 2 episodes 7-8pm

5th December - 2 episodes (though no actual airing on BBC One it seems?? so could be iPlayer only. Repeated on 10th on BBC Three)

7th December - 7:30pm

8th December - 7:30pm

12th December - 7:35pm (40 minute episode)

14th December - 7:30pm

15th December - 7:30pm

16th December - 7:30pm

19th December - 7:30pm

20th December - 7:30pm

22nd December - 7:30pm

23rd December - 7:30pm

They should have utilised Janine and Sonia as a double act more. In fact, there’s so much they should have done with Janine in this stint and they’ve squandered it on the Carters.