Linda's reaction to Elaine calling what happened to Johnny sexual assault really wasn't the one... Doesn't she understand that coercion is a thing 😬

Ben Wadey just tears apart characters to fit his paper thin storylines, Linda is the last person who would act like that.

Maybe back in her "my sausage can't be gay" days but she's been through too much since then for her current mindset to actually make any sense for her character

They're constantly having characters act out of character, like Will filming Nuggets seizure as well??? I'm tired

I actually think Linda’s reaction is pretty consistent with the writing for her family over the years. For a start, she was married to Mick. His character often got free passes because he supported Johnny coming out and then had his own sexual abuse storyline but he was a misogynist full of toxic masculinity. He was always telling his sons to man up, provide, take care of the females in the family. It could be very possible that Linda believes that Johnny being an adult human male means he should have been stronger or that he had the chance to say no but didn’t. I’m probably just going in on Mick because I hate the character.

But also her own mother didn’t take her sexual assault as seriously as she should have done. She asked Linda to lie about it. Perhaps Linda isn’t as different to her mother as she believes.

And maybe Johnny had a point. Linda struggles to see outside of her own situation. Again, Mick didn’t help in this regard. But during the Six, Linda very rarely thought of how the others might be feeling. Johnny has also spent the last 2 years looking after his mother with reciprocation. She sees this as his mistake and believes he had a choice. She hasn’t taken his relationship with Callum seriously.

I’m sure she’ll come round to the right way of thinking about it, and it was sloppy writing. Maybe I’m just trying to see reason where there isn’t any 😂

I was struggling today to realise how both Callum and Johnny made what happened with Tim all Linda's fault? No no, Callum did what he did and so did Johnny and none of that can be pinned on Linda just because she had a conversation with Tim about it.

Also clocked Gemma Bissix being credited as Clare at the end for her voicemail message!

The writing for Callum/Johnny tonight cannot be at all defended. Why are neither of them taking any responsibility for this mess?

Lexi is too old to be getting away with this bossing everyone around shtick.

Claire Devine to come back STAT!! This producer ran Hollyoaks into the ground and now he's here for Eastenders. What's next on his hit list, Corrie, ER??

Great that Clare Bates is back rather than Clare Devine and they also haven’t just glossed over how she was back in 2008.

Priya saying no one would notice if Mark was gone was a pretty accurate assessment of his time on the show so far.

Also getting the feeling Priya might be the pregnant woman in bed on New Year.

Because it’s so close to her leaving Hollyoaks I can’t help but see Clare Devine

Today's episode was the best of the year for me, credit where it's due to everyone involved in the Nigel storyline and it's been great to see Clare back. Paul Bradley, Steve McFadden and Karen Henthorn – amazing.

Yep absolutely stunning episode tonight. I hate how inconsistent the writing is when stuff like Nigel's story is being handled perfectly and everything else is DIRE.

3 minutes ago, lewistgreen said:

Yep absolutely stunning episode tonight. I hate how inconsistent the writing is when stuff like Nigel's story is being handled perfectly and everything else is DIRE.

I agree I watched it earlier was a great episode probably one of the best so far this year tbh

What a touching, gritty character-driven episode.

Nigel finally recognising Clare, Julie breaking down and Phil's scenes in the care home really moved me in particular!

Claire Devine to stay forever!!! As our new Janine

I was in tears watching tonight's episode and I'm not keen on Nigel or Julie as characters, but it was heartbreaking.

The actress who plays Julie is so good.

I'd like them to show Nigel settled at the home in a few weeks and hope they don't leave it that he is unhappy there.

I hope Julie stays and she and Claire have a new Pat/ Janine dynamic, seeing as they killed off Pat and imprisoned Janine over ... a photo of her putting something in a bin

Edited March 5Mar 5 by Cupid Stunts

Yes I hope Julie sticks around too. Interacting with other characters has worked well for her

Wow. That was so good. It’s like the Christmas episode-how can they put out something this well done just a couple of episodes after Callum/Johnny crap?

They really have done the whole Nigel story so well-Clare was the last missing piece and her scenes with Nigel didn’t disappoint at all. The only thing missing from Nigel’s return these last 18 months has been Dot-and of course there’s good reason for that.

I wonder if Grant’s return is quite soon. I hope he gets one last scene with Nigel. You know, rather than with that son he doesn’t even know.

5 minutes ago, lewistgreen said:

Yes I hope Julie sticks around too. Interacting with other characters has worked well for her

Also her strange accent helps add realism to the show. Not everyone will have the same accent on a street!!!

 

5 minutes ago, T Boy said:

Wow. That was so good. It’s like the Christmas episode-how can they put out something this well done just a couple of episodes after Callum/Johnny crap?

They really have done the whole Nigel story so well-Clare was the last missing piece and her scenes with Nigel didn’t disappoint at all. The only thing missing from Nigel’s return these last 18 months has been Dot-and of course there’s good reason for that.

I wonder if Grant’s return is quite soon. I hope he gets one last scene with Nigel. You know, rather than with that son he doesn’t even know.

That son being a Grant clonw, after never having met, is ridiculous!!!!

28 minutes ago, ChrisJK said:

I was in tears watching tonight's episode and I'm not keen on Nigel or Julie as characters, but it was heartbreaking.

The actress who plays Julie is so good.

I'd like them to show Nigel settled at the home in a few weeks and hope they don't leave it that he is unhappy there.

It was a fantastic episode, incredibaly hard to watch as it was upsetting but delivered flawlessly by the cast and written very well.