I can't believe we went through that God-awful surrogacy storyline and ended up with no baby. Although that development was probably out of the writer's hands due to certain actors's decisions. And its made me dislike the kennedys which I never thought would be possible!

 

and Sunny's gone. This is probably good news to most, but her and Zeke have really grown on me in recent weeks.

Yep, I'm in the THANK f*** Sunny left camp. She never did ANYTHING but whinge, be rude, and throw tantrums about the slightest of things. WELL RID.

Neighbours has gone so weird in recent months. Why have Dan and Susan both had complete personality transplants?

Neighbours has gone so weird in recent months. Why have Dan and Susan both had complete personality transplants?

 

Basically, they ad the surrogacy storyline. I wasnt a fan of it (its put me off the Kennedys a bit actually which was previously thought to be impossible) but it was a strong storyline which was bound to provide good moments. However one of the actors involved (I'd love to say who but the spoiler button isn't working-not that people can't work it out anyway!) quit and so the storyline had to end like this unfortunately and now one well loved character and another dull but inoffensive one have to sacrifice their character's likability in order for this to work. I hate this development. If it weren't for Lyn, Lou, Rebecca and Paul I'd be off Neighbours by now. Yes, even my beloved Donna has been rubbish recently.

I'm going the same way with Neighbours, I'm fast getting bored.

Having said that, I don't mind the Kennedy storyline - I like that you can actually see it from both points of view, it's not the usual black and white this-character-is-wrong-this-one-is-right affair. Susan's always been a bit interfering and gets on her moral high horse from time to time, so it's not too out of character for her to behave like this where Libby is concerned. At the same time, you can understand Dan's frustration with being constantly outnumbered by his in-laws.

I'm going the same way with Neighbours, I'm fast getting bored.

Having said that, I don't mind the Kennedy storyline - I like that you can actually see it from both points of view, it's not the usual black and white this-character-is-wrong-this-one-is-right affair. Susan's always been a bit interfering and gets on her moral high horse from time to time, so it's not too out of character for her to behave like this where Libby is concerned. At the same time, you can understand Dan's frustration with being constantly outnumbered by his in-laws.

 

I don't like it how it came literally out of nowhere though. I mean, just months ago, Dan and Susan seemed to be getting on really well. And given how Dan was built up as all honourable and a family man, I just don't like how they've totally undone all that within a few weeks. In fact, the Neighbours writers generally seem to have not given much thought to plot development at all lately... with the election of the f***ing 'Deb Ball' saga, which they dragged out for ages. I wouldn't be surprised if the preparations for the Deb lasted longer than Dan & Libby's entire marriage.

I think Dan being an honourable family man was part of the problem - it was him bailing Sam out that sparked off the whole mess. I don't think anybody is really acting out of character, it's just an awkward situation that is spiralling out of control.

 

The 6 month long Deb ball nonsense will remain a STAIN on Neighbours history. They need to sort out this ridiculous imbalance between teen characters / others.

Aswell as the current lot, we will also have

Paul Robinson's teenage son joining, and Summer Hoyland returning in the next few months.

 

 

That will leave us with 8 teens and 3 kids. OVERLOAD.

The teen thing is going over the top. Thing is, there is the perfect opportunity to bring in a new family right now. I know Lucas is crashing at Steph's old place, but he can't live there forever. But from what I've heard Susan Bower will not be bringing in any new families in 2010, just characters connected to others which just screams more teens at me. The worst is that its been manouvered so that all other characters have a teen living with them. Yes, adopting a teen worked for Elle, but will it for Steph? I'm not sure.

 

5 years ago the street had six teen characters (Boyd, Sky, Stingray, Serena, Dylan, Janae) plus two early teens (Bree and Summer).

 

We had several 20-30 year olds (Steph, Toadie, Izzy, Stuart, Connor, Carmella, Sindi)

 

Quite a lot of middle-aged characters (Karl, Susan, Lyn, Max, Janelle, David, Liljana, Paul)

 

two oldies (Harold and Lou-plus they still got screentime back then!)

 

and little toddler Oscar

 

And they were all pretty evenly spread about (well, perhaps the Timmins's was a bit teen overload but they were good characters so it didn't matter). I think we had more characters in general back then. And NO DEBS!

Without a doubt the cast was stronger 5 years ago, and as you've highlighted because there was a decent spread.

 

Right now I make it 8 teens, 3 kids, NO 20-somethings now Elle has left, 4 30-somethings (Libby/Steph/Toadie/Lucas), and 5 oldies (the Kennedys, Lyn, Paul, Rebecca - I'm not counting Lou as he is barely around anymore). Ridiculous.

 

I have no doubt you're right about Susan Bower - more teens. I can only assume she's trying to directly compete with Home and Away, which has always had an established bias towards the teens. But that was never supposed to be the point with Neighbours. She is slowly burying the show.

True, we still had a lot of teens 5 years ago, not as much but also the storylines didn't revolve around them completely. Dylan would be involved with Paul, Sky with Harold/Lou, Boyd with max/Steph. THey'd have their own storylines but it wouldn't all be about them like it is now.

 

I'm so glad Lyn Scully poisoned the stupid Deb. She hasn't put a foot wrong since she got back :lol:

Really NOT liking the Toadie/Steph lie-so many holes in that plot.

 

I like the new Summer, but I'm having a hard time trying to think of her as the same character from years before.

Lyn's the only reason I still watch this show to be honest. Her comeback is to Neighbours is what Carol's is to Eastenders. I thought both would step back into the sidelines but no, after years of wilderness it's like they were never went away with many major storylines revolving around both of them, and deservedly so!

Really NOT liking the Toadie/Steph lie-so many holes in that plot.

 

I like the new Summer, but I'm having a hard time trying to think of her as the same character from years before.

Yeah, I agree with both these... Steph and Toadie can't lie forever... On the bright side, Donna's back :cheer:

Yes, Donna is back and finally Ringo-less. Hopefully she'll get some good storylines again, I felt her last few were a bit lacklustre.

 

And completely agree about Lyn, who'd have expected her comeback to be so great? Any storyline with her and Rebecca/Paul is worth watching-Neighbours as it should be!

Lyn's re-invention I muchly like. She's not a TOTAL cow - she's still a decent mother and friend to Steph, Susan et all. But she's no longer a shrinking violet when it comes to confrontation, which is quite believable after marriage to Paul Robinson.

 

I actually think the Steph/Toadie mess is actually the best thing in the show at the moment. A big storyline involving long-running adult characters, which you KNOW is going to cause an almighty blow-up when the truth inevitably comes out. Of course it's not without the plot holes - everyone bar Lyn and Callum being rather gullible about it all, the ease with which Toadie has been seemingly able to chuck his "love" Sonya aside, the rather rapid speed with which Lucas got over Elle and moved onto Steph...

 

I guess I'm just glad for something that isn't TEEN. Unfortunately

Ringo's departure is only a temporary one. I'm sure there'll be PLENTY of Donna/Ringo angst to come.

 

the rather rapid speed with which Lucas got over Elle and moved onto Steph...

 

I agree

 

I honestly can't keep up with it. Every time I tune in (I occasionally miss an episode), Lucas seems to be in love/planning to spend the rest of his life with somebody different :lol:

Lyn's re-invention I muchly like. She's not a TOTAL cow - she's still a decent mother and friend to Steph, Susan et all. But she's no longer a shrinking violet when it comes to confrontation, which is quite believable after marriage to Paul Robinson.

 

I actually think the Steph/Toadie mess is actually the best thing in the show at the moment. A big storyline involving long-running adult characters, which you KNOW is going to cause an almighty blow-up when the truth inevitably comes out. Of course it's not without the plot holes - everyone bar Lyn and Callum being rather gullible about it all, the ease with which Toadie has been seemingly able to chuck his "love" Sonya aside, the rather rapid speed with which Lucas got over Elle and moved onto Steph...

 

I guess I'm just glad for something that isn't TEEN. Unfortunately

Ringo's departure is only a temporary one. I'm sure there'll be PLENTY of Donna/Ringo angst to come.

 

I agree with all those but I still feel something is missing in the storyline. There was no reason Toadie HAD to pretend to be the father. Steph could have gone away, had a one night stand with a random character and found she was pregnant. There was no reason for Toadie to be involved. I'd prefer it better if he secretly had hidden feelings for Steph and that is why he's so willing to help her out. Afterall his 'relationship' with Sonya always seemed quite forced and as you say, there is no way Lucas could break up with his fiance and be 'in love' with someone else the next week. Its a good storyline essentially but I think the timing is a little off (although with Dan's exit, it couldn't really be helped). But as you say at least no TEEN is involved.

Well yes I suppose that is also a crucial hole. Quite why Toadie felt the need to step forward at all I don't know.

 

I can only imagine it's down to Steph not wanting to claim she slept with a random and be seen as a $l*t. But I don't see that being seen as a love cheat is any better. It's bizarre.

 

 

 

Apparantly Neighbours' ratings are falling ever further in Australia - surely it can't be long before Susan Bower is out the door? They BADLY need to re-address the spread of characters. With Lou taking a backseat, we're missing some oldies. And there's a MASSIVE lack of any 20-somethings.

I can't see Bower staying for long. I actually laughed the other day because the only characters between 20 and 40 (and there are NONE between 20 and 30) are Lucas, Toadie, Steph and Libby and Libby is the only one whose speaking to all the others. I guess some of the teens are nearing their 20s but it would still be nice for some characters around my age in the show.

When you look at it this way, it's pretty damning.

 

 

40+ Paul, Rebecca, Lou, Lyn, Karl, Susan

20-40 Toadie, Steph, Libby, Lucas

20- Declan, Donna, Andrew, Harry, Kate, Ringo, Zeke, Summer, Callum, Ben, Sophie, Charlie

 

It has become Grange Hill