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The Chen-Williams really were a wasted family the more I think about it :lol: Like I totally forgot until I just saw something on Twitter that Maxine is Dave’s daughter! Lizzie was actually great and Mason did have the incel storyline, but as a unit they were really underused when at the time the producers made a big thing out of how much they were going to invest in the show’s first East Asian family. The incel storyline was a highlight for them, but the Honour left and they kind of stopped putting anything into any of them, until the last few weeks with Lizzie and I guess Dave/Cindy but even then it’s just kind of “they’re getting married :)” and no actual storyline or anything. September when they go down to 3 episodes, they’re going forward a year and they’ve said some of the exits for the cast cut will just be off-screen that they naturally moved on or something happened in the time between. I assume it could be like Neighbours, they went forward 2 years when it started back up and a couple of storylines were kind of mysteries of what happened, why a certain couple had split up, why other things had changed, which was interesting so I think HO would do that well, like say Diane had left in the eyes time jump maybe Tony or the kids would say things to hint at it, and later on we’d find out what happened, it’s quite a good way to keep people watching. I think all soaps can be bad for that tbh, it is an annoying thing to watch sometimes. Some stories like Marie/Arlo have ticked along nicely with enough content, but then stuff like Kitty and Ro’s transition I feel you get loads for a few episodes, then nothing, or just a drip or two. Kitty was kidnapped last week and not a word on that this week :lol:

Sharon leaving for Dubai on one day’s notice was so camp lmfaoooo, also Mason just going off in a taxi in the dead of might presumably to get a train to London to see his mum still in his wedding suit :lol: I don’t really mind the fast paced exits as I know it’s a period of high turnover and they have to get it in somehow, but they could at least have a little more notice like “oh I got a new job in Dubai and I leave next week”, I guess Mason made more sense since Dave reacted the way he did and he just wanted to go. You didn’t miss a lot with Lizzie, they kind of did nothing with her for ages and then suddenly decided to throw the baby secret and then death in the space of a week, but she definitely had mileage as a character if they bothered with her as much as they did this week all along. She was a likeable character but I guess they did all that just to make her death hit harder especially as she was well liked, but I feel that’s something Hollyoaks has always been good at. They will kill off characters people like or are invested in when you don’t ed-etc it, because it makes for a shock or a good story, and that’s sad but it hits when it happens. I definitely think Kitty fathered the baby with Lizzie before her transition and that’s what Lizzie was trying to talk to her about at the club when they were toying with Freddie, perhaps Kitty will tie into that storyline, that would be an interesting development for her if she is a long term character which I hope she is. Whereas Hunter like… did he do a single thing the entire time he came back for this second stint? :lol: so I’m really not bothered.

I’m wondering if these were before the actual cuts too, I assumed the cuts would be when we have the time jump but I guess they will have started before we found out about it etc. We’ll just be left with Tony at this rate :lol: It’s quite clever to link potentially a handful of exits to Warren’s exit, Lizzie’s death was absolutely devastating and actually a shame as I feel like she was starting to really come into her own as a character so she’s not one I wanted to see go. That was just so odd to even bother having the baby thing just to kill her off, but I guess it made the death more shocking and impactful as she was about to make a breakthrough and a big change in her life then suddenly she’s gone. I hope they don’t kill Cindy off, it would make sense for her and Dave to try and make a go of it and go to London to try and make up with Mason and be a family again,it would be nice for Cindy to finally be happy if she has to go, and Dave surely is 100% gone with Lizzie dead, Mason gone, and Cindy going. I mean I assume some of the exits will just be that they naturally moved on, they can’t kill off 20 characters with dodgy drugs dramatically :lol:

I’d be so here for Ireland to be a dark horse winner, such striking and incredible staging.

Didn’t expect Ireland to be the dark horse to emerge from rehearsals, but I’m here for it! This is definitely the weaker semi, my main favourites (Croatia and Ireland) are safe qualifiers, hopefully Lithuania and Slovenia make it too, I feel the former will but not the latter but we’ll see.

Rumours now saying Jorgeous is top 3 over Vanjie, I feel like she wins if so because Ru is OBSESSED and idk how I feel about that unless she has a major glowup and smashes it

Episode 1 is a Rumix. Mini challenge (reading) winner: Roxxxy WIN Angeria TOP Jorgeous HIGH Plastique, Vanjie BLOCKED Roxxxy Lipsync song: Million Dollar Bill by Whitney Houston

Jeremy Sheffield is back as…. Patrick’s long lost twin Jez. April Fools was a month ago channel 4. Axing 20 characters just to do that is a choice :lol: Sherrie Hewson is also cast as his mother/Sienna’s grandmother

Snatch Game characters: Nina and Shannel both do Liberace Gottmik: Lassie Jorgeous: John Leguizamo as Manny the Fanny Roxxxy Andrews: Tasha Salad Angeria: Marla Gibbs Plastique: Ali Wong Vanjie: Cleopatra Gottmik winning Snatch Game as a dog has sent me lmfaooo

Tbh Lauren and Zac have so much more chemistry than Zac and Whitney, they’ve kind of ruined Zac by pairing him with Whitney in a desperate bid to give her every storyline possible. The systematic way they’re utterly ruining Whitney’s character by any means possible is really quite something….

If a Daya song is gonna take off, it should be Sit Still Look Pretty but come through Hide Away!!

Episodes 1 to 5 titles are out so we can deduce the challenges and we have some more possible tea on winners: Episode 1: talent show or girl groups - Angeria & Roxxxy Episode 2: Ball - Plastique & Roxxxy Episode 3: Snatch Game Of Love: Gottmik and Nina Episode 4: makeover - Vanjie & Jorgeous Episode 5: room design/commercial thing: Shannel & Nina Apparently everyone bar Shannel has a win by episode 4, so this could track. I hope we get a Shannel meltdown like season 1 where she wanted to quit because nobody told her she was beautiful *.*

UK TV is really missing stuff like Footballers Wives and Bad Girls, glitzy and/or gritty female led shows that had a camp edge, the right amount of drama and glitz, must watch TV each week. I feel like we get endless say crime dramas but shows like those are such a 00s UK thing that I think is definitely a gap in the schedules right now.

I’m thinking maybe because GAS was right after, they didn’t want to go all out and this was kind of a stopgap so we still got a normal All Stars? Also I know the likes of Shannel, Plastique and Gottmik have been asked a few times to do AS and maybe making it non-elim and more of a showcase charity thing, they maybe were inclined to say yes and have now done it.

I find the second album better then the first tbh, I think the whole project is very much one that’s a whole entity rather than one where you pick big highlights, but So Long London is emerging as my fave, it’s lush!

Legend, when will your faves :cheeseblock:

Various bits if tea now we are getting closer: - The judging and format will be like AS7, all positive critiques, with a top 2 who get wins, who lipsync to block someone, and a high placement. The queen who is blocked can still win next week but doesn’t receive any points/badges/stars whatever they do for it (this happens to Plastique twice and “robs” her of top 4). Apparently when it’s a particularly bad performance they will do a Jaida’s Snatch Game and just go “well it wasn’t the best but you tried” :lol: - The season is charity focused, no prize money but the queens got a 25k stipend for outfits - Top 3 is Vanjie, Angeria and Roxxxy, supposedly Vanjie has 3 wins (as in top 2), Angeria and Roxxxy have 4. Nina is top 4 but cut. The final is a talent show like AS8. - Angeria wins the Lalaparuza and Roxxxy wins a comedy/acting challenge. - Gottmik has at least 2 wins including Snatch Game, but apparently gets successfully blocked for at least one win. - Everyone wins at least one lipsync throughout the season - Anitta, Alexa Demie, Janelle James and possibly Dua Lipa are guest judges, the latter may just be a video message appearance type thing - Challenges include girl groups, Snatch Game, a popstar paired makeover, a commercial challenge in which the queens portray celebrities (like a second Snatch Game, which I’m not sure this cast needs at all), and a Lalaparuza. Some tea on wins: Snatch Game: Nina and Gottmik Design (premiere): Jorgeous and Plastique Roast: Nina and Shannel Makeover: Vanjie and Roxxxy

Have to say I am disappointed, to think that Sapphira can kill the season like that and still not win. I don’t think she will even come back for All Stars because there’s nothing to improve on or redeem with a run like she had. With Shea on AS5, she did kind of crash and burn in the lipsync tournament and that was a storyline for her at least. Nymphia was great though and it does show, Drag Race can always come down to what you bring on the night, and I do like that. I think it’s a season where out of this top 2, whichever of them won and whichever of them lost, it would feel wrong for the other not to have a crown.

Catching up and doing this all at once as it sounds fun! April 1st - A song you like with a day in the title: Melanie Fiona - Monday Morning April 2nd - A song by someone who appeared on a TV Talent show: Rosie Ribbons - Blink April 3rd - A song you like that makes you feel nostalgic: Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone April 4th - A song you like with a US state in the title: Jo Dee Messina - Heads California, Tails Carolina April 5th - A song you would have as your walk-on music: RuPaul - Sissy That Walk April 6th - A song you like that reminds you of a vacation: Ricki-Lee - Can’t Touch It April 7th - A song you like that is instrumental with no lyrics: Audrey Napoleon - Dope A La Mode April 8th - A song you like with a planet in the title: Bjork - Venus As A Boy April 9th - A song from the 20th century that you only recently discovered: Coldcut & Lisa Stanfield - People Hold On April 10th - A song you like named after someone famous: SZA - Drew Barrymore April 11th - A song you like from one of your favourite albums post COVID-19: Chappell Roan - Red Wine Supernova April 12th - A song you like with a season in the title: Mumford & Sons - Winter Winds April 13th - A song you like that is a country song: Luke Combs - Beer Never Broke My Heart April 14th - A song you like released from any year ending with 2: Ashanti - Foolish April 15th - A song you would like to see a chart resurgence for: Stacie Orrico - (There’s Gotta Be) More To Life April 16th - A song you like with a school subject in the title: CMAT - Geography Teacher April 17th - A song you like with the same title as a UK #1: Chainsmokers ft. ROZES - Roses April 18th - A song you like that tells a story: Martina McBride - Independence Day April 19th - A song you like that is all about food: Kelis - Jerk Ribs Suppose it’s not really about food it’s just called it but it’s a bop

His best song, what a banger!!

This is absolutely right for me, like… autopilot Taylor is still fine but it hasn’t grabbed me. There are a few highlights for me (So Long London, Florida, Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me? and I Can Do It With A Broken Heart are strong for me so far) but I’m just not grabbed by it. I am not really in the headspace and nor do I have the energy to analyse 31 songs to find lyrical Easter eggs and pick apart how it might be about Matty or something else, which is on me really :lol: For me the exciting part of being a Taylor fan is the sonic shifts, not knowing what the album would be before you heard it, but this does feel like it’s a couple of the obvious options you might expect mashed together haphazardly in places. Not listened to the second album yet I’m going to listen separately at some point.

I love this, very Darkchild early 00s but feels fresh as well

This is somewhat how I feel, Midnights didn’t as a whole grab me too much at first but there were standout songs that kept me wanting a bit more, then I found myself wanting to go back to the whole project, but I love it now. I honestly fear this album will be a massive miss for her, the stans will probably eat up everything regardless, I am a huge fan tbf but I just… am not grabbed by pretty much any of this.

I must say I am really disappointed with the album :/ Hopefully on repeated listens on release day, it grows on me a lot.

Isabelle Smith who plays Frankie is absolutely out of this world!