Cactus Annie
Refugee
The most stupidest soap that's shown in the UK I would say is EastEnders, followed by Emmerdale. I used to be a massive fan of EastEnders but over recent years the cynic that seems to be emerging from inside of me has made me give up on this program. I think it's enjoyable and occasionally it can cover a storyline with sensitivity and realism, but for the most part I can sit and pick holes in it's portrayal of 'real East London life'. The bus that collided with thin air and crashed killing everyone on board. The daughter who for most of her life despised her father after he snatched her daughter from her arms and is able to manipulated her for years and who forgives him weeks before his wedding. Real east Londoners say it portrays them in a bad light. They are portrayed as being surly, unhelpful, unfriendly and thick, so no wonder they don't like this show.
And no Londoner is that provincial. All the soaps are guilty of this, where they always visit the same pub and cafe, only shop in 2 shops that happen to be on the same street where they live and work. It's like there is some inexplicable force that prevents them leaving the square, street or village, similar to the film The Truman Show. You don't want to go to the Rovers or Roy's cafe? You live in Manchester, one of the country's largest cities, go to another one! I live in a tiny town, yet there's more than one pub or cafe for me to visit if I didn't want to go to one in particular for some reason. I've also lived in a village and I know that most people in villages travel into town for work, so why is it that on Emmerdale this is not the case?
Also, to talk about specific storylines now, if there happened to be a murder like there was with Tom King a few years ago, that would litterally be the only topic in a small village. So how comes no one on Emmerdale ever mentioned it? How comes the scriptwriters write a role for a 7 year old girl who is supposed be very clever but she behaves entirely like an adult rather than a child? Even though she's barely 8, I say Belle Dingle is perfectly capable of fending for herself rather than being in the crutches of her inbred family. We've seen her negotiate rent with the lodger for her older brother, comfort her aunt after her love life has gone wrong and direct a Christmas play for the church. Even the writers on EastEnders are able to script a role for an academically clever child but still behaves like one with Tiffany.
I'd say the best soap in terms of consistent characterization and realistic stroytelling is Coronation Street. Although it is provincial, overall it successfully blends serious drama with realism and a lighthearted sense of humour. It's got better since Kym Marsh has left. Even Ozzy the dog can act better than her.
And no Londoner is that provincial. All the soaps are guilty of this, where they always visit the same pub and cafe, only shop in 2 shops that happen to be on the same street where they live and work. It's like there is some inexplicable force that prevents them leaving the square, street or village, similar to the film The Truman Show. You don't want to go to the Rovers or Roy's cafe? You live in Manchester, one of the country's largest cities, go to another one! I live in a tiny town, yet there's more than one pub or cafe for me to visit if I didn't want to go to one in particular for some reason. I've also lived in a village and I know that most people in villages travel into town for work, so why is it that on Emmerdale this is not the case?
Also, to talk about specific storylines now, if there happened to be a murder like there was with Tom King a few years ago, that would litterally be the only topic in a small village. So how comes no one on Emmerdale ever mentioned it? How comes the scriptwriters write a role for a 7 year old girl who is supposed be very clever but she behaves entirely like an adult rather than a child? Even though she's barely 8, I say Belle Dingle is perfectly capable of fending for herself rather than being in the crutches of her inbred family. We've seen her negotiate rent with the lodger for her older brother, comfort her aunt after her love life has gone wrong and direct a Christmas play for the church. Even the writers on EastEnders are able to script a role for an academically clever child but still behaves like one with Tiffany.
I'd say the best soap in terms of consistent characterization and realistic stroytelling is Coronation Street. Although it is provincial, overall it successfully blends serious drama with realism and a lighthearted sense of humour. It's got better since Kym Marsh has left. Even Ozzy the dog can act better than her.