Shark Bytes

I used to think Eastenders was good when we had characters like Mel and Steve Owen. The Slaters kind of ruined it and Pauline dying was like the final nail in the coffin. At least Coronation Street and Emmerdale work much harder to keep their older cast members. I live in America also and the last time I saw it was when Pauline died when I was over in the UK for xmas 2006.

Our PBS channel is about a year behind.
For me, a loyal viewer since I was a teen, Eastenders has suffered because of the Slater family. There Charlie and his mopey face and whining; always giving advice to his daughter, Lynn on how to be a better victim in life; Kat, with her constant screeching and attacking, the writers have turned a compelling character who could have been another Tiffany into a over-the -top shrew; Zoe, who is determined to stay up under her smothering, meddling
depressing family, when she has spirit, intellegence and looks to die for(the most maddening character); Little Moe, the eternal martyr/victim who takes after her father; and the worst of the bunch, Nan Moe, the most annoying character on the whole show, who's voice is like a jackhammer to the brain. Her attempt at framing the Doc with drugs was a new low, even for her. Of, course the rarely seen daughter, Belinda, who had the good sense to get away from those people, is portrayed as a stuck-up shallow bitch because you can't be posh and be nice, right?
I also am finding it hard to stomach
Sharon with her twisted lip look when she's trying to be seductive, rotten-egg Phil who always gets attractive women to fall for his manipulations,(how?), stupid Lisa, who is determined to ruin her life over and over, and the dumbest of the lot, Mark Fowler who was once too suspicious; now when it comes to Lisa who, mind you, was going to run away to America without him if he didn't sabotage it by telling Phil; is oblivious to the fact that she and Phil are carrying on right under his nose. In a way, I can't blame Lisa. Any man who thinks a decent gift is a bracelet that belonged to his dead wife is not playing with a full deck. Also, I can't believe Phil would ever sleep with a woman who might be exposed to HIV, and even allow his daughter to live in the house with an infected person since he expressed concern about his niece, Courtney, being baby-sat by Mark's former wife.

The show was only great when it focused on couples like Den/Angie, Grant/Sharon, Grant/Tiffany, Mel/Steve and Sharon/Dennis. It jumped the shark when all these great characters left and we were stuck with crappy new characters who couldn't act to save their lives.

But let's face it, people. This show officially jumped the shark when that bitch Chrissie Watts came in from nowhere as Den's wife from Spain and viciously murdered him then buried him under The Queen Vic (Den's pub) and framed Sam Mitchell for it. That's when the writers officially lost the plot, and to see one of the greatest ever tv characters shamelessly depart from the show in such a horrible way, is when you know the show has just completely lost it. They should NEVER have brought him back after 14 years if this is the way they were gonna treat his character.

Dan...you may get your wish. We get EE here in South Florida on our PBS station (because of the large British community here). Last episode I saw Little Mo was just let out of jail after being accused of Attempted Murder of the abusive husband to give you an idea how far behind we are. After reading just two pages of comments here I feel like I just watched years worth in one fell swoop. And it ain't worth sitting though the second time.

it JTS when alfie left i loved him in it....he better come back :D i love shane ritchie such a wee cutie.

seriously, people watch this dross in aMERica? you people need to stop watching. do us brits a favour, we'll never be free of it if you don't tune out.

When pauline fowler died. she had been the main chracter from the beginning.

I tuned off a couple of years back, why, crap Kray type gangster, Eastenders is a Soap, not Sopranos. Also yes the rape of Little Mo for the second time was quite a shark jumper wasn't it. How much more horror will they put this woman through.

If there was a prize for the longest a series has gone on after jumping the shark this is it, the writer have jumped the great white they have grown wings. End it, now.

The real moment of shark-jumping was having Little Mo raped a second time - that put off many viewers for life. It said once a victim always a victim which sent a negative to viewers. EastEnders is just all doom and gloom and no humour or happiness for all. Recently caught one edition - nothing but moaney characters with no screen presence at all. And bringing in Bobby Davro - now, that is desperate!

This programme jumped when they decided that serious storylines should be started and wrapped up within weeks (Billy and Honey's baby daughter is a prime example) storylines like this should be bought on gradually then kept going for months, not started and finished in the space of a couple of weeks, also there is too much glamour in the characters, before they all looked like real people, unless it cuts back to 3 nights a week it's gonna crash and burn.

hasn't been the same since about 2003, no more sharon, steve owen, jaime, etc.

it has just grown old and lost almost all the original characters. I guess Pauline's death is the end. What is it, only Ian and Dot Cotton from the earliest days?
Also the lack of gay chararcters. At least that kept us gays watching.

Tiffany's death. She should come back in ghost form and haunt Grant.

For those interested in seeing EastEnders return to American television, sorry but you can count me in here because I'm waiting for the 're' return of Grant Mitchell and his son by Michelle Fowler, which will really kick EastEnders up a notch, what about starting a petition? I keep reading that the ratings aren't so good, but the postings and calls to the stations tell me otherwise. Other storylines and plots aside, if it means I finally get the chance to see Grant and his son meet and the 'follow-up' that happens, I'll take it anyway that I can get it.