It wasn’t an easy year in soaps and dramas featuring gay characters either.  So many bad stories, so many characters ill used or not used at all.  But there were a few bright spots, some diamonds among a lot of coal and this week we’re going to discuss them in an overview of the Best and the Worst of 2016.

Best Couple (with a big caveat) -Brad and Lucas,General Hospital

I love Brad and Lucas. Whenever they are on, whenever the show writes for them, they just light up the screen no matter what they are doing.  They have terrific, combustible chemistry and are portrayed by dynamic, engaging actors.

They can do the romantic scenes, the comedic stuff and the dramatic material with ease. Both characters have strong ties to the canvas with both the mob characters and the hospital staff and there’s such potential for strong storytelling.  The fans love them and they could be ‘A’ players.  But not on this show. GH simply isn’t interested in writing for gay people.  They even barely play the lesbian plot they started.

It’s a shame and it’s shameful.  US soaps have so few gay characters and I just weep that they created this wonderful couple, yet refuse to do anything with them.

But no, I’m not bitter.  Not at all.

Honorable Mention:   Jude and Zero, Hit The Floor.

Worst Couple – Harry and Ste, Hollyoaks

Yuck. I don’t get the popularity of this couple. To me they are unwatchable, not just because of the presence of Ste Hay, who just might be one of the most loathsome soap characters to ever haunt my screen, but because their relationship makes no sense. I have never understood why these two are together. And I still don’t.

This is really not a relationship, it’s Ste doing dumb and awful things and Harry supporting him no matter what Ste does and no matter how bad it gets.  Harry has never been the most compelling, well drawn character, but he doesn’t exist anymore or is a person in and of himself.  He’s all about taking care of Ste, settling his problems, babysitting his kids and being a cipher of a personality.  And Harry gets nothing in return.  Ste is all about himself and his problems.

The writing, of course, depicts this as an ‘against all odds’ type of love story, instead of the destructive, toxic and unhealthy pairing that it is. What really gets me is how people in Harry’s life support this nonsense when no one in their right mind would want Harry anywhere near a trainwreck like Ste.

Honorable Mention: Nate and Aaron, Neighbours

Most Ruined Couple –  Aaron and Robert, Emmerdale

To me, what happened with Aaron and Robert is what occurs when you let fangirls into the writers room.  Aaron and Robert started as a dangerous, messy and darkly drawn love affair.  Back then, when they were having a secret affair, it was compelling and fun to watch.  But not anymore.

The show initially drew the coupling as they did with Chas and Carl, who had a toxic, messy relationship back in the day.  Two people who had no business being together, but they couldn’t stay away from one another no matter how much time went by and how badly they hurt each other.  They even had some characters making those very apt comparisons.

But the show has softened the relationship, lightened it’s dark edges and turned bad boy Robert into a ‘yes’ man who is always apologizing to Aaron for some sin either real or imagined and changed Aaron to a perpetual nag.  Robert and Aaron are always bickering and breaking up, then getting back together without talking about why they split to begin with.  There are times I don’t even know the status of their relationship because it changes from day to day.  That’s why the nonsensical choice to have them marry is clearly the work of satisfying the fan-fic crowd rather than good storytelling.

Worst of all is the show’s forcing Aaron and Robert into a family by giving Aaron a teenage sister to parent.  Don’t get me wrong, Isobel Steele is perfect in the role and she and Aaron are very believable as siblings.  They even look alike!  But Aaron has no business raising a teenager, not what he is doing could be called that.  Basically Liv runs wild and Aaron shrugs his shoulders and does nothing to stop her.

And Robert’s character is further weakened by wanting to be a pseudo-father to this teenager who really cares little for him.  In essence, the show has decided to heteronormalize this pairing and it’s ruined everything worth watching about it.

Honorable Mention:   Lari and Kalle, Secret Lives

Sweetest Couple – Tyler and Iolo, People of the Valley

The relationship moved way too fast and the writing hasn’t always been solid, but there’s no denying that Tyler and Iolo are well matched.  The actors have such wonderful chemistry and for someone who has watched Iolo suffer for many years, seeing him happy amd smiling does my heart good.

Their romantic scenes are warm and fuzzy and always leave you smiling.  I sighed during many of their moments like the dual proposal fiasco and the adorable pillow fight they had awhile back.  I just love watching them and I really did root for them to work through the myriad of silly problems the writers threw at them over the past year.  If only the stories for them were better.  Guess you can’t have everything.

Honorable Mention: Todd and Billy, Coronation Street

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• Isak and Even are back together on Skam, but are they ready to deal with Even’s medical condition?
• Seb’s reckless behavior puts a patient’s life at risk and his ugly lie could destroy Dylan’s career on Casualty.
• Finn and Kasim overcome their first romantic hurdle on Emmerdale, though Finn shows he may be not be really for a relationship with his new beau.
• In the season finale of This Life, Oliver finds love with a sexy paramedic.  However, is the right time for new romance?
• Plus, the latest on Eyewitness, People of the Valley, Rownd a Rownd, EastEnders, Days of our Lives — and more!

PICKS AND PANS

Casualty (U.K.)

Seb really fills out a pair of jeans, don’t he?

I’m going to guess Seb going to be gone after this story arc?  There’s no way his character can stick around after falsely accusing Dylan of sexual harassment, not to mention that Seb isn’t a very good doctor.  This is not the direction I thought the show was going into.  It’s not predictable, that’s for sure.

Oh well, not all the gays have to be good guys, I guess. The Christmas story was so cliched.  We could see the end coming after that first scene.  LOL….

Coronation Street  (U.K.)

Billy and Todd are so adorable together.  I’m glad we’re getting what seems to be the start of a story for them.  But I do think that Billy should try to work things out with the Church rather than quitting a job he’s worked his entire life for. I don’t think he’ll be happy as a receptionist at a rehab center.   I think he’s going to regret it and he’ll wind up going back.

At least Todd is being supportive of Billy no matter what rather than scheming to get him to quit like before.  I appreciate seeing some growth in Todd’s character.

I would like to see Todd get a job in a law office, something up and coming. That’s far more beneficial to his character rather than working in a flower shop or a similar job. 

Days of Our Lives (U.S.)

So I’m guessing the show will use Adrienne’s cancer as a roadblock for Paul and Sonny?  They can’t get together because Sonny is too depressed about his mom and trying to help her get better.  Well, that’s a legit reason.  Better than anything else the show has come up with so far.

Adrienne’s cancer is a good story though, mostly because of the acting involved even though it’s mostly a plot arc to reunite Justin and Adrienne.  I just wish the show had of devoted so much time and energy to this story before this point.

EastEnders (U.K.)

I’m really wondering where this story about Ben feeling alienated from his family is going.  It’s certainly realistic given all that’s going on in Ben’s life and Harry Reid is giving some strong, solid performances.  However, it’s not the most exciting story in the world so where ever it’s headed, I hope it gets there soon.

I’m gonna gripe about Johnny not having a story until he gets one.  I have a feeling it won’t happen until Lee’s story comes to a close and that actor makes his exit.  

About Lee, I just can’t get over how he seems to feel little guilt about what he’s done to his family.  He just comes off as a cold, selfish jerk.  Is that the one note acting or is it how the writers want to play it? 

Emmerdale  (U.K.

As glad as I am that Finn has a storyline, there’s no denying that this thing is totally ridiculous, even for a soap.   I mean the guy who Finn rescues and has been obsessing over while the dude was in a coma wakes up and just happens to be gay and into Finn? Okay….

Beyond that, the show seems to be rushing the relationship and that’s never a good sign about it’s longevity.  I mean they met had all that drama about Finn’s visits to the hospital, Kasim gets over it and and is ready to hit the sheets already in the span of a few episodes.

I thought it was strange Finn was so skittish about the prospect of sex with Kasim.  It’s not like Finn is a virgin.  He hasn’t been laid in a least a year.   He wasn’t shy about sleeping with Aaron and he was eager to have sex with Darren.   So why the issue now?

Overall, the guys are cute together and they do have chemistry so I hope it lasts.   I just have a feeling Kasim is not what he seems to be.  I suspect he’s got a few secrets.   There’s obviously some history with his family.  I hope its not going to turn out he’s on the rebound from his ex.  I’d hate to see that happen to Finn…. again.

As for Robert and Aaron, I think this Liv stuff is so boring and dull.  Robert and Aaron are a young gay couple whose lives should not revolve around a teenager.  And Chas is right, Aaron is doing a lousy job at parenting her.  I don’t blame Chas for wanting them out.  Liv does what she wants with no repercussions.  Aaron just says ‘don’t it again’ when they both know she will.  Her staying with Aaron was always contrived to begin with and this dumb story is just reminder of that.

ADDITIONAL SCENE

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PICKS AND PANS

Casualty (U.K.)

I haven’t watched this show since Jamie left with the cute Iranian refugee who held him hostage and then they fell in love.   Only in television!  I think that might have been this show’s last gay regular character.  I remember Ric Makarem when he was on Emmerdale and he is still as hot as ever.

I don’t know where this story is going, but I doubt anything will happen between Dylan and Seb.  I assume Dylan has been on for awhile and has had romantic relationships with women?  Let’s just hope Seb moves on from his crush and finds a new guy soon.  But Dylan and Seb do have chemistry and Dylan definitely has that gruff daddy thing going on.  Who wouldn’t like that?  LOL….

Days of Our Lives  (U.S.)

I actually found all this drama watchable mostly because of Judi Evans’ strong performances.   I’ve watched her in soaps for about 30 years and she’s always delivered.  Adrienne’s confusion over which man she wants is juicy drama.  I just wish the storytelling before all this had been as solid.  So much of this story happened off screen — or not at all.  Still, a classic soap triangle complicated by Adrienne’s cancer could make for powerful soap opera.  I just hope this show is able to deliver.

The show’s handling of Paul and Sonny continues to be disappointing.  The Adrienne storyline is full of drama, angst, heartbreak, love and history.  They could be playing all of that in the Paul/Sonny story, but they’re choosing not to.   That backrub scene was a reminder of the chaste nonsense we used to get from Luke and Noah back on As The World Turns.   It was dumb then, and Luke and Noah were teenagers.  Paul and Sonny certainly are not.  These are grown men who have had a long term serious relationship, but you couldn’t tell by any of their scenes.  You’d think we’ve come so far in depicting gay storylines, but Days is here to remind us we haven’t.  And in our current political climate, it’s only going to get worse.

EastEnders (U.K.)

Clearly Lee set up that robbery.  He’s been wanting to get his hands on some money.  He was desperate to get out of the house with Whitney (showing very little concern to what could have happened to his family) and hid what the robber dropped when they get away.  Of all the dumb things he’s done, this was the dumbest.  And it’s really cruel given his parents have done everything to support and be there for him.  We know the actor is leaving the show, this must be his exit story.  I just wonder how it’s all going to play out.  Does the truth get revealed and he goes on the run or goes to jail?  Personally I hope his family turns him in.  Idiot.

Poor Johnny was only there to get hit.  He still has no story, despite the show’s promises.  Maybe once Lee leaves?  He’ll be the only Carter child left then.

Emmerdale  (U.K.)

This was a pretty good week.

So Emmerdale can tell the romantic lives of three different gay couples.   Some shows can’t even do one.  Amazing.

Though it is unrealistic to have that many queers in a little village with only one road.  LOL…

I really did enjoy the Lawrence/Ronnie scenes.   Ronnie is just what Lawrence needs in his life.  I know they’ve got a long and difficult road ahead and there will be lots of drama, but I really want them to work it out.  You never see gay storylines involving old folks and I credit the show for telling this story.  We all need love when we get older and it only gets harder as the years go by.  This is one I’m really looking forward to watching play out.

But, it is kind of a silly that there are constant dramatic reveals played out in the local pub where everybody can see.  I mean it happens on this show at least two or three times a week.

The hypocrisy of these characters is astounding.  Usually it’s Chrissie and Lawrence that have me shaking my head, but Robert and Aaron need to have a seat as well.  Robert saying that Lachlan deserves prison for shooting Lawrence is rich given that Robert (accidentally) killed Katie, covered it up and got away with it.  Not to mention attempted murder, hiring hitmen, kidnapping and a list of crimes.  Oh about that kidnapping, Aaron judging Finn for his obsession over Kasim is a bit much given that Aaron is marrying his kidnapper/abuser.  Please!

Robert and Aaron do need to move out though.  Aaron’s stance on not using that money is ridiculous.  Using it to make your life better is a good thing.  Not using it and hurting yourself gives Gordon control IMO.

Robert agreeing to help Rebecca bust Lachlan out of jail rather than tell Aaron he kissed her is just stupid.   I’m glad he didn’t go through with it, but after everything they’ve been through he should have known Aaron would be mad about that kiss, but get over it.  He’s forgiven much, much worse.   Rebecca is not going to give up on Robert though.  She wants him bad.

I loved that scene with Finn, Pete and Ross where they teased him about his getting ready for a date. I’ve always loved how they have supported Finn and have always wanted him to meet the right guy and be happy.  On the other hand, that was a really crappy thing to do for Pete to embarrass Finn like that in front of the nurse. Pete has done worse for love. It’s pretty obvious that part of Finn’s attachment to Kasim is because of his father’s death and Finn’s being unable to accept that it was suicide.  No, he shouldn’t be so into a man in a coma, but it does make a weird sense.

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PICKS AND PANS

A Place To Call Home (Australia)

Anna told Gino she can’t have children off screen?  I’m no Gino fan (especially with how he is behaving now), but that revelation should have happened on screen given that it’s been brewing since the show began.  That said, I hope it brings on the end of Gino and Anna’s marriage and lets Anna move on.  As I’ve said before, she can do so much better.

I like how, when James invited Harry to go out with him to that party, Harry told James basically said that just because they were both gay doesn’t mean he’d fit in with James’ rich friends and that they’d consider him ‘rough trade’.  Uhh… Harry, lots of folks like that in a man.  LOL….  But is the show simply going to forget James and Harry’s past and move them into being friends?  What was the point of bringing Harry back if not to play that history?

I mean, they had all the drama of James struggling to tell Henry he loved him, Harry coming back and recovering from his injuries, the family fretting about James and Harry getting back together if James were ever to remember Harry, James remembering the past (with scenes of James telling Harry he loved him) and then… nothing.  Literally nothing.  Months have passed by on the show with not one scene of James and Harry dealing with their romantic history.

Really show?  That’s not playing the drama you set up.  It’s not only bad storytelling, it’s disappointing viewers, like me, who’ve watched this show from Day One and have been waiting for this story to unfold.  You can do better and we deserve better.

Class (U.K.)

An interesting episode.  I do think April’s connection to the Shadow World isn’t over since that’s much of the basis of the series.  I’m intrigued by the backstory of the Governors and I’d like to see what would really happen if Miss Quill didn’t have to follow Charlie’s orders.  I still say she’s going to stick around and protect him because she cares when the time comes.   I’m enjoying Ram and April’s relationship, but Charlie and Matteusz not so much.  It’s just a little too soppy for my tastes.   

In part it’s because I find Matteusz to be an incredibly underwritten and boring character. He just seems to be there to look pretty and make the show look relevant by having a gay couple as major players.  I’m all for that, but some fleshing out and deepening of the character and the relationship is needed to keep me really invested.

Days of Our Lives   (U.S.)

This Lucas/Adrienne/Justin triangle has been dragging out forever, but has gotten such little screen time and most of it has happened off screen.  Why should I bother to get involved when the show seems not that interesting in writing it?

Derrick said that Halloween was a crazy night, but didn’t he, Sonny and Paul spend it together watching TV?  Are we to have forgotten that?  The show insinuated that Derrick and Paul spent a romantic evening together and that isn’t what happened.  Why hint at what we know didn’t occur just so we can watch Sonny be jealous about nothing?  No drama, no stakes.  Again, what’s the point of all this?

Paul seeing Jen reminded me of that time he spied on her and saw her drugged out so he could use it to help Chad get custody of Thomas.  Does Jen know about that?

Why would Justin ask Sonny to spy someone on the docks?   Not only could it be dangerous, the Kiriakis family doesn’t have professionals who could handle such an assignment?  I know it was done so Sonny and Paul could work together, but why wouldn’t Justin just ask Paul, who is a PI, to do it and then have Sonny get involved?  The other way around makes little sense.

Abigail is still alive.   Shrug.  I never cared for her or maybe it was the actress.  Actuallyboth.  Abby was unlikeable and the actress was so blah and drab in the role.  Worse another ‘back from the dead’ story is not what this show needs since they’ve done 3 in the last six months.  But they still won’t bring back Will.

Emmerdale  (U.K.)

Well, now we know why Lachlan is a sociopath.  He gets it from his mother, who gets it from Lawrence.   I mean, Chrissie and Lachlan left Rebecca for dead and Lawrence barely batted an eyelash and only rushed to hide things.  He acts like family members trying to kill each other is a minor inconvenience.  Seems like so long ago when Chrissie showed some parental fortitude and turned Lachlan in for being a sexual predator.  Someone needs to tell Lawrence that being a good father doesn’t mean covering up all your children’s crimes.   I’m glad that Ronnie was disgusted by the whole thing.   Very interesting that Lawrence cared what Ronnie thought.  Still rooting for them to work things out.

I guess they’re going to make Chrissie as awful as possible.  Those comments about Val were just cruel and not needed.   We get it.  Chrissie is evil.  I think, and have always thought, they’re going way over the top with her being a villian.   And you know I think the worst thing about the Whites is that no matter what happens or what they do they always portray themselves as the victim not just with other people, but to themselves.

Rebecca is so in love with Robert.  And they have such chemistry.   I wouldn’t mind an affair.  I’d buy it.  We know Robert can’t keep it in his pants.

So folks suddenly remembered that Chrissie was responsible for Val’s death?  Everybody was way too civil about it for the longest time.   Diane should have always hated her.  So should half the town.  This shouldn’t be an issue now.

I remember when I liked Ross.  He was a bad boy who did bad things, but he was charming and he had some decency, especially when it came to Finn.  But now the the writers think that him being bad and awful without the other side to balance the character is enough and it isn’t.    They’re making the same mistake with Chrissie.

A baby story for Adam and Victoria?  Mmmm… nope.

Aaron is right.  It is weird that Finn is hanging about this comatose guy and wondering if he’s gay.  But I’m very interested in this story and can’t wait to see where it goes.  If it doesn’t give Finn a love story and long term boyfriend, I won’t be happy.

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PICKS AND PANS

A Place To Call Home (Australia)

Kind of a boring episode, but I’m glad that Sarah’s baby will be okay.  To be honest, though, I’ve never cared for the George/Sarah story.  I love Sarah, but George is such a stiff I find it hard to like him much.  I don’t get what Sarah sees in him.

Yay to some happiness for Elizabeth.  Douglas is a good guy and she deserves it.  I hope they get married before disaster strikes.

I missed Anna.  Not Gino though.  He can stay behind in Italy.

If I were Regina, I wouldn’t need drugs to screw the sexy, dirty cop.  Sure I’d regret it later, but… well, actually I probably wouldn’t regret it.  LOL…

No real movement on the Harry/James/Henry storyline.  I do hope it gets lots of attention before the end of the season.  Harry and James really need to have that talk they alluded to a few episodes ago and address their messy past.

I figured Olivia would get dumped by Lloyd.  The guy was an obvious loser/user and Olivia ain’t leaving the show.  I don’t think Olivia really loved him anyway, she was on the rebound from James. I do hope that she does find love with a man who can love her back.  But that probably won’t happen until next season.

Class (U.K.)

Wow.  Compared to last week’s slow paced, emotional episode, this one was like a whole different show: fast paced, lots of plot/character development and knee deep in the show’s mythology.  But I liked it a lot, even if some of the plot points were a bit much, like April healing her mother’s paralysis.  

I also don’t care much for Matteusz, who is quite nosy and judgmental where Charlie is concerned.  I kept wanting Charlie to tell his new boyfriend to back off about stuff that’s none of his business rather than keep explaining himself.

The subplot with the blood eating flowers was creepy and intriguing and I can’t wait to see it play out next week, not to mention Ram and April’s adventures in the Shadow World.   BTW, Ram and April are quite hot together.  Ram stays my favorite character.

Were the two Shadow Creatures who had sex both male?  Or do they have a gender?  Just curious.

I suspect that Miss Quill will be freed from her debt to Charlie, only to decide to stick with him anyway because she cares about him, though she’d never admit it.

Days of Our Lives (U.S.)

I’m pretty sure Days has some gay folks in that writer’s room.  So perhaps they might clue the writers in on how to write young gay men.   They’re just so damned chaste it’s unrealistic and annoying.  They don’t have to be sluts, but they shouldn’t be living like monks either.

If Derrick is just here to pimp Sonny/Paul, then there was no reason to bring him back.  Any of their friends could fill that role.   As I’ve said before, Sonny and Paul have no reason not to be together and replaying those boring flashbacks only reinforces that.  And if this reunion story is dull as hell, what will it be like when they finally get together?  There are no stakes here, no drama, no real storyline.  Just a bunch of tired scenes strung together every few episodes.

And why do Paul and Derrick have to be ‘just friends’?  Why can’t Derrick want Paul for himself, he certainly did before.  Mostly, why aren’t the gays being written like the straight characters when it comes to romance?

When they brought Aiden back, did he pimp Hope and Rafe?  Hell no.  Hope has been emotionally and sexually involved with three men in the past year while the gays don’t have so much as a kiss.  Nicole was mourning Daniel, Lord knows why, but it didn’t stop her romance with Demois.  Ciara was raped, but she still went sniffing after Chad and wanted Theo.  See what I mean?

Different rules if you’re queer in Salem.  And it’s not right.

EastEnders  (U.K.)

I’m glad Kathy stands up and fights for Ben since he refuses to fight for himself.  After everything, Phil still craps all over Ben and Ben just takes it.  Ugh.   And it’s so nice to have Jay on Ben’s side too.

Those were good scenes between Ben and the shrink, very well acted.  The shrink is right.  Ben isn’t in the right place or the frame of mind to be doing something so life altering.   Especially since Phil will never really appreciate it or love him more for it, which is Ben’s primary reason for doing it, even if he won’t admit it.  And even now that the transplant idea probably won’t work, Phil does his best to make Ben feel like dirt by making it clear he expected Ben to fail.  Some father.  I just wish Ben would write the old bastard off.

I like how Lee fills out those pants.

Still waiting for a story for Johnny.  And not a romance with Ben.  Too predictable.  And I don’t think they have much chemistry to be honest.

ADDITIONAL SCENE

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PICKS AND PANS

A Place To Call Home (Australia)

So…. who’s going to kill Richard?  Lots of suspects being set up.

I figured Regina would get addicted to morphine and blackmail Henry into being her supplier.  This can’t end well.

James and Harry have such delicious chemistry.   As much as I like Henry I really want to see them explore the relationship they were afraid to the first time around.  And it would be hot.

Not surprised Olivia decided to leave the baby with James, but I suspect she won’t be leaving Ash Park anytime soon.  I think she’s going to find out that Lloyd is cheating on her.  And with her talking about being jealous about James and Henry having careers, I think she’s probably going to look into finding herself a job of some sort.

Class (U.K.)

Hmmm…. Charlie and Matteusz’s relationship is moving awfully quickly.  They’ve only had a few scenes (none really about their relationship until this past week) and they are already in love and moving in together?  Look, I’m just gonna keep it real.  I expect Matteusz to be killed off by the end of the season.  

I’m sure people will scream that they’re ‘killing off the queers’, but significant others and boyfriends and girlfriends never last on these shows. They offed Ram’s girlfriend in the first episode.  With death surrounding these people, it’s bound to strike very close to home.  He’s cannon fodder to some insidious evil.  Charlie will mourn, fans will write nasty letters, but he’ll love again next season (if there is one).  I’m sure of it.

As for this past week, it was creepy and weird and emotional.  Really very well done.  And I like Ram and April getting together.  Wonder how Tanya will feel about it.  Ram was right when he said that he and Tanya are closer than he is with the other kids in the group.  Will Ram and April dating affect his friendship with Tanya?  It would be very real if it did.

EastEnders  (U.K.)

Not much to say as this is the start of the story arc.  Buzz has it things will climax around Christmas time so I guess we’ll see Ben progressing forward in his plans to help Phil.  Personally I don’t think Phil deserves it and we all know he’ll be drinking with that new liver in a year or so and telling Ben to f*ck off.  That’s as predictable as the sun rising tomorrow.

Emmerdale  (U.K.)

Chas being okay with Aaron marrying Robert seems unrealistic given their ugly history.   Robert murdered her best friend!  I think she should always be suspicious of/not care for Robert. She should have the same stance Paddy does.  She doesn’t like or trust him, but keeps the peace for Aaron’s sake.

I did enjoy the reveal of Rebecca and Robert’s affair though.   It was fun as hell.   These people always have their stuff aired in the middle of the pub, don’t they?  LOL…

How long before it’s revealed that Emma killed James?  Probably a while, unfortunately.

I need a story for Finn.  Please.  I’m willing to beg.  Now would be a good time with his father having just died and his mother having killed James.  Finn will probably figure it out, but I want more than that.  Why can’t he have a messy, complicated romance like Robert and Aaron?

I really want Lawrence and Ronnie to get together.  Come on show, make it happen!

I like Robert the most when he’s being an asshole, like in those scenes with Chrissie.  That’s why his soppy relationship with Aaron doesn’t sit well with me.  But Robert can’t be who he really is with Aaron without Aaron nagging.  I know the fangirls like what’s going on with Robert and Aaron, but I just don’t.  I miss that bad boy who stirred things up.

I think I’m going to enjoy the sister rivalry between Chrissie and Rebecca.  It’s fun, classic soap drama.

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A Place To Call Home (Australia)

What a good episode.  What a fantastic season.

I LOL when James said to Elizabeth about her being old fashioned “it’s 1954, we use the telephone’.  And it’s an interesting twist that the family will accept (barely) James being with a man like a respectable doctor as Henry is, but they wouldn’t want him with Harry because he’s poor.  Class matters even in that situation.

I like how Elizabeth got around keeping her vow to George to stay away from Harry by telling Olivia about Harry, knowing Olivia would get involved.

I loved, loved, loved that moment when James had that dream about Harry. I didn’t expect it and it was quite powerful.

I am enjoying the growing bond between Sarah and Harry.  They need each other and it’s wonderful they have one another.

I still think Olivia is in love with James, but you can see their relationship shifting to a deep friendship.  And like Harry and Sarah’s bond, I’m enjoying it.

Lots of nice twists in the other stories like Richard’s power play over Jack and Caroline and the evil scheming of Regina.  And I know the cop she’s plotting with is a dirty cop and a bigot, but he’s a hot daddy.  Sorry, me likely.  I’m glad to see Douglas back.   I was thinking that was a storyline the show had dropped.

I have a feeling the reason why Anna isn’t pregnant is because she’s taking birth control. I suspect a baby is the last thing she wants right now.  With her career blossoming, which Gino clearly doesn’t care about, I don’t blame her.

Days of Our Lives (U.S.)

Loving the super tight pants on Chad.

JJ needs a cop’s uniform that fits.

Joey needs a comb.

The Paul/Sonny stuff?  It’s trash, pure and simple.   I really can’t comment it.  I could barely watch it.  Garbage.  The old writers were bad and these aren’t much better.  Paul and Sonny’s scenes, like most of this show, make no sense, have no emotional logic and the story itself is just nonsense.

Garbage.

EastEnders  (U.K.)

Ben wasn’t the only one crying when Jay came back home.  So glad he’s back.  They really do need each other.

I like the relationship that has developed between Pam and Ben.  They’ve really bonded since Paul’s death and had lovely scenes. It was just what Ben, perhaps both of them, needed.  I also liked Ben and Abi clearing the air.  It’s about time.

I figured with the actor playing Lee leaving the show, Lee and Whitney would lose that baby.  And I’m going to guess that despite what she told Lee to make him feel better, Whitney will blame Lee for the miscarriage since it’s possible that it was his infecting her with chlamydia that caused it and it’ll destroy their relationship.

Interesting beat with Ben cruising Grindr.  Usually soaps have gay characters become chaste after looking their love interest. It would sure be different (and realistic) if Ben became promiscuous as a way of dealing with his loss.  

Emmerdale  (U.K.)

Funny how Rebecca says she missed her family, but she wasn’t there for Lawrence’s numerous hospital visits where he nearly died, Chrissie’s wedding, Lachlan’s legal woes or anything else terrible that happened in the White family since they came to town.  These things happen in soaps when you have family not on the canvas so you have to just ignore it and roll with it.

I liked the Robert/Rebecca scenes.  I think they have some real chemistry.  I know fans would hate it, but I wouldn’t mind a steamy affair between them.  It’s in Robert’s character and he can only be Aaron’s lapdog for so long.  I just enjoy seeing the bad boy side of Robert and he can’t be that way with Aaron without being nagged.  I agree with Rebecca that Robert doesn’t like rules (or being labeled).  He does what suits him.  And there’s nothing wrong with that.  I know a lot of fans hate that Robert won’t come out and say he’s gay.  But why does he have to?

Personally, I think the idea of Aaron and Robert getting married is ridiculous, but I’d bet the fans are literally wetting themselves over it.  I still prefer the days when their relationship was all about sin and scandal.  This domestic, home and hearth stuff has been real dull and made Robert boring.

Well, we know someone is supposed to die on the show next week and both Robert and Aaron were joking about the other one dying.  I really can’t see the show killing either one of them, but if one of the actors wanted to leave, this could be their exit story.  We’ll see.

Lachlan is getting nice and beefy.  Too bad he’s a sociopath.

ADDITIONAL SCENE

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Having watched and enjoyed the Norwegian version, it’ll be interesting to see the spin the US version takes and how they handle the gay storyline.  We’ll have a review and clips of the show in next week’s column.

Harry is stunned to see James again. But how will James react?

Also this week, on A Place to Call Home James and Harry come face to face.  What happens next between them is a shocker.  Plus, we take a look at the new gay storyline on Welsh soap Rownd a Rownd and Oliver returns in the season premiere of Canadian drama This Life. And on Days of Our Lives, Paul and Sonny are still into each other, but neither of them have gotten past Will’s death and it’s coming between them.  But when Paul is nearly murdered, will that be what finally brings them together?  All this and more!

PICKS AND PANS

A Place To Call Home (Australia)

The cinematography on this show stays beautiful and lush. 

I did like James throwing Gino’s biblical reasons for not being more open minded about James being gay back in Gino’s face.  Funny how Gino had no response for all the things he had done to go against the Bible, huh?

I really like the friendship between Harry and Sarah and I love that Sarah hasn’t stopped loving Rene and still respects his memory.

That was a really great scene with he and Olivia where James professed his commitment to his child.  And no matter what she feels for Lloyd, Olivia is still so in love with James.  She showed that by her determination to be friends with Henry.  It took a lot of her to do that and she didn’t have to.  She did it to make life easier for James.  

I’m glad that James was able to tell Henry he loved him.  Sweet scene.  As was the wonderfully shot underwater scenes of them together right before Harry shows up.

So… James doesn’t remember Harry?  Wow I did not see that coming.  I thought James was pretending, but clearly he was not.  I guess it was from the electroshock treatments James had back in Season 2.  They said it might mess with his memory and it would make perfect sense he would forget Harry since that was the point of the procedure.  Great way to use a plot point we’ve seen in soaps dozens of times. Loved it, loved it.

I got a kick out of the three ladies scheming against Regina.  Fun!

And the previews for next week?  Sarah vs the family again?  I cannot wait.  Such good soap.

Coronation Street  (U.K.)

I have a bad feeling when this is all said and done, Todd is going to wind up holding the bag for this scam and no one will believe he was trying to protect his mother from Vinny. Beyond that, there’s not much to say.  I’m glad Todd and Billy are on the right track again.

Deep Water (Australia)

Despite the subject matter, I don’t think this show is nearly as compelling or dramatic as it could be.  Everything is too subdued and underplayed when things could be pumped up a bit.  I don’t know if it’s because it’s based on a real crime and the show wants to stick to the facts or that’s the style the show was going for.   To be fair, it does capture the darkness and the moodiness very well. And I do like the psychological and emotional underpinnings to Tori and Nick’s involvement with the case.

Still, I would have liked to have seen a bit more creative license and add drama.  Maybe some romance for the characters?  The acting is pretty good though.  And you know, I was confused by Tori’s relationship with her gay friend or maybe I wasn’t paying attention.  He is her son’s father or what?  I didn’t quite get that whole thing.  Maybe the show will clear it up.

I did like the plot arc of the former football player who finally had to face the past he’d been running from.   Didn’t expect he’d be murdered though.  Oh and the plot arc of the bipolar suspect was intriguing too, especially the plight of his possibly being returned to Iran.

Days of Our Lives (U.S.)

So silly to have the Kiriakis’ running the empire from their living room with most of the action taking place off screen.  All that macho posturing with Brady and Philip was more funny than anything else.  I guess everybody loves Demois now and have forgotten he tortured and killed Bo.  

Why would Sonny think that pleading to Chad not to take over the business based on their friendship would mean anything given the number of times Chad has screwed Sonny over already?  Or does Sonny still not know that Chad purposefully destroyed his club?

Is Paul really conducting surveillance of John’s trying to rescue the kidnap victims in the middle of a busy restaurant?  I guess someone else was using the office set that day.   I do think Paul and Sonny still have chemistry.  That last scene between them was nice.  But the show is still dragging things out and finding silly (or non-existent) reasons for them not to be together.

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