Eastenders Returns!

(Monday 7^th – Monday 14^th September 2020)

The Walford gang have been living in lockdown like the rest of us these past few months and we have a hell of a lot to catch up on! And one of the best things to report is that Kat is back! Hooray!

When we last saw everyone, Ian and Sharon had just bought the Queen Vic together, with Ian having pinched Max’s money from the restaurant on the pretence of looking after it for him while he divorced Rainie (Ian is just getting darker and darker, isn’t it?!) Well, it turns out that during lockdown, they have been cosily living together at the pub, with Ian having apparently forgotten all about his Mum and Bobby back at home. It’s all about Sharon and Albie (the baby, who used to be called Kayden). I’m not sure which name is worse.

Sharon has a lot to deal with…
(photo credit: Metro)

Having got off her drugs charges but with Ian still lording everything over her, Dotty finally lost her temper and revealed everything about Denny’s death to Sharon. But with no proof, Sharon couldn’t believe that her dearest friend would ever do such a thing and threw Dotty out of the pub. Undeterred, Dotty decided that the pair deserved each other and wound Ian up by convincing him that Sharon had feelings for him. Having harboured feelings for Sharon for months (probably years, to be honest), the moron finally made his move, only to be turned down. Awkward. Very awkward. Oh and now Max’s divorced is through and he wants his money back…

Ruby is has had her credit card stolen and is being rinsed. I can’t remember if we know who by… But she and Vinny planned an insurance job that went wrong. Before Ruby could call it off, Vinny was chased down by Martin who ended up getting smacked in the head with a fire extinguisher, which was a bit extreme! Suki covered it all up and got him sent off to hospital. I was quite impressed by how well it was all filmed, actually. I’ve been impressed by how almost everything has been filmed – in all the soaps. They’re doing amazingly well in the circumstances.

Vinny knocks Martin out…
(photo credit: Metro)

One thing that did let Eastenders down though was one scene in the Chantelle and Gray storyline and it’s such a shame as this story has been utterly flawless since the beginning and of course, the news has been released that this week, Chantelle will be murdered by Gray. I am absolutely heartbroken that this is the way the story will end, not to mention shocked. But I have to applaud the show for being honest about how these situations do pan out sometimes. Not everyone gets a happy ending and it’s important reflect that. In a horrific and heartbreaking way, this plot may save lives.

However, while every step of this abuse plot has been chilling and uncomfortable and genuinely upsetting, last week’s bath scene was just weird. I’m sorry. I know it must have been really difficult to film but it was just so weird. It made no sense at all. For starters, if, over lockdown, Gray had started this kind of breath play abuse, why, when she knew he was furious with her and wanted a divorce and her out of the house, would Chantelle have ever thought, hey, I’ll go and have a lovely bath? Absolutely ridiculous.

I just hope the next few episodes live up to the truthful, clever storytelling we have witnessed since it began. And it truly has been clever. If we think back, we knew there was something up with Gray long before they ever showed anything. We never saw inside their home for weeks and weeks. The only version of themselves we ever saw was what they presented to the outside world so we knew there was something not right before it was ever explicitly shown to us. As horrific as the next few episodes may be, I hope they do the story justice.

At the point we have left them, Chantelle so nearly made her escape, turning Kheerat, who had fallen in love with her, down and planning a holiday with her parents and siblings, from which she didn’t plan to return. Of course, Gray got wind of it and banned the children from going. Chantelle was left with a dilemma – abandon her children and escape her husband or stay behind? Well, it’s obvious what she will do and what the consequences will be…

Gray thwarts Chantelle’s plan of escape with her kids…
(photo credit: Metro)

In other news, Ben’s operation finally went ahead and his hearing returned. But more trouble lay ahead when Callum saw the CCTV footage, identifying Ben at the warehouse job. Cue: Ballum tension. However, Callum agreed to tackle the problem at work if Ben persuaded Phil to roll over on Danny Hardcastle, the person that the police are really trying to nail. Phil refused.

Tina grew closer to Frankie when Kathy gave her a job at The Albert, once she had offended and then corrected herself over some thoughtless words about her being deaf. Linda teased her mercilessly when she brought her for some drinks at The Vic, with it being quite clear that Tina fancied her, although it’s not clear as to whether Frankie feels the same way. What is clear is that Frankie is attached to Ollie, who reminds her of her little brother, Harry who died when he was very young. Later, Frankie, a photographer, took secret pictures of the Carters while they played football in the Square. I can’t decide if she is nice or strange. Time will tell…

Frankie bonds with Ollie…
(photo credit: Metro)

Eastenders airs on BBC1 on Mondays @ 8:05pm, Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 7:35pm & Fridays @ 8:30pm

Neighbours: The Sorrows of Shane Rebecchi

(Friday 28^th August – Friday 11^th September 2020)

Roxy continued to try and support Shane by herself, without telling anyone what was really going on and ended up becoming the victim of his temper when she threw his drugs away and her shoved her about. Kyle rescued her and told Dipi about her husband’s behaviour. Dipi turned to Karl for support, believing that Shane was suffering with depression. Shane refused to defer his course but decided to go away for a few days, lying that he was visiting his brother, Stonefish. Unaware of the gravity of the situation, Stonie covered for him, leaving Shane to hide out in his hometown in an abandoned shed to try and go cold turkey until he panicked and phoned Roxy for help. Roxy finally told Kyle and Toadie the truth, sending Toadie to go and sort his brother out and bring him home.

Toadie tracks Shane down…
(photo credit: Metro)

Shane, Dipi (and Toadie) were the only people unaware that Mackenzie was very sweetly arranging a party to celebrate Shane and Dipi’s 20^th wedding anniversary, which, after a lot of stumbling blocks, she changed to a romantic dinner for two. However, she found out from Ritchie at the last minute about the drugs, which he claimed to have found. I don’t buy it. Remember the hushed conversation he and Shane had weeks ago? And he has known for days that there has been something wrong, clearly more than he has been letting on. I like Ritchie but I haven’t trusted him for a little while now. Those drugs originated from the school, remember? Well, we’ll see.

Chloe brought Fay home to live with her, Pierce and Hendrix, plus Nicolette, their new live in nurse and I wouldn’t say it has gone smoothly. Basically, even without knowing that Nicolette has feelings for Chloe, Pierce is jealous. He’s jealous because he doesn’t trust Chloe’s bisexuality. He doesn’t even know the full story yet. Although, Hendrix has since found out more information. Now, I think I like Nicolette. She’s good with Fay and she is clearly sincere when it comes to Chloe. And I cannot stand Pierce. But she is a bit interfering, I do agree with him there. She pushes a bit too hard. Also, isn’t a bit weird that Aaron and David are taking Fay on holiday without her nurse? Isn’t that the point of her? I would assume it’s lazy story telling so they can focus on Nicolette, Chloe and Pierce? Anyway, one nice moment that has come during these past couple of weeks is that she has finally turned to Jane for support over it all so hopefully they will continue to reconnect.

Nicolette plays a trick on Pierce…
(photo credit: Digital Spy)

Things began to look up for Emmett with Terese giving her a job at the hotel but she promptly lost it for stealing booze. Soon enough, a previously never before mentioned aunt moved back into the country (all orchestrated by Jenna) and was deemed a perfectly suitable candidate to care for him and off he went. Suddenly what had been a very prominent storyline seems to have been hurried away and although Aaron seemed fairly accepting, David did not take it well at all.

David and Aaron say goodbye to Emmett…
(photo credit: Digital Spy)

In other news

Harlow, Hendrix, Mackenzie and Ritchie staged an eco-protest to persuade Paul to make changes at the hotel
Tensions between husband and wife led Terese to go and visit her kids in L.A.
Bea and Levi fake dated – fated?!
Kyle was jealous of all the attention Sheila lavished on Levi to make up for her guilt
Ned made some very questionable ‘art’ to earn cash
Toadie almost dated Angela Lane! Eek!

Neighbours airs Monday – Friday, Channel 5 @ 1:45pm and 5:30pm

Hollyoaks Returns!

Monday 7^th – Thursday 10^th September 2020

Hollyoaks returned after a couple of months break, now four days a week (with a ‘Favourite’ episode every Friday on E4) and flitting between previously filmed footage and newly filmed footage. The story picked up on Scott and Mitchell’s wedding guests giving police statements regarding a missing person. So, who’s missing? Well, Mitchell, Lisa and Martine are definitely not giving statements. And over the summer, during the BLM debates, both Rachel Adedeji and Imran Evans resigned…

So, the wedding went ahead with the miracle of all miracles – Joel persuaded Walter to attend and be supportive of the happy couple. This further enraged bitter Toby who ended up in a vicious row with Mitchell, as he’d only informed Walter about the wedding so that he’d kick off and cause trouble. After the fight between the boys, both Mitchell and Lisa ended up in their rooms (Mitchell because he was upset and Lisa because she was waiting for Felix who appeared at this point to be bedding her, Martine and Grace!) Twisted up with rage, Toby found the hotel master key and beat Mitchell to death in his bed. Except it wasn’t Mitchell. It was Lisa. They had swapped rooms.

Celeste tries to rescue her brother after he murders Lisa…
(photo credit: Digital Spy)

Horrified, Toby left the room, only to bump into Celeste who was distraught by this turn of events but it looked like this wasn’t the first time she had bailed him out of a horrific situation. She created a distraction and they got rid of the body, meaning that for the past few months, it looked like Lisa was missing (or in Ibza – you decide!) Bearing in mind she had no suitcase, ticket or any kind of social media presence apart from one brief message of congratulations to the boys.

Now, I totally get they wanted a dramatic story and exit and everything, not to mention a dramatic relaunch after being off air but it seems like a strange character to do this with. I mean, it seems strange to me that after a lifetime of Lisa being missing, her mother and brother would vanish from her life forever anyway. But now she’s missing again and what? They don’t come running? There’s no kind of reaction from the family members that loved her, lost her and missed her for years? And when it comes out that she’s been murdered, let me guess, they’ll be too busy to come back for the funeral, yes? Even if they recast them, honestly, for the sake of some kind of continuity, you would have thought that the ‘missing girl’s’ mother and brother would give a crap that she’s vanished again. Or that she hadn’t for the past few years, for that matter.

Meanwhile, Verity was shocked to find Tony living in the caravan in The Dog car park, having not been able to control his angry outbursts thanks to Edward doubling the dose of testosterone. Well, you know my feelings on the details of this particular storyline. I am hoping that Verity will bring some sanity to proceedings soon.

So, PC George Kiss doesn’t like PDAs but he was jealous when John Paul spent time with James who was utterly gleeful at the idea of winding the situation up, getting himself and John Paul arrested and thrown into a cell together so John Paul could decide what he really wanted. While John Paul decided it was George he wanted, despite a compelling case from James, it turned out that safe, gorgeous, moral George may not be all he seems. While John Paul and James were thrashing it out in their cell, the policeman was meeting up with his ex, Dean who was in rather a sorry state. He had been in therapy and was on medication, having been left utterly broken by his relationship with a somewhat unrecognisably heartless George. Why can’t anyone just turn out to be nice in these programmes?! I am devastated!

George laughs at his ex’s upset…
(photo credit: Metro)

Hollyoaks airs Monday – Thursday, 6:30pm on Channel 4 (sneak peek on E4, 7pm)

These reviews are based on the E4 episodes

Hollyoaks airs ‘Hollyoaks Favourites’ on Fridays, Wednesdays-Fridays, 7pm on E4

Previously on Hollyoaks…

(Monday 15^th June – Tuesday 21^st July 2020)

With the news of Kyle’s death having spread, Nancy was overwhelmed with visitors, all paying their respects. Two of those were Leela, joined by Jordan, one of the people that nobody knows was Kyle’s dealer and is generally a very bad person. But somehow, he managed to use the visit to prove himself worthy of Leela really giving him a chance, although their relationship continued to remain under wraps for now. You know, with him having previously been sleeping with Leela’s daughter and all. In secret. Didn’t we have a very similar story between Leela, Tegan and Ziggy once upon a time and I’m sure there was a dodgy love triangle involving their Dad once as well. There must be a gene. But it’s all very murky. Very murky indeed.

But what Kyle’s story has done is provide an incredible talking point regarding depression and suicide. Kyle’s death was absolutely devastating and Adam Rickett carried the story so incredibly well. Now it’s time for Jessica Fox to take the helm, portraying the role of the confused, broken partner, left behind, having had no idea of the pain her partner was enduring. And she is doing a marvellous job. This story has been done so well, as Kyle’s suffering slipped under the radar, as does depression and mental health itself in so many ways. We were all so focussed on watching Darren’s struggles, I for one didn’t even notice Kyle until he said the words out loud. And that’s been the genius and the heartbreak of this story.

While Nancy’s grief almost kept her from the funeral, it was her loved ones who persuaded her to be there and supported her through it. Darren very bravely told her the truth about his own depression and that Kyle saved him from ending his own life. She laid it all on the line, forcing him to tell Mandy the truth. I just hope that with the lockdown, this story isn’t one that gets forgotten and pushed to the side. All the lessons from it need to be learned more urgently than ever now.

John Paul and PC George Kiss started to get closer, much to the annoyance of James who decided that John Paul was the love of his life and he wanted him back. To be honest, I can’t keep up with James. Not so long ago, it was Harry who was the love of his life. Now he can’t live without John Paul. Personally, I like George. But let’s face it, this gorgeous, kind, lovely policeman is likely to turn out to be a psycho for all the previously mentioned reasons. Because nobody in soap is ever who they appear to be. Apart from Valerie in Doctors.

Meanwhile, Evil Edward continued to drug Tony with testosterone, sending him into angry rages that he couldn’t control. He even blamed poor Nancy for Kyle’s death when she set up a memorial for him outside the restaurant. Diane and Tony were devastated when Edward confirmed that this state of affairs was permanent, having persuaded them not to get a second opinion about his condition. I still think this is flawed story telling. Firstly, I just don’t buy that after all their history, including Edward sleeping with his wife, Tony would have him as his surgeon, plus I am pretty sure it’s against hospital ethics to treat a member of your own family. Secondly, why is he medicating him? Why isn’t this being done at the Doctors/hospital/pharmacy instead of just casually in the lounge? And why hasn’t someone noticed a load of T is going missing? And why would Edward have such easy access to it as a neurosurgeon? This story is a bit silly, to be honest and it doesn’t make much logical sense.

And in the story that the lockdown must have seriously panicked the show about… Jordan decided to release the pressure on the kids when it came to selling at the school but after a visit from his ‘boss’, Victor, he quickly changed his mind. It’s interesting to see him, who acts so in charge of everything all the time, under the control of someone else. Of course, they got caught, Sid taking the fall for Juliet and ending up getting thrown out of school. I feel sorry for Sid. Nothing has ever gone in his favour. Awful family, from his Dad right down to his cousin. Trapped in this situation, selling drugs when he doesn’t want to but he’s too scared to say no and now he’s having to recruit younger kids like Charlie. Plus the girl he’s in love with, is swooning over someone else. I know he said he was supportive but she could be a little bit sensitive! Of course that’s all taken a bit of a turn now that she’s found Peri in bed with Jordan (who is still secretly sleeping with Leela). I mean, complicated isn’t the word!

Speaking of complicated situations, Sienna, Brody and Liberty (and a little bit Warren?) found out they were having a baby girl. How lovely. I mean, that’s a weirder family than the Lomaxes. Sienna and Brody are a couple. Liberty is the surrogate, sister of Sienna, in love with Brody but also quite fancies his best friend Damon who has a very complicated history with Maxine. Then there’s Sienna’s ex Warren, with whom she has two children who she used to hate but recently kissed (and did he go out with Maxine at one time too…?) I think I need to sit down.

Also, Warren recently revealed that Toby, Celeste and Mitchell’s Dad, Felix bullied him at their children’s home (what a coincide that they knew each other as kids, happened to be arch enemies and also happened to show up in the Village at exactly the same time). It all traced back to a staff member who physically abused Felix, meaning he took everything out on Warren. Horrified, Brody reported the guy to the police.

Warren and Felix have a chequered past…
(photo credit: Digital Spy

While Felix managed to open up to Martine about his past, he also found himself hooking up with both her and Lisa. Lovely bloke. Meanwhile, Scott and Mitchell returned to reveal they were getting married. Well, they more whispered it because Mitchell was scared of the disapproval of Walter, making up this story about a charity event in order to get him there. Of course, Toby stepped in and told Walter the truth in a bid to ruin the big day… And then the show went on a two month break!

Hollyoaks airs Monday – Thursday, 6:30pm on Channel 4 (sneak peek on E4, 7pm)

These reviews are based on the E4 episodes

Hollyoaks airs ‘Hollyoaks Favourites’ on Fridays, Wednesdays-Fridays, 7pm on E4