In a year were the very real world seems to be doing coke
every week and then dealing with the consequences by doing some more; you’d be
forgiven for not noticing a change in the world of television.
‘Eastenders’ is an
icon of British television. It’s not the longest soap on television but it’s a staple
none the less. We all know that anything that has been on for as long as it
has, will inevitably have peaks and troves. Just as the noughties came to an
end, it entered a prolonged slump. First came a baby swap storyline which
caused such controversy that the actress at the centre of the plot, Samantha
Womack, departed the series. The role of executive producer became like a
revolving door as several writers tried and failed to revive the magic.
Attempts became more desperate as legendary characters like Pat Butcher were
killed off and suddenly the show seemed like a terrible ‘Hollyoaks’ wannabe.
And so, like all good heroes, Dominic Treadwell-Collins
entered the fray at just the right moment. Even if you haven’t watched a single
episode, you probably know that Danny Dyer plays the landlord of the Queen Vic
unbelievably well. The epic ‘Who Killed Lucy Beale’ saga was ingrained in the
fabric of British culture for most of 2014 building up to a week of live
episodes. Regulars noticed an uptake in the amount of older characters being portrayed
and though not devoid of pretty people or love triangles, they were no longer
the sum total of the show. After successfully rebuilding the brand,
Treadwell-Collins left his position earlier this year – paralleled by the
onscreen departure of Peggy Mitchell.
This brings us to the present with Sean O’Connor taking up
the reins for the latter part of this year. He came over from leading an
incredibly well received storyline about domestic violence on the radio serial ‘The Archers’. That serial is an institution
in its own right, broadcasting for well over half a century but it’s far slower
paced than the soaps we’re used to on our television screens. Stakes are often
far lower and the usual expectations of murders or big revelations at Christmas
are not quite the same.
You’d have to be totally obtuse not to have noticed a tonal
switch since O’Connor took over. The show has taken a breath and the break neck
speed at which Treadwell-Collins liked to deliver twists has stopped so that
not every episode has to have a big reveal at the end. I’m not going to lie, it
definitely took a bit of getting used to. For example, a recurring plot has
been a bin collections crisis leading to black bin bags cluttering the square.
I mean it’s hard to get excited about that. Then again, it does have its
bonuses. As great as Treadwell-Collins was, the need for constant surprises did
lead to some ridiculous plot developments. Hard as I try to forget, I think I’m
permanently scarred from Vincent being delivered a pig’s head.
O’Connor has also made an impact through cast changes with a
large amount of fan favourites departing. The entire Masood family has been
written out with Roxy and Ronnie being written out in the New Year. Not to
mention bringing back Michelle Fowler, a decision which has been panned already
even though she’s been on TV for all of an episode. Though people are critical
of her being recast, I can’t see the issue given that she was last on the show
twenty years ago.
Personally, the decision to write out a pack of older
characters was the most worrying decision. Whilst Pam and Les may not have been
around as long as characters like Masood, they seemed to have far more mileage
left in them. Not to mention that when the show slumped before, a large part of
that was the older generation was being forgotten.
Then again, I don’t think that the show is going to suffer all
that badly. O’Connor is being bold because he’s not only changing up the cast
like most producers do, he’s also changing the tone and challenging the
audience. He could attempt to compete with the big twists and turns of ‘Emmerdale’ or ‘Coronation Street’ as many other producers have tried to do but
when you compete for the sake of competing, that’s often when you deliver the
most half-baked, short sighted plots.
People have been having a go at the most boring Christmas
special of ‘Eastenders’ ever. But if
he’d given in to that need for a big twist then he’d most likely have killed
off Phil Mitchell. Yes, it would have made for an excellent episode and it
would have got a lot of press but it would have been a terrible choice for the
show. Steve McFadden is one of the strongest actors on the serial at the moment
with his portrayal of Phil’s long standing addiction to alcohol winning him
much deserved acclaim. His death would have created an unnecessary vacuum which
they’d end up desperately trying to fill with characters that were inevitably
less relatable.
The show on Christmas Eve was also a belter with Dot being
put front and centre. O’Connor has been quietly and consistently building on
what Treadwell-Collins got so very right about ‘Eastenders’. It flourishes when it deals with issues around
community, friendship and family. Realistic portrayals of important social
issues were some of the highlights of Treadwell-Collins tenure including
exploring the issue of rape and the repercussions of it on victims; especially
when justice isn’t provided by the legal system. As O’Connor has taken over he
has continued to explore social issues with extensive tact and sensitivity.
Under the radar, he has crafted an elegant portrayal of the
best and worst of gentrification in which Dot Branning has been front and
centre. In one brilliant episode, he focused on homophobia and how it had
changed over time. A gay character, Paul is the victim of a homophobic attack
and as his wake is taking place, Dot has to confront her own prejudices over
same sex marriage. The writing makes clear that Dot isn’t in any way on a level
with the deeply homophobic attackers but does have a younger generation question
her values. In doing so, the changing dynamic of London’s East end into a more
accepting area is praised but a darker side of generation exists and as an
older character, Dot is also subjected to that.
Dot has been the manageress of the laundrette for almost as
long as she has been in the square but gentrification leads to its closure.
When she hosts a closing party, no one attends showing a lack of community. However
during the Christmas special, a power cut forces the residents of Albert Square
to abandon their individual plans and gather in the Vic. We may yawn and complain
that the show was boring this year but that probably says more about us than O’Connor.
It was a welcome surprise to have a special focus on community, especially at
this time of the year.
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