Options
Why has EastEnders made so many mistakes?
Special Appearance
Posts: 8,013 Forum Member
✭
I feel like compared to other soaps, EastEnders has made so many more mistakes.
- killed off Cindy Beale (1998)
- killed off Angie Watts off-screen (2002)
- killed off Kathy Beale (2006)
- Rehired Danniella Westbrook as Sam Mitchell (2009, 2010, 2016)
- Axed Pat Evans (2012)
- Recast Lucy Beale (2012)
- Killed off Lucy Beale (2014)
- Killed off Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell (2017)
- Killed off Steven Beale (2017)
- Killed off Abi Branning (2018)
- Axed Harry Reid as Ben and then recast Ben (2018, 2019)
- Killed off Denny (2020)
It feels like incompetence that's swept through the egos of producers over the years is what will eventually kill off the show for good.
- killed off Cindy Beale (1998)
- killed off Angie Watts off-screen (2002)
- killed off Kathy Beale (2006)
- Rehired Danniella Westbrook as Sam Mitchell (2009, 2010, 2016)
- Axed Pat Evans (2012)
- Recast Lucy Beale (2012)
- Killed off Lucy Beale (2014)
- Killed off Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell (2017)
- Killed off Steven Beale (2017)
- Killed off Abi Branning (2018)
- Axed Harry Reid as Ben and then recast Ben (2018, 2019)
- Killed off Denny (2020)
It feels like incompetence that's swept through the egos of producers over the years is what will eventually kill off the show for good.
1
Comments
Ronnie and Roxy were definitely mistakes
I personally think they made so many mistakes with Ronnie that her death was necessary. She changed personality with the wind.
i dont think the following were a mistake
Recasting Lucy Beale
Killing Lucy Beale
Killing of Ronnie and Roxy
Axing Harry Reid and then recasting Ben
Harry Reid was absolutly woefull, people may not like how Ben is nowadays, but Max Bowden is a million times a better actor than Harry Reid could ever be, ive seen Harry Reid in panto and even that was a stretch for him
Even if you don't rate Harry, casting Max Bowden was a mistake. They could have cast someone who was remotely like the character of Ben.
Fine actor but not Ben in any sense.
He was very hammy. Though at times he could be quite good, like when his reaction to his mum coming back, that it made up for Ian's non-reaction. I just wish Max Bowden's Ben would wear his trademark glasses so he at least resembles some sort of Ben.
thats obviously personal opinion, the show obviously wanted to mould Ben into a more Phil type character, which given Ben's upbringing, and crimes he had done before Max Bowden's recast, isnt really that surprising.
People seem to forget that Ben attacked Jordan and then killed Heather, Ben has never been this nice, lovely guy, even when played by Harry Reid, he stripped Abi in The Vic
It's also a personal opinion if you think Max Bowden is a 'million times better actor than Harry Reid'. I mean he isn't obviously. In fact I find him very unconvincing most of the time.
of course its a personal opinion, i never said otherwise
EE has got so many things wrong because the BBC bosses took their eye off the ball. I think their thinking was that as long as they keep churning out 4 episodes a week, never mind the quality as the fans and viewers will still watch. Unfortunately that isn’t the case. I stopped watching for several
Months this year and have dipped in and out again and am impressed with the changes but there’s still so much wrong (casting of Freddy) that I might give up again
ITV clearly have a greater say in Corrie and Emmerdale. The BBC top brass just don’t care and are more interested in their next big drama that can compete against Netflix
I think there's a difference here though - and the difference is that, yes, Ben has always had violent tendencies, lashed out and had a temper - but Ben has always had a small stature, looked pretty harmless, and not stereotypically masculine. He was the opposite to Phil, physically, in lots of ways. That was literally the whole point of his character.
They might have wanted to change Ben, but then he's not Ben. I'll never buy Max Bowden as Ben. Good actor, but the character is dead to me now. I also don't think he's great compared to Harry Reid, I think Harry was a good actor.
Roxy needed to go so it isn't a mistake in my eyes, it just seems popular to band together and hype it up 🤷♂️
Lucy needed recasting as the former actress didn't follow basic expectations of her contract.
The new Lucy was fine.
Max B is a decent enough actor and he outs effort into his role but he should have been a new character and not Ben. Harry Reid wasn't great though.
For a soap starting 37 years ago or so it isn't that bad a list.
Except for the ones they reversed like Kathys death, Denises and Dottys parentage. The baby swap plot was wrapped up early too.
It's a pretty bad list considering they all happened in the last 24 years. 12 things, so basically a terrible mistake on average every 2 years.
Excellent point.
Ben’s behaviour is worse than Ronnie’s and he’s still around.
Ronnie had a reason to behave the way she did towards creepy men like Carl & Nick because of Archie and it was fully deserved.
Which ones wanted to leave?
Anita Dobson, Michelle Collins; and Aaron Sidwell only signed a six month contract as he wanted to do other things.
Angie was killed off in 2002 though, 14 years after she left the Square. None of those 3 needed to be killed off as they could all have returned in future.
He does occasionally, I can think of a few morning scenes when we've seen him with his glasses on.
You missed the obvious from the top of your list - hiring Bryan Kirkwood!
There's a couple I disagree with here - Anita Dobson for example has maintained she would never ruin the 'gorgeous creation that was Angie Watts' - I don't think you'd ever see her back regardless how much anyone begged!
Also - killing off Abi Branning was hardly a great loss, I'd argue the character had long run its course before she was killed off. Probably why Lauren was allowed to walk off into the sunset.
However I do agree EE do seem to drop the ball more than most. In particular Bryan Kirkwood and Sean O'Connor just didn't seem to understand the fabric of the show and that's what is missing with some of the EPs. Yes, prior to that we had some dud ones - but they either 'got' the show like Louise Berridge or they were shown the door pronto like Kathleen Hutchison so the damage they did was limited. I mean, killing Lucy Beale is there as a mistake... however, I'm not convinced it was... DTC actually got the show and it did bring the Beales back to the heart of it. Unfortunately the aftermath which saw the Beales splinter again was not the best handled - but at the same you couldn't blame the likes of Ben Hardy bowing out in search of Hollywood.....
Hes been invited back to witness, why would you see someone you don't even like in a show?