Themes? Character led or issue led?

• 1) Themes? Character led or issue led?

  Posted over 14 days ago.  Added 03/08/2011 12:24:42 by Ricksher
  At the moment and for the last couple of years, I've been more and more upset about the plot lines in "The Archers". In the past very serious plots (Elizabeth and Cameron Fraser for instance) have cropped up, provided some fine drama and then life has appeared to be more or less that of a normal community with a little dramatic licence.
  There seems to be a belief that it all has to be serious, "relevant" to the new concerned , young audience that may or may not have materialised. Every plot is an issue, it's like "Eastenders" or some otheir ghastly modern soap. Just look at the "Issues", family feuds, David , Elizabeth, the Grundy brothers, artificial insemination, and general mayhem. I want the old slow pace of a dated and unreal community which I've loved for almost fifty years. I don't want, murder, mayhem, surely paedophilia or incest will be tackled soon? May I suggest the script writers and editors consider their present audience's demography, rather than seeking to attract an audience that I don't think exists for this programme.

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• 2) Re: Themes? Character led or issue led?

  Posted over 14 days ago.  Added 03/08/2011 14:24:17 by Budgie
  I agree that continued high drama would be unsustainable, but family feuds are an intrinsic part of The Archers - action does centre around a family unit, the clue is in the title! I don't remember hearing any "murder" or "mayhem", and as for "paedophilia or incest"... now who's being over dramatic?! I agree that the 'everyday life' bit does have it's place, but if all we heard was people buying butter at the village shop and having a pint at The Bull, people would switch off.

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• 3) Re: Themes? Character led or issue led?

  Posted over 14 days ago.  Added 03/08/2011 21:50:15 by Floradora
  I agree with Ricksher---and I have 'switched off' more than I've switched on in 2011. I think the feud between Lizzie and David is clunky and unconvincing, based as it is on the rubbish (to my mind) episode of 2/1/11. I believed in Ed v. Will---that was character led, but Lizzie v. David after Nigel's ratings-grabbing fall is just melodrama.
  
  And I loathe the plot about Helen and her artificial insemination---that's just propaganda.

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• 4) Re: Themes? Character led or issue led?

  Posted over 14 days ago.  Added 04/08/2011 09:13:31 by rupertsmum
  Well said Ricksher. I sometimes think I am listening to a prog for young viewers. What comes to mind is an episode when the children went to see a puppy - like The Famous Five.
  
  Nic et al drive me mad. Will is the constant grump and I don't know why Nic bothers with him, with his 'laga' on his jeans.
  
  I thought the e coli was good and very topical.
  
  I am just glad I have not heard Elizabeth this week.
  
  I caught two minutes of a programme called Hollyoaks on Channel 4 as I was waiting for the News and I thought 'This rings a bell'.!!

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• 5) Re: Themes? Character led or issue led?

  Posted over 14 days ago.  Added 04/08/2011 20:28:15 by karola
  I agree with Riksher. I am an Archers newbie, having only listening for 2 years but I can tell when it gets Eastendery and when it's just interesting and people being real and ordinary. At the mo I'm fascinating by the squeaky clean Spencer and the squeaky clean Natalie. Maybe they should get together in the end and it'll be a real Eastenders hell-triangle!

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