LANGFORD’S PICKS AND PANS
EastEnders
I wish I could have just focused on the story that was playing out in these episodes, but I found myself very distracted by the horrible hairstyles of both Christian and Syed. First of all, John Partridge is a very good looking man, but he’s not 21 anymore and those brassy highlights just don’t work for him. Though, to be fair, they are in Christian’s character to do such a thing.
Still, they come off as an unfortunate attempt to hold on to your youth and such an attractive mature fella as Partridge need not do such things, IMO. Leave these bad hair choices to the twinks and the club kids, shall we? As for Marc Elliot, a trip to the barber is in order for a much needed trim. I usually don’t comment on such things, but like I said, they were distracting me from the storyline.
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Now about the storyline, it’s too bad that we see Syed and Christian so little, and when we do they are still fighting about stuff they’ve fought about so many times. And as much as Christian might want to be Yasmin’s co-parent, he had no right to enter her in that contest without Syed’s consent. Even if he was legally the girl’s father, he still shouldn’t have done it unless Syed agreed. And it’s funny that now that she can’t use the child to get Syed back, Amira has no interest in raising her and she left the child with Syed and the man she insisted ruined her marriage.
Of course, it was no surprise that Syed would go along with the contest once he learned about the cash reward, just like Zainab changed her mind. I did love that final scene where Zainab informed everyone she was entering Kamil in the contest. It was adorable. This could be a cute little storyline, a nice change from the heavy drama of their previous plots.
The L.A. Complex
It just amazes me how I continue to be riveted by this coming out saga. It’s so well done that it transcends all the usual clichés and Andra Fuller impresses me each week with his dynamic performance as Kal struggles with his sexuality. I know a lot people miss the romantic angle with Tariq (though I think the relationship should be over because of the past physical abuse), but this part of Kal's story needs to be told. I don’t think Kal could dig into who he is and why he is the way he is with a relationship getting in the way. Though clearly Tariq hasn’t been forgotten, given Kal’s persistent visions of him.
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Now, I don’t have any appreciation for rap music in any of its forms, but I did like the throw-down Kal had with the rapper that crashed his party. It was surprising that Kal could come up with all that dialogue on the fly, though I just rolled with it. The kid looked utterly ridiculous in whatever it was that he was wearing, but then again, I don’t have an eye for what passes as ‘fashion’ these days, especially among younger people. If I sound like an old stick in the mud, it’s because I am. LOL….
I can’t wait to see what happens next now that Kal is going to be reunited with his father, as I’m sure it’s going to make this story even more interesting. This is probably one of the best gay storylines running and perhaps one of the best I’ve seen in a very long time.
River City
You know, I guess we’re supposed to side with Deek because of his ongoing warnings about Will. While perhaps someday Deek’s feelings about Will may prove correct, for now, Deek just comes off as jealous and petty. I don’t know if that’s what the writers intend, but that’s how it’s playing out — at least for me. I think that if Deek were a true friend, he’d put aside his own personal feelings for Will and try to get along for Robbie’s sake. If and when Will does turn out to be the bad guy that Deek thinks he is, then Deek should be there for Robbie to help him through what is bound to be a painful time — preferably without an ‘I told you so’.
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On the other hand, perhaps Deek’s refusal to give an inch where Will is concerned is more realistic. Let’s face it, in real life, most people aren’t that magnanimous. I did love the farewell to Hayley and it was nice to see her get her happy ending. The scenes of her and Robbie saying goodbye were warm and meaningful and showed just how much they’ve meant to each other over the years. However, the ongoing villainy plot with Sean just really bores me. Not only does Sean not make a very intimidating or compelling bad guy, I just find it hard to believe that this guy who is so obviously a murderer and a smuggler can continue to elude the cops.
Hollyoaks
Again, my problem with this Lynsey’s murder storyline is that there is far too much emphasis on the wrong people like Will and Ally instead of Ste, Doug, Cheryl and Brendan. I’m glad they finally resolved Will’s problems and he was cleared of murdering Lynsey, though it was ridiculous he was arrested based on the word of a serial killer to begin with. But Ally’s ongoing prominence is just mind boggling. Not only is Ally not an interesting or compelling character, he’s not likeable either. And I really wonder what the point of his relationship with Amy was.
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Most of it took place off screen. When they were on screen, he was spending much of the time manipulating and duping Amy to stay with him. But then he – totally out of nowhere --- dumps Amy and hooks up with Ash, who seems to have lost her brain cells to be taken in by this obvious jerk and womanizer. This is not the same girl who went toe to toe with Brendan a few months back. But I think the show had to break up Amy and Ally quickly and hook him with a new woman to continue the storyline because the actress who plays Amy decided to leave the show.
Unfortunately, it was all handled so sloppily and poorly that it gave the viewers whiplash and the impression the writers were simply making it up as they went along. Sadly, I often feel that when I watch Hollyoaks these days.
SCOOPS AND SPOILERS
Can Ste deal with losing his kids?
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Hollyoaks — Upset about her breakup with Ally, Amy leans on Ste for support, But things get complicated when Amy goes out, gets drunk and puts the moves on Ste, forgetting that her ex-boyfriend is gay and has a boyfriend. Upset and humiliated, Amy feels like she needs a fresh start and decides to go away to college – and she’s taking the kids with her. Ste is devastated that he’s losing his best friend and his kids in one fell swoop, but nevertheless lets them go.
Meanwhile, Doug encounters problems at work when the deli is vandalized. He’s so preoccupied with this that he isn’t very sympathetic to Ste’s woes about missing Amy and the kids. Hurt that his boyfriend doesn’t understand him, Ste turns to an old friend for comfort. The question is: who is that friend? Might things be reigniting between Ste and a certain mustached mobster?
Will Ste and Doug ever be this close again?
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Speaking of Brendan, he’s shocked when Declan turns up on his doorstep. Brendan isn’t happy to see his son, mostly because of the situation with Sampson, which could put Brendan’s son directly into Sampson’s sights. Desperate to protect Declan, Brendan wants his son to go back home, but Declan can’t because he’s already in major trouble, which is why he came to see Brendan in the first place.
Back to Doug, as if his problems with Ste and the deli weren’t enough, he gets a shock when his parents drop by for a surprise visit. We learn that Doug hasn’t come out to his parents yet and he’s afraid to give them the news. When his parents see Doug and Leanne in a picture together, they assume that Leanne is Doug’s girlfriend. Leanne being Leanne, goes along with it. She adds that she’s pregnant with Doug’s baby, delighting Doug’s parents. Seeing that Ste is hurt by the lie, Doug realizes things have gone too far… but will he find the strength to tell the truth?
Malick’s new patient is a killer…
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Holby City — Malick’s new patient is a convicted killer and Malick isn’t too pleased about having to treat the man, but nevertheless does his duty. But when Malick hears the man’s tragic story — and that he’s estranged from his daughter, Malick becomes determined to save the man’s life and heal the family. The problem is, the man refuses medical help and is willing to die. But Malick refuses to give up on his patient and endeavors to save the man’s life, even if it means going against his patient’s wishes.
Who will win the baby pageant?
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EastEnders — Ian is back … and Phil is afraid that Ian will tell the police that Ben murdered Heather. But Ian has lost his memory and doesn’t recall his past life, including what he knows about Ben. Phil is glad about that, but Ben is determined to help his older brother and tries to help him regain his memory. Phil is upset about Ben’s actions, afraid Ben is his own worst enemy. But Ben is more concerned about Ian’s welfare than himself and refuses to hurt Ian more than he already has been. When Ian remembers what Ben has done, will it be the beginning of the end for Ben?
Meanwhile, Syed and Christian compete with Zainab and Roxy over who has the ‘Top Tot’ in the baby pageant, but how far will these stage parents go to win?
Deek has harsh words about Robbie’s relationship with Will…
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River City — Robbie is overwhelmed by running the salon on his own and can’t handle the financial end of things. He goes to Will for help, but Will doesn’t know what to do either and tells his lover to go to Deek for advice, even though Will hadn’t wanted Deek involved in the business to begin with. Robbie does so and Deek is willing to help, but gives Robbie some candid advice about Will and their relationship. But will Robbie take his friends advice to heart?
AND ALSO THIS WEEK…
The L.A. Complex - Still struggling with his sexuality, Kal decides to face his past when he pays his father a visit. But will it help… or hurt?
NEWSBEAT
Will isn’t digging Sonny’s smooch…
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Days of Our Lives returns next week from its Olympic break with the town trying to recover from the aftermath of the explosions that left several of its citizens in peril. And as the preview clip below reveals, many lives will take new directions over the coming weeks and months, including Will and Sonny’s…
Hey, the one good thing to take from this is that the show won’t be avoiding Will and Sonny’s lips touching!
And in other Will and Sonny news, Brant Daugherty, who appeared earlier this year as Brian as part of the show’s gay storyline, returns to the show August 21. His return will reportedly kick off the major plot that has been hinted at for months for Salem’s gays, Sonny in particular.
Noah is gay no more…
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We told you last week about the rumors that The Young and The Restless was planning a gay storyline, according to Soap Opera Digest. SOD had reported that the soap was going to have a major character come out of the closet, but scrapped that idea and instead decided to focus the story on one of their recently aged teens. And while it’s still unknown who that teen will be, there has been news on who the show originally had in mind.
Soap expert Nelson Branco reported in his column that the show had intended for Noah Newman, played by Kevin Schmidt, to come out of the closet. Schmidt had been written out of the show sometime back. He was bought back to the show by former co-head writer and co-executive producer Maria Arena Bell, who as we reported last week, was fired from Y&R. The intent had been for this story to play out over of the summer.
The show had apparently even shot some scenes of Noah at his deceased sister Cassie’s grave, where he came out to, or heavily hinted that he might be gay. However, either CBS, which airs the show or Sony, which owns the program, nixed the scenes and the storyline was scrapped. Noah, now left without a storyline, has been little seen since.
We’ll see if the show will ever do the gay storyline, especially with a new regime at the helm.
Will Holby City’s Malick finally find love?
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And finally, this week, one of this columnists’ favorite TV gays is UK medical series Holby City’s Dr. Antoine Malick, played by Jimmy Akingbola, who came onto the show last year as the a brash and unabashedly gay doctor. Malick had a busy year and with a new season about to begin, fans are wondering what’s ahead for this character.
Justin Young, the show’s producer, told Digital Spy what’s next for Malick. It’s no surprise that for such a driven and dedicated doctor, much of Malick’s story will revolve around his career and his working relationships with his fellow employees, Serena and Ric.
"Malick is really ambitious. He's quite impressed by Serena's approach, but at the same time, there's a part of him that hero-worships Ric. So he'll continue to feel a bit conflicted between those two. We're also going to revisit the fact that Malick is the clinical skills lead.” Young said. “In theory, Malick is the mentor to the young medical students, which he's not always very good at because he's very impatient! So there are some hilarious scenes coming up where Malick is trying to be a good mentor.”
This is the only lovin’ Malick has gotten in over a year…
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But what about romance? Except for a kiss by then closeted Dr. Dan, who has since come out of the closet and left the show with boyfriend Simon, we’ve gotten very little insight to Malick’s private life. Young says that will change with the new season.
“I'm just reading scripts now which really tell us about Malick's personal life. That's really exciting, because the audience haven't really seen it before.” Young said. “We'll continue to open up who Malick is and reveal a little bit more about him as we go."
It’s about time.
That’s a wrap for this edition of Langford on Soaps. See you next week!
