by Stephen H

Created on: February 18, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

Soap operas always heighten and compact the drama of everyday life, and Eastenders is no exception. It depicts the ups and downs of a group of families who happen to share the address Albert Square. This particular square is set in one of London's fictional poorer areas, Walford, which seems to have been modelled on hackney or tower hamlets. This square contains a thriving market, launderette and popular pub. Other than peoples homes these locations are used to unfold most of the action.

There are four main families, the Slaters (a large traditional family), the Mitchells (local gangsters), the Wicks (a troubled family full of secrets) and the Brannings (a good old fashioned east end family. Until recently, the Fowlers were the mainstay of the show but recent murderous storylines has seen them written out.

If you enjoy soap operas, this one has all the classic components, lots of conflict, infidelity, fights, murders and revealed secrets. These are all exposed during the show amongst the odd comic moment. All the main soap opera characters are present, the nice boy (girl) next door types, tarts, gentle blokes, rough blokes, some eye candy for men and women, the mums, some professionals, some no-hopers etc Perhaps the one thing that sets English based soaps apart from their Australian and American cousins is the good age mix of the characters.

The common criticism aimed at this soap is that it is either boring, when storylines have dragged, or that it is unrealistic when the more exciting storylines become too extreme. It does, in my view, generally get the balance about right. I would be more critical of the sometimes poor acting that is allowed and the contrived plotlines. However, its greatest strength, certainly over recent years, is to tackle social problems in a realistic, non judgemental and sensitive manner. Some examples include storylines about drugs, abortion and rape, all of which were handled with the right balance of education, entertaining drama and sensitivity.

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