This Week’s Soap Highlights | Red Rock Finale, Hollyoaks Abuse, Emmerdale “Death” & More

Having taken some time out to re-evaluate and come up with a new format for posts on the blog, we’re back, and here’s what has kept me most entertained this week in the Soaps…

Cliffhanger Endings | Red Rock

Red Rock arrived on our screens for the first time back in January and instantly left its stamp in the Soap World by creating relatable characters and unforgettable storylines. This week saw Ireland’s newest TV favourite air it’s final week of episodes before taking a three month break for the summer. The writers however, have made certain we’ll be back for more in September by leaving us with several cliffhangers to whet the appetite…

Katie Kiely was all set to hop on a flight over to England after discovering she was pregnant, but will either her parents or ex-boyfriend David Hennessy persuade her against going through with the abortion? Another Red Rock family are facing drama of their own when Angela and Tommy Tyrell discover that their son Conor has been using heroin, but can they convince him to kick the habit?

Meanwhile, everyone’s favourite Garda, Paudge Brennan, has landed himself in hot water after his financial debts have caught up with him, and with local troublemaker Ollie Coyne having stirred the pot even further, Paudge commits arson in a moment of weakness. However, unbeknownst to Paudge, Ollie has caught the whole thing on camera. The last time a Red Rock Garda was caught in a compromising situation on video it did not end well at all. Will Paudge learn from McGonigle’s mistakes?

And as if that weren’t enough to keep the audience coming back for more, the bromance of the century between Seán and Adrijan was falling apart at the seams as the two came to loggerheads over Nikki, but will they ever get a chance to kiss and make-up? Considering the last scene literally ended with a bang as Adrijan was mowed down by a car, maybe they won’t…

I guess we’ll just have to wait until September to find out, but fair play to the Red Rock gang, because that’s how you do a Season Finale!

Seedy Step-Dad | Hollyoaks

We found out some time ago that Porsche McQueen had been sexually abused by her step-dad, but it wasn’t until this week that he made his first on-screen appearance. Horrified that Pete is back in their lives, Porsche reveals all about what happened between herself and Pete when she was only fifteen, but Pete uses charm and manipulation to diffuse the situation and discredit Porsche’s claims, leaving Porsche ostracised by her mum and sisters. With Porsche out of the way and Pete making himself at home, we see that he has also, to some extent, being abusive towards both Celine and Cleo, whether it be mentally or physically.

Done well, this could be another great storyline from Hollyoaks which raises awareness on an important social issue. It also gives the trio of new McQueen sisters played by Twinnie Lee Moore, Sarah George and Nadine Mulkerrin a chance to sink their teeth into a really gritty story, not to mention a memorable introduction for both Zöe Lucker and Kai Owen as Reenie and Pete. Having been a big fan of Kai Owen during his time on Torchwood, I’m very excited to see him play such a villainous character and to see how this story plays out…

“Death” In The Dales | Emmerdale

It wasn’t a good start to the week for Ashley Thomas when Victoria Sugden ran him over with her car. Despite leaving quite the dent in her windscreen Ashley managed to get to his feet and seemed to be none the worse for wear as he rushed off to find Laurel, worried she would relapse and have a drink.

Of course, appearances can be deceiving and as a result of the accident, shortly after leaving Laurel again, Ashley collapsed in the street, outside the Woolpack. After being rushed to hospital the doctors decided it best to induce a coma, where he still lies, but alive for now at least. Laurel, however, turns to the vodka as the events of the week catch up on her and having seen Ashley’s dad Sandy crying, she assumes the worst and starts announcing to the whole village that Ashley is dead, which of course is not the case, but leads to a lot of upset as people take her word for it.

This is only the latest drama in Laurel’s continuing downward spiral as she struggles with alcoholism, but the story has progressed so well and is so carefully written that it makes for great television. It’s definitely the best alcohol abuse storyline I remember ever seeing in a soap and Charlotte Bellamy is playing a blinder as Laurel.

Some People Think I’m Bonkers… | Fair City

Someone else playing a blinder at the moment is Conall Keating as Neil Ferguson in Fair City. The character was diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder last week, but the signs have been there since the eldest Ferguson brother returned to Carrigstown.

The story has made for great viewing and has kept the Ferguson family at the heart of the show, which can only be a good thing as Enda Oates who plays Ferguson patriarch Pete is not only one of Fair City’s finest actors, but one of the best in the whole country. Another of Ireland’s finest Carrie Crowley joined the series as Pete’s ex-wife Jackie late last year and her character is also struggling with a mental illness. Of course, we can’t forget Wesley Doyle who plays the loveable but dopey Doug, who has been a long time fan-favourite and is just as involved in the drama as his on-screen brother.

I’ve always been a big fan of storylines that tackle the important issues and this Bi-Polar plot is no different. I’m excited to see where it goes next…

Ramsay Street Returnee | Neighbours

Time to take a trip Down Under to find out what’s been happening in Ramsay Street, which saw the first of a bunch of fresh faces introduced (or re-introduced as the case may be) this week. [It’s probably worth pointing out I’m following the Australian airings of Neighbours which are two weeks ahead of the UK & Ireland]

Last time we saw Paul Robinson’s daughter Amy she was a small child, but 23 years later she’s all grown up, has a brand new face (as in there’s a new actor in the role, not that the character got a face transplant or anything), and has come back to visit her dear old dad… Well, maybe I’m over romanticizing the situation, because the reunion was frosty at best and Amy has really only come back to tell Paul she wants nothing to do with him, but that’s probably not strictly true. Amy would appear to be struggling financially, and Paul isn’t nicknamed “Money Bags” without good reason, so all is not what it seems, surely.

The Love Connection | Doctors

The latest addition to the Doctors team, Sid Vere, is also fast becoming one of my favourites. There’s something quite endearing about the character and you can’t help but root for him whenever he’s on screen (so kudos to Ashley Rice for managing to portray that).

Sid got the chance to play the “Love Doctor” in one of this week’s outings, when a series of unfortunate events led to guest characters Margie and Nathan, who had fallen in love with each other at first sight from across the shopping centre, failing to actually meet. Sid, being the only constant between the two would-be lovebirds, saw an opportunity to earn some karma points and did everything in his power to bring them both together. And by the episode’s end he had succeeded and it was all quite fairytale-like, which left me with a warm fuzzy feeling and won the plot a spot in my weekly highlights.

She’s Having My Baby | Fair City

The Bi-Polar plot, wasn’t the only Carrigstown caper to grab my attention this week on Fair City. Caoimhe Dillon’s unplanned pregnancy was another stand-out of the week, due to the fact that her boyfriend Damien Halpin has been adamant for many years that he does not want to have children under any circumstances, for fear he will take after his own father…

How they’ll handle the situation really intrigues me, because of how much Damien has stressed in the past that he never wants kids of his own. Also, neither Maclean Burke nor Aoibheann McCaul (who play Damien and Caoimhe) have had a big storyline in quite some time, so hopefully it means we’ll be seeing a bit more of them over the next few weeks.

Rachel Reid Goes Missing as The Plot Thickens on Red Rock

Thirty-Two episodes in and Red Rock continues to give it’s Soap Rivals a run for their money, proving that even the new kid on the block can keep its audience gripped with well rounded characters and throwing as many twists and turns our way as the veterans, with decades of experience, do. And now that the characters have been properly established, we’re really getting down to the nitty gritty with the storyline that has had people excitedly chinwagging around watercoolers nationwide these past few weeks…

We’ve known since the very first episode that Seargeant Brian McGonigle has been having an affair with fifteen year-old Rachel Reid, when fellow Garda, Sharon Cleere saw them eating the face off each other on some CCTV footage. Sharon was eager to shop McGonigle to the higher ups, but after her colleague Paudge Brennan advised against ratting out McGonigle and rocking the boat, she decided to sit on the information until she could gather more evidence.

When Sharon made the error of confronting McGonigle herself, it gave him time to cover his tracks and dispose of the CCTV footage before sending Sharon a message by orchestrating an attack which landed her in hospital. Unwilling to request a transfer to another Station, Sharon’s life was continuously made miserable by McGonigle as he proved his villainy shows no boundries. Sharon eventually stood up to her tormentor by reporting everything Brian had been up to, but with only her word against his (as the cowardly and craven Paudge decided to remain on the fence and not back up Sharon’s story) and McGonigle being the master manipulator, few people believed Sharon’s take on the tale.

While Sharon and McGonigle were initially the main focus of the storyline, last week saw Rachel Reid brought in for questioning over the allegations, but clearly smitten, she corroborated McGonigle’s version of events and Sharon was forced to take leave from work after being ostracised by her colleagues. While Rachel’s statement may have satisfied many, the whole situation being brought to light left Rachel’s father and sister, Liam and Niamh, concerned that Rachel is lying and that McGonigle is in fact guilty of what he is being accused of. Desperate for the truth to come out, Liam wants to see McGonigle’s head roll and insists the allegations be further investigated.

By the end of the latest episode, Rachel has mysteriously gone missing and with Red Rock’s finest off to find her and bring her home safely, it seems the net may finally be closing in on the contemptible Seargent Brian McGonigle…

Jane McGrath and Sean Mahon have been stealing scenes from the very beginning as Sharon and Brian, but it’s only now that the Reids are being brought to the forefront that Anthony Brophy, Róisín O’Donovan and Ann Skelly have had their opportunity to really show off their talents as Liam, Niamh and Rachel respectively, and cementing their place in the series (not to mention giving the Kielys and Hennessys a run for their money as #TeamReid may now be the cry of twitter fans as to who are Red Rock’s finest family). Brophy, in particular, who already has quite the colourful filmography, has been brilliant to watch these past few episodes and Liam Reid has now beaten some stiff competition to take the place as my favourite Red Rock character.

Kudos, of course, must also go to the wonderful writers, directors and all the rest of the crew who have continued to bring us these exciting episodes as the storyline has played out, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who is eagerly waiting for the next installment…

March Madness: Soap Land’s Current Top Storylines

With a welcome change in the weather and a grand stretch in the evenings, winter is behind us and we’ve a spring in our step, but in Soap Land it’s business as usual and there’s still drama a plenty. With my posts having been few and far between as of late, I’ve opted to cram as much as possible into this one, so here’s a countdown of my top 10 favourite stories currently going down in the world of Soap…

10. The Dodgy Dealings of Dennis Dimato (Neighbours)

Nothing beats a good Soap Villain, and all the better when they wear a suit and try to blend in as an upstanding member of the community. The arrival of sinister Dennis Dimato in Erinsborough has been a breath of fresh air as Neighbours begins its 30th Anniversary celebrations. Having already made enemies of Naomi Canning and Mark Brennan, Dimato has managed to manipulate respectable law enforcer and family man, Matt Turner, and the newly arrived younger brother of the aforementioned Mark, Tyler Brennan, into his employ. Having a cop on his books and the brother of another cop working for him, makes Dimato almost untouchable and all the more entertaining to watch. And I thought Paul Robinson was dodgy…

9. Gloved Hand Killer Zones In On Victim Number 3 (Hollyoaks)

Hollyoaks has been a bit hit and miss for me recently, but you can always rely on a good serial killer storyline to keep things interesting. We caught our first glimpse of the “Gloved Hand” on New Year’s Day when Rick Spencer was administered a lethal injection, and then again at the beginning of February when Will Savage finally met his maker. Rick and Will were no angels, and many would argue they deserved to die so perhaps the killer had some method to their madness, but now the Gloved Hand has attempted to kill Diane O’Connor (who certainly hasn’t done anything so bad as to warrant her dead), so what exactly is this killer’s angle? And more importantly, who owns that hand behind that glove?

8. Can The Real Gavin Rodwell Please Stand Up (Coronation Street)

Finally a storyline involving Michael Rodwell that makes the character played by Les Dennis almost bearable to watch (remember when he had that Ice Cream Van last summer and finally wooed Gail McIntyre with a 99? Pass the sick bucket)… Anyway, since the arrival of his long lost son ‘Gavin’, whose actually an imposter by the name of Andy Carver, Michael has become more likeable as he has bonded with ‘Gavin’/Andy. Andy wanted to come clean to Michael about who he really is after the two got to know each other, but because of Michael’s dodgy ticker he has had to keep up the facade. However, now that the real Gavin has shown up and is trying to blackmail money out of Andy, his girlfriend Steph Britton, and Michael’s soon to be wife Gail, surely it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out – nothing stays secret forever in Soap afterall.

7. The Comeback Kids (Fair City)

While a fair few of the Soaps have had a lot of returnees already this year, Fair City seems to have a revolving door of familiar faces coming in and out of Carrigstown as old favourites have been making their way back as part of this 25th landmark year, which kicked off in September. First up was a permanent return for Renee, followed by visits from Hughie Phelan, Doug Ferguson and Nicola Prendergast. Even John Deegan made a re-appearance (although technically he never went away, he just disappeared for years without explanation, but was supposedly lurking in the shadows). In recent weeks, we’ve seen even more returns with fan favourite Dean Dowling coming back with a new look and a secret bigger than his hair colour. We’ve also had Charlotte Bishop return to cause trouble for her brother Decco, and Rachel Brennan’s tormentor Amanda Ryan has reappeared to stock shelves in Spar. I wonder who’ll come back next… They sure have been mentioning Tommy Dillon a lot!

6. The Norman Bates of the Gaeltacht (Ros na Rún)

Eoin Farren has been nothing but trouble since he rocked up in Ros na Rún back in September with the news that he was yet another illegitamte child of local landlord Tadhg Ó Direáin. First impressions of Eoin made him seem fairly harmless and if anything painted him as a bit of a hero, but it wasn’t long before the do-gooder routine became transparent (to the audience at least) and we got to see the real Eoin, a twisted individual hell-bent on revenge. Eoin wants to ruin Tadhg through using those Tadhg loves most, and has already attempted to poison Jason and tried to split up Tadhg and Frances. We know though that Tadhg has a tendency to come out on top of whatever predicament he finds himself in, so I’m not too worried about the head of the Ó’Direáin clan, but now that Eoin is romantically involved with Eimear O’Connor, I fear for her safety… Mostly because Eoin is incredibly creepy and has too strange a relationship with his equally twisted mother, hence the Psycho comparison.

5. Until Death Us Do Part… And Then Some (Neighbours)

Madge and Harold Bishop are one of the most iconic couples in Soap History and it broke our hearts when Harold just disappeared in 1991 and was believed to be dead. But then we rejoiced when he re-appeared five years later and his mysterious disappearance explained away by amnesia, and we all thought Harold and Madge would live happily ever after, until our hearts were broken once again in 2001, when Madge lost her battle with cancer and passed away… Now, as Neighbours celebrates 30 years on the air, everyone’s favourite couple has been re-united one final time as Harold has returned to Ramsay Street and Madge has started to appear to him as a figment of his imagination. The reunion may be only temporary, but to have these two bickering lovingly again one last time, is a joy to watch (even if the storyline is a little bit silly)…

4. You’ve Got To Fight, For Your Rights… (Fair City)

Ray O’Connell, the voice of the working man, is easily my favourite character in Fair City and I’ve been waiting patiently for him to get a decent storyline for over a year now. Thankfully they’ve finally delivered with a storyline close to the character’s heart – he’s fighting for worker’s rights for all the underappreciated and mistreated employees of Carrigstown. If there’s one thing Ray knows more about than a car engine, it’s Employee Rights and he’ll always be the first to get out and support his comrades when necessary. Ray’s been putting the pressure on Renee Phelan this week as she’s been abusing her power over youngs employees Katy O’Brien and Amanda Ryan in the shop. While the girls don’t seem that interested in his assistance or his cause, Ray won’t stand down without a fight. Not only is he locking horns with Renee, but he’s also had enough of his own boss, Paul Brennan, and has been putting pressure on Paul to improve working conditions at the Garage… G’wan Ray, ya legend!

3. Love Is In The Square (Eastenders)

Usually it’s all doom and gloom over in Albert Square, so it’s nice this week to see that some romances are blossoming and things are looking up for once, for at least a handful of the Walford residents anyway. While Shabnam Masood and Kush Kazemi are finally moving their relationship forward and preparing to go public, an unexpected romance seems to be on the cards for EastEnders favourites Billy Mitchell and Carol Jackson who shared some chips and a kiss after discussing Harry Potter and the Bay City Rollers over a few drinks in the Queen Vic. It also looks like Tamwar Masood is finally going to make his move on Nancy Carter this week when he invites her around for lunch – we’ve been waiting so long for these two to get their act together, so fingers crossed it will all work out for them.

2. Good Cop, Bad Cop (Red Rock)

Red Rock has only been on our screens for two months, but it has already made quite the impression, and we’re slowly but surely growing attached to this whole host of new characters, especially loveable rogues Paudge Brennan and Sean Holden who have provided us with much needed comedy in an otherwise dark and gritty drama series. It’s the showdown between Gardaí Sharon Cleere and Brian McGonigle however, that has really captured our attention. McGonigle has been on the force for a long time, but there’s no doubt he’s a bad egg, and with rookie Sharon knowing that McGonigle has been having a sordid affair with fifteen year old Rachel Reid, a battle of wits is afoot between the two. With very little evidence to prove McGonigle’s guilt, Sharon was advised by Paudge to keep quiet about what she knows and not to stir the pot. Sharon however, couldn’t help but let McGonigle know she’s wise to his ways and the dastardly fella responded by staging an attack, leaving Sharon battered and bruised in a hospital bed…

1. We’ll Take Your Word For It (Emmerdale)

It has been obvious since his arrival in Emmerdale, that Lachlan White is an incredibly creepy individual, but to think the fourteen year old would sexually assault Alicia Metcalfe came as somewhat of a shock, even though we already knew he had an unhealthy obsession with her. Even though Alicia went straight to the police after the assault and co-operated in every possible way, Lachlan made a counter claim that he had been in a consensual relationship with Alicia, and with insufficient evidence on either side it became a case of her word against his. While the majority of the village never doubted Alicia for a second, the fact that Lachlan has essentially gotten away with the assault (in the eyes of the law in any case) will make for interesting viewing to see how both them and their families cope as the aftermath continues. While Thomas Atkinson has done an amazing job nailing the creepy teenager vibe as Lachlan, Natalie Anderson’s performace as Alicia has just been outstanding, as have those of Alicia’s on-screen family, Matthew Wolfenden, Roxy Shahidi and Joe Warren-Planet who play David Metcalfe, Leyla Harding and Jacob Gallagher respectively.

First Impressions | Red Rock

The highly anticipated new Irish Soap Opera, Red Rock, has finally surfaced and with one episode screened and out there for the world to see, it’s hard not to instantly become engrossed in this fictional harbour town and its colourful inhabitants…

The audience is dragged instantly into the drama as Gardaí Sharon Cleere and Paudge Brennan discover an unconcious and brutally beaten Darren Kiely abondoned after an altercation with Michael Hennessy the previous night. As Michael is questioned and Darren hospitalised news of the fight re-ignites a dormant feud between the Hennessys and the Kielys.

The story is simple, easily accessible and the perfect plotline to launch a new soap. We’re briefly introduced to the majority of the main characters in the opening episode and its difficult not to instantly warm to certain individuals straight away, as the characters are brought to life…

The Hennessys of Red Rock

Cathy Belton and Paul Roe steal the scenes they appear in as Patricia Hennessy and Vincent Kiely, the heads of the rival families. Sharon Cleere and James McKay, played by Jane McGrath and Richard Flood respectively, seem the most relatable off the bat and I can envisage the audience rooting for these two Gardaí in particular as the show progresses.

Pandora McCormick as Claire Hennessy is another of the standout performances from the debut, while Adam Weafer and India Mullen add the interesting dynamic of Romeo & Juliet type lovers as David Hennessy and Katie Kiely. It seems the majority of the comic elements of the show will be coming from the Garda contingent with Patrick Ryan, David Crowley and Boyko Krastanov providing a light-hearted side to proceedings as Paudge Brennan, Sean Holden and Adrijan Kosos.

And that’s all before we’ve even met matriarch of the Kiely family Bridget, played by Love/Hate’s Denise McCormack, who’ll surely be a force to be reckoned with once she’s brought in to the loop, considering the premiere episode ended with Darren Kiely’s death. We’ve barely known these characters an hour and I’m already ridiculously invested in their lives… Needless to say, I’m already a fan.

The writers, the directors, the actors, the cinematographers, the set designers and all the cast and crew should be commended on the work so far. A good start is half the battle, and this was certainly a good start.