However, could Corrie ever sneak in a totally unexpected death?Last week, BBC Radio 4's The Archers managed to do exactly that. During a scene in the local pub, a regular announced that they just discovered that another character had died unexpectedly. As a listener, the shock was palpable. The demise came out of nowhere and yet had obviously been planned and executed by the producers without anyone finding out. Full marks to them for keeping it quiet.
Maybe this isn't something you can get away with on a ratings-hungry TV drama where every nuance has to be raised up the flag pole well in advance. I don't recall many secret storylines on Corrie or any other UK soaps. on the Street there was the famous Curly and Raquel reunion back in 2000 which was filmed in splendid isolation both away from other cast members and the ITV studios. Personally, I think it would be a master stroke for a Corrie writer to pull off something like this but would it be popular?
Or are we happier with our soap 'early warning system' and the endless 'will she/won't she?' empty speculation?
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To be honest, I'm kind of fed up with hearing about everything six months in advance and wish they would try to keep *something* under wraps. I would love more surprises in the show.
ReplyDeleteAgreed... as much of a spoiler junkie I am, if its out there I need/want to know about it. However, when I am surprised when something happens I didn't know about I relish it even more and it MAKES ME WANT MORE! This is the subtle part producers seem to forget, if we don't know about it, the anticipation becomes almost like wanting a next fix. Let's pepper some of these surprises in so as to keep us viewers on our toes, and keep Corrie the best on telly.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. A sudden unexpected, un-previewed demise would be a dramatic masterstroke, and give the show a real shot in the arm. I'm getting a bit sick of virtually every minute plot development being trailled in advance.
ReplyDeleteOf course, with radio drama, it is much easier to keep things secret, since they don't have a lot of expensive and time-consuming filming to do in advance. ;)No explosions or fires (which would either be visible from outside the studio or generate press), no leaks that so and so will be leaving soon...
ReplyDeleteI remember Emmerdale managed to do it very well a few years back with the sudden death of Len Reynolds, doesn't anyone else remember that ?
ReplyDeleteThe unexpected surprise death of Tracy would be good... :0
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly the difference between now and the good old days - you had a little teaser in the Radio Times and that was that.
ReplyDeleteYes - Gloria falls down the stairs of the cellar in the Rovers - result! As much as Frosty cannot resist spoilers and they are very hard to ignore these days - it would be nice for something to happen to draw a sharp intake of breath and not know months in advance - Karl for instance we know John Mitchie is leaving so we know Karl will get caught sooner or later which takes the suspsension away somewhat
ReplyDeleteI agree. Stood open-mouthed when I heard that Paul was dead in The Archers last Sunday and the drama was all the better for it. Hate the fact that there are so many spoilers these days.-NN
ReplyDeleteWould be a great topic-"When was the last time you were surprised by something you saw on Corrie" in terms of scene or storyline. Not spoiler or actor behaviour, but a major twist!
ReplyDeleteI think it would be a big draw and a great talking point for Corrie if they were able to pull this off. Even when they try to, they can't keep things secret - the tram crash is what I think of most.
ReplyDeleteI'm a spoiler junkie, I like to know what's coming up, but not when it comes to how characters leave the show.
As a spoiler junkie myself, I've been trying to get some distance to think about my own mentality.
ReplyDeleteBack in the age of books, I used to skip ahead, find out where the plot was going, then go back, read the rest of the book, no longer distracted by suspense - able to enjoy the characters in a more relaxed state you might say.
Spoilers are a way of jumping ahead in the story, but then you still have to wait around until the next episode, at which point you can see, all too clearly, how the writers are trying to build in suspense.
Given the spoiler junkie culture, the real surprises lie elsewhere now, in small details about characters or goings-on outside the major plotline.
Relax and enjoy those unexpected detours - the ending's going to be the same no matter what.
Hollyoaks managed it when they killed off lyndsey nolan!
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