By 
Emmerdale (U.K.)
As much as I hate that they turned Finn into this crazy stalker, at least the show finally got back to what Finn’s obsession with Kasim was really about: his grief over the loss of his father.
They were really nice scenes between Finn and Emma where Finn had to deal with that truth, but couldn’t Emma have helped Finn without all the crazy stuff of framing Kasim for arson and what not? Emma keeps saying that Finn is like her, but he isn’t really. He was grieving his father. Finn has always been the sensible, level headed one on the family. Hopefully, now that he’s realized what he was doing was wrong and that he needs to move on, he will. Sadly, though it’ll probably be the back burner and no boyfriend for Finn for a while. Again.
I do think that the Barton’s accept their insane, violent behavior all too easily. Too many times these scenes start with shouting and accusations and end in hugs. I mean Finn actually thanked Emma for what she did!
If/when Aaron goes to jail, why wouldn’t Liv be sent back to her mother? That’s where she should be. Her staying with Aaron was always ridiculous, it would be even more so with Aaron going to jail, leaving her with no family in town. She’s an underage teen. Legally, any court anywhere would send her home. She would need legal guardian to stay in town and Aaron isn’t even one as it stands. The girl needs to go back home.
I’m going to miss James Sutton when he leaves. As I’ve said before he’s one of my favorite soap characters ever. I just pray the show doesn’t kill John Paul off. Besides, they’ve killed enough McQueens. And if he’s alive, he can come back someday.
I wasn’t happy to see Nathan die, I liked the character a lot and the actor is so handsome. But it made for good soap and there will be plenty of fallout because of it.
It’s always good to see James and I thought Gregory Finnegan was very good in his scenes and he tried to deal with Nathan’s death. The acting was terrific by everybody involved in those scenes.
I’m enjoying the Finn storyline as well. Keith Rice was fantastic in his return and I thought James Sutton turned in awesome work in those scenes with Ste. However, I thought Ste could barely read, much less be writing JP’s victim statement. Huh? And JP and Ste are still married? They haven’t been together for at least 2 years now. Makes no sense.
James might be sleazy but JP should know that James wouldn’t represent Finn knowing how it would hurt JP. John Paul turning on James and Ste fighting with Harry so JP and Ste can sniff after each other again seems awfully contrived. But at least we know this so called reunion arc won’t go anywhere. They’re both clearly rebounding and both in love with their current partners. Though why JP would go anywhere near Ste after all the crappy things Ste did to him is beyond me.
I’m actually really surprised by Ste being there for JP. Ste usually isn’t that thoughtful about anybody but himself. Again, it’s really more about the show’s plot than how the characters would really react.
Could they make it more obvious that Cleo is going to wind up with Father Joel? Not even subtle.
Scott is still pining after John Paul? They dated (briefly) months ago. Move on. Actually, why is Scott still even on this show?
Still, I really enjoyed last week’s shows. Hollyoaks has its flaws, but it’s generally consistently entertaining.
I was really surprised at how this story arc played out. I thought for sure the show would put Robbie and Gary back together when it was obvious they had no business being a couple – and never did. Thankfully, what really should have happened did. Gary and Robbie realized that they didn’t work as a couple and that they couldn’t give each other what they needed in a relationship.
Their breakup scene was very strong and emotional, perfectly played. There was no shouting and no anger, just two people who cared about each other who realized they were no longer in love. That’s more real than a knockdown drag out any day. 
Why it took so long for them to see what was obvious from Day One I’ll never know, but I’m glad they did. I wonder if Robbie, who was going to leave town to start a new life, but chose to stay to be with Gary, will think about going away again. I personally think Robbie is a character who has run his course, but maybe the show can give him something to do that I care about watching.
As for Gary and Louie, I don’t see them staying together. It seems to be no more than a fling. I don’t think they are any more compatible than Gary and Robbie. That said, I do want Louie to be a permanent resident in town. He’s a refreshing change from the usual gay characters we get.
CLICK THE NEXT PAGE FOR MY THOUGHTS ON WHY I MAY NOT BE WATCHING SHADOWHUNTERS EVER AGAIN
People who disagree with you aren’t necessarily trolls (though I suppose they may be too lazy to pick a profile picture.) I did and do love the books. They’re ongoing and have added multiple queer relationships to the story — I have a sense you probably don’t know much about them beyond TMI, if you read that. I’ve read the books multiple times and watched every episode of the show, though admittedly I could never stomach more than a single viewing.
When I talk about Magnus blackmailing Alec for sex I mean the episode in which Alec asks Magnus to be Isabelle’s lawyer and Magnus says he’ll do it if Alec has sex with him. Alec says no and Magnus accepts Alec’s bow and arrows instead, but that doesn’t erase the offer or make it less cringe-inducing.
The representation in the books was written twelve years ago, unlike the representation in the show, which is current. What people want from representation actually does change. A character like Alec, a badass warrior who happens to be gay, was unheard of in YA in 2005. As the times have changed, representation in books has changed and Kieran and Mark (in the current Shadowhunters books, which you clearly have not read) are very different than Magnus and Alec. Mark’s is not a coming out story, probably because there have now been many, but at the time Alec was written, there had been very very few in YA fantasy.
It’s quite funny you said that about bad fanfic since that’s always how I’ve thought of the show — after all, bad fanfic takes original characters written by someone else and twists them! The introduction of Lydia is something I’ve seen in so many bad TMI fics — oh no a bad lady comes between the boys! Oh, Magnus or Alec has to interrupt a wedding where the other one is getting married! Cliché city. :–>
Look, you’re entirely entitled to your opinion. I understand that the show, despite its poor ratings, has an enthused fan base. I’m merely pointing out an undeniable truth which is that not all queer fans are going to agree with you because we are not all one person. You yourself have problems with the show, so does everyone else here on this article. As for the books, you can say every one of these people http://bit.ly/2l6oPO6 are lying, but it might perhaps be a better idea to agree to disagree than to discount so many legitimate GLBT voices?
People who disagree with you aren’t necessarily trolls (though I suppose they may be too lazy to pick a profile picture.) I did and do love the books. They’re ongoing and have added multiple queer relationships to the story — I have a sense you probably don’t know much about them beyond TMI, if you read that. I’ve read the books multiple times and watched every episode of the show, though admittedly I could never stomach more than a single viewing.
When I talk about Magnus blackmailing Alec for sex I mean the episode in which Alec asks Magnus to be Isabelle’s lawyer and Magnus says he’ll do it if Alec has sex with him. Alec says no and Magnus accepts Alec’s bow and arrows instead, but that doesn’t erase the offer or make it less unpleasant.
The representation in the books was written twelve years ago, unlike the representation in the show, which is current. What people want from representation actually does change. A character like Alec, a badass warrior who happens to be gay, was unheard of in YA in 2005. As the times have changed, representation in books has changed and Kieran and Mark (in the current Shadowhunters books, which you clearly have not read) are very different than Magnus and Alec. Mark’s is not a coming out story, probably because there have now been many, but at the time Alec was written, there had been very very few in YA fantasy.
It’s quite funny you said that about bad fanfic since that’s always how I’ve thought of the show — after all, bad fanfic takes original characters written by someone else and twists them! The introduction of Lydia is something I’ve seen in so many bad TMI fics — oh no a bad lady comes between the boys! :–>
Look, you’re entirely entitled to your opinion. I understand that the show, despite poor ratings, has an enthused fan base. I’m merely pointing out an undeniable truth which is that not all queer fans are going to agree with you. You yourself have problems with the show, so does everyone else here on this article. As for the books, you can say every one of these people http://bit.ly/2l6oPO6 are lying, but it might perhaps be a better idea to agree to disagree than to discount so many GLBT voices?
I’m sorry but when you say you loved the books but have a problem with the show AND say smth like “the part where Magnus tried to blackmail Alec[…]” it is obvious you are trolling or just have no idea what you are talking about. Magnus and Alec’s relationship in the books was the definition of a bad fanfiction and in no way the representation we need or asked for.
As a queer reader/viewer, I’ve loved the books and found them a blessing. I hate the show and have hated its disrespectful, unpleasant, cringey representation of Magnus and Alec – the part where Magnus tried to blackmail Alec for sex, the entire gross Lydia plot line, the ongoing lack of interest in consent – from the beginning. Just a reminder LGBT readers are not a monolith. We don’t all share the same opinion and we’re clearly not all insulted by the same things. In the books Malec are a gorgeous interracial happy family with two kids and a great life. On the show . . . bleh.
I’m done with Shadowhunters, the books were already an insult for the LGBT community but the show is now obviously following the same pattern. I was optimistic in the first season because the writers were doing a decent job but season 2 has been nothing but a disappointment. It isn’t helping that despite Malec and a few others characters this show has nothing to offer than the usual Mary Sue who saves everyone doing whatever she wants and never listening to anyone. Like seriously this redhead might be the most annoying character in the history of television.
I’m trying to decide whether Shadowhunters is still worth watching. The handling of Magnus/Alec is deeply flawed. I’m skipping past most of Clary’s scenes, and that now includes my favorite Simon. Meanwhile, the Izzy/Raphael scene from last night were super-rapey and will taint all of their interactions going forward.
I was disappointed that they ignored Aaron’s history with Jackson. The same with JP’s history before the past two or so years.
Gay guys win fights on British soaps all the time. But soaps in general seem to like their women weak/crazy and their gays constantly victimized and relatively sexless. It won’t change until audiences make them change
I am so disgusted by Shadowhunters I can’t even hardly talk about it. They bait the fans of Magnus and Alec all over social media and then shortchange them constantly. And I agree that the double standard will be shown when Clary and Jace eventually get together.
I had precisely the same thoughts about Emmerdale last week. Why couldn’t Emma have simply told Finn her concern that he wasn’t dealing with his father’s death earlier? We didn’t need all the drama with her demonizing – and framing – Kasim. She’s so transparent that I find it unbelievable that her sons (who have only known her for a couple of years) trust her blindly. It will be hard to redeem Finn as a character after this. Surely Kasim regrets ever coming to the village to meet the person who saved him in the accident.
Also, I was thinking the same thing about Liv. Why wouldn’t she have to go live with her mother? Neither Chas nor Robert (nor Aaron, for that matter) has any legal responsibility for her.
I agree that leaving won’t solve Lee’s problems, but I never liked how the show never had anyone close to him really try to help. Whitney is enough to drive anyone away, and now it looks like we’ll have to endure some kind of tryst between her and Mick. It makes good drama, I guess, but it really gives me the “ick.” It’s hard to deny they have a chemistry, though, that never existed between her and Lee.