By 
Welcome to a new edition of Gays of Our Lives. This week, with Tyler not interested, Iolo decides to find another guy on People of the Valley by going online for love. But will he regret it? Meanwhile, Todd is determined to get to the truth of Phil’s wicked dealings and Billy is caught paying off a guy from his secret past on Coronation Street. And when Lari washes his hands of Kalle and Elias on Secret Lives, will they turn to each other for comfort? All this and more!
PICKS AND PANS
I haven’t watched this show in awhile and not much has changed, at least
for Todd. He still doesn’t have a storyline, at least one of his own or more importantly, a love life.
But at least this ‘war’ with Phil at least gives him a little something to do. I’m going to guess that eventually Todd will expose Phil’s dastardly schemes and be welcomed back into his family home.
Hopefully now that this show has a new producer, we might see Todd finally get a storyline. The former producer had promised that there would be a story explaining why Todd came back from London such a shady guy. That story never did materialize. Be nice if it finally did.
That was a really nice exit for Tam and Nancy, with some really nice performances. I’ve always liked Tam and life has always crapped on him during his years on this show. I’m glad he got a happy ending.
I figured Jay’s girlfriend had a secret. I didn’t think it was that she was only 14. Yikes. I know they never had sex, but I have a feeling she won’t take 
Jay’s rejection kindly. I suspect she’ll lie and say they did. Poor Jay, he never has good luck with women, does he? Assuming he avoids a prison sentence, let’s hope he asks his next girlfriend for her ID.
Given that Johnny was given the chance to take his exams legal exams despite missing an entire year, I guess they’re going to fast track him into the legal profession.
I noticed that look between Ben and Johnny, though I guess it was more on Johnny’s side than Ben’s. I know the show fired Johnny Labey, but could they wait until Paul is out of the way before pushing Johnny and Ben together? I hate when soaps do that.
I’m glad that Aaron and Paddy made up, but I still think it’s ridiculous, if not outrageous that Paddy has to apologize to Aaron for having an affair. Like I said before, it had nothing to do with Aaron. And with all the terrible things Aaron has done, including to Paddy, there should be no need for apologies. Aaron should’ve stood by and forgiven Paddy without question.
I also think it’s terrible that Saundra is portrayed as a bad mother so Liv can stay with Aaron, who in no way should be responsible for a teenager. It’s ludicrous that Saundra would even agree to leave Liv with Aaron. I guess it’s forgotten that Aaron threatened Saundra just a few weeks ago. And did Aaron really buy Liv’s claim that her mother was a druggie who can’t get out of bed in the morning?
Most of all, I just hate this plot device of making Aaron guardian of a child to create conflict between Aaron and Robert.
Mark my words, it won’t be long before Saundra dies and Aaron will permanently be in charge of her. Why is this show domesticating this hot gay couple? Just over a year ago they were involved in a hot storyline of a secret love affair that led to murder.
Robert was once willing to kill to keep his affair with Aaron a secret. Now he’s on the verge of raising children with Aaron. I don’t know what the writers of this show is thinking, but they are ruining one of their hottest and most popular storylines with this dreary nonsense. Thing is Isobel Steele is a good actress and she and Danny Livesy are believable as siblings. But it’s still not a story I want to see.
It was nice to see Finn used a bit more, but I wish he had a storyline of his own and a boyfriend that lasted more than a few episodes.
I’m really enjoying the storyline about David having cancer. David isn’t often used in serious storylines, but Matthew Wolfenden is doing a great job. The scene where David met Dylan in the waiting room was heartbreaking.
ADDITIONAL SCENES
Emmerdale | Episode 97 | 22th April 2016 (FULL HD)
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What have you read about Danny Miller, I’m curious! :p
It’s my understanding that the two actors playing Tam and Nancy made the decision to quit EE (last summer), so whether there’s a strategy on the show’s part to thin that age group or not would be questionable. In fact, one might guess that Nancy leaving may have played into their decision to recast Johnny and bring his character back to fill the Carter ranks. Anyway, on the LGBT front, it sounds like Kyle’s (lesbian) pal Soph is returning to have a fling with Tina, then attempt to reconnect with Kyle as well.
Also, I wouldn’t mind if they played some history by having Ronnie hire Duncan Willis (Steven France) to manage the gym for her. He was the presumably gay, but closeted, boxer whom Ben was kissing around the same time he was crushing on Christian (ca. 2011). This was all happening the first time Ben came out (when Pascoe was in the role). Duncan could prove to be a lingering object of desire for Ben and perhaps be more open to taking things further himself, if his boxing career is now over.
Helsinki is a rather large place. Sure, cold sometimes – but filled with vibrant, attractive men. Why is it that Lari, has trouble attracting men? Elias and Kalle find men with open abandon – and Lari is the one being cheated on? Lari should be one Grindr ding away from a million reasons to forget Kalle’s hideous wallpaper, or Elias (in total). The show certainly places high value on his attractiveness – selling his pecs for air time, despite his shallow depth of acting at times. Let the fury fly – bring in some new, fresh blood. He deserves someone/something good – and certainly something better than his past. Or, will he fish tail back into the lake of disappointment once more?
Despite the past hickup, does it not seem like the show is hoping to make a paring of JP and Scott long term? Yes, I despise it with unholy resolve – but, the show sure is trying…
It would be rather modern, and du-jour, but I cannot trust that the writing, plot and cast can commit to what should be a very intense set of performances needed to make it work. If pursued, the matter should lead to a trial. Those, it seems, are only really reserved for the heavier hitters.
If they do it though, I hope they do it well.
…and for a taken, Mr. Ben Mitchell, no less…
In such a genre, where drama and intrigue are the only guarantors of screen time – would a romantic and non-dramatic, or non-scheming relationship be worthy of the screen time? We have only seen Aaron and Robert – due to their relations to the plot. Surely, the plot has called for well developed, ‘normal’, romantic relationships – but blown them to smithereens when plot dictated.
I do not find Robert and Aaron to be a good pairing (their delectable sexual chemistry aside). You may find support for Robert, however considering how much Aaron has had to suffer, at the hands of that man. Certain things should be unforgivable. From a psychological perspective (seeing that Aaron’s character has been to enough therapy, and been through enough to well deserve the help) – how is it that he can develop enough to overcome his father’s abuse yet not realize Robert’s? Is it not only a matter of time? Despite the lack of casting, and the lack of character integrity by the plot dictations – this show has done worse before. This, though, would have been a pivotal time to either have Aaron do it alone (and have the ‘Single Dad’ thing work – dating, working and dealing with a troublesome kid – doing some rehashing, and learning of his own. Who else would be able to spot the signs of a kid going off of of the tracks?) or bring in a fresh face. Have that person be a guide, or a new light for Aaron to go by. Hell, throw in a love triangle with Robert (or, an attempt at one) in a few months down the road for good measure (as Robert finalizes his divorce, and gets back into the groove of being a single man again). The writers ultimately gave fans what they demanded – a pairing of Robert and Aaron. They just put Aaron through so much, at the hands of Robert – that now it is incredulous.
Case in point – how does Chas ever think of Katie? How does Aaron? For that matter, how does Robert? It’s not as if she is an avoidable topic on the family tree…
I’d love it if Lockie came back and he and JP got together. They were pretty hot and JP needs some loving. But I suspect the news about Lockie won’t be good.
As for Hollyoaks, I also hear they’re FINALLY going to reveal Lockie’s fate. .. Oh gosh how I really wish Lockie was still going to be around for John Paul. .. Loved those two together. .. However, I’m guessing the other Campbell brother ain’t long for the show either, so not too optimistic.
Johnny turning down Tom Pepper is non-sensical. He’s fit, obviously educated, and has a career where he’s helping people – something that university Johnny seems to aspire toward. So right off the bat, they’d seem more compatible .. even if it’s just a fling or friends with benefits to get over Gianluca.
On EE – Jay may not have had sex with Linzi, but he does have sexting photos of her on his phone. So instead of a story about statutory rape, it opens up a whole different can of worms about underage teenagers sexting and things like this being interpreted as a form of child pornography in some jurisdictions. If that’s where they’re going with this, then it’s kind of a unique storyline and one that I don’t think has gotten soap treatment previously.
My take on the Johnny/Ben exchange was that Johnny was seeing Ben for the first time since he returned and was surprised not just to see him but to see him hanging out with another guy (not knowing who Paul is yet). Ben’s smirk was just because he can’t help being an a-hole to someone who’s being nice to him.
The introduction of Liv has put me off Emmerdale for now. This whole arc has required too much revision of history for my liking, and now there is a bratty teenager involved. I’ve been a fan of Aaron’s storylines, but I don’t understand what’s so special about him that guys put up with his shit. Once he gets his divorce settlement, would a guy like Robert hang around pining for Aaron? Even if he did hang around the village, he would head out looking for someone less complicated, more mature and without the overbearing mother that Aaron has.
It’s been a while since I saw People of the Valley because I don’t know where to catch it anymore. As for Iolo, though, it’s not too unrealistic that he would latch on to Tyler since he doesn’t have a big circle of potential mates. He could be so starved for affection that he will work to get any crumbs from Tyler as he could – but then I don’t like him being that pathetic either. Iolo seems like a catch and it would be a nice turn to have someone pursuing him for a change.
This whole Johnny-Ben things in not making any sense to me, because first of all Johnny completely turned down Ben before he left (and for good reason) and second of all, I don’t see how any sane person would ever fall for a Mitchell. About that look Johnny gave Ben, I thought it was more like a look of disdain or even disgust because after his break-up with Gianluca, Johnny just hates couples or love and that when Tom asks him out Johnny has his mind on his ex boyfriend whom he stayed with for over a year and not a murderous mechanic with anger issues who almost hit him before. I mean who in their right mind would turn down hunky drama-free Tom? Not me.
As for Roboring I’m just not bothered anymore, Aaron and Robert are very sexual and maybe they can’t be with the trial and everything but why not just let us see them being a proper couple before dropping an angst-y sassy teenager on them? And I’m guessing things would just get worse after they made her friends with Ashley and Bernice’s devil spawn Gabby :/
Oh and Finn has a story of his own for once?! Oh wait no, he’s used again as a plot device for one of his brothers’ stories. Would it be so wrong to give him something involving a possible boyfriend? Now that Waaron has to change his sister’s diapers and chaperon her, why not give Finn a thrilling affair? Cuz let’s face it Robron fans are bored and I’m sure most of them would not mind jumping ship to a Finn romance.
Love James, guess I always like an evil gay, it changes from the usual stereotypes like the comic relief Scott , the dumb blonde Harry or the walking train wreck Ste.