Eastenders: Thoughts on Jon Sen as EP

[SquealBeale]

What were your opinions on Jon Sen when he was Executive Producer of Eastenders?
For those that need a refresher, here are his storylines when he was in charge from 2019-2021:
1. Linda’s alcoholism
2. The Boat Crash, resulting in the death of Sharon Watt’s miracle son Denny Rickman
3. Gray Atkins turning into a serial killer after abusing and killing his wife; victims included Tina Carter and Kush Kazemi
4. Sharon Beale, when Sharon married Ian and tried to kill him, first w/Poisoned Christmas Pudding and then Poisoned Carbonara.
5. Ben and Callum
6. Lucas Johnson’s return
7. Max Branning and Linda’s affair
8. Janine’s return
9. Mel Owen’s death

I’ll give you my opinion: He was the worst thing to ever happen to the show. Decisions such as killing off Sharon’s miracle son, Gray becoming a serial killer, and then Sharon marrying Ian Beale, who was one of her few remaining childhood friends, and then slowly trying to murder him, despite having lived through her father dying twice and the love of her life getting stabbed, are proof to me that he harbored immense contempt for the show as well as the soap genre in general.

In the span of 2 years, he singled handedly took a sledgehammer to almost 40 years of history without even thinking twice.

[regalbeagle]

Gray becoming a serial killer cheapened one of the better written stories of recent EastEnders history, the hidden domestic abuse of his wife Chantal while everyone thought they were a happy couple. Toby Alexander-Smith was genuinely scary in the scenes where Gray lost his temper and physically hurt Chantal.

Some of the storylines you listed were excellent -- Ben and Callum, Linda's alcoholism and the end of Sharon and Ian.

A few were head scratchers for me. Why bring back Mel Owen with her son Hunter only to make both of them completely alienated from all longtime residents of the square? By their final months on the show, Mel, Hunter and Ray were on a story island with few interactions. Mel sent Jack packing and nobody Hunter's age spent any time with him.

I hated seeing Dennis die but the storyline and aftermath were riveting.

[SquealBeale]

Gray becoming a serial killer cheapened one of the better written stories of recent EastEnders history, the hidden domestic abuse of his wife Chantal while everyone thought they were a happy couple. Toby Alexander-Smith was genuinely scary in the scenes where Gray lost his temper and physically hurt Chantal.

Some of the storylines you listed were excellent -- Ben and Callum, Linda's alcoholism and the end of Sharon and Ian.

A few were head scratchers for me. Why bring back Mel Owen with her son Hunter only to make both of them completely alienated from all longtime residents of the square? By their final months on the show, Mel, Hunter and Ray were on a story island with few interactions. Mel sent Jack packing and nobody Hunter's age spent any time with him.

I hated seeing Dennis die but the storyline and aftermath were riveting.

With Gray becoming a serial killer, I get the vibes that that was a cost cutting move; rather than hire a new actor to play one, might as well make the abuser one. That was truly a disgraceful decision.

Ben and Callum started strong.

Mel was a bit of a head scratcher for me as well.

Dennis' death and the immediate aftermath was riveting, but Sharon and Ian was absolutely horrific from a continuity standpoint. It was completely out of character for Sharon and Ian. The payoff of Dennis' death was not worth it, especially because with his death shut down a GOLD MINE of potential stories for Sharon. By the time her other kid Albie is old enough to carry stories, Tish Dean (Sharon's actress) might be ready to leave or might not even be on the show.

[phillis]

hi,,i joined a while ago to interact with EastEnders. I can not find the discussion board. I am new to this since retirement due to covid. I could not get this in Ireland. I am lost here on the board. Does anyone here follow EastEnders . Thank you.. Phillis