Quote: Matthew Stott @ May 9 2011, 10:13 AM BSTAre you being serious? 'Cor blimey.
Yes I am 
long running continuing drama where the main characters are in a relationship and it isn't a soap?
Doctor Who... Page 696
The real problem with Amy and Rory is that they're just not very interesting. The only time Amy did anything interesting was in The Beast Below last year, when she did something to annoy the Doctor and he went on a bit of an anti-human rant. Other than that I can't really think of anything she's done of note.
Quote: Marc P @ May 9 2011, 10:20 AM BSTYes I am
long running continuing drama where the main characters are in a relationship and it isn't a soap?
I think Doctor Who is a "returning" rather than "continuing" drama.
Isn't that right Marc?
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ May 9 2011, 10:34 AM BSTI think Doctor Who is a "returning" rather than "continuing" drama.
Isn't that right Marc?
God knows, I think they make up terms as they go along. I remember when it was a series or a serial. Let's go with drama series. Casualty 'returns' - still a soap in my book.
Quote: Marc P @ May 9 2011, 10:39 AM BSTGod knows, I think they make up terms as they go along. I remember when it was a series or a serial. Let's go with drama series. Casualty 'returns' - still a soap in my book.
What about things like Buffy or Smallville which have soapy elements?
Well yes, that becomes the point - soapy elements! Not good is it?
Quote: chipolata @ May 9 2011, 10:40 AM BSTWhat about things like Buffy or Smallville which have soapy elements?
Or pretty much any series in which characters shag?
Pretty much every cop show I've seen has a character whose marriage is on the rocks.
We are talking about protagonists, not people in the background. I can't think of a cop and his wife team whose marriage is on the rocks. We are talking about central characters in the thrust of the story episodic and arc wise.
I dunno. I see the Amy/Rory relationship plot thread more as comic relief than the kind of melodrama I would usually associate with soap.
I did laugh at the drawn out ending last Sat with the music building so dramatically just so we knew we were supposed to care one way or the other!
Quote: Marc P @ May 9 2011, 10:45 AM BSTWe are talking about protagonists, not people in the background. I can't think of a cop and his wife team whose marriage is on the rocks. We are talking about central characters in the thrust of the story episodic and arc wise.
Well, Steve Bochco's work had soapy elements amongst the main characters. As does David E. Kelley. I think it's a question of quality, which is where New Who falls down. Amy and Rory are a bit meh.
Quote: Nogget @ May 9 2011, 9:39 AM BSTI think that's part of the plan they had with New Who to boost the ratings; to introduce touchy feely stuff which traditionally had no place in Sci Fi. So, much as people like me might* not like it, I can understand why they do it.
An approach that has shown itself to be unfailing successful in dramas such as The Deep and Outcasts.
Quote: chipolata @ May 9 2011, 10:50 AM BSTWell, Steve Bochco's work had soapy elements amongst the main characters. As does David E. Kelley. I think it's a question of quality, which is where New Who falls down. Amy and Rory are a bit meh.
I think if we care about the characters it is drama, if we don't so much and 'dramatic' stuff is contrived like the Rory resuss stuff it becomes soap I guess. And they do it so the issue of the sexy young doctor (?) doesn't have to shag the sexy companion. Unless they can create an alternative universe and send the alternative doctor to shag Billie Piper on an island in it of course. Then it makes sense. 
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ May 9 2011, 10:43 AM BSTPretty much every cop show I've seen has a character whose marriage is on the rocks.
For the first ten years or so of its run The Bill adopted a rigid approach of keeping characters personal lives in the background.
Quote: Griff @ May 9 2011, 10:55 AM BSTCracker.
Can't remember it. DId they work together then?
Quote: Timbo @ May 9 2011, 10:58 AM BSTFor the first ten years or so of its run The Bill adopted a rigid approach of keeping characters personal lives in the background.
And then it became a soap. Much like Holby did.