Late 80s Brookside

[Final Terror]

Well.... I'm just onto the third ever episode of Brookie.
Of course, I watched it in the 90's until the end [from around Trevor Jordache's arriva, ie when I was old enough to stay up and watch it]. But these early ones are something else. I just know I'm going to have to aquire them all .

Snooty Lucy Collins has just had a run-in with the headmaster, because she's blatantly a stuck up cow... "I've got better things to waste my time on then some silly spoiled little bitch..." Amazing.


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[Canon]

Wow...Final Terror...is that really you? I thought you might be..."permanently" offline.

Isn't it fab? You haven't seen anything yet so don't read anything on this thread.

I abandoned 80's Liverpool for mid 70's Yorkshire but I'm so getting back on that ferry soon.

[Final Terror]

It is
I took to reading rather then writing, but have decided to get back on. Blame Brookside, I love Amanda Burton and her husband, and them trying to put together cupboards.
It's all so realistic, but really addictive, episode 5 ended with Shelia looking at some rough lads calling for 'our karen' out the window.
Too Good!


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[Final Terror]

Oh it appears one of those rough lads, was a younger Gary out of Corrie. Who three episodes down the line [ep8] has attempted to rape "our Karen" until she told him it would be rape. Leading to Barry doing him over.... But whatever will Shelia say, when she finds out "our Karen" is on the pill!!!
I love Gav and Pet, struggling to have a baby, with their cookers laid out on the front garden, and everyone wondering what's going on.
Gordon Collins going for the dole, the sub Boys From The Blackstuff factory politics with Bobby and the Huntingtons playing tricks on each other, I mean Amanda Burton is a joy to watch.

[sunshineboyuk]

Amanda Burton is one of the ( many) highlights of early BROOKSIDE, keeps watching the Huntingdon's things get really interesting there.

Karen on the pill- I don't think the show gets any better than these stories which feel like Boys from the Blackstuff colliding with an observational docu soap. First few years- a masterpiece.

[Emmerdalefan]

On Living I used to watch a lot of reruns of Brookie and saw the 1988 exit of Bobby Grant and the final years of Billy Corkhill. Pat Hancock was a good character as well.

[Ome]

Oh it appears one of those rough lads, was a younger Gary out of Corrie. Who three episodes down the line [ep8] has attempted to rape "our Karen" until she told him it would be rape.

Classic moments

[James from London]

I love Gav and Pet

Yes!

Amanda Burton is a joy to watch.

Yes, as is Rob Spendlove as Roger.

Pat Hancock was a good character

I violently disagree.

Ridiculous I know, but my heart is genuinely warmed by people appreciating the early days of BROOKSIDE. Funnily enough, I watched an episode today I'd never seen before - Valentine's Day 1984. Heather's interview at Hamilton and Devereaux - never before or since has accountancy looked so sexy.

[Emmerdalefan]

I violently disagree.

Do you ever agree with anything I post?

[Final Terror]

Oh all the houses have been robbed... Poor Gav and Pet have been to the Dr's, and have been told to keep trying... Bobby's been on strike, and ended up with cameras outside his house [where the news really THAT concerned about strikers they staked out their houses???].... The Collins girl attacked a bully with a hockey-stick [Brookie always did good school-bullies]... The Huntingdon's still only have an airbed to sleep on... And 'Our Karen' is considering telling Shelia she doesn't want to attend church on a Sunday.
They still haven't managed a good cliffhanger ending, I mean Episode 12 ended with Amanda Burton tucking into some spag bol, but I sure as hell am gripped.

[Final Terror]

So Barry got himself stabbed... And the next episode focussed on Roger doing a spot of Christmas shopping... Before him and Heather were sadly lacking from the actual xmas episode.
The Collins got a squirm inducing visit from some old posh friends, Bobby was worrying they gave in from the strike too soon, Our Karen hasn't been to mass, Damon only got a new mac in punishment for bunking off school and Gav is setting out in the pirate video industry.
I love Gav, he's the first [and probably only] Brookie hunk.

It's all so gloriously addictive, I've only had to go and acquire all of 1983's eps ) And on the cliffhanger front, they're getting a tad better.... Episode 17 ended with Barry not catching the guy who stabbed him.

[sunshineboyuk]

So Barry got himself stabbed... And the next episode focussed on Roger doing a spot of Christmas shopping... Before him and Heather were sadly lacking from the actual xmas episode.
The Collins got a squirm inducing visit from some old posh friends, Bobby was worrying they gave in from the strike too soon, Our Karen hasn't been to mass, Damon only got a new mac in punishment for bunking off school and Gav is setting out in the pirate video industry.
I love Gav, he's the first [and probably only] Brookie hunk.

It's all so gloriously addictive, I've only had to go and acquire all of 1983's eps ) And on the cliffhanger front, they're getting a tad better.... Episode 17 ended with Barry not catching the guy who stabbed him.

Heather and Roger are rationed, i quite like that we don't see them in certain times it gives that house a peek-a-boo feel, we feel priviliged when we are invited in. That house definately has times when it closes its door to the show and says Private Please Do Not Disturb.

Don't expect too many cliffhangers, I don't think the show becomes plot driven for a long while. Although the characters are the plot but in terms of cliffhangers in toodays context they don't start doing that full throttle thing for a while.The first big plot thing occurs at the beginning of an ep when it would have been so easy for them to do the soap cliffhanger and have it at the end. I really like the surprising unconforming early episodes. Joy. Isn't it such a masterpiece of UK tv ?!

[Final Terror]

Oh it is... Its like its slowly building it's self up, building the characters layer by layer, I love it. And have already noticed Jimmy McGovern wrote the first new year episode I've just watched. I actually had no idea he started out on Brookie.


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[Bobby's Bint]

Oh Brookside, how I miss you.

I miss the early days of Brookside, I had such a crush on Barry.

[Final Terror]

Bloody Hell...
They've just killed off Gav!!!!
I'm in shock, he was my joint favourite character, along with Heather!!!!
I can't believe this, it's only 20 odd episodes in
Shocked, horrified, and, it sorta of shows EE wasn't that original in the concept of the cot-death. Sure this is an adult, but the way the episode has panned out, early morning discovery etc.
So brave for a new soap... I can't wait to see where it all goes

[Final Terror]

So, tragic Pet has discovered she's pregnant after Gav has gone... Her annoying sister Michelle has been made to move in with her to keep an eye on her.
Damon's took to washing the car on Easter Sunday in payback for missing Good Friday mass... Barry is getting a little too close for comfort to the recently widowed Petra... Which is worrying Shelia a fair whack,
Posh Gordon has been up in his room playing on his synthersiser A LOT, whilst his sister Lucy has had her first heartbreak via even-posher Jonathon.
Whist over at the Huntington's, apart from Roger's boss trying it on with Heather at every oppertunity, they've had an interesting visit from Roger's parents, who got on really well with the Grants. Even though they helped Pet when she found Gav dead, they haven't really had anything to do with her after, it's almost like they see themselves a little above it all.

Of course, Shelia, Heather, Our Karen, and Barry are my current favourite characters. The episode that focused on Bobby and his work mates after-hours at a social club was quite amazing, as are most the episodes. I'm still not over how great Brookside circa 1983 is.

I've gone and got the first year of EE to set off on soon, to compliment it all

[sunshineboyuk]

Roger's boss and Heather is brilliant, it's such a great story, have they done the dinner party yet? Amanda Burton is brilliant, there's no trace of acting, watching Heather - it feels totally voyeuristic.

[nwlman]

My favourite story was when Pat and Terry became involved with a girl band, a type of goth group, Pat muscled in and they got a recording contract, and then only a two were needed. anyone else remember this story.

[Final Terror]

Roger's boss and Heather is brilliant, it's such a great story, have they done the dinner party yet? Amanda Burton is brilliant, there's no trace of acting, watching Heather - it feels totally voyeuristic.

Oh he was gloriously sleazy, I hope he makes a return. She really is damn good, no trace of the slight coldness she brought to Silent Witness in the 90s.
There's a new neighbour, in the form of Alan Partridge, who's struck up a banter with Damon and his gang, AND the Huntington's are just about to throw a party... And I'm invited


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[Emmerdalefan]

My fave ever character in Brookie was Billy Corkhill. He was a major character during the 1980s up to when he left in 1990. Harry Cross was another great 1980s character and it was good that he returned for a short time in 1999.