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14 out of 17 people found the following review useful: Underrated when compared to other Soaps, 25 March 2007 Author: lucky_star_1 from United Kingdom
Currently, Hollyoaks is my favourite Soap. It's the one I never miss during weekdays In fact, it's been my favourite for quite a few years now, given that Eastenders has certainly suffered a great 21st century downfall The viewers' ratings for this Soap always suffer in comparison to the universally watched Soaps (Eastenders, Coronation St), much to do with the fact that Channel 4 suffers in comparison to BBC1 and ITV Nevertheless, I would say it is the most realistic of all the Soaps, and doesn't overstretch the boundaries in storytelling. In fact it is more in touch with human nature than all the other soaps, relating its plots to real teenage problems and even parental problems Moreover, it doesn't need to bring a character back from the dead to boost ratings; and most of the families are central to the main plots so you become familiar with them My current favourite characters are Louise, Warren, Carmel, Tony, John-Paul and Jacqui, all of whom are very much involved in the current gripping episodes I would recommend this Soap to both genders and to people in their teens and above, however the Late Night Specials include more adulterated content
13 out of 20 people found the following review useful: Addictive stuff..., 30 November 2003 Author: pocketcolors from Northampton, United Kingdom
It's only been the past 6 months or so that I've started watching Hollyoaks (finishing a-levels left me with free evenings after work until uni started) but I have to say it's pretty damn addictive! I think you just have to take it as it is - a lighthearted soap with a mix of serious and not-so-serious storylines. Great stuff!
7 out of 10 people found the following review useful: actually a pretty good show, 9 September 2006 Author: princess919 from United Kingdom
My sisters and I love to watch Hollyoaks all together. At first I was a bit put off as it all seemed a bit stereotypical but I have come to love it despite that. The humour is fun and the story lines rarely get too serious which is a nice change from soaps that insist on always being a bit too depressing.Every now and then they do have a storyline that has us jumping for joy or staring in dismay. The recent fire was incredibly dramatic and we almost cried over some of the departed characters.The acting can be a bit off at times but ultimately this is a great soap to watch if you want to relax and suspend reality after a long day at work or school. by the way the fact that most of the guys are quite cute doesn't spoil it at all!
6 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Probably one of the best soaps in the UK, here's why!, 17 February 2007 Author: martinimulder from United Kingdom
Firstly, I am a big fan, but for good reasons! Hollyoaks has an amazing ability to not take itself too seriously and then at other times it can deal extremely well with story lines or issues over soaps dare not touch. Teacher student relationship, cot death, racism, and it does so brilliantly. The character development has been great and the cast is getting better and better, I wasn't too happy with the Hunter family leaving but the Ashoworth's are pretty cool. Give it a try you might like it! Oh, and just stay tuned for a few episodes, actors like Chris Fountain and Gemma Atkinson have made this the show it is. It rocks, there's just so much good in it!
7 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Brilliant soap for all ages., 2 June 1999 Author: Alexis Rigg (alexisrigg@cwcom.net) from Burnley, England
Hollyoaks is brilliant! It's a very enjoyable soap for all ages, especially teenagers. It can be funny, serious and emotional, but never goes too over the top. Unlike most British soaps, it keeps away from being morbid and depressing, even with serious storylines. The storylines used are always dealt with sensitively and carefully to make it very realistic. Please tune in, you'll love it!Lex
Good teenage soap opera., 29 July 2009 Author: TheLittleSongbird from United Kingdom
Hollyoaks is something I do like watching on a weekday, and is mildly entertaining. Sure it is in the shadow of EastEnders and Coronation Street, and doesn't always tackle the serious issues conveyed in those two soaps. But it is a good soap opera, directed mainly at teenagers. (I am a teenager, so that may explain why I like it) Yes, sometimes the writing's a bit clumsy, and the acting is rather amateurish. Though I do like Gemma Merna as Carmel, she is very funny in a quirky sort of way, and I have always liked Gemma Bissix's Clare Devine.(aka Cunningham) Hollyoaks have recently been brave with dealing with serious issues like drugs and teenage pregnancies, and that is commendable. I will confess some of the climax episodes have been rather disappointing, Warren's death certainly could have been done much better. Still, I do like it, it is mildly entertaining. 7/10 Bethany Cox.
Hollyoaks is jolly jokes, 16 May 2007 Author: swiltshire1304 from United Kingdom
I am so confused by people who say that Hollyoaks is unimaginative, awful, and so on. I have to say that yes the acting is not always the best in the world but that adds to the shows charm, plus with Hollyoaks often being the actors first time of real actual acting their rather ametureishnessesity (a new word!) is to be expected. There is also a view that the story lines are not very original, which is absolute rubbish, Hollyoaks was the first British soap to feature a male rape, a teacher student relationship, and realistic gay characters (which other soaps have only relatively recently started to do). Although the story lines can be over the top all other soaps do the same (might I draw note to Neighbours and Emmerdale with their plane crashes), that is the nature of soap operas.Anyway what I wish to say is Hollyoaks is amazing, compulsive viewing with both high drama and great comedy (although this can sometimes come from the actors acting rather than the writers writing). People should give this show the credit it deserves instead of getting all superior and snobbish because of its acting.I close by saying that Hollyoaks is truly great, although I do miss Laura the psycho, she were great.The End xxx
4 out of 8 people found the following review useful: This show has seen better days, 29 September 2006 Author: mulhollandman from Ireland
Hollyoak's is the brainchild of Phil Redmond. Redmond has provided the British public with some of the best cutting edge drama in the last 30 years. Beginning with Grange Hill in 1978 he established what has now become a legendary national treasure depicting the trials and tribulations of teenagers in their G.C.S.E and A-Levels. He then created Brookside, which changed the story lines of British Soaps forever with its continuous devotion to depict gritty, real suburban live. A programme set in Redmond's native Liverpool that revolved around a community of adults. Then in the 1990's came Hollyoaks. This was Redmond's project to depict live of the twenty something's in Chester.On its release in 1995 it was considered typical Redmond's style. Its depiction of real live issues was sometimes relentlessly hard to watch but in other areas it was terrifically funny. It's cast were wonderful with the emphasis was on a naturalistic performance. The writing was crisp and fresh and very inventive. It dealt in a very mature fashion with the issues depicted and its sensitive approach meant that the soap was held very high in both the public and industries eyes. But as the old cast began to move on and replacements were drafting in it became clear that the previous hard work was being replaced by glamour and over the top story lines. The new actors were looks friendly and not very talented and the acting descended from well thought out characterizations to populist acting. This consists of over the top performances throughout the episode. It is quite frustrating to see this considering whatever went before them were genuine actors and actresses. This is not helped by the over the top story lines. Since January 2006 there has been a kidnapping, incarceration of a rapist who then escapes and commits mass murder. It is now Sept 2006 and the big action packed story lines are still coming. This is not helped by the cheesy camera direction that is employed in some of the scripts. One particular sequence involved a tomato ketchup mustard shoot out involving two girls. This was shot to the style of a John Woo. Some people say this is inspirational but to me its just rubbish and it quite clearly pisses upon what Phil Redmond set out to achieve in 1995. What was a good British Soap full of characters that you would genuinely care for have now been forsaken for a more Americanised product full of whining wannabes.In it's time it has tread some ground that has met Phil Redmond's brief of Realism. The most powerful storyline to date was the male rape of Luke Morgan. This was the last time that Hollyoaks generated such a response from the public. Many of whom welcomed such a topic that had until then been swept under the carpet as a taboo issue. Since then the cheese has been processed weekly and distributed on a daily basis. In the film The Insider the Christopher Plummer character says in relation to media " You will only be remembered for what you did last night ". If this statement is true I really hope Phil Redmond has another ace up his sleeve because at the moment it looks like Hollyoaks current mediocrity will be remembered. 4 out of 10
14 out of 28 people found the following review useful: Hollyoaks still going strong!!!, 15 October 1998 Author: Jawad Ashraf (jawad7@hotmail.com) from Manchester, England
Dear all,I would just like to drop a quick comment on the great channel 4 show 'Hollyoaks' It's a great show and after 3 years it's stil going strong.Watch it,Jawad!!!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: hangover cure, this show works., 30 November 2005 Author: Xynhrst from United Kingdom
I love spending all day in bed on Sunday mornings/afternoons, especially after an all day session in the city centre, on hot sunny days... It's a great way to ease yourself back into reality. The subtle drama that unfolds weekly on Hollyoaks, heavily laced with eye-candy, easily makes it the only choice for a sleepy Sunday's viewing. Even if you miss it for a few weeks, you can be sure that one of the plot lines you remember will still be plodding along in the background, and reference will be made to it. Reassuring you that all is right in the world.Yes, if no brain Sundays are your bag, I'd back Hollyoaks to the hilt. You can knock it all you want, but everything has it's time and place.
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