Critical discussion / spoilers allowed

[jjose712]

To be honest, i don't think the physical aspects of Aaron and Jackson relationship were the main problem. It's obvious that both actors have issues with that, the scarse kissing scenes are quite uncomfortable to watch. The problem is that Danny is unable to show that his character love Jackson (Marc is better at that, even that in my opinion he has almost the same issues to show physical afection), and you don't need to even touch your partner to show that.
Danny is really good in dramatic scenes, but right now he is very limited as an actor, because if you play a gay character and you are not even able to show some interest in the object of your affection, something if failing big time.

Usually actors with theatre experience have less prejudices than people who started on tv. To be honest, i don't care at all what Danny Miller thinks (in fact both Danny and Marc make some big mistakes in their first interviews, because they make people more aware of their issues) he is unable to portray a gay character, the producers make a big mistake giving him the character (no matter how good he is at dramatic scenes).
You can't build a storyline on a soap with the constrictions of the actor's fears. Come on, this is a gay storyline on a soap, this is not Queer as folk, or Shameless when you have to deal with really difficult sex scenes. Here you only have to show some skin and a couple of kisses from time to time, it's not that difficult.

In my opinion the storyline had big potential when started, but they ruined with all this depressing development. I agree that a soap needs drama and angst, but without any light moments or some funny storylines in between all ends just too melodramatic.
I've never buy that Aaon love Jackson, and in my opinion the resolution of their storyline will only mean that Aaron will be single for a long long time, crying a lot (Danny is really good at that), and he will became gay only by name.

Some people said that gay characters must be played by gay actors, i don't agree. The same way that a gay actor can be believable on a straight character, a straight actor can be perfect for a gay role. But in that case the actor needs to have no prejudices about the role, because that will let him free to tell the story the writers want to tell, and we don't have to read more awkard interviews about how terribly hard is to kiss another bloke

[lety26]

Mar 6, 2011 8:22:31 GMT -5 jjose712 said:

Some people said that gay characters must be played by gay actors, i don't agree. The same way that a gay actor can be believable on a straight character, a straight actor can be perfect for a gay role. But in that case the actor needs to have no prejudices about the role, because that will let him free to tell the story the writers want to tell, and we don't have to read more awkard interviews about how terribly hard is to kiss another bloke

I agree with this part completely, I mean i've seen other straight actors play their gay characters perfectly. Igor Dolgatschew(AWZ), Thore Sholermann(VL), Emmett J. Scanlan(HO), Jake Silbermann, Eric Stevens(ATWT) and Raynor Arkenbout(GTST) are(well were in JS and ES cases ) convincing in what they do and you can tell they are comfortable in playing gay characters. You also believe that they're really in love and not just by their touches, or kisses but the way they look at their acting partner, their body language, even in the love that they inflict in their tone of voice etc. Also, Guy Burnet and James Sutton(HO) who were a little less comfortable than the others sold the love of their characters, but Danny is different I'm not negating that he's a great actor because he is but he needs to losen up a bit or really think if he's in the right role for him. I get that Aaron is standofish and clossed off but you sense Danny's akwarness in his scenes and it kills the mood. Maybe it's because he's still young and unexperieneced in the soap world, hopefully he'll grow into his character more in the future and let's go of the akwarness a bit.(crossing fingers) Having said that I did enjoy the ILY scene that's one of the only scenes we're I've actually believed him, his feelings for Jackson.

[jjose712]

Well, the problem was obvious, their scenes together didn't work, but Marc at least was able to sell that Jackson was in love with Aaron, and that's something that i can't tell about Danny.
Being good at crying don't make you a good actor, Demi Moore is incredibly good at crying and laughing (something a lot of actors have difficulties) and she is very far from being a good actress.
Nobody denies Danny's skills for dramatic scenes, but if you are playing a gay character and nobody believes that you have a real interest in the guy, you are failing big time.

Maybe we are being harsh on Danny, because the way the storyline was written just don't make easy to apreciate a progress. He is doing better interviews now (it's never a good idea to show your issues with the character in a interview but Marc fail in the same) and it's understable for an actor to have some problems to adjust the character when the writers change some things that he assumed, because he obviously built Aaron thinking he was straight, but that was months ago, and he must improve in that department or looking for other jobs. Of course the best he can do is to face all his issues and grow as an actor.

And lety26, its exactly ATWT storyline and Van and Jake performances what make me say that the physical aspect of this storyline is not the problem. I wasn't a fan of Jake's acting in some storylines (specially at the begining), and we all know that problems the show had (and the bad writing in a lot of storylines), but Van and Jake were always able to show that Luke and Noah were in love with each other, and that's what i miss in Emmerdale's storyline, not the lack of sexual scenes.

And the big problem of the resolution of this storyline, is that this will let Aaron so damaged that probably he won't be in another gay storyline for a long long time. At least i hope after all this, the writers will be able to integrate him in other storylines, specially something that has nothing to do with drama. The storyline has a big potential at the begining, and there's no reason to not learn about the mistakes they made in Aarson storyline

[sheepiefarm]

I posted this on DS when someone asked what were people thinking of the A/S storyline.
thought I might as well post it here too.


I've never really had any issue with the decision to do an A/S storyline – it does happen.
I’ve never even had an issue with the character of Jackson Walsh being the chosen character – he’s a capable actor.

However, the execution of the story has been ridiculously weak and lacked any real integrity..
The whole storyline has been riddled with inaccuracies and weak plotholes – the lack of proper professional help for Jackson – how come Jackson was suddenly in charge of a £15, 000 electric chair – if Jackson’s tetraplegia is as profound as it is made out (i.e. no movement from the neck down), then he would be unable to shout (and my god he’s done plenty of that), to name but a few.
The characters themselves have lacked any real humanly driven response derivative of who they are meant to be as characters.
Hazel turning on a sixpence in her decision to help him without seeking professional counselling.
Aaron an emotionally constipated and self-loathing gay teenager suddenly discovering this all consuming love for Jackson.

The sad fact is – the only reason this storyline was considered, was simply to exploit an emotionally sensitive issue, and pass it off as great tv drama.
In the past when ED have covered stories of this sensitivity (Baby Daniel’s death, Alice’s death), they have been written with integrity and the character’s given the decency of dignity. They allowed the reality of the storyline to be the emotional key for the viewers to react to.
This storyline has battered the viewers with emotional high drama – the characters awash with tears & angst & overwrought emotional distress in a bid to cover up the weaknesses & integrity of the storyline itself.
I’m not doubting the effectiveness of certain scenes – Hazel & Jackson on the train platform being one of them – but overall, the storyline is nothing more than cheap & exploitative, turgid with sentiment and forcing the viewers to accept it by smothering it with tragedy and appealing to their sympathy.

It's never been about telling the story of a disabled young man who doesn't want to live - it's been about wringing every last tear out of every character involved.
This whole storyline has been so exploitative and manipulative of the viewers, that it’s bordering on the obscene.

Sadly – because it moves them to tears – the viewers lap it up and praise it as brilliant tv.

[katemonster]

Feb 20, 2011 16:41:13 GMT -5 HQ75 said:

Actually, Danny Miller said that when they initially told him that Aaron would come out as gay, he was very "concerned" about what would be required of him in the role and the writers and directors assuaged his concerns.

So actually, I think they chose to write the role within the limitations of what Danny was willing to do and continue to do so.

They obviously wanted Danny for this role and he's gotten loads of attention so it would be to the detriment of the writers and directors NOW to try to push Danny to do things on screen that he isn't comfortable with.


There are plenty of soap actors of UK tv who kiss and hug and hold hands with and are romantic with their on-screen gay partners and it doesn't change their core personality.

You don't have to be a huggy, feeling man to be sexy with your boyfriend.

There are loads of examples in the other British soaps that belie what Danny believes about Aaron.

If, in fact, Aaron does love Jackson (and Danny Miller has says that he does) then we know they have had sex and some affection between them and the fact that we have NEVER in a year seen that on screen except for 3 kisses on the lips (even when the characters were alone together) has nothing to do with Aaron's personality and EVERYTHING to do with Danny's lack of comfort with kissing and touching other male actors.

We'll see how long the fans are willing to put up with it if Aaron is a character that is to have longevity on the show.

The farther we the viewers get away from Aaron's teen years and his coming out/suicide, the harder it will be for folks to tolerate how chaste and uptight Aaron is with his onscreen love interests.

I didn't get that impression from Danny's interviews on the subject at all. No mention of kissing guys being issue at all. ( unless I missed one if so i'm sorry) He was concerned about 'Aaron's ' character changing and becoming stereotypical or soft but he was reassured when they told him he was still the same angry young man they were just going explore why he is so angry. I think it's the show itself that doesn't want too much boy kissing because they fear Emmerdales audience could switch off. Danny is correct in his assessment of Aaron as a non touchy feely person esp' in public ,but I don't think he has ever held back in the few private emotional or passionate scenes that were written for the character so again i think it's just him being protective of his character and not wanting Aaron being gay to turn him into a different person. How many of the hetrosexual couples in Emmerdale kiss and cuddle all the time on screen? Unless they are getting caught cheating or something it's plot orientated it's rarely seen. I'd love to see Aaron have semi naked gay hot make outs 'Chrolli" style in every episode but as an actor I can understand him not wanting to become some sort of fan girls soap soft porn star.

[katemonster]

May 10, 2011 16:59:59 GMT -5 sheepiefarm said:

I posted this on DS when someone asked what were people thinking of the A/S storyline.
thought I might as well post it here too.


I've never really had any issue with the decision to do an A/S storyline – it does happen.
I’ve never even had an issue with the character of Jackson Walsh being the chosen character – he’s a capable actor.

However, the execution of the story has been ridiculously weak and lacked any real integrity..
The whole storyline has been riddled with inaccuracies and weak plotholes – the lack of proper professional help for Jackson – how come Jackson was suddenly in charge of a £15, 000 electric chair – if Jackson’s tetraplegia is as profound as it is made out (i.e. no movement from the neck down), then he would be unable to shout (and my god he’s done plenty of that), to name but a few.
The characters themselves have lacked any real humanly driven response derivative of who they are meant to be as characters.
Hazel turning on a sixpence in her decision to help him without seeking professional counselling.
Aaron an emotionally constipated and self-loathing gay teenager suddenly discovering this all consuming love for Jackson.

The sad fact is – the only reason this storyline was considered, was simply to exploit an emotionally sensitive issue, and pass it off as great tv drama.
In the past when ED have covered stories of this sensitivity (Baby Daniel’s death, Alice’s death), they have been written with integrity and the character’s given the decency of dignity. They allowed the reality of the storyline to be the emotional key for the viewers to react to.
This storyline has battered the viewers with emotional high drama – the characters awash with tears & angst & overwrought emotional distress in a bid to cover up the weaknesses & integrity of the storyline itself.
I’m not doubting the effectiveness of certain scenes – Hazel & Jackson on the train platform being one of them – but overall, the storyline is nothing more than cheap & exploitative, turgid with sentiment and forcing the viewers to accept it by smothering it with tragedy and appealing to their sympathy.

It's never been about telling the story of a disabled young man who doesn't want to live - it's been about wringing every last tear out of every character involved.
This whole storyline has been so exploitative and manipulative of the viewers, that it’s bordering on the obscene.

Sadly – because it moves them to tears – the viewers lap it up and praise it as brilliant tv.

Seconded I hated it. I could see where it was going since the accident and i'm just so glad the storyline is 'mostly' over. I just hope at some point we can get back to something more real and small scale for Aaron. The Aaron/Adam story was wonderful and much more relateable as was Aaron's coming out. I want to see this young man's personal journey to understanding himself and finding his place in the world and maybe some love, not this literal train wreak and the melodrama that followed.