7de Laan

7de Laan is my guilty pleasure. It's basically Neighbours, but South African. Same looking sets, same plots, more or less identical characters. If it wasn't in Afrikaans, I might easily believe it is Neighbours. Dialogue often slips in and out of Afrikaans and into English or an African language, which can be very funny to hear.

Unfortunately, we in the UK can't watch it anymore since the South African channel stopped being available on Sky. But I enjoyed it thoroughly while it was on. It's light-hearted, harmless.... pure escapism.

I won't pretend it's groundbreaking television. I won't even pretend it's particularly good television. But it has what Neighbours has: the ability to focus on the happier things in life and not to get tied up in anguish and melodrama all the time. It's truly easy to watch, and it was my guilty pleasure.

I have followed several International soaps and South African soaps and 7de Laan is by far the worst soap. Even something as ridiculous as Passions is better than 7de Laan. The story lines are repeated, acting is optional and the only constant thing in 7de Laan is the gossiping, without it, there would be no 7de Laan.

The sad part is that it was not always this bad, but the last four years the writers have been underestimating our intelligence, changing a characters personality within weeks. I really think that 7de Laan is bad for South African youth, South African standards and South African intelligence.

Contrary to what most South Africans would admit, this is one of the worst shows on South African television. The acting and writing is too bad too describe in words. I have watched soap operas for more than 15 years, including many other South African soaps, and this is the worst by far. There may be no sex scenes which 'makes it suitable for family viewing' as someone else commented here, but no relationship ever lasts. The younger people in the soap swap boyfriends and girlfriends like there is no tomorrow - which I would not think is suitable viewing for someone still growing up and learning what life is like. Also, it is not considered a plus for the soap to get well known and good actors to play roles, no, a 'sexy young new actor/actress' is considered a bigger plus. And usually this just contributes further to lack of acting talent on the show. My honest expert opinion - don't watch!

7de laan may be the only soap (from around the world) that doesn't include sex. Even children can watch it without "learning". 7de laan is suitable for any age, and believe me, EVEN MEN fancy this show. 7de laan also isn't a copy of Days of our life's, Bold and the Beautiful, etc. It is truly SOUTH African, with a lot of laughs, tears, suspension. It is also based on ordinary people, and ordinary days. There is a rich family, a troubled family, couples with normal problems, and guess what, it also shows the world that you don't need sex or half naked scenes to attrack viewers. And there isn't something like this man slept with that mans' wife or vice versa. If you ask most of the South Africans which program they watch, their awnser will be: 7 DE LAAN!

Sewende Laan is the best. Most American soapies if not all, are about as exciting as watching onions pickle and probably take longer to get the point then onions take to pickle. Sewende laan has got pace, is natural and realistic but doesn't take itself too seriously and they don't stare (in SA we know its rude to stare)- above all else its wholesome even educational- there's no almighty villain or saintly lead characters everybody has a 'bad day' now and then. plots don't revolve around sex and swinging- cause there's no sex! or anything immoral for that matter.

Sure its simple and sketch-like sometimes but its always sensible escapism-thats its appeal, its like theatre TV. interestingly however there are always multiple plots and the characters are truly diverse unlike the stereotyped grouping that occurs in US soaps.- I never ever thought i'd watch soapies but believe me, one or two episodes and you're hooked. ...oh and if somebody dies or leaves sewende laan, that character is out and a new different character is introduced, they don't get resurrected as somebody else playing their part- how innovative is that!!!