Neighbours

People say this show is not as good as it was. They are wrong. The standard of drama has never slipped from abysmal from day one. A sort of hybrid between 'Crossroads' and 'The Beano'.

It has always entertained me. What I like about it best, is that I get home and am not provided with any challenge to my brain whatsoever. Good. Who ever got anywhere by being forced to think?

The only regression is the theme song. Bring back the cheesy pub piano and the even cheesier line 'Next door is only a footstep away'. That's poetry that is.

When I was about seven years old, I switched the TV on, and there were the opening credits of Neighbours, complete with the broken window and the cricket ball. Since then, over ten years ago, I've been completely addicted to the show. I don't exactly know why. Jason Donovan may have had something to do with it, and admittedly, the show has never been quite the same since Scott & Charlene left. Although there have been awful moments, some bad acting and chipboard sets, it's still pretty good. After Helen died, it was the end of an era, and maybe the show has never recovered, but I'm still addicted.

I am a very good fan of Neighbours. I am not a soap-addict, one of those people who always have to see every soap on the television, nor one of those who does nothing but watch television. In fact, I am one of those who watches little television, and still this has been one of the only things I like to see. I watch it when I come home from school, some other friends of mine do too. This has some great story lines, some that a few of us can relate to, from worries about parenting to sexuality confusion to trying to fit in at school, etc. There are plenty of stories to keep the viewer interested. Although some seem a bit far-fetched, this show is still very good and keeps me entertained throughout each 30 minute episode. I recommend this to anyone who wants to see a good soap. Beware, you may get stuck on this one.

Unlike many British soaps, which are all doom and gloom, Neighbors adds some much needed comedy to weekday afternoons. It is impossible for Neighbors to produce a serious event as arguments, fights, and, yes, even deaths and funerals are presented in such a way that you just have to laugh. A factor which I can conclude is largely influenced by the hilarious sound track underlying almost every event, scene opening and scene closing. It is true that much of the acting is also pretty laughable- but this is just one of the traits which makes this such a relaxed and familiar soap. Many of the story lines can, again, be pretty weak, but with so much comedy- who cares if they are a little off the wall? This is a fab soap which is highly addictive. I would, and am, seriously recommend it to absolutely anyone and everyone!

Neighbours is the only soap opera that doesn't live you depressed by the end of it. Although the plots are sometimes a little obscure (the whole psycho Sindi thing, for example), the characters are on the whole extremely well developed and realistic. There is a great sense of community and family about the show, both on and off set. The street is always sunny, and a great sense of comedy balances the more dramatic story lines. Neighbours is now branching out into even more dramatic stories than before, and each episode leaves the viewer on a tantalising cliff hanger. With the return of Paul Robinson, we can expect even more explosive story lines. Having said this, Neighbours is still a family show, and the stories are all character driven. Neighbours has a winning formula that will ensure it lasts another twenty years and more.