[Redway]

It’s safe to say that all four years featured some of the best EE material since Yorke’s first era. What era did you prefer between Dennis/Dalton days, Chrissie, Steven stalking Ian/Stax and Danielle/Stacey kills Archie?

[DouglasS]

2005 and 2009 were both great years

[reece(:]

The start of Chrissie's story all the way to Get Johnny week

[Tony Montana]

2005 > 2009 > 2007 > 2003

[Tony Montana]

Can't believe It’ll be a decade this year since Danielle's Death

[Redway]

2005 > 2003 > 2007 >> 2009.

2005 was the last year of old-school EastEnders. Chrissie’s exit and the killing of Dirty Den good and proper was a massive mistake but the cast that year gave it their all for one last great year before it all went downhill.

2007 didn’t get hard till the May/Dawn story got going and even in the better half of the year and up until early 2008 there were still awful characters like Preeti and Kevin around. And the foundations for the show were still pretty shaky after the late 2005 cast exodus and Santer being fresh and new.

2009 was crap for the most part. The one highlight of that year was Stace’s story but too much of it was mediocre IMO.

[thisisdanny]

2009 > 2005 > 2007 > 2003

Mess so many great storylines here I completely forgot about Mad May ugh icon

[Redway]

You need help if you think 2009 EastEnders was better than 2005. 2005 was the peak of EastEnders.

#noshade

[Marsh.]

I wouldn't say it was the peak. It was good, but despite all of the glaring behind the scenes issues. Chrissie carried it through a really rough period.

The writing was all over the place. The Vic changed ownership about 4 times because the writers couldn't keep track.

[thisisdanny]

Wow i need help

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

I wouldn't say it was the peak. It was good, but despite all of the glaring behind the scenes issues. Chrissie carried it through a really rough period.

The writing was all over the place. The Vic changed ownership about 4 times because the writers couldn't keep track.

That’s true but I’ve always seen a bit of chaos and drama behind the scenes from time to time an important thing for it considering the nature of a show like EastEnders. Going pre-2005 that’s probably why I rate the Louise Berridge era higher than a lot of people do. That era’s the opposite of 2007 in the sense that the excitement and best drama was there more than early Santer’s era but very poor re. systemisation and pacing. 2007 had better consistency but the plots that year weren’t up to much a few highlights excluded. Even in the stronger half of the year.

[Marsh.]

Not always a guarantee. Feels like the show has currently been in turmoil for the last 3-4 years and not reaped many rewards.

Hopefully with Kate Oates new senior position (a shake up in the hierarchy with Oliver Kent gone), a fresh EP the show can get some stability again.

[Redway]

I think all the noughties years were half-good in their own little way minus 2006 and 2008. Them two were the worst of that decade by a long shot.

[Gstar]

2005 is the best year. I think the Den storyline was executed really well, it had the Mitchells, Slaters and Watts at war with each other, both Sam and Zoe confessing to their mums, Stacey’s involvement, the lead up to catching Chrissie was so addictive and I also love how they didn’t let the whole thing go into the Christmas storyline

2009. Another great year. The year of the Mitchells

[thisisdanny]

Originally Posted by Redway

I think all the noughties years were half-good in their own little way minus 2006 and 2008. Them two were the worst of that decade by a long shot.

What was 2006 and 2008?

[Gstar]

Originally Posted by Redway

What makes you rate 2009 over 2007 if you don’t mind me asking?

Both iconic years but 2009 edges it for me as it had more people involved, 2007 it was all about Max and Stacey leading up to Christmas (special mention to mad may) but 2009 had Danielles death, Ronnie and Roxy at their peak, Stacey’s bipolar and of course the iconic Christmas storyline that involved many people - including Janine I can’t really remember what else happened in 2007 but I must say I still enjoyed the DVD reveal Christmas more than Archies death

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Germyle

Both iconic years but 2009 edges it for me as it had more people involved, 2007 it was all about Max and Stacey leading up to Christmas (special mention to mad may) but 2009 had Danielles death, Ronnie and Roxy at their peak, Stacey’s bipolar and of course the iconic Christmas storyline that involved many people - including Janine I can’t really remember what else happened in 2007 but I must say I still enjoyed the DVD reveal Christmas more than Archies death

Yh, Christmas 2007 was one of the best of all time.

2007 was a game of two halves. The second half was half-decent but the first six months were a total write-off. In later 2007 Steven stalked Ian under Gina (Cindy’s sister)’s name and came back to shoot Jane and the Vic got raided. Patrick got mugged by Dean(o) and Chelsea and Sean got framed. And Ronnie was at her best back then. That’s pretty much it apart from Stax.

[Gstar]

Originally Posted by Redway

In later 2007 Steven stalked Ian under Gina (Cindy’s sister)’s name and came back to shoot Jane and the Vic got raided. Patrick got mugged by Dean(o) and Chelsea and Sean got framed.

Sleeping neyde.jpeg

2009 was much more solid. I forget R&R joined in 07

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Germyle

Sleeping neyde.jpeg

2009 was much more solid. I forget R&R joined in 07

Hmm. 2007 was by far the best out of Santer’s years from a more objective standpoint though. The block-storytelling/pacing of stories wasn’t an issue back then. 2008 and 2009 were just the hangover in my opinion.

And the best of 2007 doesn’t even half measure up to the best of the Chrissie era. It was just the best of a bad bunch.

[Gstar]

2009 also had the best cluster of 3 episodes ever imo (basically means three amazing consecutive episodes), in 2009s case would definitely be 24/25/26th December

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Germyle

2009 also had the best cluster of 3 episodes ever imo (basically means three amazing consecutive episodes), in 2009s case would definitely be 24/25/26th December

Nah. Those three episodes after Sam resurrected Dirty Den from the cellar were in a different league to the Archie stuff.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by reece(:

The start of Chrissie's story all the way to Get Johnny week

Johnny Allen was the real OG.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by thisisdanny

2009 > 2005 > 2007 > 2003

Mess so many great storylines here I completely forgot about Mad May ugh icon

Mad May was the baddest. I remember thinking how she was the next big villain after Chrissie but they tainted her memory by bringing her back to blow herself up in that stupid week of episodes the year after.