Writing for Robron since 18th August
Having quite the reaction to the news that Robron aren't in it against next week so posting my drafts for all of my thoughts on the writing for Robron since 18th August Episode. (Starting there because I think the writing for Robert's return and up to and included 18th August was pretty perfect).
In 18th August episode Aaron's number one concern is Robert's mental health but a couple of episodes later he's telling him he doesn't want him and that he's a pain? I get that it was to show he was conflicted/scared to let Robert back in, plus his guilt for cheating on John. But to disregard the impact of his words on Robert's mental state was crazy writing. The decision to leave the village could have been John led and Aaron felt obliged to go because of his commitment to John. He could have told Robert that he thought it was better if he left because the situation was messy and because Robert seeing him and John all the time wouldn't help him get better
The 'I can't stop loving you in this one' pub scene at the end of that week was perfect.
Aaron's voicemail to Mack that John listened to while Mack was in the bunker. Aaron says he's having doubts about John but it isn't about Robert. Surely this voicemail was the perfect time to show that Aaron is conflicted between John and Robert. Why would it not be about Robert? And John hearing that would have been impactful, especially leading into everything John did next with drugging Aaron, pulling him off the Gorge and framing Robert
Along with that, if they'd had Aaron saying Robert's name when he was in a drugged up state it would have shown where his head was at, and it would have made their quick reunion less of an abrupt change in Aaron
The scenes where Aaron tries to kiss Robert, Robert rejects the kiss and they agree to be mates were great. But that was instantly undone a couple of episodes later when they agreed to be together. That felt way too sudden and like way too much of a u turn from Aaron
Robert should have been angrier that Aaron constantly choose John over him. As an audience we understand that Aaron was scared of his feelings for Robert, but Robert constantly had Aaron and everyone else telling him that John was so much better than he was. It took Aaron discovering that John was a murderer for him to choose Robert, and Robert was fine with this?
Aaron also had every right to be angry and hesitant because of the divorce. They could have had some really good conversations about both
The 'reunion' was actually criminal. After so long apart and everything that happened since Robert's return, it was just 'let's be together' 'yeah okay'. With zero intimacy or passion
They obviously rushed the reunion to service the Kev storyline
The whole Kev thing just didn't need to happen. I say that as someone who actually liked Kev's character and his interactions with other characters. But there was so much more they could do with Robert's PTSD, bringing Aaron and Robert back together slowly, learning to trust each other again, a proper reunion. The fact that they thought we needed another love triangle right after John was just wild
If they really wanted to do a prison husband storyline it could have still worked without a rushed Robron reunion. We could have seen them agree to be mates, start spending a bit of time together, a bit of awkwardness, both trying to fight the chemistry because they're both protecting each other after trauma, along with protecting their own hearts. Scenes with chemistry, tension and ultimately Aaron realising that he does want Robert back
Then enter Kev. We could still have jealous Aaron because he was about to confess his feelings to Robert and now Robert has a husband. But it didn't have to be a Robert lying to and cheating on Aaron story
Then we could have still had the vow renewal. That episode was perfect and still could have played out in the same way. But that would have been the big reunion we'd all waited for, with Aaron finally confessing his feelings for Robert, and it would have done their story and Robert's return justice.
I also found Robert's feelings for Kev very confusing. Was it control, was it money, was it obligation, was it love? They kind of dabbled with all 4 but never really explored any of them deeply. I get that in life feelings are complicated and it can be more than one thing, but I think it would have been way more interesting if they had really committed to one of them.
The stuff after the vow renewal, 'affair era' up until the Kev sword fight was pretty good.
When they returned from the break, I found it so frustrating that every conversation was about Kev. And this was largely the case over christmas and new year. I said at the time, there were many ways to demonstrate their fear of Kev without them explicitly saying 'I'm scared of Kev' in pretty much every scene. It could have been shown in behaviour, in the dynamic between them. I think the audience wanted and deserved a bit of pay off, especially on Christmas day, given it was their first one for 6 years. There were some nice scenes around this time but it was really limited. They became the side plot for their psycho husbands
The scenes with John over New Year and leading into Corriedale were great
Corriedale proposal was perfect. No notes
Post Corriedale I just wish they'd got to celebrate the engagement more. At the time the engagement felt perfect but in hindsight it does feel like they rushed it so their big romantic moment was in Corriedale. If soaps are meant to reflect real life then an engagement should be a big deal that other characters get to react to. It shouldn't be ignored for the next bit of drama
I think the writers sacrificed exploring the engagement, Aaron's reaction to John and giving Vic a proper build up to her exit to spend so much time on the Ray/April/Bear storyline. Has anyone massively cared for that storyline?
I was initially very here for a Robron v Joe storyline but it's annoying to have Robert lying to Aaron and him being the village bad guy again. With seemingly no consequences for Joe
It's like the writers think that because we haven't had any Robron storylines for 6 years everything is unchartered territory and they can rehash old tropes. But that's massively underestimating the fan base who know their story so well
I also get why people are frustrated that what should be a big Vic storyline has become about Robert and Joe. But I could also write a whole separate essay on Vic and how her character is written
Robert has seemingly now signed over the Sugden land, has no relationship other than with Aaron and no family in the village (apart from Sarah and that is totally ignored). So what's the plan for Robert going forward? If it's just his being Joe's lacky that'll be such a disservice to the character
Emmerdale in general (and the Robron stuff highlights it) has a massive problem with putting dramatic plot before character development and relationships
The character driven stuff, such as group scenes in the pub and cafe are so much more interesting to me than the high drama that just doesn't mirror real life.
Massive caviat that I love this show and will always defend it. Just think there are some really simple changes they could make to improve it so much.
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