#mdale

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emmerdale created two of the greatest characters of all time and then said pause. what if we made them kiss.

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robert looking like he's in genuine pain as serena gives the money away I know you're still in there rich boy

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deeply sick that aaron didn't get to ask "why are you doing this to me" <- thing I would be asking robert all the time

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It isn't about what Kev has or hasn't done compared to Robert. More so that a lot of people don't feel he's faced proportionate consequences for his actions, plus he hasn't truly acknowledged or shown remorse for the things he's done. That's the difference between Robert and Kev. I don't think many people are saying Robert hasn’t done bad things, because obviously (in 2014-15 particularly) he was explicitly portrayed to be an antagonist/villain. The difference is Robert has undergone a full on redemption arc and has consistently worked on his character, worked to be a better person, and crucially, acknowledged the kind of person he was before and that his previous actions were wrong. We’ve not seen this with Kev, or at least not to the extent that is satisfying for a lot of viewers. He continues to be a pathological liar, narcissistic, aggressive, immature and I think it’s jarring for a lot of viewers to see both the show and his character continue to push his previous actions aside, never properly acknowledging them or the effect they've had on other people.

this has to be one of my favorite asks because it so succinctly proves my pointttt. Another anon said it better so I don't want to say too much here but kev has faced consequences for his actions. Losing robert was the consequence, the worst thing that could happen to him. Also he did go back to jail so there's that.

Also I'm convinced people who think robert has shown remorse for his actions live in a different world. whereeeeeeeeee has he ever done that show me to me please. Better blogs than I have already fleshed out how robert's "redemption" was an act of redeeming him for aaron rather than for the show, not to change him or make him a better person but to make him what he needed to be to get back in with aaron circa 2016.

This post by @anniesugdenjr is so good, and so is this one by @soapiteration which is more about the 2017 era but I think that's relevant because it shows that really despite robert being "redeemed" he hasn't actually changed.

And beyond all that, you're expecting a lot for a character that was introduced less than a year ago and was on our screens for less than three months. Even if he was this supposed big bad villain that need to be brought low, why are you mad that emd hasn't done that in the sixteen episodes they've given him?

As for my favorite part of this ask: "pathological liar, narcissistic, aggressive, immature". hmmm who can I think of that is also all of these things ......

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he gets things stuck in his head sometimes ..... yeah because we're all acting like this is about the police and not yk ... his abusive ex ....

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i think the main disconnect between myself and main tag is they want rbrn to be flirting and i want aaron to start beating robert

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Our experiences on this site are so weird!! None of this is hate to you, just my two pence on the mentioned characters and the show in general.

All I see on here are people babying Aaron and everything he does, twisting things to make Robert responsible for everything, and dog piling on hating Kev because of robron I guess?

I openly do prefer Robert, he's always been more interesting to me, and I like Kev as well, he cracks me up. Robert has changed a lot over the years, can be both the villain and the sympathetic, and I like that. Kev is new and full of character, great to watch. Simple as.

I find Aaron boring, and really don't get the hype...he, Cain and Charity just make me fast forward whenever they're on screen because nothing they do is ever any different I already know that Cain will be horrible and push people away, that Charity will overreact and do something she regrets and can't undo, and that Aaron will suffer for some reason, and cry a lot until his family reminds him how special and tough he is.

I get that Aaron's suffered so much over the years and that he 'deserves to be happy', but dear God I can't bear the misery 😂. He's never happy, and unless they change that and get him to lighten the fuck up, I'll never be able to like him. I don't think he's smiled once this year from actual happiness, except for laughing at mocking Ross, which just makes me more annoyed with him as he is a bully. Robert too, when he's around Aaron (he seems to be less so since he got back from prison).

To be honest I don't watch the show for the sad stuff, I enjoy the shenanigans much more, like Ross and Sam's dance stuff, or Kev and Kylie's cat drama, or the AI stuff with Caleb and Kerry. The sad stuff, the big misery dramatic stuff, bores me senseless. Real line is depressing enough at times!

I guess that's why there needs to be a mix, so that everyone's happy? Or miserable and angry as seems to be the case on here, nobody ever seems happy!

Number one who are all these people babying aaron. I need a list immediately.

Also, I usually answer asks in order of the points you've made, but I'm just going to stop you right there and gently suggest, since you're being so nice, that if you're watching a soap opera only for the "shenanigans", then you should go watch a comedy show. Doesn't make sense to me to watch a genre that is pretty much dependent on drama and expect it to not be miserable. maybe all of your points are contingent on the fact that you think everyone on this show should be happy all the time, so I'll give you a pass but soap is the "everyone is always miserable and how can we make them even more miserable" genre. I appreciate you being nice so I will warn you that I am going to get a little acerbic under the cut.

I don't mind people having a preference btw, I think I pretty transparently have a preference (three guesses who). I do personally find that there are far more people who love robert and hate aaron than the other way around, and let me tell you why you might not agree. For the former, they make it pretty obvious - as you have - that they find aaron boring, or whiny, or perpetually miserable, etc etc etc and that robert is the best and most perfect guy around (and I know that you are one of those people because you've suggested that robert sans aaron would be less of a bully. HAH.) when I go peruse main tag this is my general take away. but the opposite does not hold true for aaroncels. From the community I've cultivated here, my findings have been that aaroncels Love robert. they love to pick him apart and try to understand him, love when he's a terrible person and is terrible to everyone around him, love when he's awful and good and love when he falls apart. at least I know I do. I think he's fascinating for all the reasons you listed anon, because they're both such fascinating characters.

It's always baffled me that robcels don't have the same kindness for aaron, the kindness that allows you to be intrigued by a character despite maybe not really liking them all that much. you can accuse aaron of being a lot of things, but boring? I think it's such a testament to millz as an actor that he took such a boring character and became the most awarded actor in BSA history. props to him. but really, saying that charity and aaron are predictable and boring is so sad, gives me a peek into the really unfortunate life you lead. it's so funny that you've brought them up specifically because they really are emmerdale's Saints of Abuse. (i'm ignoring the cain shoutout bc i lowks agree).

Charity being the patron saint of imperfect victims and aaron following in her footsteps. Are they expected to just be happy all the time despite the things they've gone through? I find it a bit callous to talk about these characters in the way you have; I understand not everyone takes this show so seriously, but disregarding the long lasting impacts of child abuse, rape, and marital violence in order for a character to "lighten the fuck up" feels unfair. I love Aaron because of his incredibly capacity for love and kindness despite everything he's been through. Him going out and finding that caravan for kammy when it was robert who accused him of setting the fires (and didn't apologize for calling the cops on him btw) is just one example. He is so aware of his own failings as well, always so attuned to the people he cares about and worried that he isn't doing right by them, steadfast and devoted. he always makes it through his worst moments, and goes around the village playing patron saint to abuse victims (ruby, bear, dylan) because he's perfect. okay my ILA (I Love Aaron) rant is over.

"Aaron will suffer for some reason, and cry a lot until his family reminds him how special and tough he is." oh I bet you loved "It'll be the tears next" ......

And yeah, he also does do all the things you said. But so what? I don't understand this idea of "i hate when a character displays the pre-established character traits they are known for". Do you hate when robert is mean to people? Do you hate it when he's cruel and when he acts like he's better than everyone else? Do you hate it when he keeps secrets from the people he loves and then is surprised when the fallout makes them angry with him?

Anyway you were very nice with your ask, so I hope you don't take any of my points too personally because at the end of the day, we are talking about a conservative british soap opera about a farm in yorkshire. thank you.

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aaron really is god's strongest soldier. imagine your boyfriend's cousin being like hey remember that trauma that you don't speak about to anyone. mind if I bring it up and talk to you about it like I know what happened?