#nico blake

[doyelikehaggis]

Nico has officially started trying to kill Sienna 💀 (Well, technically she started when she left her to die after the bee sting, I suppose, but now we are actively trying to poison her)

[jackbatchelor3]

Hollyoaks@25

[inky-duchess]

What Writers can Learn from Hollyoaks

Hollyoaks is an English serial soap aimed at teens. Hollyoaks has been running for just over ten years but it is as popular now as its launch. So what lessons can writers learn from Hollyoaks?

Overload of drama

Yes it is a soap and soaps are supposed to be dramatic. But Hollyoaks takes the motherfucking biscuit. How dramatic I hear you ask? One character, Sienna Blake is a prime example. Sienna is a victim of parental abuse at the hands of her father who locks her in a basement for a year while she gives birth to a baby girl fathered by her own twin brother (she didn't know), is told the baby girl Nico is dead, reunites with said brother and kidnaps him to start a new family along with the newly returned Nico, scams a married man into thinking she is pregnant, kidnaps his nephew when he found out and threatened to tell, tries to kill the guy's wife and kids, her daughter tries to kill her and half the cast and then returns after faking her death to kill Sienna. (*takes pull off inhaler*) Overload of drama can swamp your reader's disbelief and it can also cheapen a story line because or over troping.

Realism

Hollyoaks is unrealistic. I love it but it could almost be considered fantasy. At one point in time, there were at least three active serial killers within walking distance of each other: Nico Blake, Silas and Lindsay Butterfield. Death is a flimsy concept here. Nico Blake gets no less an two ex machinas.

Handling of Massive Themes

Hollyoaks does not shy from tackling heavy themes. In recent years, they have tackled rape, abuse, eating disorders, self-harm, cancer and suicide. Their #don'tfilterfeelings campaign was their most successful storyline. You must be able to tackle tough subjects using: respect, research and realism.

Time

The storylines of Hollyoaks take ages. Nothing ever has a short life. They are guilty of milking their storylines for as long as possible. Cleo's abuse storyline took over a year to even begin and then went on for months. The storyline of John Paul McQueen and Finn was one of my favourites but dear god they dragged it out. The whole Gloved Killer storyline when on and on until I wanted to head to Hollyoaks University Hospital to end it. Sometimes the side storylines can go on too long in a story. Know when to end them and don't milk them.

A call back

This one is not exactly a reoccurring tool used but Hollyoaks used it once and oh boy, was that just amazing.

So a bit of background: Ruby and Johnny are in love. They were planning on getting married but a bus crash stalled them. Thankful of their survival, they chill out on a pier looking at the stars above. Johnny lies in Ruby's arms. Ruby is talking about the life they will have. She looks down and sees that Johnny has died in her arms due to the head injury he sustained during the crash.

More recently, Alfie and Jade were going out. Both of them had cancer and had survived. Jade fell ill again. To comfort her, Alfie lays in her hospital bed with her. He begins talking to her, about stars, their love and a future they will not have. Jade dies in his arms.

So similar points:

Young tragic teens in love

Starry nights

Lingering threat

Dying in the arms of the one you love

Subtle callbacks can make a story more enjoyable and be a good reward for eagle eyed readers.

[doyelikehaggis]

DODGER SAVAGE + his family girls at Christmas | HOLLYOAKS

+ Bonus: Dream World

[doyelikehaggis]

Did the writers forget what age they had Sienna get pregnant? Her whole, I wanted to make up an image of a dad you could be proud of so I came up with a guy in the army, doesn't work as something to be proud of when you know she got pregnant at 13 because then it's a grown man who sleeps with 13 year olds and why would Nico be proud of that?

Yeah, I was having the same confusion when she was lying to Nico about her dad, like ?? the army?? those ages definitely aren’t adding up

[doyelikehaggis]

DODGER SAVAGE in HOLLYOAKS | 11.06.14

[doyelikehaggis]

I’d love to see a giant AU of what would have happened if Anna took Sienna instead. There’s so many things it would impact beyond Dodger and Sienna. Would Will still have lost it? He wouldn’t have been jealous of an older sister in the same way

God, that AU could be so good. You're right that Will wouldn't have been jealous of Sienna in the same way he was with Dodger; maybe he would still have lost it when Sienna inevitably decided to track down Patrick, and Dodger became part of the family. There are so many variables here that could affect the entire story.

Would Sienna and Dodger still have run into each other when they were 13? Because Dodger wouldn't have been out on a job with Dirk, and I don't see Sienna being Dirk's assistant (although, Sienna having Dodger's skill with mechanics and repairs is amusing and I'm not opposed to it, so maybe it could still work). If they don't meet, that means no Nico. Even if they did meet, would they still have slept together? Their personalities would've been so different; Sienna wouldn't have been isolated and seeking comfort/attention from the first boy who was actually nice to her, but maybe a happier Sienna would've still seen something in this sad, withdrawn, isolated boy (because Dodger could've still been abused by Patrick).

If they did still sleep together, what would have happened? Sienna gets pregnant. We know Dirk wouldn't have taken Nico away from her, but there's the question of if an abortion would have been a discussion - she was 13, after all. If they did, then, again, no Nico. If not, then I can see it being like Peri and Leela, with Dirk raising Nico more as his own daughter so that Sienna can still have a childhood. Or maybe they would've still put her up for adoption. If that's the case, then is there resentment from Sienna, even if it's what was best? If they raise Nico as Sienna's sister, does Nico end up hating them for lying to her? If she goes into care, she'd still come back later down the line and probably have a similar dynamic to canon.

Would Sienna still be obsessed with Dodger? If she does have Nico, then maybe, but she wouldn't be seeking out that perfect family - unless Anna leaving was enough to give her that same desire. I don't think Dodger would've stepped into Sienna's role in this AU. It's hard to imagine what Dodger would be like if he was raised by Patrick, but I don't think he'd reacted the same as Sienna did.

There are so many more questions as well, but these were just the ones from the top of my head. There's still the Will factor (is he jealous when he discovers he has an older brother, and one who Sienna maybe clings to a bit more? does Dodger warm up to Dirk enough to make him jealous?), and the ripple effect from this one would be massive.

[doyelikehaggis]

DYLAN JENKINS, NICO BLAKE & CLEO MCQUEEN in HOLLYOAKS | 27.01.15