Ross Barton (Michael Parr)

[alcapo11]

I was reading the comments here this forum earlier and I finally realised why I've thought differently about Ross Barton since he "came back from the dead" in August 2015.

What Ross Barton has been doing since then are things which I would never have set up for him as a storyliner. I would have set up some sort of stable personal relationship for him, maybe he could do some minor criminal activities to feed his family and pay the bills, etc, but I would have shown him with some fixable flaws. This is how Ross Barton was shown before and it worked brilliantly. There wouldn't have been any idiotic Itchy and Scratchy cartoon scenes such as those we've seen of late and which fell flat and were forgotten about the moment the episode ended. The latest crime-of-the-week isolated storylines have become very boring and disposable TV viewing. No follow-through, no consequences, just gratuitous and pointless threats and violence which are seen so often now as to be empty and "normal". Where Ross Barton really fails for me is that his character has little or no proper social interaction in the village, has presently has no real direction in life or any signs of improvement for now. All he has is association with these pantomime villain scenes which I think is a poor joke or unbelievable OTT TV. One action stunt over in minutes is nothing compared to a well thought out storyline between multiple characters which has direction and consequences for others now and long-term. The standard school phrase is "Could do better".

I agree with the bit about Ross having no social interaction with many people. He needs to be given a mate and have more scenes with Finn, maybe this stuff with Aaron coming up could lead to a friendship.

[alcapo11]

Not sure. Ross told Andy that Cain had sent him to "look at some motors". I can't imagine that would take more than 3 days, but then again it's only a quick plot device, they never work out realistically. Presumably, this is covering for Mike's 3 week holiday. I think he'll be back on screen this time next week,

I think Cain knows it was Ross who shot Robert, or is it a coincidence that after Cain visited Andy he then sent Ross away too Ireland?

[alcapo11]

Not sure. Ross told Andy that Cain had sent him to "look at some motors". I can't imagine that would take more than 3 days, but then again it's only a quick plot device, they never work out realistically. Presumably, this is covering for Mike's 3 week holiday. I think he'll be back on screen this time next week,

I think Cain knows it was Ross who shot Robert, or is it a coincidence that after Cain visited Andy he then sent Ross away too Ireland?

[alcapo11]

I agree with you on this. There are a number of really good storylines either starting soon or running right now. These include,

Jai's drugs addiction
Diane's medical illness
Ashley's dementia
Bernice's relationship and open marriage with Lawrence
Chas's medical illness and its consequences for Aaron and Gordon

They all have the same things in common. One character has a problem. The effects and consequences of it are shown, both for the character and the other villagers. There will be a solution and an end, maybe happy, maybe sad, maybe some comeuppance when impacts are negative for the character or those around him. There will maybe be long-term permanent changes for the character and the other villagers. So there will be progress and we TV viewers will go through everything as it happens and we see the actions and changes taking
place. We'll even learn something ourselves along the way about the issue being shown.

For some reason, Ross Barton doesn't get storylines of any quality like this. I wish I knew why.

They have pushed Ross to the limit (shooting Robert, kidnapping Pete and this upcoming robbery with Aaron) but I think it's already up to a redeeming storyline for Ross. Maybe he will save Pete from going to prison or it could be an exit.

[JessicaMad]

I think Cain knows it was Ross who shot Robert, or is it a coincidence that after Cain visited Andy he then sent Ross away too Ireland?

Now that would be interesting. Maybe there are quite a few things we don't know?

[JessicaMad]

They have pushed Ross to the limit (shooting Robert, kidnapping Pete and this upcoming robbery with Aaron) but I think it's already up to a redeeming storyline for Ross. Maybe he will save Pete from going to prison or it could be an exit.

I think they are going to redeem Ross, well sort of anyway. I simply can't imagine him being the sensible family man, but he needs to stop beating people up when he doesn't get his own way. I don't think Ross will leave, he's had about 3 mini exits since her returned from the dead.

[alcapo11]

I think they are going to redeem Ross, well sort of anyway. I simply can't imagine him being the sensible family man, but he needs to stop beating people up when he doesn't get his own way. I don't think Ross will leave, he's had about 3 mini exits since her returned from the dead.

The actress who plays Debbie has stopped filming now so if Mike Part is still seen at the studios then that's a cler indication that he will be staying.

[alcapo11]

I think they are going to redeem Ross, well sort of anyway. I simply can't imagine him being the sensible family man, but he needs to stop beating people up when he doesn't get his own way. I don't think Ross will leave, he's had about 3 mini exits since her returned from the dead.

The actress who plays Debbie has stopped filming now so if Mike Part is still seen at the studios then that's a cler indication that he will be staying.

[JessicaMad]

The actress who plays Debbie has stopped filming now so if Mike Part is still seen at the studios then that's a cler indication that he will be staying.

Exactly.

[JessicaMad]

Dupl