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Trouble for Tanya

Tanya from Eastenders and a police woman
  • Posted at 4:27pm
  • 13 February 2009
  • by GarethMcLean-RT
  • 1 comment

Why do bright women suffer so?

The trials of EastEnders' Tanya Branning have been manifold. She was married to Max, for a start. And then there was her dalliance with crazy Sean. And her relationship with Jack. But Tanya's trials aren't simply down to her poor taste in men. She's endured humiliation, misery, upset and trauma simply because of who she is. Or, at least, was - for Tanya was once a confident, capable woman who ran her own business, brought up a family and seemed to have conquered that contemporary conundrum, "having it all". And for that - in the eyes of Soapland's cruel gods - Tanya had to be punished.

As Tanya's day in court approaches for attempting to pervert the course of justice (having falsely confessed to having run over and tried to kill Max in order to protect the real driver, their daughter Lauren), her sentence will be only the latest of the penalties she's paid. Her husband had an affair with his son's girlfriend, humiliating Tanya in front of her friends. Her daughters are sad and damaged. And, with the credit crunch, who knows what's happening to her beauty-salon business, Booty? All that Mrs Branning held dear has been spoiled and soiled. And all because she had the temerity to have aspirations.

In this respect, she's in a well-established soap tradition. Remember Brookside's Patricia Farnham? She was a successful working woman who was rewarded by being diagnosed with breast cancer. Then of course there was EastEnders' Michelle Fowler, whose attempt to better herself was met with such hostility that she had to emigrate to America; Coronation Street's Carla Gordon, whose career in charge of Underworld was a catalogue of disasters; and Emmerdale's pub landlady Diane, also diagnosed with cancer. Women with ambition, beware.

Of course, it's through such torment that many characters (of both sexes) find themselves, and why we as an audience find them appealing. But it often seems as if women - and women with ambition in particular - are made to suffer. Might it be that soap - so long judged a genre aimed specifically at women - might actually be misogynist?

Eastenders

As Ian and Jane ponder whether the magic has gone (answer: yes), Lucas also gives irksome Ian food for thought. But can the belligerent Beale really change?

It's D(NA)-Day for Bianca and Ricky as Tiffany's paternity results arrive. But the plan to have a family meal at which to announce the news is thrown into disarray by another traumatic discovery about troubled Whitney.

Garry's vanishing act has Minty, Heather, and Dawn down in the dumps. Pah. You get the feeling he won't stay lost for long.

Coronation Street

Never mind Hobson, Becky has to choose between Jason, eager to wed her, and Steve, eager to bed her. Whose betrothed will she be?

Living with a sister like raucous Rosie, Sophie Webster has had no choice but to be the quiet one. Now, however, her relationship with Ben has given her the strength and confidence finally to speak up - and have her voice heard.

As Tony turns his torments on Julie, demanding she pick someone at the factory to sack, it seems Carla has plans of her own. Absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder after all …

Emmerdale

As Debbie remains determined to protect Jasmine, despite Lisa's pleas, Laurel and Eli both learn the consequences of their actions following Shane's death. The bunting will remain firmly in its box.

What's left unspoken is often just as important as what is said. So, might a heart-to-heart help poor Paddy and Chas?

Parties in Emmerdale have been known to culminate in murder. Pity, then, Natasha and Mark as they throw open Home Farm's doors to two surprise guests.

Hollyoaks

When Jack and Darren come home, Jack's keen to get back to normal - but Darren seems far from that.

Again the lone voice of sanity, and honesty, among the McQueen clan, Carmel is exasperated to find her sisters have yet another scheme for thieving on the go. Can she persuade them of the virtues of the straight and narrow? What do you think?

As Anita helps Lauren and Newt's romance to hit the rocks, Rhys finds a reason to cheer up, despite his blinddate disaster.

The Archers

While David and Ruth are occupied with late-night lambing (not to mention early-morning milking and all-day Pip wrangling), Kenton takes a bull by the metaphorical horns. Telling Alistair how he knows Ryan - and it's not from working for charity - Kenton throws his brother-in-law into doubt. Could Al really have been such a bad judge of character?

Elsewhere, Brenda becomes concerned about the effect that relations between Brian and Tom are having on her boyfriend's behaviour. Though he wouldn't be the first to worry about the devious workings of Brian's mind, haranguing Hannah, much to Helen's chagrin, hardly seems the right way to react.

And Mike and Clarrie step in to ensure that Neil and Susan have a silver-wedding anniversary to remember. Disaster can only be around the corner.

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Comments

  • Posted on 28 February 2009
  • at 8:01pm
  • by John

I have regularly since its first episode, watched Eastenders, and have enjoyed it, but in recent years the storyline has degenerated to the point of me ceasing to watch it 10mins into the farce with the blue tape divide in Beales kitchen. The ghastly Hev, total slob Sean, paedo Tony I could go on. Come on BBC this used to be worth watching in dirty Den days, but not now, none of my friends or family watch any more. Please, please get some decent writers back, and you may just save it.

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