EastEnders Lola Dies: Was It A Mistake? | Reviewing Lola's Cancer Storyline
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- čas přidán 3. 06. 2023
- Following Lola’s tragic death in EastEnders, this video essays reviews Lola's cancer storyline from start to finish and asks whether or not it was a mistake to kill the character off.
What do you think? Have you enjoyed this storyline? And do you think it made it worth losing Lola from the show? I personally do but you’ll have to watch the video to find out why!
Thanks so much for watching today and don’t forget to subscribe if you’d like to see more thoughts and theories about all things EastEnders.
#EastEnders #LolaDies #EastEndersLolaDies
As sad and heartbreaking as it is it is important that they show that cancer can happen to anyone at anytime. A lot of cancer storylines in soaps are usually older characters so i understand them showing it can happen to anyone by having it happen to a young / loved character
You should do a deep dive into Ben. Cos he is a character that has gone from interesting to I roll my eyes Everytime hes on screen
Ben has become ridiculous. I think it is because really Callum would have bailed and stayed away for good. I never did get them as a couple.
Well thats mental illness. You’re lucky you can eye roll from your tv screen. Think about those that live with and know people like ben who can spiral from 0-100. Its quite nice seeing people like ben on tv especially if you have experience with people like that in real life.
I think the storyline was incredibly strong overall, the aftermath has been a bit of a let down. I'm not sure why it's taken over 3 weeks for the funeral especially when they knew Lola was going to die any day. Finally Danielle Harold got the chance she deserved to show what she could do. It's just a shame she was a glorified extra for so long on the show in both her periods there. She basically only had two major storylines during her time, when she was first introduced with the pregnancy and custody storylines and then with her exit cancer storyline.
There are plenty of characters I would have axed before Lola but if she had to go at least she got an excellent storyline to do it with and finally got to show how good an actress she is. It's just a shame characters like Jay and Billy will probably just be pushed back to the side now. I can't help but shake the feeling her death was only done to give Ben and Callum custody of Lexi. I know Jay has joint custody right now but let's be real that probably won't last longer than a few months to a year at most.
Good point that you make about Julie, Dexter and Cora. It'd be nice if they're able to return for the funeral as I believe it's been said that we'll be seeing a couple of returning characters. Julie in particular could be interesting, especially as I imagine that there could be a debate between Billy, Jay and Ben as to whether or not Lexi should be told who she is and confuse her if she'll just disappear again like Emma.
Definitely a mistake to kill her off. She was very unique and deserved her place as a long running character.
sometimes you need to lose beloved characters to tell a good story
@@MarkoMentos Yeah I know that but EastEnders writers and producers have a track record of killing off too many beloved characters very short sightedly, so much that they have had to reverse both Kathy and Cindy's 'deaths'.
@@SayberV1 Yeah I agree some characters deaths were worthless (eg, Ronnie, Roxy, Mel, Steven). But some were worth it to tell a good story, like Lucy and Lola
The Dexter/Cora idea is actually quite a nice one. I would’ve liked to have seen Khalil Best back briefly and I think Dexter was Lola’s true solemate. Jay and Lola always felt like best friends who understood that they wouldn’t work in a relationship.
Julie’s absence is so obvious due to her and Lola’s past clashes. I would’ve wondered whether Julie had any regret about leaving her granddaughter and trying to make Billy chose between her and Lola.
I honestly loved this story, and thought everyone did an excellent job. Lola is well missed and will be for many years as Lexi grows up. I thought Emma would be a big problem for Jay and Ben, and would try to get custody of Lexi, especially after she tried to interfere. She still might, but since she's been written out - she didn't even attend the funeral and is never mentioned - it seems doubtful. Honey is a wonderful and warn grandmum substitute, but another thing that bothered me was the sudden break up with Jay and Honey (although I never thought they made sense as a couple), just to throw them back in with Lola and Billy. It was all too sudden and contrived. Thanks for the video!
Love your channel and analysis of Lola’s storyline. Ben has become unbearable to watch but I can understand the writers wanting to commit to him being a mess. He is a bi product of dysfunction and self loathing due to his dysfunctional family and circumstances.
I contribute Ben's often pathetic seeming behaviour as his having a need to make things about him due to his vulnerability, due to his upbringing. Loosing his Mum at a young age was a great loss even though she did return eventually, it obviously affected their relationship. His violent outbursts strike me as Ben trying to be like his Dad, who also has vulnerability due to his childhood but copes with it more covertly. They are really very different characters who often find it difficult to understand their own meeting points.
Yes, I think that's a fair analysis actually; I just wish the writers would give the character some actual development and stop telling the same stories with him, time and time again!
Great video once again. Would love to hear your thoughts on a lot of Eastenders topics. Take the Knights entrance for example. Any chance of some podcast type videos from you... would love to get involved!
Personally I believe the Lola cancer storyline was fantastic and a sleeper hit. However much to the same as your criticisms it does feel like they tried to bend history to their own narrative. As much as it is tragic that Lola is gone, when on the show beyond the Lexi court storyline she was always underutilised which meant some of these moments didn't hit the mark. We didn't see her dynamics with Janet, barely had a big relationship with Honey etc etc.... Just feels like they had the idea without a lot of the necessary leg work. I've never bought Lola and Jay as soul mates and it some of these aspects of the story felt contrived.
Take the entire Emma section where one of her first introductions was her intimidating a child. As much as this storyline has been fantastic it probably is the right decision to kill off the character, simply because when she was on the show she managed to do the square root of fuck all.
It is likely short sighted to kill off another Mitchell (kind of) and they will feel the brunt in future but I feel the show has a distinct lack of understanding of how to build characters that either aren't older, or aren't teenagers. It always feels like once they move out of the teenage stage they crumble and become boring... unless they continue to cycle them through trauma.
Lola would be a fantastic character to be able to bring back in the future but no writer really understood how to motivate the character, or at least keep them at the heart of the show.
I believe it is a net positive but will be degraded if they go the avenue we expect, that being Ben's continued cycle of hurt and apologise with no intent to change. If it does take the time to build upon Billy/Honey, Jay, Lexi even Janet and Will. I look forward to the future. It is likely the best exit as she will be remembered for this incredible storyline... but let's not remember how little they actually used the character.
-Ash from WW
Hey Ash! Ah, so great to get another detailed and insightful comment from you. I really appreciate all your thoughts and feedback.
Firstly, thanks again for your kind words about my content. I have a lot of videos planned but, as you'll know yourself, they do take time to produce! More time than I had perhaps anticipated. A long video like this took a week of evening edits and this weekend, too... so I think I'm going to struggle in putting out as much content as I'd like to. Which is why - funnily enough - I have been thinking about experimenting with a podcast... but I'm not sure if I'm going to go in that direction yet or not. I personally find the video essay format more appealing than podcast content but we'll see.
Secondly, I agree with everything you've said regarding Lola as a character. I personally think her death will be 'worth it', providing the aftermath is strong, but I do agree that it's a great shame that it took for Lola to be killed off to ever become a fully-formed character. Who knows what could've been if a producer saw Danielle's talents and put them to good use in a story that didn't end with such a permanent exit.
Thanks again :)
As someone who used to edit a lot more long-form content I definitely know what you mean.
I feel like these videos are the way but a supplementary podcast could definitely go a long way. If you need any help or ideas with that kind of stuff hit me up anytime. I've got a fair amount of experience with it so.
My feelings with the death have been soured a fair amount as I was miserable in the build up but for some reason I cannot place I didn't end up crying when she died. Further I get annoyed as people will start to overrate the character when fundamentally she was never fully realised.
Anyways keep up the good work. There's far too little storyline based content in this space.
Ash from WW
I think Patsy Kensit was hired with an eye towards making her a long-term character. But something did not jail. Whether it was her acting or how the character was written, I can’t say. But I think a decision was made to cut her stay short. I think originally she would’ve been in a custody battle for Lexi.
I think you could very well be right with that one tbh.
her acting i feel
Yet another amazing video, Thank You! 🙏🥳
I definitely strongly believe that EE killing Lola off was a big mistake and was unwarranted. There was no reason for them to kill her off. Whilst I understand why EE chose to do the storyline, I strongly believe they chose the wrong person for the storyline and not to mention. They literally did a cancer storyline with Jean and Daniel four years ago. So I don't understand why they needed to do another one in such a short span of time. Lola Pearce-Brown was incredibly underused, was always in the background, and was a complete wasted opportunity bringing her back. Even after her return, she was still in the background and underused. This is a shame because Danielle Harold is very talented and definitely has potential in the long hall. They've could have done so much with Lola by giving her big storylines, like her finding her mum and many more. Instead, they decided to axe 🪓 Danielle and kill off her character. It's literally Ronnie and Roxy all over again, and I believe EE will regret it later down the line.
(Also, I forgot to mention that they also did a cancer storyline for Mitch's brother last year, and he died on July 18th. So there was no reason for them to do another one so quickly again this year)
Please do another video if you have time, your content is really good.
Thank you! I'll definitely be releasing more content ASAP :)
It think Patsy Kensit had some health issues during filming and had to cut short her stay on the show so i think this is why we see a sudden and strange exit from her..
Love Lola. Wrong decision to kill her off, although Danielle Harold did great during this storyline as did all the family characters
Please can you do one of these videos about Stacey Slater.
Okay but how about Hollyoaks doing the same story with Juliet @ the same as EastEnders
Juliet also didn't deserve to be killed off either, although Niahm Blackshaw decided to leave Hollyoaks because she wanted bigger opportunities, I do believe that killing her off was unnecessary. They could've made Jules end things with Peri for a fresh start overseas or somewhere else in the UK like Imran. But other than that, this channel only discusses Eastenders related topics, not Hollyoaks, just bare that in mind.
Its a shame an incredible actress is getting killed off yet mediocre people get to stay. Its a shame before this story they didnt use her properly for a while since shes so talented. She was a much better character than some of the dead wood like Felix , Findlay , Bernadette , Freddie etc
Where did her mum go?
She left for America as it all got too much for her once she was told Lola's cancer was terminal.
It was EastEnders mistake only beaten by the Ronnie and Roxy ludicrous storyline.
The jay and honey stuff just being brushed over and acted like it never happened ruined the story for me
I wouldn't say it ruined the story - but I mostly agree... there was just too much swept under the carpet in favour of this plot!
What if Lola decided she wanted to try new things and she wanted to leave so the storyline occurred because of that decision?
I haven't watched eastebder fir 18 years so I have no idea what's going on I might start watching it again
It’s really good right now
So what’s your take on it now.?
You raised some good points but I wanted to comment about a few things:
1. Emma: While I don't entirely disagree with your criticism regarding emma I do feel like that's basically who she is we never saw lola's dad so it does sort of help explain why she's behaving like this as she's a complicated character with a 💩 past with lola's dad can you blame her for feeling like she's a failure especially to lola? Now, it's unfortunate she left again AFTER sleeping with phil so didn't help her further so yeah I see your point why emma sucked as a character 🤷♂️
2. Ben: again I don't entirely disagree with your criticism regarding ben's character especially around this storyline before & after it but I do feel like he's a rather interesting character because of the problems he was put through this guy's life is pretty messed up SERIOUSLY! While perhaps he gone back to his old ways too often I do think from the last few storylines in particular the male rape, bullmia & lola's cancer storyline actually helped shape his character better though unfortunate he returned to prison as a consequence of credit card fraud 😅 ben is a combination of issues especially men can relate to which is why I find his storylines very interesting you get me? Hopefully if he returns he really develops as a character more not put him through more issues where he'll react the same as before like you said you see? 😂
3. 😅 funny thing you mentioned old storylines people may forget e.g. honey's eating disorder storyline while referenced again & I think it's incredible ben bonding with honey there but the issue there was that we hardly saw a conclusion to honey's you get me? Didn't she leave to live with her mum but after lockdown she's somehow cured?
4. Was lola's storyline a mistake well...I hate lola was killed off early but yeah I agree they executed her exit storyline so well & many people can relate to her 🤷♂️ it's hard to say it's a mistake.
I liked the whole ben/jay/lola/callum friend group. Would’ve been better if abi was still alive!
Killing off a character thats connected to the mitchell’s is a big no. Her daughters’ father is ben! The son of phil & kathy. Lola could’ve been the new kathy of the mitchells. It doesn’t matter if ben is gay. Ben, lola, lexi was a strong family unit & had potential to grow even stronger.
I was rewatching scenes from 2019 and there was lola, mel, ben, phil, jay, keanu, louise, lisa, sharon all in one room here and there. Ever since phil got with kat that has watered down the mitchells. I miss when phils house was full and busy with his family. Tommy and alfie causing havoc isnt the same. Dont get me started on the awful redecorating. BRING BACK THE 2019 INTERIOR. I miss the yellow kitchen.
But thats it for the mitchells. Sheanu ruined everything.
Considering the mother of his daughter was dying I think it’s obvious ben was to have scenes. People like ben exist.
I understand this video is months old but the eating disorder began after he was assaulted, the show gave us hints & clues but didn’t officially announce it.
It was a huge mistake to kill her off. She was one of my favorite characters on the show and was really just coming into her own so to speak. I think the writers should be fired for this debacle. They certainly can’t bring her back from the dead!!
i hope they bring back dexter
Hey, any new videos coming I miss your content :)
Ah, thanks so much for the comment! I'm actually just finishing up with a video now. It should be out within the next hour. It's a big one!
She's been on the show for decades
I live in the United States of America, Minneapolis, Minnesota, but I love eastender that is one should I love so much is to come on regular television in the United States but it doesn’t come on anymore but I’m so glad I have an apple tablet Wacker watch it whenever I want to watch it and with Lola dying it was just so sad to me I said, why would you take her off the shoe you know she took one of the mole people to she will be on the shoe from 10 years but Lola you know she is just make me laugh so much I like Lola she left Lola or maybe she’ll go on to something bigger and better I’ll be making all the money out there in the UK another episode do you know another sure my take on because she’s a damn good actress she could fake a tears and everything else and let him see his drop Ethan is my favorite show of our time.
More toxic behaviour and self pity 😂😂😂 hahaha well that’s the Mitchell’s right there, like
Biggest mistake in EastEnders history
Even worse than Ronnie and Roxy or Denny?
Getting rid of Lola was definitely a mistake they should have killed off Ben instead I've grown to hate Ben after all the bad things he's done he killed Shirley's best mate which was Heather and now he's turned in to a bad Dad
A complete and utter mistake. She was so neglected as a character I feel so sorry for the cast because they are getting such negative reviews.
They piled so much stress on the same family and Chris is too busy bringing back characters from 20 years ago. They did not give her much of a role or stories for such an interesting character.
@@tiffanyjohnstone7041Chris only started in July 2022, he can hardly be blamed for Lola’s underuse from 2019-2022, that’s Oats and Sen’s responsibility. Whatever you think of the storyline, you can’t deny Chris at least gave Lola a prominent position in a significant storyline.
She shouldn't have died and it should of been someone else
Yes. BIG mistake.
Why mention Mila in this? She was one of the worst actresses I have ever seen and there's been a few over the years - especially in Corrie which I haven't watched for years due to the very poor acting! Mila couldn't act to save her life!! I've never seen anything like it in my life - the stupid faces she pulled and the ridiculous actions! I remember once when Eve walked into the Price Albert and told Shirley she would have a double - she sort of did a stupid dance!! She wriggled around as if she had worms in so many scenes - Aaron was just as bad in his so-called acting skills. Thank God he didn't stay too long, but she stayed longer unfortunately! Please don't put her and Aaron in a video that is speaking about somebody like Lola and her fantastic acting!!
I mentioned Mila and Aaron to draw a parallel between how they were used to portray issue-based stories (very badly) vs. how Lola was used (very well).
I think it was a mistake
Big mistake