Hits the usual case of picking a side on Enders
Thanks to the determined efforts of successive EastEnders writers, Walford’s men have known their place for a good few years now.
So it was heartening to see a puffed-up Martin Fowler going all defiant on his cheating wife Stacey last night.
“There is no way on this earth I am letting her have these kids,” Martin announced. “They’re mine.” Without wishing to burst the poor lad’s bubble I should probably point out that the family courts might be interested to learn that the previous night he had physically assaulted his wife in front of witnesses.
Then again, Stacey had earlier given him a pretty hefty smack across the face (in the privacy of their kitchen) so I guess a counter claim could be the on the cards.
I doubt it though. That’s one of the biggest peculiarities about EastEnders.
For a soap that prides itself on being so unbearably right-on it does tend to look the other way when characters start hitting each other.
Still, I guess the viewers care about that inconsistency almost as much as they care about some random character’s impromptu politically correct lecture.
All that concerns soap fans is whether there’s any drama to be had.
On that score, this latest storyline should be a winner.
It’s a classic case of pick a side and see what happens. Obviously, on the face of it, there ought to be no contest. Stacey is the serial cheat and Martin is the long-suffering doormat. Martin is also a man, however. Before long it’ll all have been his fault. Put your house on it.