The last of Johnny

Sam Strike as Johnny Carter.

On the day before Christmas it was the last appearance of Johnny Carter in Eastenders, about a year before he turned up. The storyline was promising with an early snog with Danny Pennant (Gary Lucy), a character I never really liked, but there was some quite cute flirting and it could have been interesting.

Sam Strike as Johnny and Danny Dyer as Mick Carter.

Later on, Eastenders gave us one of the most amazing and beautiful coming out moments ever. When Johnny came out for his father Mick, I think there was more than me who got wet eyes. And Mick Carter really is a perfect example how a parent should react. Johnnys mother, Linda, is an example on how a parent should not react...

Gianluca and Johnny.

This summer, Johnny had fling with an italian guy, Gianluca (Gabriele Lombardo), and at last we could see some more snogging. Don't get me wrong, it was really cute, but a little bit to sweet and awkward. We would have likes a little more passion in the kissing. But it would do.

Harry Reid as Ben Mitchell and Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell.

And then Ben Mitchell came back. Ben is the son of Phil Mitchell and Kathy Beale (fun fact: actor Gillian Taylforth also playes Sandy Roscoe in Hollyoaks) who just came out from prison for killing his stepmothers friend. Ben is recasted by Harry Reid, but we have seen him before played by four other actors.

Joshua Pascoe as Ben Mitchell.

Between 2010 and 2012 Ben Mitchell was played by Joshua Pascoe, and back then we learned that he was gay when he had a little snog with his friend Duncan and he also had a crush on no other than Christian Clarke (John Partridge), but is rejected and accuses him for abuse. Chrstian, however is cleared from those accusations. Back then I didn't really like Ben. I mean, his snogging to his friend Duncan is cute, but anyone who tries to break u Christian and Syed (Marc Elliott) doesn't get my approval. But, after a few years jail, I have to say that I like Ben.

Ben tries to kiss Johnny.

But something weird has happened. Well, Ben lost his virginity to a girl, and then stated that he dfinitely is gay, but when he came back from jail and tried to snog Johnny, he was back in denial again. How did that happen? The classical line "I am not gay" has been used several times since Ben came back in October.

Well, Ben and Johnny never happened. On the 23'rd of December actually Johnny left Walford to travel with his old fling Gianluca. I like that Johnny andd Gianluca kind of had a happy ending, but I am annoyed about the meaningless storyline of Johnny Carter. He was only there for a year and he almost had no action at all. I really think that the Johnny and Ben storyline had potential and was hoping for that. But, you'll never know, maybe Johnny will come back to his wacky family. And Ben Mitchell has potential. He is in denial and he has an alibi girlfriend so this might be a real classical soapy gay storyline, just in my taste.

Break the silence

Keith Rice as Finn O'Connor in Hollyoaks.

Last week Finn O'Connor was found guilty in Hollyoaks. Rightly. Because he was guilty as a sin. Early this year John Paul McQueen was raped by his student Finn O'Connor after months of bullying because of his sexuality. After months of suffering and agony, at last he did break the silence about the rape and he was charged for the rape and found guilty. And that was after another rape attempt of Nancy Osborne. Finn O'Connor is really an evil character. But it is also a character with so many dimensions and I can't help feeling for him in some way. Because of the imprisonment, Finn O'Connor now has left the show. But I hope that he will come back because I think that Finn O'Connor has more dimensions to show us. And also, Keith Rice is really a great actor that has portraited the part of Finn in a really great way. Well done Keith! I like you, even though I really dislike Finn. In one way. Well, it's complicated.

Finn O'Connor and John Paul McQueen.

That James Sutton is a great actor I already knew, but this storyline also let him give John Paul McQueen more dimensions. It is a very powerful storyline that is not typical for a soap opera. rape is always taboo to talk about and there is so much shame associated with it, and that's why this storyline is so important! I really think it should have won the prize for best storyline in the Inside soap awards (even though the Patrick/Maxine storyline was a worthy winner). James Sutton supports the Breaking the silence campaign that encourage male survivors of rape to come forward and talk about it. We really need to break the silence and talk about it! I think this storyline of Hollyoaks is vital and applauds both James Sutton and Keith Rice for it! And I really would like to see what kind of person Finn O'Connor is after inprisonment.

Keith Rice and James Sutton.

And a parenthesis: Keith Rice and James Suttons are good mates in real life. I like their football tweets in weekends. Even though I'm not at all interested in football...

Gary Lucy as Luke Morgan in Hollyoaks.

And my dear readers, this is not the first time Hollyoaks has a male rape storyline. We saw it already in 2000 when the character Luke Morgan Played by Gary Lucy (yes, Danny Pennant in Eastenders) was raped by bully Mark Gibbs after moths of bullying. When at last Luke starts defending himself, Mark pays back by raping Luke. Luke is traumatized for life after this and eventually moves to Canada. An awful storyline that really broke boundaries. The Hollyoaks special when this rape occured was even called Hollyoaks: Breaking the boundaries. So I am applauding Hollyoaks for dealing with such a taboo two times.

Kalle och Valtteri in after the rape.

But Hollyoaks are not the only ones. Salatut Elämät has also done it. Some time ago our Kalle (Pete Lattu) was raped by his ex boyfriend Valtteri who went to jail for that. And that's about all I know. I have googled it and I know there is some articles about this storyline in cuberspace but there isn't really a point to google translate it. I'm sorry neighbours, but finnish is a really weird language that doesn't really work translating in the translate service mentioned. It really doesnt make sense. The only thing I know is that Kalle dated a woman (Katariina) for a while after the rape and now he is dating Lari. I don't know if Kalle has been dating another guy since the rape but maybe we will see Kalle dealing with the rape and moving forward while dating Lari. We'll have to wait and see.

Finally, I once again want to applaud both Hollyoaks and Salatut Elämät for giving us theese storylines. The unreported cases of male rape is huge and by showing theese storylines, it is hopefully a chance to help male rape victims to deal with it and to seek help for it. Wee need to remove the taboo of talking about rape in general, and male rape in particular. Break the silence.

Finally some action for Johnny!

Sam Strike as Johnny Carter.

By the year-end a new gay character appeared in Eastenders. Johnny Carter, played by Sam Strike, moved with his family to Walford and the parents Mick and Linda took over the pub The Queen Victoria. Quite early it was clear that Johnny was gay when he snogged bisexual Danny Pennant (Gary Lucy) who back in the days also snogged Syed Masood before he left Walford.

Gary Lucy and Sam Strike.

Nothing really developed there because Johnny didn't really seem to be interested and Danny was in fact together with Lucy Beale at the time. Anyways, because of some insinuating from Johnnys sister Nancy about Johnnys sexuality, his father Mick, played by Danny Dyer, questions him about it.. Johnny denies it at first, then he breaks down and admits the truth.

Johnny and Mick Carter.

The scene is really heartbreaking and beautiful, because daddy Mick is really understanding and supportive. A very good example of a supportive parent! Unfortunately Johnnys mother Linda (Kellie Bright) is not that supportive. She even denies that Johnny is gay and is talking something about reversing him. Not a good example there... Johnny on his hand becomes good friends with Whitney Dean who seems to have crush on Johnny, and Linda of course hopes for a development there.

About there I stopped watching this storyline. Half of a year later anything still hasen't happened for Johnny and I basically got bored. My aim was to start watching again when it was a little bit more interesting. And finally the time has come! Some episodes ago Johnny visited the London Pride festival and it seems he met a hottie there. We haven't seen more than some beer-drinking yet, but the spoilers tell us that there will be som snogging, I guess this week!

Johnny and Gianluca.

The beaus name is Gianluca (Gabriele Lombardo) and he is italian. It seems that he will be returning to Italy so let's see if the love story between him and Johnny develops. I certainly hope so! It's really time for Johnny to get some action! There is hope for Eastenders!