Six weeks of summer and all the triangles

So, yesterday it had it's premiere. I don't watch Hollyoaks anymore because the love went away, but I still enjoy a good gay storyline when it's there! In this trailer it's obvious that it's still going on with both McDrink and McNight. McNight seems to be the official ship name for John Paul and James Nightingale. My faghag friend said to me that she would enjoy a love triangle with James, Scott and John Paul. Well, I always love a good love triangle (in soaps that is, in real life it sucks), but there's just something really painful with this and I just have the feeling that it is Scott who will be hurt here? And I just hate it when John Paul is the bad guy. And haven't we just seen it before?

Sarah, John Paul, Spike & Craig.

Yes we have! Back in the days there was a huge love triangle with John Paul, Craig and Sarah. John Paul loved Craig, Craig loved both John Paul and Sarah, Sarah loved Craig and also Spike loved John Paul, so actually it was some kind of love square. It was really dramatic and Sarah and Spike got their hart broken. Eventually even John Paul got his heart broken after Craig was a bit heart broken for a year. Everyone was hurt, basically.

James Sutton, Guy Burnet & Jake Hendriks.

Before John Pal got his heart broken he just managed to avoid breaking Kieron's heart. Kieron was murdered so... But even so, there was a small love trinagle between the tree guys and John Paul chose Craig anyway and Kieron was hurt. Before he got murdered. Too bad. Kieron was a nice guy. I kind of miss him. Even though I never prefered Kieron to Craig even just a little bit.

Stephen Billington & Lizzie Roper.

So, when John Paul came back from Dublin, after he had sex with Brendan, he dated Doug Carter for while (PJ Brennan), but he realised that Doug still loved Ste so he told him to go and get hin back. So there never was a love triangle there. But then John Paul met Danny Lomax and fell for him quite hard before he realised that Danny had a wife. Sam Lomax was a great character! But she did not approve of her husband sleeping with John Paul. Nothing odd there. But even efter John Paul got to know of Sam he still carried on with Danny for a while, before he broke it off. So a quite short triangle. But still a triangle.

Sinead, Ste & John Paul.

And then there was that awful time with Sinead, Ste and John Paul. I just hate how she wrecked McHay apart. They never were the same again... Girls falling in love with gay guys is ridiculous and in this case... He went for it and that is just so unecessary! A love triangle gone really bad.

Lockie, John Paul & Porsche.

Back in the good old McDean times John Paul told Craig that he didn't want to be someones dirty little secret. What I don't get is why he went for his cousin's husband! I kind of liked John Paul and Lockie together, they were quite cute, but Lockie was a player and there was never anything real there.

James Sutton, Jennifer Metcalfe & Nick Rhys.

Especially when he also, at the same time as he screwed both John Paul and Porsche, also screwed John Paul's sister and Porsche's cousin! He was just such a nasty player, may his soul rest in peace...

Starry vs. McHay.

I liked Lockie though. Another character I used to like was Harry Thompson. I just could go on and on for ages how much I dislike him now, but I've already done that. Several times. So let's not. Let's just say that I will never forgive Ste for choosing Harry over John Paul, I will never forgive John Paul for throwing Ste in Harry's arms and I will never forgive Harry Thompson for being such an annoying character! Ok, I might be biased of the great love for McHay here. But anyway, it's just such a shame.

So, let's face it Hollyoaks, it has been done before. Several times. I don't hate it, I don't but... Can't you just do something else of it? Why not a polyamorous relationship, finally? I don't think we have seen one since Kris, Ravi and Nancy. And at last, I just want to say: McNight doesn't measure up with McDrink (at least not yet), and McDrink doesn't measure up with McHay, but nothing measures up with McDean. But almost.

The Hollyoaks bisexuals

And there has also been some bisexuals in Hollyoaks. Of course. And dykes as well. But let's get to know the bisexuals.

Gerard McCarthy as Kris Fisher.

First out is Kris Fisher. Kris Fisher were both crossdresser and not that scrupulous about his partners. He slept with a guy called Nathan, then a girl called Jessica, and a girl called Summer and later he starts sleeping with both Nancy (later Osbourne)...

Stephen Uppal as Ravi Roy.

...and her boyfriend Ravi Roy. Well, both the affairs was revealed and actually Kris, Nancy and Ravi decided to start a polyamorous relationship. That's a first in soap operas if I'm not wrong. I have never heard of any more poly relationship at least. Unfortunately there's not much to see of this relationship on youtube. That's a shame. And unfortunately the triad broke u because Nancy thought it was weird. What a shame! And I don't think that Ravi had any other same sex partners either. He moved from Hollyoaks in 2010.

Guy Burnet as Craig Dean.

Craig Dean was in the show for six years between 2002-2008. And I actually don't think he was bisexual. Well, I think all people are bisexual somewhat, but if there's just black and white, Craig was not grey. He was just a straight guy who fell in love with his best friend who happened to be a guy. But I count him to the bisexuals anyway. His and John Paul's lovestory was beautiful. Even though it didn't end well. That's a shame. But I kind of hope that Guy Burnet will come back and reprise his role as Craig Dean at some point and reunite with John Paul. Well, he's done it before!

Stephen Billington as Danny Lomax.

I'm not sure I like Danny Lomax. Well, he was a quite good guy and I didn't hate him with John Paul, but he was quite a bastard. He was openly bisexual, at least to his wife, but he also cheated on her. John Paul was really hurt, and so was Sam, but to his defense, he really loved John Paul. Fortunately, John Paul chose his son Ste instead. And speaking of Ste, he and Danny almost made out once before Danny knew that Ste was his son! How lucky that didn't happen! But he did have time s´to snog George a bit before he died. And I actually miss Danny and Sam Lomax. They were great! Especially Sam!

Nick Rhys as Lockie Campbell.

Well, Lockie took Hollyoaks by storm when he arrived last fall. As the fiancé to the McQueen cousin Porsche he arrived and did not hesitate to flirt with John Paul, even on his wedding day! And at least I didn't really like him when he arrived. He as well was a threat to McHay and I just can't tolerate that! But he was quite fun and when he and John Paul started something again this summer I didn't hate it. But it ended because he is after all married to Porsche and he also had an affair with Mercedes at the same time. How about that! Three McQueens at once! He would deserve a medal. But I am quite glad it ended with John Paul so he can reunite with Ste. So, as I told you before, I wouldn't hate Lockie with Scott. Harry is to young though. But perhaps a new gay character for Lockie? I just can't stand Porsche!

When an OTP follows by an OTP

You know when you ship a couple so much like it almost hurts, and you think that no one can replace one of the ingredients in the OTP and you realise that you are wrong? The new ingredient are just as good as the other! That is just how I feel rght now about Thomas/Nicolas/Florian in Plus Belle La Vie..

Laurent Kerusoré and Nicolas Herman.

I really really did love Thomas and Nicolas together! Nicolas is just the most loveable, kind and cute character and he and Thomas are so sweet together. When I watched their storyline I really never thought that Florian could take Nicolas place. But Nicolas "died" and Thomas had to move on. Really sad.

Laurent Kerusoré and Franck Borde.

But then Florian came along and he was a little bit stiff and arrogant at first, but I actually liked him straight away. And now I just can't stop watching! I really do love their storyline. But I do now that there will be a Bruno as well and Nicolas will come back because he just faked his death. It is really shattering to ship more the one couples at once when at least one of the characters are the same. It's just like Ste and John Paul. I do ship McHay, but what if Craig and Brendan came back? Maybe they cold start a poly-relationship all the four of them. I really wouldn't want Ste and John Paul to break up, but I just can not can't be shipping McDean and Stendan! So I wonder how it will feel when Nicolas comes back. Who will I root for? Can't Thomas be with both?

Joakim Latzko and Laurent Kerusoré.

Is that a wedding picture? Well, I do know that Florian will die and then teher will be a Gabriel Riva. Feh. I was hoping for Thomas to get back together with Nicolas after Florian dies. I don't think I will like that Riva. Or the fling Bruno in between. Well well, I will get back to you on thet when I finished the whole Thomas Marci storyline.

Halo

Some time ago I blogged about some favourite fanvids, among others a special one with Lucas and Edwin from Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden. Well, as I told you a couple of days ago I haven't seen that storyline yet but I love the video anyway. And there's something very athmosphearic about that fanvid combined with that music. That is Halo with Beyoncé. Well, there's more great fanvids with that music.

How about my favourite couple of all time: Fervid? Ok, it's not the best picture quality, but there's Fer and David and what's not to like?

Well, there's another one. A little shorter, but a little better quality.

An there's a really great WilSon fanvid. WilSon when Chandler Massey played Will. I love that time. Ok, Will and Sonny are not my favourites, but they're really cute. Esecially in their early days.

But McDean are among my favourites. I think they're lovely! John Paul is lovely, whoever he is with! I really loved him with Craig and it breaks my heart again and again that Craig left him.

And speaking of Hollyoaks, here's Ste and Doug, that is: Stug. A really lovely couple. I loved them together, even though I was a Stendan shipper all through the storyline. Ste and Doug where good for eachother. I insist on that.

Another couple that was (or is because they're still together) good together was Christian and Syed in Eastenders. Even though there were lots and lots of angst and agony, they evolved eachother in a good way. Really really good for eachother.

And last but not least: Chrolli! One of the most amazing couples ever! Christian and Oliver was made for eachother and I will never forgive Verbotene Liebe for ruining that beautiful Romeo & Romeo lovestory!

And there's another one.

And another one. There can never be enough wonderful fanvids. Especially such as these.

McDean

I felt McDean deserved an own post. I love McDean. Even though I love McHay as well. But it all started with McDean.

Guy Burnet as Craig Dean and James Sutton as John Paul McQueen.

It is a quite classic storyline with two troubled teenagers who becomes friends and does everything for eachother. They do everything from get into eachothers fights to dates two best girlfriends. Craig Dean, who is played by Guy Burnet, is dating Sarah Barnes and they have a quite stable relationship for som time. John Paul on the other hand, who we all know is a closeted gay is dating Hannah Ashworth, who is quite a goose actually. Very wimpy indeed. They are a bit on-and-off, because John Paul is not really enjoing the relationship, with all that implies (snogging and sex), because he is really in love with his best friend Craig. He actually tells him at one time because he can't bear it anymore, which leads to a bit of knot of the thread for his and Craig's friendship. They are also a bit on-and-off actually.

The first kiss.

But the strong friendship leads to a drunken kiss at a party which Hannah sees, and you can only imagine the rest. John Paul is actually wrongly to take the blame for the kiss because he is gay, but it is so obvious that it is Craig who kisses him. Well well...

Tom Vaughan as Spike and James Sutton as John Paul.

Nothing really happens though, cause Craig still dates Sarah and Johhn Paul meets his first boyfriend Spike, played by Tom Vaughan. I kind of like Spike. He s a nice guy. But Craig doesn't really like him and Hannah absolutely hates him! For no reason! But Craig is a bit jealous and it all leads up to him not being able to resist John Paul anymore, so they end up having sex. All on Craig's initiative.

Craig and John Paul after their first time.

Of course, Craig has a bit hard to handle what happened, and he seems a bit regretful. But it doesn't take long before the both has a secret relationship. But Craig's problem is he loves both John Paul and Sarah, and he is not able to choose. At last, he does choose John Paul theoreticly, but in practice. It goes so far as that Craig and Sarah gets engaged and John Paul makes her find out about him and Craig on their engagement party. And mayhem is on.

Craig and John Paul.

But it turns out well, because Craig is happy with his "choice" and he asks John Paul to move to Dublin with him, where he is going to study. But of course, no happiness lasts in Hollyoaks, John Paul doubts that Craig really love him because he can't show affection in public and he dumps him on the airport. It is all very sad. Craig gets to go to Dublin himself.

James Sutton and Jake Hendriks.

Back home in Hollyoaks, John Paul starts to have a secret relationship with the local priest Kieron Hobbs (Jake Hendriks). What's so shocking about that you might ask, but Kieron is a catholic priest and you all know about the chastity vow. Kieron is a quite nice man and a fun character, even though he is a priest, but he is quite boring as a bofriend I think. I mean, he is not Craig. But Craig comes back and John Pauls half brother Niall (long story) kills Kieron and John Paul has a hard time delaing with that. He even decides not to go with Craigto Dublin like he promised, because he is tormented with guilt. And he actually loved Kieron...

The sunset ending.

But John Paul changes his mind in the last minute and meets up with Craig at the train station and they get their sunset ending at last. And it could have ended like that. But it didn't. James Sutton went to Emmerdale for a while, but he had the good taste of returning to Hollyoaks after some years. Guy Burnet didn't so the story was told that Craig left John Paul just about as their baby (Matthew) was about to be born and John Paul slept with Brendan, dated Doug for a while, was Danny's dirty secret for a while before he ended up with Ste. And there we are now in a very messy HIV-storyline. I love John Paul and Ste together, and I really am a McHay shipper, but I am also a McDean shipper. But I've told you that before.

I really like the McDean storyline though. The story has just the right amount of agony as I like, and the actors, especially James Sutton, are brilliant! But Craig is straight though. He just fell i love with John Paul, an I guess it was expected that the love story would end. Sad though. And if fthe writers would like to reunite McDean in case of James Sutton and/or Kieron Richardson who plays Ste decieds to leave the show, I wouldn't be disappointed. Providing that also Stendan would be reunited of course. Beacause I am both a McDean, McHay and a Stendan shipper, and a sunset ending with any of the couples would make me satisfied. Or all of them, in some kind of poly relationship would do as well.

A couple of fanvids

And when I'm at it I will bring you a couple of new favourites among fanvids. It is a lot of John Paul nowdays, and rightly, because both John Paul McQueen and James Sutton are adorable and excellent! A couple of days before Christmas I found  great fanvid of McDean, John Paul McQueen and Craig Dean (Guy Burnet) that is. Here's their love story accompanied by Jeff Buckleys wonderful version of Leonard Cohens Halleluja.

When you watch this fanvid it might look like their lovestory didn't end well. But we all know that Craig came back one year later and he and John Paul got their sunset ending and went to Dublin together. We didn't see that in this fanvideo. But. There is a but. We also all know that Craig left John Paul four years later and John Paul had to go back to Hollyoaks alone and bring ut their son Matthew alone. But let's not be bitter over that. Back in Hollyoaks he met Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson)! And what a lovestory that is!

I found this fanvid yesterday and absolutely loved it! Lovely footage, great music, just enough talking and very well cut together. The only thing to complain about with this fanvid is that it was made before the wedding, so there isn't any wedding footage in it. But I love it anyway! And I love Hollyoaks. Is that obvious or...?

The McHay wedding

Kieron Richardson as Steven Hay and James Sutton as John Paul McQueen.

There was a Hollyoaks wedding on Christmas day, and it was awsome! The first proper same-sex wedding (Ste and Doug doesn't count because it was only a civil partnership) just a few days ago between Ste and John Paul.

John Paul and Ste with the hair back in the days.

Well, let's rewind a bit. I can tell you that John Paul and Ste couldn't stand eachother for several years. John Paul used to be together with Craig (and Spike and then Kieron), then had a one night with Brendan and then dated Doug and Danny before he ended up with Ste. Ste on the other hand messed around with Brendan for a while, were together with Noah, entered a civil partnership with Doug before he ended up with Brendan again who went to prison, made up with Doug who died before he ended up with John Paul. A bit incestuous, but oh so beautiful! Don't get me wrong, I am a Stendan shipper. But I am also a Stug and McDean shipper. I kind of also liked John Paul with the priest actually and I didn't mind him with Doug. But I am also a McHay shipper. It really is abeautiful love story, even though they had quite a bumpy ride (death, drugs, infidelity, you the usual soapy stuff). And there is more to come.

The first same sex church wedding i Hollyoaks history.

But, why is this wedding so awsome? Well, of course because of the cuteness in this couple. I love both John Paul and Ste, and James Sutton and Kieron Richardson has amazing chemistry, so it is a joy to watch. But the wedding is also very important for human rights. Actually, british same sex couples have just been allowed to get married since March this year. If you live in England and Wales that is. If you're scottish you had to wait until 16th og December this year. That is just two weeks ago. If you live in Northern Ireland you might never be able to marry the person you love if it is a person of the same sex as you. And that is awful. If you would like to see the McHay wedding and the priest being a little bit poltical, watch the video below. Long live love and McHay!

And also, this was kind of a dress rehersal for Kieron Richardson who will be getting married to his long term boyfriend Carl Hyland this spring. Yay!

On a break

I am on a break. On a break from blogging because I am moving and my life and home is in a sort of chaos right now. So the blogging will be kind of breach for about another week. But I serve you a juicy picture of a juicy favourite couple.

Craig Dean (Guy Burnet & John Paul McQueen (James Sutton).

If you haven't seen the love story of John Paul McQueen (James Sutton) and Craig Dean (Guy Burnet), McDean that is, from Hollyoaks, do it! It's on youtube. You will not regret it!

Violence in our minds

Ok, there is something with soap operas, violence and gay relationships. Straight relationships to I guess, but there is a significance in gay once, I think. The classical scenario is that a gay character is so deep into the closet that he can't handle the fact that he is attracted to another man that he uses violence to suppress both his and the other gay characters feelings. There are lots of examples of that.

Amy interrupts a tense moment between Brendan and Ste.

The most obvious example of this is the relationship/non-relationship between Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) and Brendan Brady (Emmett J. Scanlan). This seems to be the first example of domestic violence in a gay relationship in a british soap opera. The actors stated that they were very proud of the storyline, and I do think that it is avery important matter to portrait. In the beginning of the Stendan journey, Brendan handled it by smacking Ste up about every second time they got together. Ste tried to stop loving Brendan and borke it off with him several times, but always ended up in Brendans arms in the end. In time, Brendan did start to handle his aggression and dealt with it and stopped smacking Ste up, and they started an sort of equal relationship, but even then he smacked Ste when he was haunted and pressured, a couple of times. Ste of course forgave him. Again and again. And Stendan is a very very popular couple. Even though their relationship was dashed by a little violence.

Ringo beating Yannick almost to death,

Another homophobic character very deep down into the closet is Ringo Beckmann  (Timothy Boldt) from Unter Uns. His self-disgust knew no bounds when he almost hit his fling Yannick Benhöfer (Eric Stehfest) almost to death, just because he wanted to have a proper relationship with him. Ringo on the other hand, repented of course, and tried to get Yannick back. But thankfully, Yannick never forgave him andleft the series just some episodes after the abuse. It would have been to unreal if he would have forgiven him, I think.

Lenny and Carsten beating eachother up before some snogging.

Well, another storyline with a lining of violence is the Cenny one. Carsten Reimann (Felix Isenbügel) and Lenny Cöster (Alexander Becht) liked beating both eachother and others up. When they were not fighting with other gangs, they were trying to resist eachother and did that with som beatings. In the end, Lenny even participated in an assault of Carsten, where they actually both were so damaged they ended up in hospital. Lenny, of course, changed his mind in the last moment and tried to stop the gang from beating Carsten up. Carsten had a hard time forgiving Lenny, but because he loved him so much, he finally did. And they live happily ever after.

Deniz and Roman forgot it all.

There are some similarities between the Cenny and the DeRo storylines. Just as Lenny knew that the gang was going to beat up Carsten, Deniz Öztürk (Igor Dolgatschev) knew that his hockey team mates was going to beat up Roman Wild (Dennis Grabosch). The homophobic hockeyplayers told Deniz about their plans, and even wanted Deniz to participate in them, and Deniz never really tried to stop them. He was a coward. He was running after them, but then he chickened out and ran away. The homphobes broke Romans knee and almost ruined his figure skating career. At first Roman knew nothing about Deniz's part in the assault, but when he knew, he never really had a hard time forgiving him. But, I read in an article that the actor, Dennis Grabosch, said that he never would have forgiven such a thing. But, I have to say, thank you writers for Roman forgiving Deniz, otherwise, we would have missed out on one of the most beautiful love storys of this century.

Joscha is not happy with Kai.

Alles was Zählt have given us another great love story where there was a bit of violence. Joscha Degen (Carlo Degen) was closetered football player that even got married to a woman to hide his homosexuality. But when he met the hot doctor Kai Seebach (Alexander Gier) on his wedding night, there was no turning back. But when they shared a cozy moment in the bushes, and Joschas team mates showed up, he reacted irrationally and pushed Kai into the bushes. Thank gods that Deniz showed up and talked some sence to Roman by telling him not to be such a pusch over and not letting others pay for his assholeness, and Joscha apologized to Kai. Kai in his hand, ended the thing between them, because of how Joscha treated him. A perfectly logical reaction. But of course, he couldn't resist Joscha and eventually gave in. And they lives happily ever after.

Larias. Not always friends.

Craig and John Paul.

There have also been some smacking and pushing between Larias and McDean. That is Lari Väänänän (Ronny Roslöf) and Elias Vikstedt (Petteri Paavola) and John Paul McQueen (James Sutton) and Craig Dean (Guy Burnet). In both cases passion won against anger and the couples were united. And this made me start thinking. I am not saying that these kind of stereotypichal scenarios are just in gay relationships. I am fully aware of that abuse are present in straight relationships in soaps to, even though I think it is more common that there is more common with a little bit of violence in the beginning af relationships between men, in the denial state. Maybe it's about testosteone and male stereotypes. Violence is present in both same sex and straight relationships in both soaps and real life, and people stay with their partners after abuse in real life to. And it is important to show this in soap operas to bring awareness of violence and help people deal with it, and maybe even seek help. Hollyoaks is actually very good at directing to help lines when showing these storylines. But, because of the ordinariness of at least a little bit of violence in gay relationships in soap operas there is some kind of message that it's ok with a little bit of violence. Expect a little bit of abuse, but after that everything is fine. But I get that it has to some drama to the storylines, and even I have confessed that a lot of my favourite storylines actually have som violence in them (see above), but it really would be nice to see a nice helathy gay relationship with no violence, no infidelity and no fucking brain tumour, or shooting maniac, or a collapsing building, or strange deadly virus, just happiness, love and lots of snogging. Would that be too uninteresting to watch?