"Do as I say, not as I do" type characters

[emm1978]

One interesting type of character that has always existed in soapland, is the type of character that will have a go at another character (often their spouse) for doing something, when the character having a go has previously done the same thing (sometimes to a worse extent).

A couple of examples:

In Emmerdale in 1994, Kathy Tate lost her rag with husband Chris for having an affair with Rachel Hughes. However, only the previous year, she had an affair with the American wine salesman, Josh Lewis, and was even prepared to run away with him.

In Coronation Street at Christmas 1994/New Year 1995, Gail Platt is angry with Martin, having had a one-night stand with a fellow nurse, Cathy Power. Gail acts all like the woman scorned. It never actually occurred to Gail that she was being very hypocritical, as in 1986, she had an affair while married to Brian Tilsley, and, as a result, she wasn't even sure who Sarah's father was.

Anyone know of any more examples of this kind of character over the years?

 

[Sarah]

Only in UK soaps?

In the US, definitely Afton Cooper and Mandy Winger are the best examples.

In the UK - Leanne Battersby - just one of the worst!

 

[Mel O'Drama]

One interesting type of character that has always existed in soapland

Only in UK soaps?

There are also plenty of these people in the real world. I'd say all of us have the capacity to airbrush out inconvenient facts as suits a situation.

Hypocrisy is pretty ugly when it happens for real. But I find it absolutely fascinating in fictional characters.

 

[James from London]

Anyone know of any more examples of this kind of character over the years?

Would Kathy Beale having a go at Dot for wanting to put on a boring old panto one Christmas and then getting all excited cos she'd got tickets to see Nigel Havers in panto the next Christmas count?

It never actually occurred to Gail that she was being very hypocritical

I think that's very common. Most of us don't carry our entire history around in our heads at all times; we react emotionally, in the moment (and characters in soaps even more so!). I was told a long time ago when someone upsets you or gets under your skin, it's nearly always because there's something in their behaviour that reminds you of your own. And most of the time I've found that to be true.

 

[emm1978]

Would Kathy Beale having a go at Dot for wanting to put on a boring old panto one Christmas and then getting all excited cos she'd got tickets to see Nigel Havers in panto the next Christmas count?



I think that's very common. Most of us don't carry our entire history around in our heads at all times; we react emotionally, in the moment (and characters in soaps even more so!). I was told a long time ago when someone upsets you or gets under your skin, it's nearly always because there's something in their behaviour that reminds you of your own. And most of the time I've found that to be true.

They nearly always seem to portray the women in soaps as having short memories... Like Kathy Tate, as I mentioned.

Also Deirdre in Coronation Street, when she got angry at Ken for his affair with that Wendy Crozier, despite her fall from grace 7 years previous.

 

[James from London]

Deirdre in Coronation Street, when she got angry at Ken for his affair with that Wendy Crozier, despite her fall from grace 7 years previous.

I don't think it's about having a short memory. It's about being human. And it's human to react emotionally rather than logically.

 

[emm1978]

I don't think it's about having a short memory. It's about being human. And it's human to react emotionally rather than logically.

Or, in some cases, hypocritically.

 

[emm1978]

I don't think it's about having a short memory. It's about being human. And it's human to react emotionally rather than logically.

And dreaming up an excuse to make the circumstances of their situation differ from their partners.

 

[emm1978]

Another type portrayal in soaps that particularly interests me is the police, particularly when they arrest and wrongfully lock up an innocent person.

Police have an authority to arrest people for wasting police time, but what about when the police waste, not only an innocent person's time, but their own at the same time?

 

[LEEJ88]

Ken Barlow
Ron Dixon
Leanne Battersby
Michelle Connor and so on