My Favourite EastEnders Episode
by Phil Hansen
I'm sure I won't be the only fan who picks Arthur Fowler's funeral as my favourite EastEnders episode. That half hour of television contained many unforgettable moments-Mark's soliloquy; the entire cast standing in the Square as the funeral procession dro ve by, Willie Roper getting a well-deserved punch in the snout; and the lovely final shot of Pauline at Arthur's grave (accompanied by a touchingly rare use of incidental music). The last rites for Arthur were handled in an appropriately moving and respec tful manner. However, the best things about this episode, the things that reminded me just how much I love EastEnders, had nothing to do with Arthur.
It is remarkable that in the episode as devastating as this one, EastEnders still finds time to entertain. The subplots of Nellie's feud with Aunt Betty and Kathy's growing awareness that Cindy is back to her old wicked ways represent EastEnders at its fu nniest and most dramatic. These subplots act as counterpoints to the main plot of Arthur's funeral, suggesting that while everybody has gathered to celebrate Arthur's history, their own personal histories will not be forgotten. It is this rich vein of cha racter that EastEnders continually taps into that ensures my constant viewership. Aunt Betty has been referred to now and then throughout EastEnders' history, but this is the first time we've ever seen her. It was a stroke of genius to have her accompanied by her incredibly tactless boyfriend who has to be taken away from the wake befo re he puts his foot in his mouth again.
This would have been enough comic relief, but Tony Jordan's script hilariously takes things one step further, by including a long-standing feud between Aunt Nellie and Aunt Betty that stretches all the way back to World War II! The feud culminates in a scene in the Queen Vic where Nellie and Betty row about the man Betty stole from Nellie all those many years ago, with some of the best dialogue I've heard in EastEnders. (Defending her wartime sexual promiscuity, Betty says: "It was the only thing that w asn't rationed!") What is notable about this comedy is that it is all character-based and that Betty and her boyfriend are only in Albert Square for one episode, yet are incredibly well delineated. Only in EastEnders would such minor characters be so wel l written and acted.
This attention to minor characters does not in the least mean that the major players will be shafted. Two of EastEnders' most integral characters, Kathy and Cindy, have a scene in this episode that seems so out of nowhere-Kathy is all moody and quiet, so Cindy asks if she's done something to bother her. Kathy lays into Cindy like a sledgehammer, letting her know exactly what she thinks of her (not much) and promising that if Cindy hurts Ian in any way she'll have Kathy to answer to.
This scene is explosive and thrilling. It does not feel imposed upon the characters just for the sake of drama, but instead grew naturally out of the interaction of Kathy and Cindy and their past history. When Cindy returned to Albert Square, there was a confrontation in the Queen Vic between her and Kathy. Cindy was smug in her power over Ian, promising Kathy that if Ian had to choose between his mother and his wife, Kathy would be the loser. Kathy was so stunned, she was speechless. Five years down the line, she finally responds. This works on a purely visceral level go casual viewer, yet for the long-time viewer, this scene is nothing less than a vindication for the audience who have been patiently waiting for a long time for Kathy to call Cindy a sel fish cow.
With these two excellently developed subplots added onto the main storyline of Arthur's funeral, you have a pretty potent episode of EastEnders.With the funeral of such a major character, a fan such as myself would be bound to appreciate this episode, but the attention to character and history is what really makes this particular segment so special to me. Not only did I love this half hour, but my partner (who can be termed a casual EastEnders viewer at best) actually sat down, watched the show and loved it as well.
This episode is a perfect example of how entertaining, upsetting, funny and damn good EastEnders can be. I only hope that EastEnders will continue to reach such artistic heights time and time again.
