"Hollyoaks" video clip update: Into the sunset?

Really?Speechless is my name.

Well, I liked the way things ended for JP and Craig, solving their differences with Hannah and Sara and getting the happy ending that is so hard to obtain in soap-opera world. However everything felt so rushed, I think this would have turned a lot more believable if they had developed these events in a longer timespan. Not changing the events, just giving them more time to happen and for the characters to process them.
Still, I'm happy with the way things were resolved. This has been an amazing storyline, and I doubt we will see something as good as this in a very long time

And do we have to call them Craul? I've known them as McDean since last year X_x

I have to disagree with the comment above, Craul didn't work through their problems, and Craig didn't work through his issues with Sarah.  Lilly of the Valley made an excellent post yesterday, and I can't do it justice by summarizing it, but the problem with this is that it was all about that last scene.  The last scene would work, and have a better impact if the writers had done anything to build up to it, but they didn't.  So, it comes off look like a WTF moment that has no connection with anything that we have seen over the last 12 months.  Actually, I take that back, because the ending looks like it could been an alternate scene from last year's airport scene, where instead of doing the best thing for himself, John Paul went away with the guy who treated him like a doormat.

I'm just glad that it's over, and that James Sutton will have an exciting exit in October.

I just wanted to say a huge "thanks" for doing these recaps. I love the John-Paul McQueen character AND James Sutton as an actor, so I'm glad that many of the folks here on this site, including the staff feel the need to praise him as much as his fans do. I'm glad that James Sutton's moving on to further his professional career and I hope that he does get to portray a villian in his next role.

Now, onto this last and final recap of the Craul saga: 

I thought that was weird as well, but everything about this SE wasn't to my liking, so it's a slight thing to notice over everything else that happened.

Niall also tears into him about if Craig really loved him, he would be here (in Chester) for him and why is it on him (JP) to go after Craig to Dublin. Then, Niall feels the effects of the drug.

Love me less, but love me a long time - Les Chansons D'Amour

I really loved it, it was perfect. Everything I wanted for the SE. But yeah, the episodes leading up to this felt a bit rushed, but as soon as JP saw Craig at the station I forgot all about them, and I also forgot everything bad that ever happend between them, and some of the bad writing and I was just so happy. Huge smile on my face.

I loved that they actually talked about some of the things that I wanted them to talk about, and like, they where honest with each other, and you could really see that Craig has grown up a lot. He didn't feel weird talking to his family about JP, he kissed him in public, and than that sweet joke at the end. I felt like in the end, we got to see the old JP, and we also got to see the old Craig beeing funny and cute, at the same time he was so much more secure in himself.

I am gonna miss them so much, following them for 2 years and I really can't believe it's over. I'm hoping for a spin off, like a TV movie or something. :D

 McDean forever xx

i thought the 'sunset ending' was very sweet and well done.

...and craul? what an unflattering name. i prefer Mcdean. haha :-D

about "CRAUL"...don't take it to be a slam against the pairing of Craig and John Paul. It's just funnier (and easier to use in titles) than "MCDEAN". ;)

Besides, I'm the one who preferred "LOAH" instead of "NUKE", so...i'm just weird that way.

Taking aside the fact that it didn't end the way I wanted it to--John-Paul taking off on his own--the writing was not only rushed but also incredibly dull. It's quite disappointing that this was the first time of watching these clips that I actually became so bored that I surfed while just listening to the dialogue.

Check out my blog: http://radicalsexy.blogspot.com/

thanks a lot snicks!

Oh, and how I wish the HO-style of solving problems could be transfered to my real life :D

It's hard to believe this is a soap opera sometimes. They churn out twentysomething scripts and episodes a month, a small fraction of the time that most network shows have to film the same amount of material. That they manage so often (or ever) to transcend the genre and give us some really moving scenes on par with prime time dramas is freaking impressive. Do I even have to point out the mind-numbing dreck on most American soaps? I can't watch those at all.

I feel perfectly happy picking shows like Lost and Brothers & Sisters apart because they have the time and the resources to do better.  I could totally have dwelled on inconsistencies or illogical things here, but really... I just wanted to enjoy our last few weeks with these three wonderful complex characters that they managed to give us. Sorry that some of you didn't.

I loved it. I was giddy from the moment John Paul arrived at the train station. Then again, I've always been a fan of John Paul and Craig, so that's no surprise. But I can't imagine a US show including such unabashedly romantic scenes involving gay characters, with the epic love song in the background, the near misses, etc. Both of JP's romances were featured with equal importance and dramatic weight as the straight couples on ths show, arguably they were even more prominent. Whether you're upset over how things turned out or not, you've got to appreciate that, no?

So, Bravo Hollyoaks! Congratulations to all three actors. Great job. You had me grinning like a fool. :D

(Er...wait, I wasn't grinning over K's ending. I think I'd have preferred he didn't die, but it was very moving and they made me care about him. Kudos!)

One of the most surprising things in the recent episodes I found was that of all people, it was Niall who actually asked the sane questions that John Paul should have asked himself before making such a drastic move with Craig so soon after his fiance's death.  (Kieron hasn't even been six feet under for a week!)

I thought the near-misses at the station were too final-episode-of-SEX AND THE CITY THE TV SERIES (when Carrie and Big kept on missing each other) for my taste.

My main gripe is that how John Paul exited the show is a prime example of sacrificing a character in favor of the plot, which, in my view, is just bad storytelling.  How to square away John Paul, his character, his romance with Kieron and the dysfunctional McDean/Craul relationship, the problems of which were never really addressed since Craig returned, is impossible unless one were to do extreme fanwanking. 

The last lines of John Paul's final episode were very telling, in my view, specifically when Craig was "joking" that John Paul has to pretend he's Craig's cousin when they're back in Dublin. I know it's supposed to be a hee-hee hah-hah moment, but there is subtext there that casts aspersions as to whether Craig has actually changed since he and John Paul broke up last year.  Craig's recent return has not provided viewers any evidence that Craig has indeed changed.  One could argue the PDA at the station was Craig's manipulation to seal the deal and get John Paul to board the train with him. And once the train left the station, John Paul was stuck with Craig literally and figuratively. 

What stinks the most is that a character I've come to care about, John Paul, has been practically assassinated all in the name of this purported Sunset Ending.  And that's just a damned shame.  Nonetheless, BRAVO to James Sutton for putting on an excellent performance in spite and despite of the material he was given. 

At the end of the day, all the ingredients were there to write an excellent exit story for James Sutton and John Paul, but TPTB somehow screwed up the recipe, undercooked the dish, and the end product, as the Brits would say, was rubbish.

I loved it! Loved every minute of it!!

They might not be perfect themselves but they are perfect for each other.

And Craig is now everything JP wanted him to be. You can see that Craig has no fear of showing his love for his best friend...it´s dead cute!!

And they were glowing in the train!! JP is not stuck with Craig...he chose him...he was running to be with him!! Sorry...but...I think the bitter comments are..ermm...funny!

JP got his dream: to be with Craig as a proper couple. He loved Kieron ( it was a different kind of love - as the one Craig shared with Sarah ) and they were an out and proud couple, but like he said on the gravestone "something was missing". Their relationship was starting to fall even before Craig´s arrival so I don´t think it was that rushed. It made perfect sense...IMO.

Oh...and when JP mentioned their first meeting...OMG...I started to cry. So many memories!!

So thanks Brian Kirkwood, Guy Burnet and James Sutton for the Mcdean saga. It was all worth it. :)))

 

I have determined that Niall inheritted his bipolar nature from his mother (of course its a bit more severe in Niall). I can't tell half the time if Myra is supportive or pissed. She trusts Kieron, she hates him for dating her son. She stop speaking to JP, then she is planning their wedding. She comforts her son after Kieron's deaf, then shuns him after hearing about an affair (meanwhile he's still sitting on the couch in shock. She missing Kieron, but insists that JP miss his funeral for a wedding. Now I honestly can't tell if she wanted JP to go with Craig or not. She seemed a bit indifferent, but not. So confusing.

I was so scared when I thought Niall was going to die. It was funny at first, but he is too good of a character to lose this early. 

LOVED the reunion scene. The look on Craig's face when he realized that JP was just across the tracks was amazing. It was perfect. It melted away my love for Kieron-JP. When a scene makes you go "awwwwww" its just magic. I am glad they ended that way. Craul forever - even though I hated Craig last year.  

Wow, I can't believe they went for that split screen thing, missing each other, sunset poster...that is one cheesy ending!

As what Karen said above, Myra must be bipolar. I thought I was going bipolar myself watching the last episodes! Happy engagement/troubled engagement/out-of-character attitudes/cheating/suicide/guilt/I love you/No, I love him/No, I love you both/grieving/moving on/new life...all in what, 3 weeks? My cheese in the fridge hasn't gone bad yet.

I thought the SE would be about JP telling Craig he'd be with him...after grieving Kieron and/or preparing for his new life in Dublin (such as job opps or school applications). And Craig will show how much he loves him by assuring him that he'll be waiting. Dublin's not across the world, no need to rush.

Finally, a HUGE thanks to snicks for the excellent recaps that are always enjoyable to read! I will miss them big time!

 

 

This is a bit off topic but I just want to know if I am way behind the times as I just found out that Garnon Davies who plays Elliot is openly gay.  I'm definitely not outing him because he mentioned it in an interview about his kissing scenes:

"Loui and I were absolutely terrified about the kissing scene. She's one of my best friends in the cast - and I'm gay, so I haven't kissed many women recently! We're getting used to it now, but it was very weird to begin with."

He's dating an actor called Nyroy Dixon who's appearing in the London Stage version of High School Musical.

Thanks Snicks for the recaps, they've made watching HO even more fun!

 

... this show reminded me of a certain American soap in it's sloppy, slipshod and rushed storytelling.  After months of watching JP get over Craig, move on with Keiron and start a new life, in a few episodes, Craig comes back, Keiron is dead and JP moves on with Craig with a brief nod to feeling guilty.  This should have played out for several weeks to a month and had been a real triangle, with real confusion and conflict with JP.  To me, he didn't seem conflicted at all.  He wanted Craig and what happened with Keiron was simply a minor speedbump to getting his happy ending in a toxic and unhealthy relationship.  I didn't like it and I don't see how fans of either couple could be happy about what they saw.  JP and Keiron fans got a slap in the face and JP and Craig fans didn't get the real, romantic and happy ending untainted by the ugliness of the past few episodes.

I personally loved the ending, mostly because I've watched the storyline from back when John Paul first met Craig at the school. I loved it because of the irony, from beginning to end where it seems like everytime they try, they can't escape their love for eachother. I especially loved how they made John Paul and Craig really grow up by the end. John Paul was no longer Craig's lap dog who couldn't survive without him and Craig was finally able to accept his being gay and the fact that he was in love with John Paul. I don't know how to explain it but it all seemed to fall in to place, although I do think it was kind of a bad idea to have Kieron's death and the sunset ending happen within a month of eachother(that was really my only problem). All in all as a total McDeaner(even though I thought Kieron was awesome) I thought it was the best ending they could possibly have made.

i luved how it ended and it showed that deep down, thru all that shit that they really love eachother.

and Yeah the storyline was rushed but thats one of the good things about it

"Good things Take time

.....but Great Things Happen All At Once"

and it was a Sunet Ending and it was PREFECT for them, Craig had grown up and i really dont think he was Manipulating JP, and JP himself wasn't running away or hidingfrom it, he took a Breath and went in2 the Unknown with Craig beside him

LUVED IT

I'm a bit hot-and-cold about the whole thing. On the whole, I loved the ending, but I wish it had happened a bit further from Keiron's death. I know Craig and JP are a bit of an OTP, and as much as I loved Keiron I'm kind of glad they got their Sunset Ending (LOVED the intertextual reference of the ad behind them on the station, btw), but I feel like it happening so soon after Keiron's death has invalidated it a bit. So I feel a bit cheated.

 

But still. Yay, SE at last.

I loved the SE, the scene at the station in particular. Loved JP saying "I wouldn't have missed any of it for the world", loved Craig shutting him up with the public kiss he wouldn't do at airport, and loved them getting on the train hand in hand.

I do agree though that it came too soon after Kieron's death. Kieron was buried just a few episodes ago and here JP is starting a new relationship. While its not as if he's starting a relationship with a total stranger, just getting back with the love of his life, I feel like in reality a guy would still have needed time to mourn the death of his fiance, someone who he did love in a way, though not with the same intensity that he loved Craig.

Mostly I'm sad because now what am I going to watch? JP and Craig were perfect together, so romantic and amazing. I only started watching HO because of them, and now that they're gone, I don't really have a compelling reason to watch anymore. The end of the Niall saga should be interesting, and I'd love to watch the Late Night when Craig comes back, but that's pretty much it. Maybe I'll just have to watch the whole saga again on youtube:)

..of it for the world'.

To me JP's words sum up the entire McDean story- lots of ups, downs. fights, breakups but in the end they forgave each other and are willing to give it a go.

I love reading the bitter comments here coz they are so LOL! I loved the SE because it was acted so subtly. No over the top drama. Just understated happiness and I think Guy Burnet and James Sutton really excelled in these scenes.

I'm probably one of the minority who doesn't think it was too rushed. It was just perfect- leaving us wanting more and wanting to know if JP and Craig joined the mile high club on the way to Dublin.... I really, really want to know this ;)

One of the most intriguing soap couples. I loved the ending. Well done Hollyoaks. 

 

After watching this episode, I realise that JP ran after Craig even though he thought Craig left him without giving him any messages or phone calls.. I think it's very brave JP took that risk esp seeing that he had a heartbroken experience last time.

 And while they both have realistic expectations about their relationship  ("We might screw it up") they've given their relationship another try... Love conquers fear.

Subtle but powerful acting from both lads. They really complement each other's abilities I think.

Fitting end to a fiery love story. And I appreciated the cheesiness of the sunset poster! A good wink to fans of the McDean story I think. Very cheeky of Bryan Kirkwood.

Thanks Snicks for your updates through JP's storylines. Your running commentaries really spiced up the viewing. 

 

Seriously I'm lost in my confused feelings.

I have this part of my head that says : It was horrible, they never should've end up together, Kieron shouldn't have died, JP is as selfish as Craig.

And this other part that says : Awwww so cute, they're meant to be together and it was then or never. 

And lots of other parts that don't agree with any of that. 

But as a viewer I had fun watching it, I felt for the characters and the actors are great (although I don't buy some of Guy's scenes) and I'm just sad that they all leave the show. So I guess that's what matters. What is done is done,can't change it so I'll just have to deal with it.