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Promotion and broadcast

In the UK, Channel 5 aired the first part as an hour-long episode at 10pm due to its "darker and harrowing" tone. This marked the second time the soap had aired during prime time in the UK, following the "Neighbours: The Explosion" storyline in 2013.[1] It also marked the first time that the British broadcast was ahead of Australia.[2] The episode featured modern chart music,[1] and was titled "Neighbours: Who Dies?"[3]

Reception

Ratings

The first episode broadcast on 4 April was seen by 787,000 and 609,000 viewers during its two airings on Channel 5.[2] In Australia, it was seen by 188,000 viewers,[4] which was an increase of 27,000 viewers from the previous episode.[5] The prime time episode achieved an overnight figure of 1.05 million viewers in the UK, earning 6.5% share of the audience and rating higher than shows airing on Channel 4 and BBC Two across the hour.[2]

Critical response

The storyline received mixed reviews from critics. Claire Crick of All About Soap quipped "you know it's going to be a huge deal when TV bosses have even scheduled a show for 10pm tonight".[6] Of the first victim's death, Crick opined "there won't be a dry eye in the house!"[6] A writer for Inside Soap chose the first episode as one of their six picks of the day. They said, "Prepare to gasp in shock and shed a few tears at today's Neighbours, as Lassiters explodes, leaving lives in mortal peril."[7] A Herts and Essex Observer journalist also chose the episode as one of their TV highlights, saying "It's all kicking off in Erinsborough this week! Over the years viewers have witnessed some extraordinary (and, occasionally, unbelievable moments) during the long-running soap, but those in the know claim that this may top the lot – we're certainly not used to the usually family friendly programme requiring a post-watershed slot."[8] Clare Rigden for the Herald Sun gave the hour long episode three out of five stars and called it "a big one".[9] She said there were "some great performances", particularly from Elmaloglou, adding "Don't get us wrong, this is soap, and it's all a bit overblown and ridiculous. But it's soap done well. And that's why fans of this iconic show aren't going to want to miss a moment of this episode. Tissues at the ready."[9]

Tim Burrows of The Guardian branded the storyline "a week-long misery fest".[3] Burrows bemoaned the decision to blow up the hotel to increase ratings, stating "surely there are better ways to revive Neighbours than fall back on the comforting embrace of an exploding boiler – something that updates and refreshes, while attracts new viewers."[3] The Sydney Morning Herald's Melinda Houston was not a fan of the storyline, giving it two and a half stars out of five.[10] She questioned whether Australian buildings even had boiler rooms anymore, before writing, "Erinsborough is certainly a district disproportionately beset by disasters but it must be said this series is at its least effective when it abandons its homely principles and goes large."[10] The Daily Mirror's Natalie Corner called the plot "an intense week of tragedy".[11]

Ethan Sills of The Spinoff observed that the serial "loves a good explosion" and joked "it may not be very realistic – I'm sure there are streets in war zones that have seen less destruction than Ramsay Street – but it often makes for entertaining television."[12] Sills believed that the Citizen of the Year event was foreshadowing for the explosion, writing "there's never an event in Erinsborough that doesn't end in death, fire or an exposed affair."[12] He bemoaned the graphics used to depict the explosion, asking why the show could not afford some "pyrotechnics" instead of a "hazy mix of Hunger Games-level shaky cam and giant animated dust clouds".[12] Sills thought the Josh and Daniel situation was "poorly explained", and while he found Josh's goodbye scenes to be emotional, he felt "the sheer absence of logic around his demise" ruined the moment.[12] He found "Ghost Doug" ruined the emotional scene between the recently reunited Brad and Ned, whose introduction he dubbed "clunky".[12] He also noted Paul's actions to cover his tracks, saying he was "basically begging to be arrested".[12] Sills was pleased to see the serial spend more than a couple of episodes on the storyline, but felt the final product "left a lot to be desired." He concluded "The scenes based around the explosion and its effect was Neighbours at its dramatic, if illogical best, but you can't help wishing they'd committed to their concept just a bit more."[12]

Viewers in the UK criticised the volume of the Adele track "When We Were Young" that played as Josh spoke to Amber and Matilda before he died. However, some viewers thought that the song added to the emotion of the moment.[13]

"Hotel Death Trap" earned a nomination for Best Storyline at the 2016 Digital Spy Reader Awards; it received 4% of the vote and placed fifth.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b Lindsay, Duncan (4 April 2016). "Neighbours spoilers: A character will die in tonight's explosion during late night special". Metro. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Kilkelly, Daniel (5 April 2016). "Neighbours' primetime special pays off as Josh Willis's death is seen by over 1 million viewers". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Burrows, Tim (4 April 2016). "Neighbours Hotel Death Trap week: if in doubt, blow up Lassiter's". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  4. ^ Knox, David (5 April 2016). "Monday 4 April 2016". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  5. ^ Knox, David (2 April 2016). "Friday 1 April 2016". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  6. ^ a b Crick, Claire (4 April 2016). "We're all talking about… the drama down under!". All About Soap. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Monday is packed with soap drama – so here's 6 picks!". Inside Soap. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  8. ^ "Neighbours: Hotel Death Trap, The Vikings Uncovered, Marcella, Plebs...tonight's TV highlights". Herts and Essex Observer. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  9. ^ a b Rigden, Clare (30 March 2016). "Out of the box". Herald Sun. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Gale.
  10. ^ a b Houston, Melinda (3 April 2016). "TV preview, April 4: Anjum's Australian Spice Stories, Neighbours and Grey's Anatomy". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  11. ^ Corner, Natalie (4 April 2016). "Neighbours' Lassiters Hotel horror explosion leaves popular soap character in mortal danger but who will Die?". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Sills, Ethan (19 April 2016). "A week in the Neighbours hotel death trap". The Spinoff. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  13. ^ Dainty, Sophie (5 April 2016). "Neighbours fans are divided over Adele's song during Josh Willis's heartbreaking final moments". Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  14. ^ Eames, Tom (24 December 2016). "Your Digital Spy Reader Awards soap winners of 2016: Emmerdale wins six awards". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
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