{"id":24158,"date":"2022-10-19T21:00:08","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T19:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1724791"},"modified":"2022-10-19T21:38:15","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T19:38:15","slug":"emmerdales-liv-tragedy-outshone-the-stunts-is-it-time-to-scale-back","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/emmerdales-liv-tragedy-outshone-the-stunts-is-it-time-to-scale-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Emmerdale\u2019s Liv tragedy outshone the stunts \u2013 is it time to scale back?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Laura Denby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 19 October 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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As Emmerdale\u2019s<\/a> 50th anniversary week saw a storm cause carnage across the village, another character has now perished \u2013 fan-favourite Liv Dingle (Isobel Steele) passed away after being crushed by a runaway caravan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The harrowing scenes broke viewers\u2019 hearts \u2013 and what stands out the most is that this emotional plot point should have been the focus over storms and stunts.<\/p>\n

Emmerdale is well-known for delivering weather-based drama. We\u2019ve seen a worried Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) recall that he lost late first wife Tricia (Sheree Murphy) in another storm<\/a>. He was terrified that new spouse Rhona Goskirk (Zo\u00eb Henry) would suffer the same fate, but was relieved when the vet eventually arrived home.<\/p>\n

Liv was not so lucky, after she and husband Vinny (Bradley Johnson) ventured from the safety of their house to honour a babysitting promise. Paddy (Dominic Brunt) was about to drive to the hospital when he asked Liv to help, so it\u2019s a mystery why he couldn\u2019t have dropped the young couple off at the Woolpack on the way, therefore saving Liv from fatal injuries.<\/p>\n

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Liv (Isobel Steele) and Vinny (Bradley Johnson) were taken down by the Emmerdale storm.<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Well, not such a mystery; because of course, their battle through the fierce winds was a plot device to facilitate Liv\u2019s untimely death<\/a>. But it was difficult to watch the resulting crash landing without thinking \u201cwho agrees to walk through a raging storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, this is soapland, and there\u2019s a different rule book involved. Yet the brutality of Emmerdale\u2019s fresh foray into stunts has raised the question: is it time to scale back on them? Certainly, storms have now been quite literally done to death, with Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton) the first to lose her life<\/a> after taking a tumble in the woods.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve seen chairs and tables flying through the air and a surreal cow stampede<\/a>. Yes, Sam Dingle\u2019s (James Hooton) grisly meeting with a spike may have been an almighty twist, but then came the moment that Paddy told Vinny, Mandy (Lisa Riley) and Aaron (Danny Miller) that the caravan was the only thing keeping a trapped Liv alive.<\/a> That, and everything that happened beyond it, was the true showstopper of this elaborate piece.<\/p>

As Vinny screamed that there had to be some way to save his wife, and Aaron tried to take in the confirmation that his little sister was dying, suddenly the flying objects and wind machines took a backseat and it was simply time to say goodbye. Liv sobbed as she thanked Aaron for saving her, while he wished he could do something to save her there and then.<\/p>\n

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Liv and Vinny had their happy future ripped away from them.<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Mandy urged Vinny to go and hold Liv in his arms, and Paddy stood back helplessly, knowing there was nothing he could do but be there. The on-screen partnerships that star Steele has shared with Miller and Johnson shone during her poignant final performance, less than a week after we thought Emmerdale had drained our tear ducts over Faith (Sally Dexter)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The irony of Liv\u2019s death holding the most impact is that her fate was revealed early<\/a>. But this didn\u2019t lessen the shock and sadness as we bid farewell to the character, as Liv and Vinny tragically dreamed of the future they would never have together.<\/p>\n

As gripping as Emmerdale\u2019s anniversary opener was, the show may have relied too heavily on the magic of stunts. It\u2019s a soap tradition that has the power to capture our attention \u2013 but it\u2019s no match for character-driven stories like those of Liv Dingle.<\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s see Emmerdale take a break from explosive drama \u2013 there\u2019s more than enough aftermath to span across the next year.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n