Pobol y Cwm

Go Harvey Go

Can't believe there hasn't been a thread for this one up to now, TBH.

So, who here has seen what is basically the Welsh Ros na Rún (though it's been going for nearly forty years)?

Mick Murdock

Good timing! I was just thinking about Pobol y Cwm yesterday and was going to start a thread. I haven't seen it in a long time due to not having S4C anymore.

Is there anyway to watch it online?

Go Harvey Go

Mick Murdock wrote: »

Is there anyway to watch it online?

I don't think you can watch the most recent episodes online without having, ahem, naughty software.

There are plenty of clips and even a few full episodes from 2011 on YouTube, though.

Here's a clip from 1991 with a young Ioan Gruffudd and the late Huw Ceredig, who played Reg Harries for nearly thirty years:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0B-p7j_HhM

Go Harvey Go

Bumping this thread to say "penblwydd hapus" to Pobol y Cwm - 40 this week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ariel/29569064
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/40-things-you-always-wanted-7916603

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Watched this for the first time tonight, now that I'm aware the 18.00 showing on S4C are the subtitled ones.

I thought I'd be completely lost as to who everyone was and what was going on because I'd never watched before, and on top of that because my Welsh is limited to a couple of basis phrases, but I actually found it really easy to know more or less what was going on and who a lot of the characters are in relation to each other.

It really is very similar to Ros na Rún. Enjoyed it a lot - shall be sticking with it for the foreseeable future anyway.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Oh and thanks Go Harvey Go - if it weren't for your posts in the British Soap Awards thread, I may never have started watching...

Go Harvey Go

Also Starring LeVar Burton wrote: »

Oh and thanks Go Harvey Go - if it weren't for your posts in the British Soap Awards thread, I may never have started watching...

You're welcome, ASLB.

When I posted those rants about those awards, I honestly didn't think that I'd consequently convince any Boardsies who hadn't watched PyC before to do so... :eek:

But I'm quite happy I did.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Go Harvey Go wrote: »

You're welcome, ASLB.

When I posted those rants about those awards, I honestly didn't think that I'd consequently convince any Boardsies who hadn't watched PyC before to do so... :eek:

But I'm quite happy I did.

:cool:

I like what I've seen so far.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Ah here, I've only started watching and now there's a 2 week break. Typical!

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Some really good episodes this week, with Gemma being found out and her breakdown in the middle of the street.

Also Garry messing with Sion and now getting a gun for Cadno... Garry is such a great villain. How many years has he been in the show, getting away with everything?

Go Harvey Go

Also Starring LeVar Burton wrote: »

Also Garry messing with Sion and now getting a gun for Cadno... Garry is such a great villain. How many years has he been in the show, getting away with everything?

Since the early 2000s, I believe.

Here's an interview with his actor, Richard Lynch, from a few years back:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/dont-mind-your-ps-qs-1888043

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Go Harvey Go wrote: »

Since the early 2000s, I believe.

Here's an interview with his actor, Richard Lynch, from a few years back:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/dont-mind-your-ps-qs-1888043

I've asked the gang in charge of Pobol y Cwm's social media (because I'm a complete nerd) to send me a list of when each actor/character joined the show, and they said they'll get back to me during the week, because I really would love to know how long certain characters have been knockin about the village.

Go Harvey Go

Looks like PyC has been doing very well for itself in recent weeks.

First it succeeded in beating off Corrie, the 'Dale and the other soap heavyweights to win a Mind Media Award for the best portrayal of mental health problems:

http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/pobol-y-cwm/news/a774288/soap-shock-as-pobol-y-cwm-beats-corrie-emmerdale-hollyoaks-and-holby-city-to-mind-mental-health-award/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/bbc-wales-pobol-y-cwm-media-mind

Then it won the Soap round of the Radio Times' TV Show Champion competition - again beating the national big-hitters, as well as Casualty:

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-11-22/pobol-y-cwm-topples-casualty-to-claim-radio-times-tv-champion-2015-soap-crown

And just last week, it went back to airing five nights a week (the Wednesday episode having been dropped at the start of the year due to budget cuts). To celebrate, it unveiled a new look, which appears to have been pretty well received - I certainly like the new logo.



Despite all this, it will probably still be overlooked at the British Soap Awards. Wouldn't surprise me, actually, if the people in charge of these awards deliberately shun it because it's not in English... :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

monkey9

I've actually been watching this the last year and a half, more for the novelty of it being in Welsh. It's pretty decent in fairness, it has some good storylines. You pick up a bit of the lingo as well when watching it.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Pobol y Cwm has been absolutely brilliant recently. For me, it's up there with Emmerdale as the best soap. It's a shame more people here on the soap forum don't watch because it really is great, and you do start to understand some of the dialogue the more you watch - sometimes I forget I'm even reading subtitles, because I get so caught up in the story.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

I'm glad Jim and Eileen cleared the air, if only so we don't have to watch Jim moping about the village anymore.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Chester is a right little s**t - if he carries on like this he'd be able to give Joffrey Baratheon or Ramsay Bolton a run for their money...

Go Harvey Go

As expected, PyC's recent successes haven't interested the organisers of the British Soap Awards...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/05/26/british-soap-awards-2016-nominations-and-how-to-vote---alison-ki/

And it's probably not likely that it, or any other local soap (such as BBC Scotland's River City), will be recognised in the foreseeable future.

It doesn't help that the two major backers of these awards are the Sun and What's On TV magazine - neither of which have much time for local productions, and certainly not much time for y Gymraeg. This despite the fact that it's the first language of Huw Edwards and Alex Jones (both of whom may well be PyC fans, too).





Oh, well - it's nice to dream of a scenario where Garry is named Villain of the Year, the show picks up the Tony Warren Award (recently renamed after Corrie's legendary creator), and the acceptance speeches are made in both Welsh and English, no doubt to the bemusement of most of those in the audience...

Also Starring LeVar Burton

It's a shame really. Would love to see it get more recognition. The only UK soaps I bother at all with anymore are Pobol y Cwm and Emmerdale, as well as the 3 Irish soaps and Neighbours, but I consider Pobol y Cwm and Emmerdale to be the most consistently good and strongest of the bunch.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Would be great to see this get a few nominations over in the Best Soap category for the boards.ie TV Awards

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=485

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Go Harvey Go (or anyone else who reads this thread), have you watched the other Welsh soap Rownd a Rownd? Do you know if there's any use in it?

Go Harvey Go

Also Starring LeVar Burton wrote: »

Go Harvey Go (or anyone else who reads this thread), have you watched the other Welsh soap Rownd a Rownd? Do you know if there's any use in it?

I must admit, it's been a while since I last looked at Rownd a Rownd.

It is, of course, the Welsh Hollyoaks - though it's a bit more restrained and a bit less naughty than the Chester soap.

Funnily enough, both soaps began the same year (1995), while 'Oaks creator Phil Redmond had two stints as a consultant to RaR (on its launch and its 10th anniversary respectively).

Sorry it took so long to reply, BTW - I've repeatedly gotten carried away these last four weeks.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Go Harvey Go wrote: »

I must admit, it's been a while since I last looked at Rownd a Rownd.

It is, of course, the Welsh Hollyoaks - though it's a bit more restrained and a bit less naughty than the Chester soap.

Funnily enough, both soaps began the same year (1995), while 'Oaks creator Phil Redmond had two stints as a consultant to RaR (on its launch and its 10th anniversary respectively).

Sorry it took so long to reply, BTW - I've repeatedly gotten carried away these last four weeks.

No worries. Gave it a shot, but couldn't really get into it. Think I'll just stick with Pobol y Cwm, which is great at the moment.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Great couple of cliffhangers there before next week's break... :eek:

Also Starring LeVar Burton

I have a horrible feeling that they're building up for something really really bad to happen to either Iolo or Sion, possibly both.

This week's episodes with just a handful of characters overall, and Sion's scenes being away from the village were class.

The Wolverine

Thanks for posting about this. I've watched 3 episodes so far and am loving it

Also Starring LeVar Burton

The Wolverine wrote: »

Thanks for posting about this. I've watched 3 episodes so far and am loving it

It's on top form at the moment so good time to be jumping on board, but even a poor episode is still great. The cast are all great and it's obvious the writers know and care about the characters.

The Wolverine

Yeah between this and Ros na Run I'm all set, amazing what can be done in smaller budgets when you have good writers and actors.

Compared to the likes of Fair City :pac:

I also spotted something I think is called "round and round"? On Tuesday's and Thursday's only 30mins as well.

I have a record set for it anyway is it new anyone know? Seems to be a soap anyway

Also Starring LeVar Burton

The Wolverine wrote: »

Yeah between this and Ros na Run I'm all set, amazing what can be done in smaller budgets when you have good writers and actors.

Compared to the likes of Fair City :pac:

I also spotted something I think is called "round and round"? On Tuesday's and Thursday's only 30mins as well.

I have a record set for it anyway is it new anyone know? Seems to be a soap anyway

Round a Round is good as well - it's kinda like if Pobol y Cwm/Ros na Rún and Hollyoaks had a baby... It's 21 years going at this stage, and again the writer's seem to know the characters well.

The S4C player has the last months worth of episodes of Pobol y Cwm if you're interested in getting up to speed a bit quicker... http://www.s4c.cymru/clic/c_level2.shtml?programme_id=531290739

You'll also find Rownd a Rownd on there, but it's only back from summer break so there's only the last 2 episodes of last season and the first 2 of this season on there at the moment...
http://www.s4c.cymru/clic/c_level2.shtml?programme_id=529479655

There's a button to turn subtitles on once the episode starts playing. I actually really like the S4C player, they throw one ad in at the beginning and then leave you to your show, plus google chrome automatically translates the pages for me which makes it easier to navigate.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Sometimes the simplest storylines are the best - Mark buying the milk to give DJ an excuse to go talk to Cadno and all the scenes resulting from that were lovely.

The Wolverine

Jesus I hate that lady that's treating her bf like **** the ones who were looking at buying the flat recently.

Pure emotional abusive rap, he should kick her out the door!

Also Starring LeVar Burton

The Wolverine wrote: »

Jesus I hate that lady that's treating her bf like **** the ones who were looking at buying the flat recently.

Pure emotional abusive rap, he should kick her out the door!

Sioned and Ed - they seem to be ramping up to a domestic abuse storyline there, although there's more to it than Sioned just being nasty - Ed killed someone (which Mark went to jail for, until new evidence proved it wasn't him) and when Sioned found out she stood by Ed (her fiancée at the time) so they're the only two who know the truth currently, but then right before their wedding Ed went and slept with Sioned's sister, Sioned found out and married him regardless and then he went and slept with Sarah (but I don't think anyone knows about that).

So essentially Sioned is blackmailing Ed into staying with her to save face and also because I think she does genuinely love him, but due to the circumstances that love has become a bit skewed. He's not exactly Mr. Innocent though - don't feel too bad for him.

The Wolverine

Oh my the plot thickens :eek:

Also Starring LeVar Burton

I actually felt a bit sorry for Ed the past couple of weeks, despite everything, but looks like he's well and truly gone off the deep end now.

The festival was a bit cringey - they could've done with a few dozen more extras. Good to see Courtney reappear though, she's been awol for a couple of months now (I wonder if the actress was doing exams or something this year).

The Wolverine

Yeah that was some belt she got off the wall :eek:

Started watching round a round last night had 4 episodes built up. Was a little bit hesitant first few minutes but got to like it too. It hasn't as much of the Hollyoaks feel as I feared.

It's like the soap/drama intensity of Pobol upped maybe 10\15% will stick with it for now

Would ye be interested if I started a thread for it?

Have like 2 weeks worth of Ros Na Ruin to watch yet

Also Starring LeVar Burton

The Wolverine wrote: »

Started watching round a round last night had 4 episodes built up. Was a little bit hesitant first few minutes but got to like it too. It hasn't as much of the Hollyoaks feel as I feared.

It's like the soap/drama intensity of Pobol upped maybe 10\15% will stick with it for now

Would ye be interested if I started a thread for it?

Ah yeah, start a thread for it anyway - I only started watching it myself right before it took it's summer break, so I still don't know all of the characters or anything, but I'm sure I'll stick with it, it's definitely got it's own charm.

The Wolverine

Thread made

http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057655111/1/#post101240964

The Wolverine

What was Sion Whites story? What was his job and what did he go to prison for?

He looks like a lad that would play a vicar

Also Starring LeVar Burton

The Wolverine wrote: »

What was Sion Whites story? What was his job and what did he go to prison for?

He looks like a lad that would play a vicar

Don't think he was actually a Vicar, but he was essentially the face of the church and led most of their services - he also does translation work for his main job though. He never went to prison, but he was found guilty of embezzling money from the church to buy the pub (and then there was a whole thing where Megan found out and he panicked to get the money back so she'd keep quiet about it, which is how Garry got involved and now owns the pub). He was married to Britt (Garry's sister) and their marriage essentially fell apart on account of the whole situation. He got found out by the police when Chester (Britt's son) found out about everything and ratted Sion out. Then I can't really remember why but Chester was pissed at Sion and Garry so burned down the chapel while all 3 of them were inside in a weird revenge, which is why they had the festival to raise money for the church. Anyway, Sion went to trial and was given a suspended sentence with something like 7 months house arrest, which is when he went a bit doolally feeling that wasn't punishment enough gave away everything in his gaff for free.

Hope that clears things up slightly (missed a bit of the middle of that story myself, so bit hazy on some of the details)

The Wolverine

Thanks for the info

What is the point of that Dol or at least the actress, she speaks more English than Welsh

The Wolverine

Also is the title translated as "People of Cwmderi" ?

Go Harvey Go

The Wolverine wrote: »

Also is the title translated as "People of Cwmderi" ?

People of the Valley.

When it was briefly shown nationwide on BBC2 in 1994, it was billed as just that - if it had been billed as Pobol y Cwm, it probably would have attracted fewer non-Welsh viewers.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

The Wolverine wrote: »

What is the point of that Dol or at least the actress, she speaks more English than Welsh

Dol was brought into it last year and her general story is that she learned Welsh in school so understands fairly well, but doesn't have a lot of confidence speaking it - she asked everyone in the village when she first arrived to only speak Welsh to her as it'd help her learn faster and gradually she has spoken more and more Welsh since she arrived (she hasn't been in it that long - less than a year I think). It's common enough that a lot of Welsh people are like that and the producers wanted to represent it in the series - pretty much the same for a lot of people with Gaeilge actually, people understand more than they can speak.

I think the actress who plays Dol isn't a fluent Welsh speaker anyway, so she's similar to the character - actually spotted her in Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children when I watched the other day, she had a very small cameo in it.

The Wolverine

Oh that's interesting a nice story angle so

The Wolverine

How is Sion Chester's grandfather? Does he have another son who was with Brit?

The Wolverine

Brit locking in Dani gave me a good smile, whatever about others not wanting him at the wedding I think she doesn't want him there as it will wreck her whole "wedding planner" wedding day

Also Starring LeVar Burton

The Wolverine wrote: »

How is Sion Chester's grandfather? Does he have another son who was with Brit?

Sion was Chester's Stepfather - Sion and Britt were married. Sion is Granddad to Arwen (Ffion's daughter). He has 2 other sons (Macs & Huw) other than Iolo who have both left the show - I think Macs is Ffion's dad, he seems to get a mention every so often. There's been at least 2 actors who have played Macs, but originally he was played by Iwan Rheon (best known as Simon from Misfits & Ramsay Bolton from Game of Thrones).

The Wolverine

Wow some good acting talent has come from there so, Ioan Gruffudd too

Also Starring LeVar Burton

The Wolverine wrote: »

Wow some good acting talent has come from there so, Ioan Gruffudd too

Yeah, as far as I know, Ioan Gruffudd and Iwan Rheon are the two biggest names to have been in it, but that's not bad going.

Believe it or not there was actually a crossover week of Pobol Y Cwm and Ros na Rún at one point there (12 years ago) to celebrate the Celtic Languages. I think the general plot was that several of the Cwmderi gang travelled to Spiddal for some reason or other, but Iwan Rheon was one of them (of the current Pobol cast I believe Sion and Dai were there). Róise (as you can probably guess from the picture) and Peadar were definitely involved from the Ros na Rún side, but not sure who else - I'd assume Tadhg, Séamus and Máire would've been a part of it anyway.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Holy Cliffhanger Batman!

Usually watch the following day 6pm episode, but as I'm off working for another soap opera next week, decided to catch 8pm episode of Pobol y Cwm on the player as I probably won't get a chance to watch any of next week's until next weekend when I'm back home again, but after that ending might have to try to keep up to date while I'm away...

I'll spoiler this, just in case ye won't see it until the Monday 6pm subtitled airing, but

if they kill off Courtney to protect Ed and Sioned I'll be so disappointed. If someone has to die, why can't it just be Gwyneth - she does my head in

Also Starring LeVar Burton

On a side note, I've started doing Welsh lessons on the Duolingo app there last week and I'm pleasantly surprised with the amount I had already kinda picked up from Pobol y Cwm and Rownd a Rownd subconciously.