Emmerdale viewers have been left divided after the soap leaned into a more dramatic storytelling style, with background music now playing over some of its biggest emotional scenes, and not everyone is impressed.
While the show has been experimenting with the technique in recent months, this week’s scenes featuring Bear and Paddy during the trial and its aftermath have really set tongues wagging, with some fans saying it has gone too far.
Incidental music first became popular during Corriedale (Credit: ITV)
Music in Emmerdale scenes
It is not something Emmerdale has traditionally relied on, with music layered over scenes being more typical of films than soaps. However, since Corriedale, it has become increasingly clear the show is testing out the approach.
Viewers first noticed it heavily throughout Corriedale, and it cropped up again during the flashback scenes to Ray’s murder, where black and white clips were paired with dramatic music.
It was also used when Paddy locked Bear away for his own safety, adding another layer to the already tense scenes.
Back in January, it stood out once again when Graham Foster returned to Home Farm, with Kim’s opera music building in the background before reaching a crescendo as Graham walked in.
The music swelled again when Graham was arrested at the end of the episode, carrying through into the credits.
And in Tuesday’s episode (May 5), Bear Wolf delivered an emotional speech about modern slavery after being cleared of murdering Ray, with old clips and music playing over the top.
At times, the added soundtrack has helped dial up the drama. In Graham’s surprise return to Kim and Joe, it even tipped into full-on camp, something many viewers admitted they enjoyed.
But for others, the shift has not gone down well at all.
This moment absolutely needed the opera (Credit: ITV)
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