Heightened sense of drama

In order to keep the viewers entertained, a dramatic event is essential with the use of gradual increasing tension to reveal heightened sense of drama. The occurrence of these events is significant in making the soap a success. An example of this is the appearance of deception in Eastenders, where Angie lies to Den, telling him she only has six months to live.  

The audiences seem to have a birds-eye-view of the lives of all characters, almost seeming as though they are all powerful and all knowing. The fact that the truth of Angie’s lie is exposed to the audience makes them question themselves as to what may happen next when the lie is revealed to Den. This heightened event progressively builds up more tension, and may be promoted by the media through magazines and newspapers, showing that the soap effectively distributed dramatic tension.