Rethinking Daytime Part Seven: Generational Differences: Writing Time Honestly
Frank Kauer
It’s common for soap operas to introduce several different generations of characters into their canvas. However, this transition looks different on American daytime dramas compared to primetime soap operas in the United States. British Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X, and Boomer characters exhibit different worldviews, communication styles, and moral frameworks. On American soaps, outside Beyond the Gates, younger characters are often written with older sensibilities, and don’t depict the experience of their generation accurately. Highlighting generational differences and depicting multiple points of view revitalizes storytelling and attracts younger viewers without alienating legacy audiences.
United States: Teen scenes on American soaps aren’t what they used to be. Daytime television dramas used to be known for appealing to younger generations with characters such as General Hospital’s Brenda Barrett (Vanessa Marcil), Robin Scorpio-Drake (Kimberly McCullough), and Georgie Jones (Lindze Letherman), One Life to Live’s Starr Manning (Kristen Alderson), and Langston Wilde (Brittany Underwood), and All My Children’s Bianca Montgomery (Eden Riegal), Jessie Hubbard (Darnell Williams) and Angie Baxter (Debbi Morgan). Flash forward to 2026, and younger characters on American soaps are often written as extensions of their legacy parents, rather than their own person.
The longest-running American daytime drama in production, ABC’s General Hospital, has a healthy presence of adolescent characters with, arguably, compelling storylines. Unfortunately, the character of Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali), the only woman of color among the teen/adolescent crowd, hasn’t had a compelling storyline in over two years. Similarly, Kai Taylor (Jens Austin Astrup), the only Black man in his age range, has largely been a background character since his introduction in 2024. Furthermore, young characters on General Hospital tend to live rather accelerated lives. Over the past year, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) became a spy, and Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) was involved in covering up a shooting, rather than making content for their blog or growing their TikTok following.
United Kingdom: Conversely, British primetime soaps such as Hollyoaks consistently highlight modern teenage trends. Nobably, the character of Mason Chen-Williams (Frank Kauer) helped Hollyoaks explore the topic of incel culture. This storyline was especially notable because of the rising trend of extremist beliefs in today’s sociopolitical climate, which is promoted heavily by several social media platforms and even powerful government officials. Within the soap opera’s narrative, Chen-Williams was groomed by his school janitor, Eric Foster (Angus Castle-Doughty), after being taunted by his classmates and unable to make friends. Notably, Hollyoaks worked social media into the plot, with Chen-Williams sharing inappropriate photos of a classmate online.
At the end of the storyline, Chen-Williams left England after making amends with those he had wronged. The character of Chen-Williams was the perfect way for Hollyoaks to depict how impressionable young people can be and how one wrong move can drastically change your life. Plotlines such as the incel storyline in Hollyoaks keep viewers engaged long-term because of their relatability to audiences, compared to the exaggerated, far-fetched stories frequently depicted on American daytime dramas like General Hospital.
Conclusion: American daytime dramas tend to portray teens as living accelerated lifestyles for their ages. Meanwhile, primetime soaps in the United Kingdom are known for their modern storytelling and frequently feature plotlines that are relatable to today’s youth. This method of modern storytelling keeps viewers engaged long-term and makes for a more successful show overall because its relatability with audiences.
