7de Laan: A Main Character Dies during the month of October (Spoiler Alert!)
October 25th is going to be a sad day for the people in 7de Laan when one of their most loved characters gets bad news on the passing of a loved one.
The Laan has killed off main characters before – remember the original owner of the deli, Bart Kruger? He was definitely a fan favourite, as well as loved by many (if not all) of the characters, especially Hilda. And he’s great love, Tessa.
Then there was Petra – wife of Jan-Hendrik Ter’blanche while pregnant who died in a car accident while pregnant with his brother Tiaan Ter’blanche’s baby. Who knew they would kill her off.
Anyway this time the 7de Laan is saying goodbye to Neville Meintjies. According to spoilers, Charmaine hears of his death on the 25th of October. His funeral takes place on 29 October. See spoilers here.
Neville’s last storyline is set to involve espionage, intrigue and cloak and dagger stuff.
Also 7de Laan’s website teased that Lilian Bala is set to return for the funeral. Spoilers for further down the road indicates that Charmaine neglects Oppiekoffie – understandably.
Neville dying will have a huge impact on lots of characters and storylines – affecting Charmaine, Vanessa, Vince and Xander, and the Hillside Times.
I will especially miss his relationship with Paula – as one of my favourite non-romantic relationships in 7de laan is the one between Paula and Neville.
Unlike their American counterparts, South African soapies are not known to bring back characters from the dead so…
all that’s left to say is RIP Neville Meintjies.
No. Just no. You cannot be serious!
Neville is one of the very few characters left on 7de laan that is still likeable and hasn’t been butchered, or being given very STUPID, very WEAK plots. He can’t die. 7de laan has officially become trash now.
While i’m on the topic, i should give a rundown of the few reasons why i’ve become so disappointed in my favourite soap:
Oh where to begin:
Emma: Emma was always just an ok character for me but now, she’s been degraded to a sexist weak, useless depiction of a woman who can’t live without a man! She’s always crying, whining, and looking for attention! When Rick kidnapped Thinus, Thinus should have died in the accident while Rick survived so that he could realize the seriousness of the situation and Emma could confront him about it and not take him back. Instead, what us viewers got was a VERY WEAK climax to such an interesting strong build up. Thinus didnt die and Rick suffered injuries that made no sense with the ones that Thinus received. And Emma took him back again, which was just stupid because of if my psycho husband kidnapped my son who could have been killed, i would have divorced him. Emma gives us woman a bad name in modern society. That we need men/husbands to survive and can’t be good single parents.
San-Mari and Errol: I CAN’T STAND THESE TWO! If anyone knows about good writing then these two are perfect examples of bad writing in motion. I wish they could be killed off instead of Neville! San-Mari is the biggest Mary-Sue i have ever come across and Errol has become a Gary-Sue. Irriating characters that have no flaws, are adored by everyone and do and say everything right. They make no mistakes and if they do, then its simply okay because they PERFECT in every way. San-Mari became so perfect and nearly stole Paula’s job at the Hillside times. But it was okay because it was San-Mari. Whenever Errol gets into trouble, his only reprimanded but nothing ever happens to him. He also always comes up with the best ideas out of everyone. Because like San-Mari, his disgustingly perfect. Whichever scenes these two are in, they ALWAYS steal the spotlight off of everyone else.
Another character thats beginning to show signs of being Sue is Bonita (everyone else is wrong and must apolgize because Bonita does nothing wrong and her past was horrible. Nevermind that she never learns from her mistakes).
The writers: i don’t know if 7de laan is under new management but the current writers in the past months are terrible.
Why is a novelist like Ryno working at a community newspaper?
Why does Gita’s schemes always work out with no one finding out about her plans (most of which was Errols fault but because his PERFECT, he doesnt get in trouble)?
Why was Christelles story about wanting to have children, for those of us who have been long time viewers of 7de laan, completely rewritten (retconned) to her getting raped by her grandfather?! That was ridiculous!
Just as ridiculous as Xander being reduced from hotshot lawyer to the laans community lawyer. And his out-of-nowhere feelings for Bonita! And his and Vanessas month long boring childish fights.
I have tons more problems with what 7de laan has become but i’ll end here. It’s so sad to see my favourite long time local soapie be degraded like this.
Maybe Neville dying is a good thing because at least he’ll forever be remembered as a good character.
Why do I think that they will make people THINK that he was killed just for a while, just until this quad nonsense ends…we will have to see… Tomorrow night
Certainly looks like it from tonight’s episode. That would be cruel of Neville though to have Charmaine and his family think he’s dead.
no!!no!!!neville cannot die
maybe he isn’t dead?
Its not right for letting people know whats going to happen in the soapie, you spoiling it for everyone. Whats the point of watching it, if we all already know whats going to happen?????? Seriously guys.
Jan, it did say spoiler in the topic heading. Some people do like knowing what’s going to happen. In this case the spoiler isn’t even all that accurate 😉
LOL, it’s too predictable. Neville is not dead, he is in a safe house and will re-appear. The trouble is, how long will they make viewers watch with this knowlege before he reappears. Can anyone say Bobby Ewing and Dallas? *puke*
The actor Zane Meas is probably off doing a play or something else. All I know is that Neville won’t be back in the next month to 6 weeks that have already been filmed. Maybe a Christmas miracle?
I’m actually hoping he never comes back. but that’s just me.
i think (Hope) Joe is right
I think so too, Willie
neville is not dead,his just in a safe house
I’m not sure whether to happy or sad that Neville is still alive and well and in witness protection.
Unless Charmaine knows as well, I think it’s very selfish of Neville to let his wife, family and friends believe he is dead. Who would put their family through that?
SA soaps not known to bring back the dead? Clearly you’ve never watched Isidingo! lol
Nikki, I do watch Isidingo and am at a loss as to who was brought back from the dead. Can u please refresh my memory?
On American soaps it’s almost a given that a character is brought back from the dead even if you saw them die and get buried. That’s not something you see often here. I can only think of Tau in Generations.
Pleas let Neville just come back plz!!!
I don’t know, Jack. Neville is such a selfish man to let his family think he’s dead! Who would do such a thing?
I love 7de laan but this whole neville thing, is just wrong 🙁 7de laan not as interesting as it use to be.
Paula is one of the most irritating characters!
faiza, I don’t like the Neville thing either. Was so stupidly done – why couldn’t they just send him overseas to a conference again if the actor wanted a break?
Oh, Paula get a bit annoying, but she’s one of my favourite characters because one minute she’s irritating and the next she’s as sweet as can be especially with Oubaas.
Tonight was the first night that I did not care to watch 7de laan. Watched Masterchef instead. 7de Laan really sloping downwards and with Neville out of the story…..well. Goodbye – will catch up after a few days and then watch something else worthwhile again. I mean really? 7de Laan not tops anymore.
I’m giving the laan a break for a while too. I don’t want to see crying and sadness for entertainment.
Silly and weak story line to get Neville out of the program. At this paste you won’t be soapie of the year again.
this program needs more people, I stopped watching it with almost every1 dating each other..
sewende laan is a serious no-no now. boring, silly and predictable.
give it some spark or see it die
Neville isn’t dead he’s just hidding away from those dangerous people
Die huidige idee dat Charmaine aan die drink gaan is totaal belagrik en onrealisties en werp ‘n beeld van baie swak joernalitiek by die opstellers, Sy was en behoort darem te bly die een vaste punt in die draaikolk van 7eLaan drama. Dit maak geen sin om haar nou kort-kort na drank te laat ryk nie.Dit het nooit in haar persoonlikheid geskuil nie. Het die skrywers dan nie meer idees vir interessante maar oortuigende drama nie.
Jan, I agree. We’ve seen Charmaine drinking socially, but we’ve never seen her use alcohol as a way to self-medicate. Nor have we seen any addictive sides to her personality. And even if she was drinking, her boarders and Errol would surely smell the alcohol on her breath.
Ek het dadelik gedink Neville se ongeluk is net ‘n coverup, terwyl die Quad 5 storie ondersoek word. Nou lyk dit of hy oornag uit die storie verwyder is, terwyl die hele Quad 5 intrige in die lug bly hang. Dit is nie die eerste keer dat storielyne so onopgelos bly nie – die draaiboekskrywers is soms verbasend slordig en amateuragtig. Dit is ook nie die eerste keer dat ‘n karakter sommer net so poef! verdwyn nie – dink maar aan Erroll se ma. Die storie met Gita se bangeit karring ook nou al vir weke lank aan. Kom nou tot ‘n punt!
Gerhard, I think the writers intentionally wanted to keep Neville’s disappearance open-ended – in case Zane Meas decided to return/not return in the future.
Gita’s nephew is just annoying. She’s 10 times more entertaining as the villain than as this scared woman.
Mens sal sweer dat 7de Laan geskryf word deur mense wat nie weet wat aangaan nie… Kan dinge asb nou op n punt kom dit raak nou soos Days of our Lives met die storie wat so uit gerek word! Kom by mense!
Ek wil nie he Paula moet dood gaan nie dis al hkm ek nog 7de laan kk en arme Altus hy verloor alles pikkewyn Paula
Die mense wat 7de laan skryf julle kan nie die mense soo uit haal nie eerste is dit NEVELLE en nou is die PAULA. Laat hulle dood gaan kom by julle
The author is most unkind to Altie, he spent years to win over Paula’s love and now pikkewyn is gone and what about Paula.
The story line indicated that Neville might be tacking the easy way out of “Protective Custody” to avaid further harassment to his family. Now he is gone no mention of the Quad5 issue very inconclusive
wat gaan gebeer met San-Mari en Pierre?
Gaan Neville terugkom op 7de Laan?
Why is San-Mari going out of 7de Laan?
i rili thnk dt its nt fair dt poppet died.i wudv rili lvd seeing paula as a mada.and sumbdy pls gve san mari a bg slap acrss hr face.dt gal is irritatn .
can sumbdy fil me n abt hw neville died
i hope he never comes back we need fresh blood Neville is too old.Times up for you brother let youngsters do their thing
I have to agree that Neville should stay away – an unpopular opinion as the man has many fans.
Charmain moet eers verlief raak op n ander man voor Neville terug kom. wens Vannessa kan bietjie swanger raak en n baba in die laan he. Die laan is no te perfek, ons kort meer aksie, waareen gaan Hilda bietjie haar varkies verloor?
Bring Nevil Meintjies back from the dead.
Ek dink ook errol is ñ loser want hy het een aand deur ons kombuisvenster geklim en bo-op my kom lê nou skielik staan hy op trou
Sowat drie jaar gelede het ek ñ idee vir ñ game na die son geskryf oor ons outjie errol unfortunedly het die mannetjie dit goed gedink om deur ons kombuisvenster te klim en bo-op ons kostafel getrap is dit nou nie vir jou onbeskof nie
Die laan raak mening kind of boring en almal gaan ook net wie wat gaan aan die skrywers van die laan se lewe gaan seker ook so.
Kyki sa 7 de laan is nou my soapi en as julle wil ko se hier hoeko naak julle ni jule uier soapi ni dat os kan sien hoe kak dit uit sal ko…
Where is sanjay and tim can’t they just cum bak
I love 7delaan so much that i dont even missed a soepie at all so they must stop to remove people like that its anfair
Waneer kom neville terug
Bring poula back because altus is loanly
I think vannessa should stop thinking only about herself,Xander deserve forgiveness she should see that he cares about her and the child she’s carrying ,and that he didn’t accept the job.
Ek wil graag aanbied by 7de Laan
7 de laan skrywers!!!julle moet maar terug gaan college toe want julle is n spul amateurs,hou die sepie kort en kragtig!
HIS BACK!!