#callum x lexi

[drewsbarrymcre]

#he's lexi's dad, end of discussion

[mvalentine]

gonna treat myself to my 7th replay of the phantom agent <33

[tweedledumandtweedlebum]

I just can't stop thinking about what an EE writer has recently posted online about current storylines. If I remember correctly, he claimed they're working hard to keep the show fresh and relevant - or something along those lines.

Therefore, I should assume they will soon get rid of Ballum (well... they have been in the process of making them irrelevant for quite some time now, actually) because the novelty has worn off and the audience can no longer relate to them or their relationship.

I can't even find the words to express how insulting that statement sounds to me.

They're telling me that the ordeal of an SA survivor - a male survivor at that - getting professional help, learning to accept and live with his trauma - and possibly getting justice, one day - would be of no interest to the audience.

They're telling me that said survivor and his husband (who loves him unconditionally) endeavoring to overcome their intimacy issues and slowly rebuilding their physical connection, despite inevitable triggers and setbacks, would be in no way relevant to viewers.

They're telling me that watching these two husbands raise THEIR(!) motherless daughter and navigate through the troubled waters of teenage life, helping her develop her potential, always supporting her despite their own personal struggles, possibly arguing because of different parenting styles, would not resonate with anybody in the public.

They want me to believe that nobody would relate to a young man struggling with an eating disorder (but willing to do whatever it takes to get better) who is currently in therapy, and who is inevitably faced with issues such as lack of control, anxiety, feelings of shame and guilt.

They are seriously stating that they don't know what to do with a character who's a detective, somebody who could provide endless opportunities to explore the social/economic/cultural roots of a number of common offences (and a sensitive, kind-hearted copper, who would empathise with at least some of the offenders, and thus feel conflicted about his job).

So, I'm confused..., what exactly is considered 'fresh and relevant' in their universe?

[minimitchell]

Why don’t we tell a Christmas joke while we sack the sound department?

[benxcallumforever]

Ben saying to Jay he doesn't want him to make the same mistakes he did, and Ben haters (some also hate Callum) are still like "Ben is a hypocrite, he is not perfect" Did you purposely ignore the part where Ben doesn't want Jay to make the same mistakes he did?

[henryspearl]

my heart can’t cope

[backyardflames]

I definitely think EE realised they made a mistake putting Honey and Jay together but the problem is that because they did it does take the impact of Jay and Lola away. You could understand with Lola's journey that she loved other people but it just hadnt been then the right time with Jay until it was.

But with him it felt like, even though they got back together before she was diagnosed, that he pressed fast forward on their relationship. I don't doubt that he loved her but for how rushed it was that they were back together then she was diagnosed suddenly she was the love of his life, but like he hadn't been trying to get her back in the years they were apart.

I think thats one reason why this storyline is bugging me so much because he's acting like he's the only one who is hurting, maybe the only one who has a right to be hurting. Like its *his* grief and no one elses but Billy, Ben, 100% Lexi lost way more than he did. I used to like Jay but everything has been so self indulgent and well just selfish. He should have removed him from Lexis environment if he ever cared for her. If he so determined not to move on because he doesnt want to forget Lola then he should have respected her memory enough to not be around her already vulnerable daughter.

Everyone grieves differently and whilst I dont like how hes doing it i can understand it, what I cant understand is how it's been coupled with ignoring everything he promised Lola.

I think the Honey and Jay thing could have been waved away if had been a month or something tops. But it was years. And the truth about Lola and Jay is that Lola never picked Jay when she thought she had other options. And Jay grew out of his Lola obsession years ago - he didn’t care when they broke up. And the whole lonely Jay thing isn’t something I buy either. He’s been firmly established in the Mitchell family for over a decade. He’s ‘one of them’. We’ve seen it repeatedly over the years. He’s a Mitchell. Yet now he doesn’t feel a part of them?!

They tell us he has this great relationship with Lexi but we’ve literally never seen it. He’s been her often absent uncle for most of her life and of course she loves him, but there’s never been any real warmth to their relationship. They’re like buds. They now have a trauma bond.

And the thing is, I don’t even have a problem with Jay grieving. Grief is selfish. But I do have a problem with the way it’s presented without consequence. He pushed Ben into the PR thing and he knows it - and at the first hurdle he falls so spectacularly that it renders the entire intention of the PR moot. But he should still be allowed the thing Ben absolutely didn’t want and he has failed at because…?

He does drugs around Lexi, putting her in danger and upsetting her but it’s everyone else that should feel bad for being angry because…?

He puts his grieving, traumatised and in recovery friend in an impossible position, but Ben is the one who is wrong because…?

He assaults the person trying to help him and minimises his relationship with his step daughter of 2+ years and doesn’t apologise but it’s ok because…?

Jay can fuck up spectacularly. I welcome it. And I would love him for it. But when the audience and show think it’s everyone else’s fault to the point where they need to manipulate people with awful, nonsensical writing, I’m not going to be moved by it.

Jay hasn’t grown as a character in years, and if they keep pulling this shit where he isn’t in the wrong, even when it’s clear he is, he’s never going to progress.

[ballumcravings]

Lexi: (eats Halloween candy) Granddad, does the devil really exist?

Phil: Of course not, dear.

Callum: Right, there's nothing to be afraid of, Lex.

Ben: Oh yes, he does.

Phil: (rolls eyes) Really?! Well, where is he then?!

Ben: I'm facing him right now.

Phil: ...

[jackbatchelor3]

Imagine an alternate universe where:

1. Lola didn't have the abortion in 2020 and therefore kept her and Jay's kid,

2. Jay was r***d and went on a downward spiral regarding his mental health,

3. Ben spoke to Jay the same way Jay's spoken to him since the ordeal.

There is no doubt that:

1. The penis flytraps of Twitter X would quickly jump on Ben and berate him for his treatment of Jay.

2. If Lola gave Ben and Callum PR of Baby Jola, CC would be accused of pandering to us Ballum fans.

[gracieblood]

i need more ballum and lexi

[mudbloodpotter05]

A new story from yours truly. Bit of a different tone to my others. I hope you enjoy!

[drewsbarrymcre]

BEN & LEXI + Ben kissing Lexi's head on her way to school

[mvalentine]

OHHHH THIS TROPE MAKES ME SO VIOLENTLY ILL ‼️‼️‼️

[tweedledumandtweedlebum]

I am writing this as a form of much needed closure. I am truly heartbroken. Not only has a talented actor like Max Bowden been axed in the most vile way right before his birthday, but Ballum has been forever destroyed. Nobody can play Ben Mitchell like MB. He made the character his own. The same goes for Callum and Tony Clay, obviously. Together, they've created something special and unique, speaking to vastly different audiences from different countries (check the comments on YouTube), age groups, cultures... Now, we will never see Ben's journey towards healing through therapy, or Callum adopting Lexi and being rightfully recognized as her Dad #2, or a new Ballum baby. We will be forever deprived of a story potraying Callum delicately supporting his husband in overcoming his issues with intimacy through tenderness and patience, in a beautiful parallel with Ben's support to Callum while coming to terms with his sexuality. We will never know how two gay dads would face the challenges of raising a motherless teenage girl, keeping in mind the abuse they received from their own farhers in order to break the cycle. We will never see a couple of happily married, monogamous men bringing up their own child (imagine a boy... I'm crying), trying to balance work, family, friends and romance. We will never have this queer little family thrive and be there for each other. We will be denied that incomparable mix of humour and passion, intense conflict and lighthearted banter, sexiness and occasional awkwardness that is Ballum played by MB and TC. Apparently, this is not suitable material for soaps.

And even if EE writers didn't live up to the task of doing justice to this wonderful pair, we knew we could always rely on a number of lovely fanfic authors doing the job with outstanding sensitivity in their own original voices.

What a waste.

Thank you to all the people who actively contributed to the fandom. Most of all - even though they'll never read this - thank you to Max and Tony from the bottom of my heart. I don't think you can full grasp the way your Ben and Callum have affected the fans. May life always bring you happiness and recognition, and give you back at least some of the joy you spread.

💙💙

[minimitchell]

for @lisaxhighway

[rileychester]

It all depends on whether Jay’s application for parental responsibility came through or not before Lola’s death. Ben is Lexi’s biological father and he’s been automatically registered as her father on her birth certificate after the DNA test the court did during the Phil/Lola custody storyline proved he was the father. Jay and Callum don’t have any legal rights simply as stepparents, they’d have to file for official PR for that. They did that for Jay but if it didn’t go through before Lola’s death then Jay doesn’t have any legal rights right now because he’s legally no longer a stepparent after Lola’s death. Ben would have to agree and they’d have to reapply for PR but the rules are different when you’re not a stepparent so it might not go through again then. Only people with official PR can decide in legal or official matters.

Thank you.

I was wondering where legally everyone stood.

I do think long run the show is going to put Lexi with Ben and Callum. Simply because he is her biological father, but also because it will just get them more acclaim and future stories to explore.

But I do think they are going to have things be drama filled and ugly before then.